Blessed are You, O God, King of the universe, who left nothing lacking in His world, and who therefore filled it with beautiful creations and pleasurable trees for mankind to enjoy.
Question: WHAT IS BIRKAT HA-ILANOT, THE BLESSINGS ON TREES?
Answer: Rosh Chodesh Nisan marks the start of the season for saying Birkat Ha-Ilanot, the unique bracha said upon seeing fruit trees in bloom (as stated in Brachot 43b). This is one of only 4 brachot said by all Jews just once each year!
The Bracha is: B.A.A.E.M.H. shelo chaser b’olamo klum, u’bara vo briyut tovot v’ilanot tovim, layhanot bahem b’nei adam.
Ideally, we say the bracha when first seeing fruit-bearing trees flowering in Nisan; but the bracha may still be said for as long as the fruit has not yet ripened. A “hidur Mitzva” is to say the bracha on 2 or more trees together, with a minyan. But a single person may also say it on a single tree. http://rabbistewartweiss.com/2011/04/01/what-is-birkat-ha-ilanot/
The following is an excerpt from an email by Rabbi Eli Mansour.
Rav Pinhas Zevihi...writes that one must make a point of reciting Birkat Ha’ilanot – the Beracha over the blossoming of fruit trees – as early as he can during the month of Nissan. Once Rosh Hodesh Nissan arrives, one should endeavor to see two blossoming fruit trees and recite the Beracha without delay.
http://www.dailyhalacha.com/
Click on the link below to see Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlit”a, who celebrated his 101st birthday this Rosh Chodesh, performing the mitzvah of reciting the blessing on the trees. May we all be inspired to perform mitzvahs with the same alacrity and zeal. And may we learn not to take things for granted, such as the coming of Spring and the blsossoming of the trees.
http://www.bhol.co.il/Article.aspx?id=26682
11 Apr 2011
Religious freedom
A woman was arrested at Avignon station this morning as she tried to board a train for Paris wearing the niqab [full veil] on the first day of the controversial new law on wearing the burqa and niqab.
http://connexionfrance.com/Woman-arrested-protest-Avignon-France-veil-burqa-niqab-12662-view-article.html
The issue of religious freedom vs. separation of church and state is always dicey and sports is not immune. A growing number of MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL clubs are offering Christian, Jewish and Mormon nights.
But a national Muslim advocacy group doesn't think it's appropriate for teams to mix religion and sports. If sports teams are going do it, then the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wants equal time for other religions.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/04/finding-their-religion-oakland-as-plan-first-jewish-heritage-night-mlb-nfl-nba-nhl-cair/1
Did Cair think it was appropriate for the Lee County school district to invite an imam to speak to the students, to the exclusion of speakers from other religions?
http://connexionfrance.com/Woman-arrested-protest-Avignon-France-veil-burqa-niqab-12662-view-article.html
The issue of religious freedom vs. separation of church and state is always dicey and sports is not immune. A growing number of MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL clubs are offering Christian, Jewish and Mormon nights.
But a national Muslim advocacy group doesn't think it's appropriate for teams to mix religion and sports. If sports teams are going do it, then the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wants equal time for other religions.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/04/finding-their-religion-oakland-as-plan-first-jewish-heritage-night-mlb-nfl-nba-nhl-cair/1
Did Cair think it was appropriate for the Lee County school district to invite an imam to speak to the students, to the exclusion of speakers from other religions?
10 Apr 2011
From generation to generation
The New York Times has a review by journalist Frankiln Foer of Deborah E. Lipstadt's "The Eichmann Trial."
Here is an excerpt about world reaction to the kidnapping of the war criminal by the Israelis.
The Washington Post editorial page condemned Israel’s “jungle law”; The Christian Science Monitor equated Israel’s claims to those of the Nazis. William F. Buckley Jr. said the kidnapping was symptomatic of the Jewish “refusal to forgive.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/books/review/book-review-the-eichmann-trial-by-deborah-e-lipstadt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hpw
From generation to generation - some things never change.
While some things do.
In Giving a Haggadah a Makeover a New York Times journalist describes updating the Hagaddah's English translation to today's vernacular. For instance, the word vermin has been changed to lice.
Here is an excerpt about world reaction to the kidnapping of the war criminal by the Israelis.
The Washington Post editorial page condemned Israel’s “jungle law”; The Christian Science Monitor equated Israel’s claims to those of the Nazis. William F. Buckley Jr. said the kidnapping was symptomatic of the Jewish “refusal to forgive.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/books/review/book-review-the-eichmann-trial-by-deborah-e-lipstadt.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hpw
From generation to generation - some things never change.
While some things do.
In Giving a Haggadah a Makeover a New York Times journalist describes updating the Hagaddah's English translation to today's vernacular. For instance, the word vermin has been changed to lice.
Next year in Jerusalem
The following is an excerpt from an article titled Passover's gift: the promised and undivided land by Victor Sharpe.
May Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government take to heart the pleas of Melanie Phillips, Walid Shoebat and the millions of Jews who yearn for a principled and resoundingly firm response from him to the ever humiliating demands upon the Jewish state to surrender from the Obama Administration, the State Department, and all the flawed Chanceries of Europe and beyond.
And it would not go amiss to remind the increasingly Godless European Union of Passover's gift to the Jewish people: The promised and undivided land.
Oh, and by the way, for centuries Jews have uttered a prayer at the conclusion of the Passover meal. In Hebrew it is L'Shanah HaBa'ah B'Yerushalayim. In English it means, "Next year may we be in Jerusalem," the 3,000 year old eternal capital of the Jewish people.
But in the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century the world, through the hateful two-state-solution, is forcing Jerusalem to again be divided by a wall of concrete and Arab hate. Those who call themselves Palestinians demand the eastern half of the city and the ancient Jewish prayer at Passover may become a bitter and tragic joke.
Worshipers will be forced into saying, "Next year in West Jerusalem."
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/sharpe/110406
May Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government take to heart the pleas of Melanie Phillips, Walid Shoebat and the millions of Jews who yearn for a principled and resoundingly firm response from him to the ever humiliating demands upon the Jewish state to surrender from the Obama Administration, the State Department, and all the flawed Chanceries of Europe and beyond.
And it would not go amiss to remind the increasingly Godless European Union of Passover's gift to the Jewish people: The promised and undivided land.
Oh, and by the way, for centuries Jews have uttered a prayer at the conclusion of the Passover meal. In Hebrew it is L'Shanah HaBa'ah B'Yerushalayim. In English it means, "Next year may we be in Jerusalem," the 3,000 year old eternal capital of the Jewish people.
But in the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century the world, through the hateful two-state-solution, is forcing Jerusalem to again be divided by a wall of concrete and Arab hate. Those who call themselves Palestinians demand the eastern half of the city and the ancient Jewish prayer at Passover may become a bitter and tragic joke.
Worshipers will be forced into saying, "Next year in West Jerusalem."
http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/sharpe/110406
9 Apr 2011
The bashert
This evening a relative related a story he had heard during a lecture this Shabbos.
A young man approached Rav Kanievsky because he was having a hard time with shidduchm. The young women that he had met couldn't get past the cuts on his face.
The Rav listened attentively to the young man and advised him that the next time the issue came up, he should relate the story behind his cuts to the young woman.
And so, a shidduch was suggested and the young man was asked what had happened to his face.
He explained that he had been walking in Jerusalem when he noticed an Arab approaching a family. He immediately ran to help them out. The Arab brandished a knife and stabbed the young man as he tried to fend him off.
Upon hearing the story, the young woman exclaimed that it had been her family who had been attacked and she had been searching for her young savior for a while, to no avail.
Needless to say, the shidduch went through.
A young man approached Rav Kanievsky because he was having a hard time with shidduchm. The young women that he had met couldn't get past the cuts on his face.
The Rav listened attentively to the young man and advised him that the next time the issue came up, he should relate the story behind his cuts to the young woman.
And so, a shidduch was suggested and the young man was asked what had happened to his face.
He explained that he had been walking in Jerusalem when he noticed an Arab approaching a family. He immediately ran to help them out. The Arab brandished a knife and stabbed the young man as he tried to fend him off.
Upon hearing the story, the young woman exclaimed that it had been her family who had been attacked and she had been searching for her young savior for a while, to no avail.
Needless to say, the shidduch went through.
8 Apr 2011
Miracles
The first mention of the name Nisan is in Megilas Esther when Haman draws lots to decide which day of the year he will kill the Yehudim. This event, says the Megila, took place in the month of Nisan. The Bnei Yisaschar says the name Nisan is for “Nisim” miracles. It is a month of open miracles where Hashem turned the natural world on its head to rescue His beloved nation. The Torah tells us this special time was planned from the creation of the world and will always be a time of miracles and redemption for Am Yisroel for all generations. “Leil Shimurim Hu LaShem… Shimurim L’Chol Bnei Yisroel L’Dorosum”
The word Nes is made of the letters “Nun” and “Samech”. The gemara tells us (Brachos 4b) that although in “Ashrei” each pasuk starts with the next consecutive letter of the Aleph Bais, the pasuk beginning with Nun is omitted. This is because a pasuk with “Nun” speaks of the downfall of Klal Yisroel. “Nafla Lo Sosif Kum Besulas Yisroel”. Even though Dovid left out the Nun he still lifted it up again with Ruach HaKodesh, as the pasuk after the missing Nun starts with the letter Samech and says, “Someich Hashem L’Chol HaNoflim”; Hashem supports all those who have fallen.
This, says the Bnei Yisaschar, is the significance of the word and month “Nisan”. It is the month that Hashem lifts up his downtrodden nation, both in the time Galus Mitzrayim and also in the day of Moshiach Sheyavo Bimheira Biyameinu.
http://www.revach.net/moadim/around-the-year/Bnei-Yisaschar-Whats-in-The-Name-Nisan/3577
Let us hope that the month of Nisan is a month of miracles. May Jonathan Pollard be freed in time for Pesach.
Daniel Pinner calls upon readers of INN to Join a Pollard Pesach Initiative and write letters to him.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/10127
Although a young boy has been crtically wounded in the attack on a school bus yesterday, a miracle occurred that the driver had let off many children at the previous stop and there was only one boy on the bus at the time.
Please pray for Daniel Aryeh ben Tamar, who was seriously wounded in the attack.
Read a moving article in Hebrew about him.
And what kind of miracle will it take for President Obama to produce his long form birth certificate?
The state appeals court affirmed this morning the denial of a request to inspect and review President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.
In a 3-0 vote, the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a 2009 ruling by then-state Circuit Judge Eden Elizabeth Hifo, who dismissed the lawsuit by a man identified as “Dr. Robert V. Justice,” who represented himself.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/119429664.html
The word Nes is made of the letters “Nun” and “Samech”. The gemara tells us (Brachos 4b) that although in “Ashrei” each pasuk starts with the next consecutive letter of the Aleph Bais, the pasuk beginning with Nun is omitted. This is because a pasuk with “Nun” speaks of the downfall of Klal Yisroel. “Nafla Lo Sosif Kum Besulas Yisroel”. Even though Dovid left out the Nun he still lifted it up again with Ruach HaKodesh, as the pasuk after the missing Nun starts with the letter Samech and says, “Someich Hashem L’Chol HaNoflim”; Hashem supports all those who have fallen.
This, says the Bnei Yisaschar, is the significance of the word and month “Nisan”. It is the month that Hashem lifts up his downtrodden nation, both in the time Galus Mitzrayim and also in the day of Moshiach Sheyavo Bimheira Biyameinu.
http://www.revach.net/moadim/around-the-year/Bnei-Yisaschar-Whats-in-The-Name-Nisan/3577
Let us hope that the month of Nisan is a month of miracles. May Jonathan Pollard be freed in time for Pesach.
Daniel Pinner calls upon readers of INN to Join a Pollard Pesach Initiative and write letters to him.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/10127
Although a young boy has been crtically wounded in the attack on a school bus yesterday, a miracle occurred that the driver had let off many children at the previous stop and there was only one boy on the bus at the time.
Please pray for Daniel Aryeh ben Tamar, who was seriously wounded in the attack.
Read a moving article in Hebrew about him.
And what kind of miracle will it take for President Obama to produce his long form birth certificate?
The state appeals court affirmed this morning the denial of a request to inspect and review President Barack Obama’s birth certificate.
In a 3-0 vote, the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld a 2009 ruling by then-state Circuit Judge Eden Elizabeth Hifo, who dismissed the lawsuit by a man identified as “Dr. Robert V. Justice,” who represented himself.
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/119429664.html
7 Apr 2011
In every generation
The following is an excerpt from an article titled Alan Dershowitz and Norwegian Anti-Semitism.
Norwegian Israel-haters routinely insist, of course, that their hatred of the Jewish state is not an expression of anti-Semitism. But the record strongly suggests otherwise — and it’s a record that goes back a long way. Every May 17th, Norwegians cram the streets of their cities, wearing quaint native costumes and waving Norwegian flags to mark the day in 1814 when their nation’s constitution was signed. One fact that has long since been dropped down the memory hole is that the second article of that constitution banned Jews from the country. (The exact sentence, in the quaint Dano-Norwegian of the day, is: “Jøder ere fremdeles udelukkede fra Adgang til Riget.” Translation: Jews are still excluded from admission to the Kingdom.) http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/alan-dershowitz-and-norwegian-anti-semitism/
The following is an excerpt from an article by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis titled The Tragic Vacuum.
In every generation, anti-Semitism is marketed differently in order to make it more palatable to the masses. During the time of Hitler, it was acceptable to excoriate Jews because of their "racial inferiority." Today, that type of Jew-hatred is not considered politically correct. It has been replaced by the equally pernicious anti-Zionism that loudly proclaims it is not against Jews the civilized world protests but against the "oppressive policies of Israel." But we all know only too well that anti-Israelism and anti-Semitism are one and the same.
http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/47896/
Rebels in eastern Libya say their forces have been mistakenly hit in a Nato air raid.
...It is the third such incident in recent days involving international forces deployed to protect Libyan civilians.
There is considerable anger among rebel troops after what appears to have been a terrible mistake.
They are asking why rebel units were hit, when they could be seen clearly advancing in a westerly direction towards the front line.
"It is unbelievable," said one Benghazi resident. "Nato, with all the equipment they have - is this the second mistake? Is it really a mistake or something arranged secretly.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12997181
Though NATO and the US have been shrugging off most reports of civilian killings in their strikes, they have come under renewed scrutiny since a top Catholic official in Tripoli said that his city alone lost 40 civilians in the bombing campaigns.
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/04/01/more-civilians-including-children-slain-in-natos-libya-strikes/
Where is the Goldstone report about the intentional killing of civilians by Nato forces? Or are we only concerned when Israel stands accused?
Norwegian Israel-haters routinely insist, of course, that their hatred of the Jewish state is not an expression of anti-Semitism. But the record strongly suggests otherwise — and it’s a record that goes back a long way. Every May 17th, Norwegians cram the streets of their cities, wearing quaint native costumes and waving Norwegian flags to mark the day in 1814 when their nation’s constitution was signed. One fact that has long since been dropped down the memory hole is that the second article of that constitution banned Jews from the country. (The exact sentence, in the quaint Dano-Norwegian of the day, is: “Jøder ere fremdeles udelukkede fra Adgang til Riget.” Translation: Jews are still excluded from admission to the Kingdom.) http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/alan-dershowitz-and-norwegian-anti-semitism/
The following is an excerpt from an article by Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis titled The Tragic Vacuum.
In every generation, anti-Semitism is marketed differently in order to make it more palatable to the masses. During the time of Hitler, it was acceptable to excoriate Jews because of their "racial inferiority." Today, that type of Jew-hatred is not considered politically correct. It has been replaced by the equally pernicious anti-Zionism that loudly proclaims it is not against Jews the civilized world protests but against the "oppressive policies of Israel." But we all know only too well that anti-Israelism and anti-Semitism are one and the same.
http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/47896/
Rebels in eastern Libya say their forces have been mistakenly hit in a Nato air raid.
...It is the third such incident in recent days involving international forces deployed to protect Libyan civilians.
There is considerable anger among rebel troops after what appears to have been a terrible mistake.
They are asking why rebel units were hit, when they could be seen clearly advancing in a westerly direction towards the front line.
"It is unbelievable," said one Benghazi resident. "Nato, with all the equipment they have - is this the second mistake? Is it really a mistake or something arranged secretly.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12997181
Though NATO and the US have been shrugging off most reports of civilian killings in their strikes, they have come under renewed scrutiny since a top Catholic official in Tripoli said that his city alone lost 40 civilians in the bombing campaigns.
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/04/01/more-civilians-including-children-slain-in-natos-libya-strikes/
Where is the Goldstone report about the intentional killing of civilians by Nato forces? Or are we only concerned when Israel stands accused?
Chef Herschel Pesach Dvar Torah
I caught a video which will be helpful to me in making a pot roast for Pesach. After watching chef Herschel's two videos below, I would like to ask Hashem to help us in ensuring that we all have a Pesach kasher vesameach and that our pot roast comes out to our liking.
In another video, the chef relates how his rabbi, married close to sixty years, sits down at the Shabbos table on Friday evening. Each times he eats his wife's chicken soup, he says, "this is the best chicken soup I have ever had." - A guaranteed recipe for shalom bayis.
In another video, the chef relates how his rabbi, married close to sixty years, sits down at the Shabbos table on Friday evening. Each times he eats his wife's chicken soup, he says, "this is the best chicken soup I have ever had." - A guaranteed recipe for shalom bayis.
6 Apr 2011
A number of questions
A number of questions.
To the New York Times. Why was the term birth certificate changed to certification of live birth? And if it were a Republican candidate whose life story contains inconsistencies, would you assign reporters the task of digging up the dirt?
Despite evidence to the contrary from Obama aides — they posted his birth certificate, from Hawaii, on the Internet during his presidential campaign
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/us/politics/19memo.html?_r=1
“I want him to show his birth certificate!” Mr. Trump said on “The View,” despite the fact that the president has indeed produced a certification of live birth showing he was born in Honolulu.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/03/business/media/03trump.html
To the United Nations spokesperson - why do you think a question posed to you yesterday was a mischaracterization of the Goldstone op-ed? What do you think Goldstone wrote in the op-ed - that he affirms the United Nations is not biased?
Question: ...And on Goldstone, following his column in the Washington Post last week in which he retracted some of the claims made in the report…
Spokesperson: I think that is a mischaracterization of the op-ed, but never mind.
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2011/db110405.doc.htm
Last, but not least. Caught this on the Muqata.
Click here to read new lyrics composed to the song below. The song is titled "What did you learn online today?"
To the New York Times. Why was the term birth certificate changed to certification of live birth? And if it were a Republican candidate whose life story contains inconsistencies, would you assign reporters the task of digging up the dirt?
Despite evidence to the contrary from Obama aides — they posted his birth certificate, from Hawaii, on the Internet during his presidential campaign
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/us/politics/19memo.html?_r=1
“I want him to show his birth certificate!” Mr. Trump said on “The View,” despite the fact that the president has indeed produced a certification of live birth showing he was born in Honolulu.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/03/business/media/03trump.html
To the United Nations spokesperson - why do you think a question posed to you yesterday was a mischaracterization of the Goldstone op-ed? What do you think Goldstone wrote in the op-ed - that he affirms the United Nations is not biased?
Question: ...And on Goldstone, following his column in the Washington Post last week in which he retracted some of the claims made in the report…
Spokesperson: I think that is a mischaracterization of the op-ed, but never mind.
http://www.un.org/News/briefings/docs/2011/db110405.doc.htm
Last, but not least. Caught this on the Muqata.
Click here to read new lyrics composed to the song below. The song is titled "What did you learn online today?"
A rally for what?
At the initiative of Muslim Peace Coalition USA 100 Imams in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut are calling Muslims in that area to come out for April 9th rally to oppose wars, condemn terrorism, and fight Islamophobia.
http://www.muslimpeacecoalition.org/news.php
In an article about the rally, Dr. Shaik Ubaid is identified as the New York State Co-Chair of Muslim Peace Coalition USA. Below is an excerpt from an article which seems to be authored by the same individual who is calling for peace.
"Yeah, too bad"! I said to the ugly triumvirate of neo-conservatives, evangelical fundamentalists and militant Zionists that rules my country's foreign policy today.
http://www.counterpunch.org/ubaid0422.html
One of the signatories to the call for a rally on April 9th is Imam Rauf.
http://www.muslimpeacecoalition.org/news.php
In an article about the rally, Dr. Shaik Ubaid is identified as the New York State Co-Chair of Muslim Peace Coalition USA. Below is an excerpt from an article which seems to be authored by the same individual who is calling for peace.
"Yeah, too bad"! I said to the ugly triumvirate of neo-conservatives, evangelical fundamentalists and militant Zionists that rules my country's foreign policy today.
http://www.counterpunch.org/ubaid0422.html
One of the signatories to the call for a rally on April 9th is Imam Rauf.
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