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 Oct 2018

Two bracelets

Feeling the pain

R’ Bender: This Should Shake Us To Our Bones!

"And it was when the camels finished drinking, Eliezer took a golden nose ring, its weight a Beka, and 2 bracelets on her arms weighing 10 golden Shekel. Rashi tells us, the Beka weight was an allusion to the Shekalim of Klal Yisroel - the half shekel donated by Klal Yisroel for the Beis HaMikdash. The 2 bracelets were an allusion to the 2 Luchos - and the weight of 10 shekel, alluded to the Aseres HaDibros which were written on them.

Why was it necessary at this time for Eliezer to hint to Rivka concerning these future events? The Maharal answers that Eliezer was telling Rivka that the world stands on 3 things - Torah, Avodah and Gemilus Chasadim. I see that you are very accomplished in acts of Gemilas Chesed. However, to be one of the foundations of Klal Yisroel you must also excel in Torah and Avodah. Torah, which was represented by the 2 bracelets weighing 10 shekel - alluding to the Luchos. Avodah, which was represented by the Beka - used to purchase the Korbonos for the Beis HaMikdash.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Chayei-Sarah-Maharal-MiPrague-Eliezer-Teaches-Rivka-There-Is-More-To-Life-Than-Just-Chesed/1233

27 Oct 2018

The Reaction

Join Rebbetzin Kolodetsky In Saving a Kallah

Jenny Tonge’s Vile Reaction to Pittsburgh Synagogue Massacre

"And Avraham came to eulogize Sarah and to cry over her"; The word "to cry over her" is "ViLivkosa". The Torah spells it with a small "Chaf". What is the significance of this small letter?

The Satan has many ways to get us to sin. He tries at times to stop one from doing a Mitzvah beforehand. If he doesn't succeed, he will try to make us regret that we did the Mitzvah, therefore lessening our reward. Avraham did a great Mitzvah by offering his son a Korbon by the Akeidah. It was because of the news of the Akeidah where Yitzchok was almost killed, that caused Sarah to die.

The Satan wanted Avraham to regret the Akeidah because it killed his wife. Avraham did not want to show this regret. He therefore minimized his weeping by the funeral of Sarah to show that he did not regret the Akeidah. That is why it says a small "Chaf' - because he minimized his weeping.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Chayei-Sarah-Avrohom-Held-Back-Some-Tears-Over-Sarah/1234

25 Oct 2018

No idea

We Have No Idea What Others Are Going Through

"VaTabeit Ishto MeiAcharav", Lot's wife looked behind. "VaTehi Netziv Melach", and she became a pillar of salt (Bereishis 19:26). The Kli Yakar asks, why does it say she looked behind "him"? It should say she looked behind herself, "MeiAchareha".

The Kli Yakar explains that Lot's wife was deeply distressed that she couldn't save her money, as the Malachim rushed them out and told them to forget about their wealth that would be left behind (see Rashi 19:17). Now on the run she was concerned with how she will survive if her husband, now penniless dies. MeiAcharav means she looked past him, past his lifetime and worried about the money.

This worry brought back memories of her aveira of thriftiness and that she refused to give tzedaka or Hachnosas Orchim. Melach, salt is a preservative. Chazal tell us that tzedoka is the salt to preserve our wealth. Therefore, she who refused to give tzedoka, both back in Sedom and even now on the run, she who had not learned her lesson, turned into salt.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-VaYeira-Kli-Yakar-Why-Was-Lots-Wife-Punished-For-Turning-Around/2974

22 Oct 2018

Spousal talk

Ocasio-Cortez Compares Fighting ‘Global Warming’ to War Against Nazi Germany

Universalism, Particularism, and Anti-Semitism

Ben & Jerry Create New Ice Cream For CA Dem Candidate, Grandson of Terrorist

Toward the beginning of the parsha, the visiting Malachim delivered the message from Hashem to Avraham: "I will surely return to you at this time next year, and behold Sarah your wife will have a son. Avraham and Sarah were old and that the manner of women had ceased to be with Sarah." [Bereshis 18:10-11] Then in the next pasuk, Sarah asks: "After I have withered I shall again have smooth skin? And my husband is an old man." In other words, Sarah wonders how is it possible for her to conceive, when she is already past her years of childbearing. In addition, her husband was an old man as well.

However, when Hashem went back to Avraham and admonished Sarah for laughing, Hashem only mentioned her argument that she was old to Avraham. Hashem does not reveal to Avraham that Sarah had also doubted the news because "her husband was an old man." Rashi learns from this - based on Chazal - that one change the truth to preserve peace (between husband and wife).

Rav Pam asks the following question: Avraham Avinu was in fact 99 years old. Everyone knew that he was an old man. It was obvious to him that he was an old man. It would have not at all been news to Avraham that Sarah was surprised that she would conceive, because - among other reasons - her husband was old. Would Avraham really have been upset if he had heard the "full truth" from the Hashem?

Rav Pam explains that we see from here, that the whole world can recognize and tell a person that he is old, but he cannot hear that piece of news from his wife! The reverse is true as well. A woman can have gray hair. She can be a grandmother. But if her husband should tell her, "You know, you are getting up there in years." - it would hurt her immensely. Spouses are more sensitive to each other, and therefore care must be taken.

http://www.thejewisheye.com/rev_pvayeira.html

17 Oct 2018

Blessings

"Vavorichah Mivarachekah Umikalalechah Ahor"; "And I will bless the ones that bless you and the ones who curse you I will curse" The Meforshim ask, just like the pasuk says, "I will bless the ones that bless you" - stating "I will bless" first, so too should the pasuk end, "I will curse the ones who curse you". Why does the pasuk reverse it by saying, "The ones who curse you I will curse?"

The Kli Yakar answers, "Machshava Tova HaKadosh Baruch Hu Mitzaref Limaaseh, Machshava Raah Ayn HaKadosh Baruch Hu Mitzaref Limaaseh"- Hashem considers a good thought (when one thinks about doing a Mitzvah) as if the person actually did it; but concerning an evil thought, Hashem only punishes when the thought come to fruition and the person commits the sin. That is the pshat in this pasuk. "Vavorichah Mivarachekah" - "And I will bless them even before they bless you. When they just have a thought to bless you I will consider their Machshava as if it was done. But Umikalalechah Ahor" - only after they actually curse you will I curse them, since Hashem only punishes when the thought come to fruition.

Vilna Gaon offers another explanation. He says that the blessing of a rich man is greater than that of a poor man, since the rich man knows what it means to have pleasure. He therefore will give a greater Bracha. On the other hand, a poor man's curse is greater than a rich man since he experienced pain in his life and can give a harsher curse. The Hashem is saying to Avraham, "Vavorichah Mivarachekah" - I will bless them before they bless you, therefore making it a blessing of a rich person who gives a more lavish Bracha. "Umikalalechah Ahor" - I will only curse them after they curse you. This way it won't be a curse of a poor man whose curse is harsh.
http://www.thejewisheye.com/rev_plechlicha.html

Jewish woman assaulted while protesting Labour anti-Semitism