These are the devarim

"These are the Devarim / words that Moshe spoke to all Yisrael." (1:1) R' Yehuda He'chassid zt"l writes in Ta'amei Mesorot HaMikra: The word "Devarim / words," suggests "Devoirim" or "bees." The words of the Torah are like bees (and bee products). In other words, the Torah, especially Sefer Devarim which contains many harsh rebukes, are as sweet as honey to those who keep them, but will sting as painfully as a bee to anyone who mistreats them.

It is noteworthy that the Gematria of the word 'Mussar' = 306, which has the same Gematria as the word 'D'vash' (Honey), as well as, 'Av HaRachamon' (A reference to Hashem as our Merciful Father). Although Mussar may sting, ultimately it is as sweet as honey, and should be used to refine one's character and reaffirm our connection to our Merciful Father.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/numbers-amp-letters/Parshas-Devarim-Rav-Yehuda-HaChasid-Sweet-Like-Honey-Stinging-Like-A-Bee/2575

The Gedolim

Baltimore Jewish Life has a Proclamation from Gedolei Eretz Yisroel about participating in the elections.

Rabbi Ahron Lopiansky writes about Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv z'l in an article at Aish.

He did not like things that were contrived or pretentious. I once asked him about taking on a particularly popular stringency. He answered softly, “Why doesn’t following the letter of the law suffice?”
I once asked him about a particular obligation that our community wished to undertake for the sake of piety, but may impact some people negatively. He replied, “Piety that impacts people negatively is highly suspect.”
Read full article: http://www.aish.com/jw/s/Rabbi_Yosef_Shalom_Elyashiv_Man_of_Truth_Tranquility.html

Gavriel Horan also writes about Rabbi Elyahiv z'l.

“He was meticulous about utilizing every moment of the day to study Torah, even during the hours he would receive people. When one person would leave the room and the next entered, Rav Elyashiv’s eyes would be on the page of the book before him, and his attention was wholly on the subject that he was presently studying to such an extent that one could stand before him for several minutes until he noticed that someone had come into the room.”
http://www.aish.com/jw/s/A_Portrait_of_Greatness.html

The Olympic torch

Mishpacha Magazine recently published an article(May 30)  about Efrayim Goldstein, a religious Jew, who was selected to be one of the Olympic torchbearers.

"Originally chosen to carry the Olympic flame on Shabbos, he applied for an alternative date and was given Sunday instead. Moreover, a fabric swatch of the fold and white uniform to be worn during torchbearers' relay has been submitted for shatnez testing."

A Muslim teen tried to grab the Olympic torch out of the hands of its bearer as she passed through the town of Gravesend, outside London, on Friday.
Continue reading: http://www.timesofisrael.com/teen-shouts-allahu-akbar-and-lunges-at-olympic-torchbearer/

Come and take it

A little while ago I posted about a special individual named Yisrael Landesman who was stricken with cancer. For those who missed the post click here and you can view a video of him singing "Everything Hashem does is always for the best."

On Friday afternoon I received an email containing the following excerpt.

"When HaRav Hagaon Rav Yehuda Zev Segal zt”l was niftar 18 years ago a sign was posted on the bulletin board in Machzekei Hadas Shul in Manchester. It was a photocopy from a sefer that had a very important message for all of us.

The sefer said that when a tzadik leaves this world, he leaves behind all the treasure rooms of Torah and middos tovos that he acquired…whoever wants can come and take it.

That means that right now Reb Yisrael Landsman zt”l has left impossible-to-imagine treasure houses of Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Yisrael.

As we come closer and closer to the Geulah, those who are wise would be smart to grab the treasure of Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Yisrael that are waiting to be taken."

The Colorado tragedy

And if there's anything to take away from this tragedy, it's that life is very fragile. Our time here is limited and it is precious. And what matters here isn't the small things, not the trivial things, which often consume us in our daily lives. Ultimately, it's how we choose to treat one another, and how we love one another.
                            President Obama

This week I caught a columnist who had made a mistake in accusing someone unjustly. I posted a comment and the article was withdrawn soon after and an apology was made.

Today ABC issued an apology.

An article titled ABC News apologizes for speculation that theater shooter James Holmes linked to Tea Party relates the following information.

An earlier ABC News broadcast report suggested that a Jim Holmes of a Colorado Tea Party organization might be the suspect, but that report was incorrect. Several other local residents with similar names were also contacted via social media by members of the public who mistook them for the suspect.

ABC also issued an online apology: “ABC News and Brian Ross apologize for the mistake, and for disseminating that information before it was properly vetted.”
Read full article: http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/181843/abc-news-speculates-theater-shooter-jim-holmes-linked-to-tea-party/

President Obama spoke about the tragedy which you can view here.

Alternatively, you can read the transcript here.

The willingness to overlook and forgive

Rabbi Wallerstein talks about bullying in his latest shiur. He also related a story about a woman who was childless for many years and was counseled by a rabbi to get a blessing from one who remains silent and overlooks an insult. (Incidentally, speaking of childless couples, there is an amazing story I just read about triplets born years apart.)
The incident reminded me of something I read in an email this week sent to me by the Chofetz Chaim Heritge Foundation.

At times, the willingness to overlook and forgive can cause a person’s life on this world to be extended, even after Heaven has decreed that his time has come. The Talmud relates (Rosh Hashanah 17a):
 

R’ Huna, the son of R’ Yehoshua, fell ill. R’ Pappa went to visit him. Upon seeing that he was unconscious, R’ Pappa told them [R’ Huna’s attendants], “Prepare provisions for him [i.e. ready his burial shrouds].’’ In the end, R’ Huna recovered. They [R’ Huna’s attendants] asked him [R’ Huna], “What did you see [while unconscious]?’’ He told them, “Indeed, that is how it was [that death had been decreed upon me]. But the Holy One, Blessed is He, instructed them, ‘Because he does not exact his measure, therefore, do not be exacting with him.’ As it is written, ‘He forgives transgressions and passes over sins’ (Michah 7:18) — whose sin does He forgive? One who passes over sins.’’

Therefore, one should cling to this sacred attribute constantly. In this way, it will be good for him in this world and in the World to Come.

Holes in the wall

The following is an excerpt from an email about the parsha by Rabbi Eli Mansour about the effect of harsh words.

The story is told of a woman whose husband frequently insulted her. She would respond angrily, which in turn provoked an even more offensive response, resulting in a spiral of back-and-forth shouting and name-calling. Exasperated, the woman consulted with her Rabbi, who gave her a curious piece of advice. He said that each time her husband said something hurtful to her, instead of responding, she should take a hammer and bang a nail into some surface.

And so, that day, when the husband insulted the woman, she didn’t say a word. She went upstairs with a hammer, and banged a nail into a wall. When he insulted her again for doing something so foolish, she again banged a nail into a wall.

This went on for several weeks, until finally the husband wanted to know what was going on. The wife told him about the Rabbi’s suggestion, and showed him the approximately 100 nails in the wall.

“I offended you so many times?” the husband asked.

“Yes,” the wife confirmed. “Each nail is another time you said something hurtful to me.”

“Well,” the husband said, “it should work the other way, as well. Every time I say something nice to you, you should remove a nail from the wall.” The idea sounded reasonable, so the wife agreed.

Sure enough, the husband starting showering his wife with compliments. He praised her for her meals, her appearance, and her personality, told her how much she meant to him and said that he loved her. Each time, a nail came out of the wall. Finally, the day arrived when the last nail was pulled out.

“You see?” the husband said. “It’s all fixed now. The nails are all gone.”

“Not quite,” the wife replied. “Yes, the nails are gone – but look at all the holes that are left in the wall. They still need to be filled.”
Read full devar Torah: http://www.dailyhalacha.com/WeeklyParasha.asp

Moral stature

America’s ABC News on Thursday reported that Bulgarian officials denied Bulgarian news reports that the Burgas bomber was identified as Mehdi Ghezali. The Atlantic Wire also reported Swedish officials making identical claims.

Earlier on Thursday Bulgarian media had named the suicide bomber who blew up a bus full of Israeli tourists, killing five Israelis and a local bus driver, in the Black Sea resort of Burgas on Wednesday as 36-year-old Mehdi Ghezali.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/bulgarian-officials-deny-bomber-is-mehdi-ghezali/

Do as your mouth spoke

“Lo Yachel Devaroi, K’Chol HaYotzai MiPicha Yaaseh”, do not profane your words; do as your mouth spoke. The Torah tells us that we must keep our word and not violate it.

Rav Levi Yitzchok MiBerditchev in the Kedushas Levi makes a play on the words to explain how mortal people can perform miracles. He reads the words as follows. If “Lo Yachel Devaroi”, you do not profane your words, then they will be holy and meaningful. Therefore, “K’Chol HaYotzai MiPicha Yaaseh” whatever comes out of your mouth will happen.

This is the concept of “Tzadik Gozer, VHaKadosh Boruch Hu Mikayem”, a tzaddik decrees and Hashem makes it happen . He further explains that this why the Parsha is called Matos. Matos also means to turn (Netia). When a person watches his mouth, Hashem turns the Midas HaDin into Midas HaRachamim.
http://shortvort.com/matos-parasha/10865-a-chassidishe-vort

The definition of pro-Israel

On April 3, 2011 Congressman Allen West was awarded the “Defender of Israel” award by Chabad of East Boca.

J Street opened up a new front in its lobbying efforts Thursday, releasing ads that attack two candidates for not being “pro-Israel” because they don’t endorse a two-state solution.
Continue reading: http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=277350

The J Street site has the ads uploaded on a webpage with the following question.

Is this your definition of 'pro-Israel'?

J Street also has a petition to sign on a page titled Ahead of her visit to Israel, J Street asks Secretary Clinton to oppose the Levy Committee report.

After watching the videos below and being asked to sign a petition conveying opposition to the Levy report, can I ask if J Street is your definition of 'pro-Israel'?