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



27 Feb 2018

The Fast of Esther

It is written in the holy book "Kav Hayashar" any individual who needs divine assistance Rachamonus- compassion on any issue should say Psalm 22, Ayelet Hashachar on Tannis Esther. Just as Esther was helped so to in the merit of Esther and Mordechai Hashem will open the gates of compassion for his children. Purim is called a day of Ratzon a special time of prayer, Yom Ki Purim. Yom Kippur is called a day like Purim the gates of heaven are open. So let us turn to our G-d and open those Gates. 
http://www.hineni.org/learn/torah-thoughts/fast-esther-taanis-esther

Why Give Half-Shekels to Charity on Taanit Esther?

Brother of Florida Shooting Victim On Why He Wore A Yarmulke During Meeting With Trump

The two Ani Maamins

Jewish pride at Times Square as thousands of students await the coming of Moshiach and Sing 'Ani Mamin'

Who's Afraid of 'Ani Maamin?'

"רובשקין מאשים: "נזרקתי לצינוק בגלל כיפה

5 lessons from the Rebbe

Fogel family sues the Palestinian Authority

BDS Leader Invited to Speak at EU Parliament, Jewish Groups Protest

25 Feb 2018

Performing Mitzvot

Historic Siyum Sefer Torah in Times Square Honors Parkland, Florida Victims

Risking Life to Perform Mitzvot in Bergen-Belsen

The Right One

Op-Ed: It just wasn’t the Right One! Or Was It?

Havdallah in Times Square

Why do we give Matanos L'Evyonim on Purim? The Alshich HaKadosh says in the name of the Ralbag that after Gezeiras Haman, Eliyahu went to Moshe and asked him to daven to Hashem to spare the Yehudim. Moshe Rabbeinu asked Eliyahu if there was a tzaddik down on earth who can help him with his tefilos. Eliyahu answered that there is tzaddik named Mordechai. Moshe told Eliyahu to tell Mordechai to daven and Moshe would daven at the same time. Hopefully between the two of them there would be a Geula.

In appreciation for Moshe Rabbeinu's help in bringing the Yeshua, Mordechai HaTzaddik instituted Matanos L"Evyonim in order that each person should give tzedoka on Purim L'Zecher Nishmas Moshe Rabbeinu.
http://www.revach.net/moadim/purim/Purim-Alshich-HaKadosh-Moshe-Rabbeinu-and-Matanos-LEvyonim/1986

18 Feb 2018

The comforting Rabbi

Rabbi Comforts Shooting Victims

Darkness and Light in Florida

מסר מפי הרב ניר בן ארצי שליט"א לפרשת תצווה-זכור תשע"ח



The Rabbi's Blessing

South Africa’s New President Receives a Rabbi’s Blessing

איך נזכה לאריכות ימים ושנים? • צפו

The Meticulousness of the Mishkan in our Lives

The Ohr HaChaim brings from the Zohar that each of the four Galuyos that Am Yisroel have been cast into is redeemed in the merit of someone else. In the first Galus we were redeemed in the Zechus of Avrohom, the second in the zechus of Yitzchok, and the third in the zechus of Yaakov. The final redemption will be in the zechus of Moshe. However Moshe Rabbeinu refuses to redeem us unless we learn Torah and do mitzvos. This is why the galus is lasting so long.

The Ohr HaChaim reads this into the words in Parshas Titzaveh (27:20). "VAta Titzaveh Es Bnei Yisroel ViYikchu Eilecha Shemen Zayis Zach". "Tzav" is an expression of to reign as king. Hashem tells Moshe, "VAta Titzaveh", that after the last galus, Moshe will reign over us once again. However there is a condition attached to this. "ViYikchu Eilecha Shemen Zayis Zach" only if Bnei Yisroel learns the pure words of the Torah which is compared to olive oil. "Zach" he says means pure. The Torah must be lishma, for the sake of Hashem and not to argue or to glorify yourself.
http://revach.net/avodah/olam-hatorah/Moshe-Rabbeinu-Is-Waiting-For-Us-To-Start-Learning-Torah/3941


16 Feb 2018

The tribute

The conference I attended recently was advertised to be in Tel Aviv - Yafo. When I got off the bus, I was a bit apprehensive because the sign above me read Givatayim. I thought perhaps I had the wrong instructions. However, I ended up at the venue within minutes.
Afterwards, I set out to retrace my steps back to the bus stop and was amazed to see a chasid bringing items back and forth to a lit area. Curious, I looked to see where he was going and realized it was a cemetery. I asked him if there was someone's kever in the cemetery where people daven. Immediately he told me that people go to the Stefenezh Rebbe. "People who daven there, their prayers are answered."
I made my way to the kever and read some pirkei Tehillim and prayed. On my way out, I, once again, encountered the chasid who was busy preparing tables laden with food. He told me that people from all over and from all sectors of society congregate at the cemetery at 9 o'clock on Thursday evening for communal prayer. Additionally, they can partake of the food which is spread out on two tables.
Only in Israel does one set out for a conference and ends up praying at a Rav's kever. May all our prayers be answered for the good.

Parshas Terumah - The Message Of The Keruvim

Rav Yaakov Kaminetsky on Megillat Esther- Purim

Son's Tribute Song to His Mother

הסגולה היומית: איך נבטל מעצמנו את היצר הרע? • צפו

15 Feb 2018

The Grocery Boy

Sparks of Holiness

What The Grocery Boy Saw

Son of Holocaust survivor named president of Harvard

Forever Young

Surveillance video posted on TLS helps retrieve stolen Talis and Tefillin

British Jews ‘Appalled’ by King’s College London Protest Against Former Israeli Minister

Jamie Guttenberg A”H has been identified as a victim in today’s massacare at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL.
Read more: https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/1469603/bde-first-jewish-victim-identified-in-florida-school-massacre.html
Below is an image that the young girl had posted on her Facebook page a while back.

Below is a Facebook post that I came across today.

In today’s Chumash, the posuk describes the poles for the walls of the Mishkan as “Atzei Shitim Omdim,” pieces of wood that were standing upright. 
The Gemara explains that there is a deeper meaning to this posuk as well: The posuk is saying that these poles are “Omdim,” they are standing forever. The Mishkan is not only something that stood in the times of the Midbar, but the walls of the Mishkan will still stand when Moshiach comes! The Medrash also says that the whole Mishkan is hiding, but we will find it when Moshiach comes, and Hashem will again rest there. See Gemara Sukkah 45b

13 Feb 2018

The mother's chair

France gives long-unclaimed artwork to Jewish couple's heirs

'הגר"ח קנייבסקי: 'הייתי אומר לבטל לגמרי את הבין הזמנים

PJ Library delivers its 100,000th book in Britain

The story related below is an example of how to honor one's parents to the utmost. It reminded me of a previous post that I wrote about Dr.Yashar Hirshaut a couple of years ago.

I was witness to his walking to shul in Lawrence with his aging mother. He carried a chair with him and every so often he would stop and set the chair on the ground so that his mother would be able to rest before continuing on her walk to the synagogue on Shabbat. The sight left an indelible impression on my mind and serves as a paradigm of how to fulfill the mitzvah of kibbud av va'em.

11 Feb 2018

Compare and contrast

IsraellyCool points to The Most Blatantly Biased Headline About Yesterday’s Syria-Israel Escalation which has been subsequently changed.

If you compare the article to the previous version, you can notice a few changes.

The earlier version headline read Brutal airstrikes in Syria after Israeli military shoot down fighter jet which was followed by Syria has been subjected to brutal air strikes after the Israeli military shot down an Iranian drone that infiltrated the country.

The current version reads Brutal airstrikes in Syria after Israeli fighter jet shot down followed by Syria has been subjected to brutal air strikes after an Israeli fighter jet was shot down. The drone that infiltrated Israel is not mentioned.

I Don't Know a Single Person on this Earth Anymore

ילדיו של הרב רזיאל שבח הי"ד שרים לזכרו: 'אם היו בני אדם' • צפו


10 Feb 2018

You shall take

Rivlin to injured pilot: Thank G-d you came home

Shabbos Night Live with Rabbi Shmuel Butman

"ViYikchu Li Terumah"; "You shall take in may name a separation." The Meforshiam all ask, why does the pasuk state "ViYikchu" - "and you shall take", it should have said "ViYitnu" - "and you shall give" a Terumah?

The famous answer given is , one who gives Tzedoka is really on the receiving end. He ends up getting more reward than the amount of money he donated. Therefore the pasuk says, "ViYikchu" - "You shall take", because in actuality you are really receiving. The Vilna Gaon adds in Parshas Ki Sisa, the pasuk says, "ViNasnu Ish Kofer Nafsho" - Each person should give a ½ of a Shekel in order that Klal Yisroel can be counted. These Shkolim are to be used for the Adonim - the sockets which held up the beams of the Mishkan.

The Gaon takes note that the word "ViNasnu" - "and you shall give" can be read forwards and backwards. The letters are "Vav" "Nun" "Saf" "Nun" Vav" whether you read it from front to back or visa versa. This is also telling us that one who gives charity (forward) is actually on the receiving end (backwards).
http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/numbers-amp-letters/Parshas-Teruma-Vilna-Gaon-Boomerang-Tzedoka/1805

7 Feb 2018

Following the majority

A Reuters article begins with the sentence, "A Palestinian assailant was shot dead on Wednesday after stabbing a security guard at the entrance to a Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said."

Did the Israeli army really use the term occupied West Bank?

NEVER FORGET Holocaust survivor Leslie Kleinman BEM who lost his entire family in Auschwitz, tells his astonishing story of survival to The Sun

Newest text messages from Page and Strzok: Obama ‘wants to know everything’

The pasuk in Mishpatim tells us, "Acharei Rabim L'Hatos; To follow the majority." The famous question asked is, "That since most of the world does not follow Hashem and abide by the laws of the Torah, why aren't we obligated to follow the majority?"

The Chasam Sofer's explanation of this pasuk answers this question. "Lo Sihiyeh Acharei Rabim L'Ra'os;" There are things that are absolutely, positively bad. Do not follow the majority in their wickedness and folly." When do you follow the majority? "L'Hatos," when there is doubt in which way to turn. Then go with the Rabim. If you understand this, then, "Lo Saaneh Al Riv," says the pasuk. "You will not be caught up in debate about avodah zara and other bad ways of the world because the guidelines are clear to you."

Reb Elchonon Wasserman answered that it says a few pasukim later (23:8) that bribery blinds the wise. The majority of the world is bribed by their desires, and even if they are wise, they have become blind and cannot be followed.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Mishpatim-Chasam-Sofer-Rav-Elchonon-Wasserman-Majority-Rules/1785

6 Feb 2018

The common bond

Husbands murdered weeks apart, West Bank widows lament their common bond

Taiwan earthquake: Deaths confirmed amid rescue effort

Below is a link to a post from 2009 regarding earthquakes.

Earthquakes - a sign from Hashem

Parshas Mishpatim - Even our Challenges Exemplify Hashem's Ultimate Kindness

Together

Chilling Photo Of Rabbi Raziel Shevach And Itamar Ben-Gal HY”D Together At A Simcha

רזיאל וִאיתמר הַנֶּאֱהָבִ֚ים וְהַנְּעִימִם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וּבְמוֹתָ֖ם לֹ֣א נִפְרָ֑דוּ מִנְּשָׁרִ֣ים קַ֔לּוּ מֵאֲרָי֖וֹת גָּבֵֽרוּ

מרים בן גל: איבדתי את בעלי על אדמת ארץ ישראל

Democratic Congressman Claims Louis Farrakhan Is An ‘Outstanding Human Being’

Trump Admin Thwarts Irish Effort to Boycott Israel, Criminalize Trade

UKMediaWatch points to a 2300 word Guardian article on the history of terror in cities which omits mention of Palestinian terrorism. I read the article and noticed that in their zealousness to find instances of Jewish terrorism, the editors and author of the article produced this gramatically incorrect sentence.

There were earlier violent activists which some suggest qualify as terrorists – the Jewish zealots who took on the Romans in early the imperial province of Judea in the first century, the medieval Assassins of the 12th century, even the religious Thuggee cult from the 14th to the 18th centuries in what was to become India.
https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/jan/29/cities-terror-attacks-brutal-relationship-terrorism

5 Feb 2018

Lending money

Video: The Truth About Money

"Im Kesef Talveh Es Ami... Lo Sihiyeh Lo K'Nosheh; When you lend money to My people... do not act toward him like a demanding creditor." (Mishpatim 22:24) The Gemara Bava Metzia in 75b says that if you lend someone money and the loan is past due, if you know that he doesn't have money to pay, you may not pass by in his presence, or else you have the aveira of being a Nosheh, a demanding creditor.

"Look how beautiful our Torah is!" says Rav Shamshon Rephael Hirsch. "In the whole world someone who owes money, hides from his creditor. Our Torah requires the creditor to hide from the debtor!"
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/life-lessons/Parshas-Mishpatim-Rav-Shamshon-Rephael-Hirsch-The-Torahs-Rules-For-Hide-N-Go-Seek/4378

The disease

Anti-Semitism: The disease that does not disappear

Holocaust denier running for Congress has no opponents in Republican primary

How our reporter tracked down the Nazi running for Congress | Chicago.Suntimes.com

After a “long, lonely and expensive seven year struggle,” one that she alone, on behalf of Z STREET bore, Lori Lowenthal Marcus, the founder of Z STREET has just won a significant legal victory which grants her organization tax-exempt status and definitively exposes Obama’s IRS as obsessively anti-Israel.
Read more: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/21654

Woman’s Confused When Soldier’s On Flight Refuse To Buy Lunch, Secretly Steps Up For Them

4 Feb 2018

To the poor man

Woman Left to Raise 5 Children Alone

"Im Kesef Talveh Es Ami HeAni Imach; When you lend money to the poor man in my nation." (Mishpatim 22:24) This is the mitzva of lending money to the poor. The Kotzker Rebbe learns this pasuk B'Derech Drush.

The Mishna in Pirkei Avos (6:9) says that when a person leaves this world, "Ein Milavin Lo LiAdam Kesef V'Zahav... Ela Torah U'Maasim Tovim; His money does not accompany him, only his Torah and good deeds." The Kotzer says, "We find a remez to this in our pasuk. 'Im Kesef Talveh Es Ami; If a person dies and finds that his money is accompanying him on his journey to the next world, Es HeAni Imoch; it is not the money you enjoyed, but rather the money that you gave to a poor person.' That money will stay with you for eternity."
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/chasidus/Parshas-Mishpatim-Kozker-Rebbe-You-Can-Take-Your-Money-With-You/4942

The campaign

The IRS Campaign Against Israel—and Us

Police in Belgium have arrested a man who is suspected of trying to ram with his car an Orthodox man and a child on a street in Antwerp, JTA reported Saturday.
Continue reading: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/241509

Video footage can be seen here.

Behind the lies of Holocaust denial | Deborah Lipstadt

Michoel Pruzansky – Shootin’ For The Moon [Official Music Video]

Florida: Muslim Tries to Get @UCF to Expel Student Who Refused to Try On Hijab

1 Feb 2018

Biased and Brazen

IRS Apologizes to Pro-Israel Group for Biased Treatment

Rabbi Shlomo Kadosh Discussing the Brazen Robbery of His Possessions from His Vehicle in Florida

Open Your Hand

MEANWHILE IN A PALESTINIAN VILLAGE…

Ilan Ramon - June 20, 1954 – February 1, 2003 The second video below is a last interview on earth with the astronaut.

Why I am pleased with the OU decision on female clergy

When Jewish men put on tefillin in the morning, why is the tefillin strap wrapped around the left arm exactly seven times? Almost every observance we perform in Jewish life is full of deep symbolism. Wearing tefillin is no exception. Almost every aspect of tefillin has a metaphoric or kabalistic aspect connected to it. The reason we wrap our tefillin seven times around our arm is because each winding corresponds to the seven words of the following pasuk: “Poteach et yadecha umasbia lechol chai ratzon”, “You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” As we wrap our arm, we ask God to open His, so to speak, and provide sustenance for all He has created. 
Read more: https://www.torchweb.org/topics_detail.php?id=82

About a month ago I went out for lunch with a colleague who is from Iran. The manner in which she recited birkat hamazon is indelibly etched in my memory, particularly the way she cupped her hands upwards and looked to the Heavens as she recited, poteach et yadecha umasbia lecho chai ratzon. It was a lesson for me how to pray with kavana and I was reminded of the incident when I stumbled upon the video below.