Rav Yechiel Michel Stern in the Nishmas Kol Chai points out that we find time
and time again the frogs taking up their mission for Hashem fearlessly without
any concern for their own death. By the Maka of tzefardei'a we find frogs
jumping into burning ovens. Then we find in the medrash, when Hashem wanted to
kill a person in Eiver HaYarden with a scorpion who couldn't swim across the
Yarden, the frog carried the dangerous scorpion across without worrying that the
scorpion will bite him. In the Hakdama of Perek Shira we find the frog offering
himself as food for a species that lives on the edge of the river that eats
frogs. The frog doesn't run. He makes himself readily available to fulfill the
Tzivui Hashem.
To have a moment of clarity and be Moseir Nefesh is a great thing. Once you
have earned your wings and still come out alive, you may be more reluctant to
take your chances again the next time. Not so with the frogs. Their whole
essence is Kiddush Hashem, over and over again. They sing day and night and
don't ever stop croaking. What are they croaking? The song of complete Mesiras
Nefesh to the great King, "Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Va'ed." Hashem's
Kingdon is blessed for all eternity.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=1628
Frogs in Egypt are now protected by a fatwa that forbids individuals from eating them. It's the first fatwa to appear by Egypt's highest fatwa council since the Muslim Brotherhood came to power.
Read more: http://times247.com/articles/egyptian-frog-fatwa-protects-croaking-praise-to-allah#ixzz1zbGZjPy6
4 Jul 2012
3 Jul 2012
A mother and a volunteer
Jewish Mom has a letter from a reader of Binah Magazine in a post titled What Rabbi Scheinberg told an Autistic Child’s Mother, in which the rabbi describes Rachel Imeinu's merit.
Israel National News writes about Efraim Goldstein, a 22-year-old religious man who will be among those carrying the Olympic Torch.
"Goldstein had established seven volunteer organizations by the age of 16. The groups he set up now have a total of several hundred volunteers.
Efraim currently volunteers for the Shomrim Patrol, an emergency search and rescue group that he established. He also runs a soup kitchen for the homeless, and visits sick children through the Helping Hand organization."
Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157356
Incidentally, I wanted to learn more about Mr. Goldsein so I googled his name and, would you believe, the first site that pops up relates to a different Efraim Goldstein who writes on his site that he believes in ... and that he and his wife "have been serving the Lord in ministry to the Jewish people" for many years. Isn't that an oxymoron?
Israel National News writes about Efraim Goldstein, a 22-year-old religious man who will be among those carrying the Olympic Torch.
"Goldstein had established seven volunteer organizations by the age of 16. The groups he set up now have a total of several hundred volunteers.
Efraim currently volunteers for the Shomrim Patrol, an emergency search and rescue group that he established. He also runs a soup kitchen for the homeless, and visits sick children through the Helping Hand organization."
Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/157356
Incidentally, I wanted to learn more about Mr. Goldsein so I googled his name and, would you believe, the first site that pops up relates to a different Efraim Goldstein who writes on his site that he believes in ... and that he and his wife "have been serving the Lord in ministry to the Jewish people" for many years. Isn't that an oxymoron?
Gratitude and love
This morning I was woken by the alarm. I wasn't in the greatest of moods since my heart was pounding as I recalled the dream I was having about something unattainable. Later on I checked my emails and the first email I came upon opened with the following words:
It is so important that you are grateful for everything in your life. Many people focus on the one thing they want and then forget to be grateful for all the things they have.
My heavy mood began to lighten as I processed the words. Thank you Hashem for all the good I have in my life and thank you for sending the message that I needed to receive today.
On another topic, here is an interesting item (reported in Hebrew) which I came across this morning. Apparently, google confused the Hebrew calendar this morning as the logo reflected the theme of Tu B'Av which takes place on August 3 rather than July 3. Click here to see the google logo that was captured today before it was removed.
It is so important that you are grateful for everything in your life. Many people focus on the one thing they want and then forget to be grateful for all the things they have.
My heavy mood began to lighten as I processed the words. Thank you Hashem for all the good I have in my life and thank you for sending the message that I needed to receive today.
On another topic, here is an interesting item (reported in Hebrew) which I came across this morning. Apparently, google confused the Hebrew calendar this morning as the logo reflected the theme of Tu B'Av which takes place on August 3 rather than July 3. Click here to see the google logo that was captured today before it was removed.
2 Jul 2012
On the subject of Israel
Anne Bayefsky notes the following:
Today, at the United Nations, the Obama administration is turning its back on Israel. For the very first time, the U.N. Security Council has invited the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to “brief” the Council specifically on the subject of Israel and the commissioner’s list of trumped-up sins. Though the U.S. is a veto-holding power, the extraordinary move has full American approval, despite the fact that the global soapbox will be handed to Navi Pillay, a notorious anti-Israel partisan.
Read full article: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/304559/obama-turns-his-back-israel-un-anne-bayefsky
Click here to read Democratic official's shock emails: Israel guilty of "crimes against humanity."
Scroll down the article to read the comments.
Today, at the United Nations, the Obama administration is turning its back on Israel. For the very first time, the U.N. Security Council has invited the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to “brief” the Council specifically on the subject of Israel and the commissioner’s list of trumped-up sins. Though the U.S. is a veto-holding power, the extraordinary move has full American approval, despite the fact that the global soapbox will be handed to Navi Pillay, a notorious anti-Israel partisan.
Read full article: http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/304559/obama-turns-his-back-israel-un-anne-bayefsky
Click here to read Democratic official's shock emails: Israel guilty of "crimes against humanity."
Scroll down the article to read the comments.
The closest
The other day I was shopping at a kosher supermarket in the neighborhood when I bumped into a distand cousin of mine. She told me that she was on her way to Israel later that day. I wished her a safe trip, told her to send regards to her family and asked her to have me in mind when she prays at the Kotel.
"I have such a desire to take a trip to Israel," I told her, "particularly since I listened to a rabbi's lecture where he spoke about soliciting advice and blessings from a rabbi, as well as a special woman living in Israel." I told the woman that I would love to go and make the rounds of rabbis, asking for brochos. She reminded me, "the Aibeshter is the closest." "Thank you for the reminder," I thanked her sincerely. As if to reinforce the point, I made my way to one of the supermarket aisles when I was struck by a tune playing in the background through the store's loudspeakers. The lyrics of the song were “Pischu Li Pesach K’Chudo Shel Machat, V’aani Eftach Lachem Pesach K’Pischo Shel Ulam - Open for me a hole like the eye of the needle, and I will open for you [the rest] like the entranceway to a great hall”.
"I have such a desire to take a trip to Israel," I told her, "particularly since I listened to a rabbi's lecture where he spoke about soliciting advice and blessings from a rabbi, as well as a special woman living in Israel." I told the woman that I would love to go and make the rounds of rabbis, asking for brochos. She reminded me, "the Aibeshter is the closest." "Thank you for the reminder," I thanked her sincerely. As if to reinforce the point, I made my way to one of the supermarket aisles when I was struck by a tune playing in the background through the store's loudspeakers. The lyrics of the song were “Pischu Li Pesach K’Chudo Shel Machat, V’aani Eftach Lachem Pesach K’Pischo Shel Ulam - Open for me a hole like the eye of the needle, and I will open for you [the rest] like the entranceway to a great hall”.
Coping with life
The following is a guest post by Josh Anderson.
Tips For Coping With Life That Every Adult Should Take To Heart
Ryan O'Haver writes about self help, personal finance & finding cheap boat insurance.
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Guest Post U
Tips For Coping With Life That Every Adult Should Take To Heart
Life is never easy and it is not supposed to be. The most enjoyable moments are often produced by an individual's hardest labors. Unfortunately, learning how to appreciate the ebb and flow of human existence is something that many people never manage. Following are a few tips for coping with life that will show you how to appreciate your own existence to the fullest.
Know Who Your Real Friends Are
Try to steer clear of people who are only your friends when the sun is shining on your side of the street. When stormy clouds roll over these are the same individuals who will be hard to find. The best friends to have are those who will stand by your side come what may. They do not take pleasure in tearing others down with their mouths and they are not attracted to others based upon what they have. Surround yourself with people who love you for you and who remain loyal even when the going gets tough. False friends and their many betrayals can make the trials of life far more difficult than they really have to be.
Stop Worrying About What Others Think
Don't let what other people are saying about you sway your actions or the way that you feel about yourself. Those who are extremely invested in analyzing your life, your actions, your financial circumstances or any other personal aspect of you, are typically people who do not have fulfilling lives of their own. Live your life and live it to the fullest, absent of any concern about how others might perceive you. Stay true to your goals, your ethics and your ultimate loves and all things will be well, even when your ears are burning with the gossip of naysayers.
Never Be Afraid To Throw The Towel In
It takes courage to fail. The people who are afraid to fail in life are generally the very same ones who never try their hands at anything new, adventurous or exciting. The hardest part of failing, however, is often simply admitting your failure and knowing when to stop wasting your efforts. Take stock of where your time, emotions and resources are invested and make a dedicated effort to stop investing these things in failed efforts. This will allow you to take your life in utterly new directions, without embarrassment or fear. To have tried at all makes you courageous and understanding when to quit investing yourself in something that has proven itself unable to improve makes you wise.
Pamper Yourself More
Taking care of those you love is good, but it is vital that you take care of yourself first. Do things that make you feel loved, pampered and appreciated. When you do, you will stop looking to others for the validation, attention and support that only you can give yourself.
Work To Achieve Balance
Overworking, over-playing and overachieving in any way will eventually drain you. Work hard instead at achieving balance. Take care of your physical self, your mental self, your home, your children, your family and your soul. If you place all of your efforts and energies in only one life area, only this one area of life is guaranteed to succeed.
Never Be Afraid To Cry
Sorrow, grief, loss, sadness and any other negative emotion that you can think of are all essential for enjoying a passionate and fulfilling existence. You will never know true happiness until you have experienced its opposite. Loss will help you to appreciate what you still have and your tears will make you exceedingly grateful for all of the things that make you smile.
In the modern world, people are far too concerned with maintaining a constant state of happiness. People who suffer from mild to moderate depression are far too likely to seek medical attention for what is commonly a very natural and necessary experience. Sometimes, it is good to relish both the bad and the phenomenal, to appreciate your ability to experience a great range and depth of emotion. When you understand that it is perfectly natural and okay to feel disheartened, disenfranchised and even utterly alone in life, you will also know that these things will certainly pass away with time. You will also have much more realistic expectations about how life really works and you might even stop looking for the grass to be greener somewhere else. When you accept life for the complex and often unpredictable experience that it is, you will be truly content, no matter where you are, what you own or what you are doing.
Know Who Your Real Friends Are
Try to steer clear of people who are only your friends when the sun is shining on your side of the street. When stormy clouds roll over these are the same individuals who will be hard to find. The best friends to have are those who will stand by your side come what may. They do not take pleasure in tearing others down with their mouths and they are not attracted to others based upon what they have. Surround yourself with people who love you for you and who remain loyal even when the going gets tough. False friends and their many betrayals can make the trials of life far more difficult than they really have to be.
Stop Worrying About What Others Think
Don't let what other people are saying about you sway your actions or the way that you feel about yourself. Those who are extremely invested in analyzing your life, your actions, your financial circumstances or any other personal aspect of you, are typically people who do not have fulfilling lives of their own. Live your life and live it to the fullest, absent of any concern about how others might perceive you. Stay true to your goals, your ethics and your ultimate loves and all things will be well, even when your ears are burning with the gossip of naysayers.
Never Be Afraid To Throw The Towel In
It takes courage to fail. The people who are afraid to fail in life are generally the very same ones who never try their hands at anything new, adventurous or exciting. The hardest part of failing, however, is often simply admitting your failure and knowing when to stop wasting your efforts. Take stock of where your time, emotions and resources are invested and make a dedicated effort to stop investing these things in failed efforts. This will allow you to take your life in utterly new directions, without embarrassment or fear. To have tried at all makes you courageous and understanding when to quit investing yourself in something that has proven itself unable to improve makes you wise.
Pamper Yourself More
Taking care of those you love is good, but it is vital that you take care of yourself first. Do things that make you feel loved, pampered and appreciated. When you do, you will stop looking to others for the validation, attention and support that only you can give yourself.
Work To Achieve Balance
Overworking, over-playing and overachieving in any way will eventually drain you. Work hard instead at achieving balance. Take care of your physical self, your mental self, your home, your children, your family and your soul. If you place all of your efforts and energies in only one life area, only this one area of life is guaranteed to succeed.
Never Be Afraid To Cry
Sorrow, grief, loss, sadness and any other negative emotion that you can think of are all essential for enjoying a passionate and fulfilling existence. You will never know true happiness until you have experienced its opposite. Loss will help you to appreciate what you still have and your tears will make you exceedingly grateful for all of the things that make you smile.
In the modern world, people are far too concerned with maintaining a constant state of happiness. People who suffer from mild to moderate depression are far too likely to seek medical attention for what is commonly a very natural and necessary experience. Sometimes, it is good to relish both the bad and the phenomenal, to appreciate your ability to experience a great range and depth of emotion. When you understand that it is perfectly natural and okay to feel disheartened, disenfranchised and even utterly alone in life, you will also know that these things will certainly pass away with time. You will also have much more realistic expectations about how life really works and you might even stop looking for the grass to be greener somewhere else. When you accept life for the complex and often unpredictable experience that it is, you will be truly content, no matter where you are, what you own or what you are doing.
Ryan O'Haver writes about self help, personal finance & finding cheap boat insurance.
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Guest Post U
The University of Great Content
1 Jul 2012
Dibbur
The following is an excerpt from a daily email by Rabbi Eli Mansour which gave pause to both my friend and me as we reflected on the unintentional consequences of the words we speak.
The Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572), in his glosses to the Shulhan Aruch (Yoreh De’a 376), mentions the Halacha that one should not “open his mouth to the Satan.” This means that one should not speak about events that he does not wish to transpire, such as disasters and catastrophes, as words have the power to cause these misfortunes to happen. The Sages teach, “Berit Keruta La’sfatayim” – there is a “covenant” made with the lips whereby they have power to cause that which they speak about. The word “Dibbur” (“speech”) is derived from word “Dabar” (“thing”), which generally refers to tangible objects. Speech has substance and force, and therefore it must be used with great caution.
Thus, for example, if a person has not heard from somebody in a long time, and that other person has not returned his phone calls or letters, he should not say, “I haven’t heard from him; he must have died.” The mere utterance of these words could cause the misfortune to happen, and thus these words should not be said.
Read full article: http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=&ClipID=2344
The Rama (Rabbi Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572), in his glosses to the Shulhan Aruch (Yoreh De’a 376), mentions the Halacha that one should not “open his mouth to the Satan.” This means that one should not speak about events that he does not wish to transpire, such as disasters and catastrophes, as words have the power to cause these misfortunes to happen. The Sages teach, “Berit Keruta La’sfatayim” – there is a “covenant” made with the lips whereby they have power to cause that which they speak about. The word “Dibbur” (“speech”) is derived from word “Dabar” (“thing”), which generally refers to tangible objects. Speech has substance and force, and therefore it must be used with great caution.
Thus, for example, if a person has not heard from somebody in a long time, and that other person has not returned his phone calls or letters, he should not say, “I haven’t heard from him; he must have died.” The mere utterance of these words could cause the misfortune to happen, and thus these words should not be said.
Read full article: http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=&ClipID=2344
The extra second
Horologists around the world carried out one of the strangest operations of their profession on Saturday night - they held back time.
The last minute of June 30, 2012 was 61 seconds long with a "leap second" added to compensate for the erratic movement of the Earth.
The brief halting of the second hand compensates for the creeping divergence from solar time - the period required for Earth to complete a day.
http://news.sky.com/story/953697/horologists-add-a-leap-second
Speaking about time, a friend lent me the book Trust Me by Rabbi Eliezer Parkoff in which he shares a thought from Meva'er Ha-Inyanim as cited in Yalkut Lekach Tov. The thought relates to the passuk in Kohelet, "There is a time to be born and a time to die." Obviously something additional is being taught here rather than the obvious statement. He further goes on to relate a story about a couple who have been married for a long time and haven't been blessed with children. After consulting doctors and making the rounds of rabbis for many years, to no avail, the couple hears about a tzaddik who has great success in helping childless couples. They go to the rabbo, receive a brocha and, within a year, a child is born. They are ecstatic but have one regret. Had they gone to the tzaddik earlier, they would have spared themselves many years of anguish.
"It is this attitude that Shlomo Hamelech comes to address. No! There is a right time to give birth. It is not that the cause brought about the right time; rather, it is the right time that brought about the cause. Since it was the right time, Hashem sent them a tzaddik who would aid them through his prayers. If this same tzaddik would have come a few years earlier, his blessings and prayers wouldn't have accomplished anything..."
We all gained an extra second last night. Did we utilize the time wisely?
The last minute of June 30, 2012 was 61 seconds long with a "leap second" added to compensate for the erratic movement of the Earth.
The brief halting of the second hand compensates for the creeping divergence from solar time - the period required for Earth to complete a day.
http://news.sky.com/story/953697/horologists-add-a-leap-second
Speaking about time, a friend lent me the book Trust Me by Rabbi Eliezer Parkoff in which he shares a thought from Meva'er Ha-Inyanim as cited in Yalkut Lekach Tov. The thought relates to the passuk in Kohelet, "There is a time to be born and a time to die." Obviously something additional is being taught here rather than the obvious statement. He further goes on to relate a story about a couple who have been married for a long time and haven't been blessed with children. After consulting doctors and making the rounds of rabbis for many years, to no avail, the couple hears about a tzaddik who has great success in helping childless couples. They go to the rabbo, receive a brocha and, within a year, a child is born. They are ecstatic but have one regret. Had they gone to the tzaddik earlier, they would have spared themselves many years of anguish.
"It is this attitude that Shlomo Hamelech comes to address. No! There is a right time to give birth. It is not that the cause brought about the right time; rather, it is the right time that brought about the cause. Since it was the right time, Hashem sent them a tzaddik who would aid them through his prayers. If this same tzaddik would have come a few years earlier, his blessings and prayers wouldn't have accomplished anything..."
We all gained an extra second last night. Did we utilize the time wisely?
30 Jun 2012
A nation in isolation
"Hein Am L'Vadad Yishkon; They are a nation that resides in isolation," (Balak 23:9). The Vilna Gaon explains that Bnei Yisrael is likened to fire, "Bais Yaakov Eish," (Ovadia 1:18). The other nations are like water that try to extinguish us. However, as the pasuk says (Shir HaShirim 8:7), "Mayim Rabim Lo Yuchlu Lchabos Es HaAhava; The great waters of the world will never extinguish us and the love between us and Hashem."
When there is a pot separating the water from the fire, the water will eventually dry up in the pot. However, if the water is poured directly on the fire it may extinguish it. The only safety for the fire is the pot that protects it. The Gemara says (Brachos 56b) that seeing a pot in a dream is a forbearing of peace. The pot is the great peacemaker between the fire and water.
This was Bilam's message, "Hen Am L'Vadad Yishkon." As long as this nation lives alone and does not mixed with the nations of the world, they will successfully repel and overcome their enemies. If the barriers are broken, the waters may drown us.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=5111
When there is a pot separating the water from the fire, the water will eventually dry up in the pot. However, if the water is poured directly on the fire it may extinguish it. The only safety for the fire is the pot that protects it. The Gemara says (Brachos 56b) that seeing a pot in a dream is a forbearing of peace. The pot is the great peacemaker between the fire and water.
This was Bilam's message, "Hen Am L'Vadad Yishkon." As long as this nation lives alone and does not mixed with the nations of the world, they will successfully repel and overcome their enemies. If the barriers are broken, the waters may drown us.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=5111
29 Jun 2012
Filling time
I came across an article titled 9 Beliefs of Remarkably Successful People.
The first item on the list was the following:
1. Time doesn't fill me. I fill time.
Read full article: http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/9-beliefs-of-remarkably-successful-people.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+inc%2Fheadlines+%28Inc.com+Headlines%29
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