A couple of days ago, I linked to an article about Carolyn Fine, an observant Jew, who was in a quandary because she was chosen to be valedictorian but her speech was to be delivered on Shavuot.
The Cool Jew has a video relating her story.
A man posted a video on YouTube about how he thought it was ridiculous that Ms. Fine wouldn't use any electrical apparatus for two days. He asked, "Couldn't G-d give her dispensation for half an hour? Do you think G-d really cares?"
The Gemara states:
"Eyn adam nokef etzbao lemata-ad she'machrizim aleya milemala" ("and one doesn't knock a finger below unless it is announced beforehand above" - Talmud Chullin 7b).
http://dafyomireview.com/article.php?docid=215&style=print
Yes. G-d cares whether a person puts on tefillin, prays, doesn't turn on a light on Shabbos, etc.
Here's a wonderful story about a man who seized the opportunity to get another Jew to don tefillin for the first time since his bar mitzvah.
10 Jun 2011
9 Jun 2011
Passing judgment
An interesting phrase: “The people were like murmurers, which was evil in the ears of the Lord” (Num. 11:1). It doesn’t say they actually were murmurers but they were like murmurers.
We seem to have here a parallel to a verse we read a few weeks back about a possible plague in a house. The Torah says, K’nega nir’ah li babayit – “Something like a plague appears to me (to be) in the house” (Lev. 14:35). When we see something that looks unacceptable, we should not be in too much of a hurry to pass judgment. We can say, “It appears to be a plague”, not, “There is definitely a plague”.
Let me illustrate this with a memory of a member of my first congregation. He told me that at a company directors’ meeting he was rather certain that the chairman was not telling the truth. But instead of saying, “Mr Chairman, you are a liar!” he said, “Mr Chairman, you appear to have permitted yourself to be misinformed”. The Torah does not say, “The people were murmurers”, but “The people were like murmurers”.
http://www.oztorah.com/2008/06/grumblers-or-not-bhaalotcha/
The Torah thought by Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple about not being quick to pass judgment really hit home when I read about a confession of a 96-year-old woman to a 1946 murder.
"Atie Ridder-Visser wrote a letter to the mayor of Leiden on Jan. 1 acknowledging she killed Felix Gulje after World War II in the mistaken belief he was a Nazi collaborator.
....During the war, Gulje had been rumored to have worked with the Nazis and had been targeted in the underground press.
In reality, Gulje had sheltered several Jews and allowed a banned Catholic association to hold secret meetings in his home."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/06/09/2011-06-09_a_96yearold_dutch_woman_confesses_to_unsolved_1946_murder.html
We seem to have here a parallel to a verse we read a few weeks back about a possible plague in a house. The Torah says, K’nega nir’ah li babayit – “Something like a plague appears to me (to be) in the house” (Lev. 14:35). When we see something that looks unacceptable, we should not be in too much of a hurry to pass judgment. We can say, “It appears to be a plague”, not, “There is definitely a plague”.
Let me illustrate this with a memory of a member of my first congregation. He told me that at a company directors’ meeting he was rather certain that the chairman was not telling the truth. But instead of saying, “Mr Chairman, you are a liar!” he said, “Mr Chairman, you appear to have permitted yourself to be misinformed”. The Torah does not say, “The people were murmurers”, but “The people were like murmurers”.
http://www.oztorah.com/2008/06/grumblers-or-not-bhaalotcha/
The Torah thought by Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple about not being quick to pass judgment really hit home when I read about a confession of a 96-year-old woman to a 1946 murder.
"Atie Ridder-Visser wrote a letter to the mayor of Leiden on Jan. 1 acknowledging she killed Felix Gulje after World War II in the mistaken belief he was a Nazi collaborator.
....During the war, Gulje had been rumored to have worked with the Nazis and had been targeted in the underground press.
In reality, Gulje had sheltered several Jews and allowed a banned Catholic association to hold secret meetings in his home."
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2011/06/09/2011-06-09_a_96yearold_dutch_woman_confesses_to_unsolved_1946_murder.html
7 Jun 2011
Shavuot
"The Torah says that the celebration of the great miracles of Pesach is seven days and the happiness of Succos lasts eight days. Yet for the precious Chag of Shavuos when Hashem gave us the greatest gift of all, the gift that preceded the universe and is the basis of the world, we only have a Yom Tov of one day. Why is this?
Rav Yonah Metzger answers with the Mishna in Pirkei Avos. The Mishna (2:5) says, "V'Al Toimar K'SheEfneh Eshneh Shema Lo Tipaneh", I will learn when I have time, because maybe you will never have time. Torah learning is the lifeblood of a person. It is not a task that must be taken care of at some point in time. Every moment is a new obligation. One who pushes off his immediate obligation will inevitably continue to push it off forever.
Shavuos is the great day of Kabalas HaTorah. If there would be seven days Yom Tov we'd take it easy on the first day knowing we have a whole Yom Tov ahead of us. With Torah there is no time ahead of us, we must embrace it here and now. Hashem gave us one day, if we accept the Torah on that day, it is with us for the rest of the year. If we miss our chance, Shema Lo Tipaneh, we may not get another opportunity."
http://www.revach.net/avodah/olam-hatorah/Why-Did-The-Torah-Only-Give-One-Day-Of-Shavuos/5083
Here's a story about a young woman faced with the dilemma of delivering her valedictorian address on Shavuot.
Here's a video about a young girl who raised thousands of dollars for a soup kitchen.
And, if you have the time, there's an interesting article at Commentary Magazine by Daniel Gordis.
חג שמח
Rav Yonah Metzger answers with the Mishna in Pirkei Avos. The Mishna (2:5) says, "V'Al Toimar K'SheEfneh Eshneh Shema Lo Tipaneh", I will learn when I have time, because maybe you will never have time. Torah learning is the lifeblood of a person. It is not a task that must be taken care of at some point in time. Every moment is a new obligation. One who pushes off his immediate obligation will inevitably continue to push it off forever.
Shavuos is the great day of Kabalas HaTorah. If there would be seven days Yom Tov we'd take it easy on the first day knowing we have a whole Yom Tov ahead of us. With Torah there is no time ahead of us, we must embrace it here and now. Hashem gave us one day, if we accept the Torah on that day, it is with us for the rest of the year. If we miss our chance, Shema Lo Tipaneh, we may not get another opportunity."
http://www.revach.net/avodah/olam-hatorah/Why-Did-The-Torah-Only-Give-One-Day-Of-Shavuos/5083
Here's a story about a young woman faced with the dilemma of delivering her valedictorian address on Shavuot.
Here's a video about a young girl who raised thousands of dollars for a soup kitchen.
And, if you have the time, there's an interesting article at Commentary Magazine by Daniel Gordis.
חג שמח
Interesting comments
Some interesting comments I came across this morning.
In a Pajamas Media article, Roger Simon discusses how he feels branded by the wrongdoings of some people who belong to his faith.
He ends his article by stating, "Agnostic though I may be, I want to follow in the best tradition of my people...I will redouble my efforts in the support of Israel. I will continue to be proud of my heritage."
http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2011/06/06/bad-for-the-jews/
One comment posted was the following.
"None of the men Roger mentioned seem to know a whole lot about Judaism.
Shavuot begins sundown June 7, 2011 – through June 9
http://www.aish.com/h/sh/
Lesrn and be proud of our heritage."
Another comment posted:
I remember once talking with a friend, explaining how we (the Jews) get to be proud of Jonas Salk and Albert Einstein, but have to be ashamed of Bernie Madoff and Eliot Spitzer. “Proud, ashamed, proud, ashamed,” I said. “It all gets a little exhausting sometimes.”
My friend, who is Irish-American, responded “I sortof know what you mean, Mike. We get to be proud of the Kennedys……and ashamed of the Kennedys.”
Finally, in searching for a video to post about Shavuot, I came across a comment in Hebrew about a young boy asking his rabbi why people had two eyes when they only had one nose and one mouth. The rabbi responded that the left eye was for a person to use to see himself - to see his imperfections and try to improve himself. The right eye was to be used to see people with a good eye - to focus on their good points.
May we be able to see the good in other people and achieve the unity that the Bnei Yisrael achieved at Har Sinai when they were as one as they promised to follow the words of the Torah.
Let's be proud of our heritage and fulfill our ancestors' promise.
In a Pajamas Media article, Roger Simon discusses how he feels branded by the wrongdoings of some people who belong to his faith.
He ends his article by stating, "Agnostic though I may be, I want to follow in the best tradition of my people...I will redouble my efforts in the support of Israel. I will continue to be proud of my heritage."
http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2011/06/06/bad-for-the-jews/
One comment posted was the following.
"None of the men Roger mentioned seem to know a whole lot about Judaism.
Shavuot begins sundown June 7, 2011 – through June 9
http://www.aish.com/h/sh/
Lesrn and be proud of our heritage."
Another comment posted:
I remember once talking with a friend, explaining how we (the Jews) get to be proud of Jonas Salk and Albert Einstein, but have to be ashamed of Bernie Madoff and Eliot Spitzer. “Proud, ashamed, proud, ashamed,” I said. “It all gets a little exhausting sometimes.”
My friend, who is Irish-American, responded “I sortof know what you mean, Mike. We get to be proud of the Kennedys……and ashamed of the Kennedys.”
Finally, in searching for a video to post about Shavuot, I came across a comment in Hebrew about a young boy asking his rabbi why people had two eyes when they only had one nose and one mouth. The rabbi responded that the left eye was for a person to use to see himself - to see his imperfections and try to improve himself. The right eye was to be used to see people with a good eye - to focus on their good points.
May we be able to see the good in other people and achieve the unity that the Bnei Yisrael achieved at Har Sinai when they were as one as they promised to follow the words of the Torah.
Let's be proud of our heritage and fulfill our ancestors' promise.
6 Jun 2011
3 Jun 2011
Congratulations students
Wishing you a chodesh tov.
Incredible article titled Pa. girl aces 'cymotrichous' to win Spelling Bee about a 14-year-old girl who finally won the Scripps National Spelling Bee after endless rounds between five students who couldn't be stumped.
Congratulations to Sukanya Roy on her tremendous feat.
Click here to read article.
Click here to watch.
And here's a story about a valedictorian of a "high school where a judge has banned formal prayers at graduation ceremonies" who "is fighting for an opportunity to lead the crowd in prayer."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110602/us_nm/us_prayer_graduation_texas
Congratulations Angela Hildenbrand on being selected to represent the class as valedictorian.
Incredible article titled Pa. girl aces 'cymotrichous' to win Spelling Bee about a 14-year-old girl who finally won the Scripps National Spelling Bee after endless rounds between five students who couldn't be stumped.
Congratulations to Sukanya Roy on her tremendous feat.
Click here to read article.
Click here to watch.
And here's a story about a valedictorian of a "high school where a judge has banned formal prayers at graduation ceremonies" who "is fighting for an opportunity to lead the crowd in prayer."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110602/us_nm/us_prayer_graduation_texas
Congratulations Angela Hildenbrand on being selected to represent the class as valedictorian.
2 Jun 2011
This one's for you
This one is for the bloggers.
David Pell has an article at the Huffington Post titled I Don't Care If You Read This Article. Of couurse, I had to click on it with such a title. It's about people measuring their self-worth by the internet traffic they generate. How many bloggers identify with this?
And this one's for women to relate to their husbands - a Torah thought on this week's parsha by Rabbi Eli Mansour about the Sotah which is discussed in this week's Parsha of Naso.
In introducing this section, the Torah writes, “Ish Ish Ki Tisteh Ishto…” – “If a man’s wife strays…” The question immediately arises as to why the Torah here repeats the word “Ish” (“man”), as though it was saying, “A man, a man whose wife strays…” What is the purpose of this repetition?
One of the scholars of Musar suggested that the Torah here subtly addresses the question of why a married woman would enter into an extramarital relationship. What might cause a woman to betray her husband? The answer, the Torah teaches us, is often “Ish Ish” – that the marriage was only about the husband. A marriage is supposed to be “Ish Isha” – a husband and wife.
Read full article: http://www.dailyhalacha.com/WeeklyParasha.asp
David Pell has an article at the Huffington Post titled I Don't Care If You Read This Article. Of couurse, I had to click on it with such a title. It's about people measuring their self-worth by the internet traffic they generate. How many bloggers identify with this?
And this one's for women to relate to their husbands - a Torah thought on this week's parsha by Rabbi Eli Mansour about the Sotah which is discussed in this week's Parsha of Naso.
In introducing this section, the Torah writes, “Ish Ish Ki Tisteh Ishto…” – “If a man’s wife strays…” The question immediately arises as to why the Torah here repeats the word “Ish” (“man”), as though it was saying, “A man, a man whose wife strays…” What is the purpose of this repetition?
One of the scholars of Musar suggested that the Torah here subtly addresses the question of why a married woman would enter into an extramarital relationship. What might cause a woman to betray her husband? The answer, the Torah teaches us, is often “Ish Ish” – that the marriage was only about the husband. A marriage is supposed to be “Ish Isha” – a husband and wife.
Read full article: http://www.dailyhalacha.com/WeeklyParasha.asp
Anti-semitism in the news
The Obama administration said Wednesday it will boycott a world conference against racism being held at U.N. headquarters in September.
Read full article: http://www.startribune.com/nation/122969498.html
Pop the champagne! It's party time at the City University of New York (CUNY) for Israel-loathing professors. For years, they've gazed enviously at California, where academic anti-Semites can demonize and harass Jewish students to their hearts' content, all at taxpayers' expense.
Read full article: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/06/bashing_israel_on_campus_from_california_to_new_york.html
And to another topic - I received an email written by Rabbi Eli Mansour about the reason parents should recite a special prayer for children on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
The Shela Ha’kadosh (Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz, 1565-1630) writes that there is a special prayer that parents should recite on Ereb Rosh Hodesh Sivan (the day before Rosh Hodesh Sivan) on behalf of their children. In general, Ereb Rosh Hodesh is a day of prayer and repentance, and many people have the custom to fast and recite Tehillim on this day. Ereb Rosh Hodesh Sivan, however, is especially designated as a day to pray that one’s children should grow to become righteous Sadikim and Torah scholars. Since Sivan is the month in which we accepted the Torah, the day before the onset of this month is a particularly auspicious time to pray for one’s children’s growth in Torah.
Click here to recite the prayer.
Click here to read Rabbi Mansour's daily halacha.
Read full article: http://www.startribune.com/nation/122969498.html
Pop the champagne! It's party time at the City University of New York (CUNY) for Israel-loathing professors. For years, they've gazed enviously at California, where academic anti-Semites can demonize and harass Jewish students to their hearts' content, all at taxpayers' expense.
Read full article: http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/06/bashing_israel_on_campus_from_california_to_new_york.html
And to another topic - I received an email written by Rabbi Eli Mansour about the reason parents should recite a special prayer for children on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
The Shela Ha’kadosh (Rabbi Yeshaya Horowitz, 1565-1630) writes that there is a special prayer that parents should recite on Ereb Rosh Hodesh Sivan (the day before Rosh Hodesh Sivan) on behalf of their children. In general, Ereb Rosh Hodesh is a day of prayer and repentance, and many people have the custom to fast and recite Tehillim on this day. Ereb Rosh Hodesh Sivan, however, is especially designated as a day to pray that one’s children should grow to become righteous Sadikim and Torah scholars. Since Sivan is the month in which we accepted the Torah, the day before the onset of this month is a particularly auspicious time to pray for one’s children’s growth in Torah.
Click here to recite the prayer.
Click here to read Rabbi Mansour's daily halacha.
1 Jun 2011
The sun slowly sets
Franz Kafka said: "one sees the sun slowly set, yet one is surprised when it suddenly becomes dark."
Mister President, members of the Court, do not let the lights go out in the Netherlands.
Acquit me: Put an end to this Kafkaesque situation.
Click here to read the text of Geert Wilder's closing remarks at his trial. The verdict is to be delivered on June 23rd. Alternatively, you can listen to him speaking in Dutch with English subtitles over here.
And a reminder to use your power of speech tomorrow to recite the prayer of the Shla"H Hakadosh which is said annually on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan for our children.
Click here to send a kvitel, as well as to see the prayer in Hebrew or English.
Mister President, members of the Court, do not let the lights go out in the Netherlands.
Acquit me: Put an end to this Kafkaesque situation.
Click here to read the text of Geert Wilder's closing remarks at his trial. The verdict is to be delivered on June 23rd. Alternatively, you can listen to him speaking in Dutch with English subtitles over here.
And a reminder to use your power of speech tomorrow to recite the prayer of the Shla"H Hakadosh which is said annually on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan for our children.
Click here to send a kvitel, as well as to see the prayer in Hebrew or English.
Remembering Har Sinai
We find in the Torah that many mitzvos are Zecher L’Yetzias Mitzrayim. We don’t find mitzvos that are Zecher L”Maamad Har Sinai. Rav Aharon Kotler asks, since the whole point of leaving Mitzrayim was to receive the Torah, aren’t we focusing on the wrong thing? Mitzrayim is only a means to the end of receiving the Torah. Shouldn’t we be concerned with remembering Har Sinai?
He answers that memories are needed for something that happened in the past and isn’t here right now. We can’t move the past forward, so we take ourselves back in time. This applies to Yetzias Mitzrayim where remembering is appropriate. However says Rav Aharon, Ma’amad Har Sinai is something that can happen every moment of every day. When a person learns the way he should, that moment itself is no less than when we stood by Har Sinai. He proves this from the gemaros where we find Tanaim learning Torah and consumed in fire, such as Rebbi Eliezer and Rebbi Yehoshua at the Bris Milah of Elisha ben Avuya (Yerushalmi Chagiga 2:1) and Yonason ben Uziel where birds flying overhead were burned by the fire (Succah 28a).
We see from hear that limud hatorah BiKedusha UB’Tahara can actually bring the same Kedusha of Ma’amad Har Sinai right here and right now. Even people with short memories can constantly enjoy hearing the words of Hashem anytime anywhere! (Kol MeiHeichal - Shavuos 5766)
http://www.revach.net/moadim/shavuos/Rav-Aharon-Kotler-Why-Always-quotZecher-Yetzias-Mitzrayimquot-and-Not-quotZecher-Har-Sinaiquot/2312
He answers that memories are needed for something that happened in the past and isn’t here right now. We can’t move the past forward, so we take ourselves back in time. This applies to Yetzias Mitzrayim where remembering is appropriate. However says Rav Aharon, Ma’amad Har Sinai is something that can happen every moment of every day. When a person learns the way he should, that moment itself is no less than when we stood by Har Sinai. He proves this from the gemaros where we find Tanaim learning Torah and consumed in fire, such as Rebbi Eliezer and Rebbi Yehoshua at the Bris Milah of Elisha ben Avuya (Yerushalmi Chagiga 2:1) and Yonason ben Uziel where birds flying overhead were burned by the fire (Succah 28a).
We see from hear that limud hatorah BiKedusha UB’Tahara can actually bring the same Kedusha of Ma’amad Har Sinai right here and right now. Even people with short memories can constantly enjoy hearing the words of Hashem anytime anywhere! (Kol MeiHeichal - Shavuos 5766)
http://www.revach.net/moadim/shavuos/Rav-Aharon-Kotler-Why-Always-quotZecher-Yetzias-Mitzrayimquot-and-Not-quotZecher-Har-Sinaiquot/2312
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