Jacob lives on
Parasha Vayehi: Life After Death
Adversity The Determining Factor Of Man
My Message to Married Friends
12 Jan 2017
11 Jan 2017
Superstitious ballplayers
Rav Moshe Schapiro zt”l
How About Some Respect?
Jewish-American pros look to boost baseball in Israel
Members of the team that won the qualifying round in September agreed to wear a Jewish skullcap for the national anthem during the first game of the tournament. But then — superstitious ballplayers that they are — they continued the ritual as they rode a winning streak until beating Great Britain to advance to the tournament.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/baseball/jewish-american-pros-look-to-boost-baseball-in-israel/article33575759/
How About Some Respect?
Jewish-American pros look to boost baseball in Israel
Members of the team that won the qualifying round in September agreed to wear a Jewish skullcap for the national anthem during the first game of the tournament. But then — superstitious ballplayers that they are — they continued the ritual as they rode a winning streak until beating Great Britain to advance to the tournament.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/baseball/jewish-american-pros-look-to-boost-baseball-in-israel/article33575759/
Shema Yisrael
In sweeping decision, High Court rules for women’s Western Wall prayer
Group Hands Out Candlesticks
The 70 Nations That Will Meet In Paris On January 15th Are Going To Publicly Commit To Dividing The Land Of Israel
The Medrash asks, "From where were we zocheh to Krias Shema?" It answers that when Yaakov was about to depart this world, he questioned whether all his children were loyal to Hashem, and they answered, "Shema Yisrael." Why does the medrash ask this about this particular mitzva?
The Maharsham answers with the Gemara in Chulin (98b). The Gemara says that Bnei Yisrael are greater than Malachei HaShares. Malachim say Hashem's name after saying, "Kadosh," three times. Bnei Yisrael say Hashem's name after two words, "Shema Yisrael," and then, "Hashem."
"Why?" asks the Medrash, "What are they, greater than Malachim?"
The Medrash answers that we got this from Yaakov who fought with a Malach and proved to be superior. This is why we say. "Shema Yisrael." With the name Yisrael that was given to Yaakov by the Malach to commemorate his superiority, we say Hashem's name with greater access than the Malachim.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Vayechi-Maharsham-Shema-Yisroel-Is-Our-Advantage-Over-Malachim/4865
Group Hands Out Candlesticks
The 70 Nations That Will Meet In Paris On January 15th Are Going To Publicly Commit To Dividing The Land Of Israel
The Medrash asks, "From where were we zocheh to Krias Shema?" It answers that when Yaakov was about to depart this world, he questioned whether all his children were loyal to Hashem, and they answered, "Shema Yisrael." Why does the medrash ask this about this particular mitzva?
The Maharsham answers with the Gemara in Chulin (98b). The Gemara says that Bnei Yisrael are greater than Malachei HaShares. Malachim say Hashem's name after saying, "Kadosh," three times. Bnei Yisrael say Hashem's name after two words, "Shema Yisrael," and then, "Hashem."
"Why?" asks the Medrash, "What are they, greater than Malachim?"
The Medrash answers that we got this from Yaakov who fought with a Malach and proved to be superior. This is why we say. "Shema Yisrael." With the name Yisrael that was given to Yaakov by the Malach to commemorate his superiority, we say Hashem's name with greater access than the Malachim.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Vayechi-Maharsham-Shema-Yisroel-Is-Our-Advantage-Over-Malachim/4865
10 Jan 2017
Thoughts and words
I received the following email last night and I thought I would share it with you. Click here to get Think Hashem daily emails.
Thought of the day....
Why do the words דבר (thing) and דבור (speak) share the same letters?
Because everyTHING created was through Hashem's WORD.
And it is only Hashem's WORD that continues to give everyTHING it's existence.
From the first Shiur of many that I was Zocheh to hear in person from Harav Moshe Shapiro זצ"ל whose Levaya was yesterday in Yerushalayim
On the Terror Attack in Jerusalem
Below is an excerpt from yesterday's State Department briefing.
QUESTION: The first has to do with the passing away of the former Iranian President Rafsanjani. Over the weekend, there was a comment attributable on background to U.S. or a State Department official offering condolences for his passing. Do you – can you put that on the record for us?
MR KIRBY: Sure. I mean, former President Rafsanjani has been – or was, excuse me – a prominent figure throughout the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we do extend our condolences to his family and to his loved ones.
QUESTION: So there have been some people who are highly critical of the Administration on Iran policy in general, but also on this specifically, taking issue or questioning, rather, the appropriateness of offering condolences to Mr. Rafsanjani given activities that Iran was involved in in terms of supporting terrorism back when he was in charge and also in his roles in the Iranian parliament. What do you have to say about that?
MR KIRBY: Well, look, I – no question, as I said, he was a prominent figure, and the history’s complicated. We’re not going to debate the history, and I don’t think it’s valuable for us to try to comment on the potential internal implications of his death, of the potential impact on Iran today. He was consequential in terms of the recent history of Iran and we send our condolences to the family and loved ones. And whatever there is to say about his complicated history, you’re still dealing with a family that’s dealing with grief and dealing with a loss, and so it’s not inappropriate for us to simply offer our thoughts to a family that’s grieving right now.
QUESTION: Okay, but – but, I mean, this is a guy who when he was in senior leadership positions repeatedly did and said things that this --
MR KIRBY: Absolutely.
QUESTION: -- that this government, whether this Administration or previous administrations --
MR KIRBY: Yeah. Sure.
QUESTION: -- have adamantly rejected – his position on Israel, for example – and condemned.
MR KIRBY: Sure. Sure. Sure. Absolutely.
QUESTION: And so you don’t see any – you --
MR KIRBY: But should we – so we should hold the family and loved ones accountable for things that he did in his past that we didn’t like? I mean, the man died; we offered condolences to the family. We went through this, I think, when Fidel Castro passed too. I mean, no question – another individual with a history of actions and decisions and policies and rhetoric that we didn’t approve of in many, many ways, but you still have a family that’s grieving. And again, I don’t think we should make more of this than needs to be made. We offered our condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the family, and we think that’s appropriate.
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2017/01/266727.htm
Thought of the day....
Why do the words דבר (thing) and דבור (speak) share the same letters?
Because everyTHING created was through Hashem's WORD.
And it is only Hashem's WORD that continues to give everyTHING it's existence.
From the first Shiur of many that I was Zocheh to hear in person from Harav Moshe Shapiro זצ"ל whose Levaya was yesterday in Yerushalayim
On the Terror Attack in Jerusalem
Below is an excerpt from yesterday's State Department briefing.
QUESTION: The first has to do with the passing away of the former Iranian President Rafsanjani. Over the weekend, there was a comment attributable on background to U.S. or a State Department official offering condolences for his passing. Do you – can you put that on the record for us?
MR KIRBY: Sure. I mean, former President Rafsanjani has been – or was, excuse me – a prominent figure throughout the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and we do extend our condolences to his family and to his loved ones.
QUESTION: So there have been some people who are highly critical of the Administration on Iran policy in general, but also on this specifically, taking issue or questioning, rather, the appropriateness of offering condolences to Mr. Rafsanjani given activities that Iran was involved in in terms of supporting terrorism back when he was in charge and also in his roles in the Iranian parliament. What do you have to say about that?
MR KIRBY: Well, look, I – no question, as I said, he was a prominent figure, and the history’s complicated. We’re not going to debate the history, and I don’t think it’s valuable for us to try to comment on the potential internal implications of his death, of the potential impact on Iran today. He was consequential in terms of the recent history of Iran and we send our condolences to the family and loved ones. And whatever there is to say about his complicated history, you’re still dealing with a family that’s dealing with grief and dealing with a loss, and so it’s not inappropriate for us to simply offer our thoughts to a family that’s grieving right now.
QUESTION: Okay, but – but, I mean, this is a guy who when he was in senior leadership positions repeatedly did and said things that this --
MR KIRBY: Absolutely.
QUESTION: -- that this government, whether this Administration or previous administrations --
MR KIRBY: Yeah. Sure.
QUESTION: -- have adamantly rejected – his position on Israel, for example – and condemned.
MR KIRBY: Sure. Sure. Sure. Absolutely.
QUESTION: And so you don’t see any – you --
MR KIRBY: But should we – so we should hold the family and loved ones accountable for things that he did in his past that we didn’t like? I mean, the man died; we offered condolences to the family. We went through this, I think, when Fidel Castro passed too. I mean, no question – another individual with a history of actions and decisions and policies and rhetoric that we didn’t approve of in many, many ways, but you still have a family that’s grieving. And again, I don’t think we should make more of this than needs to be made. We offered our condolences, thoughts, and prayers to the family, and we think that’s appropriate.
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2017/01/266727.htm
9 Jan 2017
8 Jan 2017
7 Jan 2017
Asara b'Teves
"Ben Poras Yosef, Ben Poras Alei Ayin." (Vayechi 49:22) Rashi says that this means that Yosef will multiply and be beyond the reach of Ayin Hara. As a reward for not taking his master's wife, no one will be able, through jealously, to inflict any harm on what belongs to him.
The Shulchan Gavo'a brings from Rav Eliyahu Dessler, that no matter how rich a person is, no one is ever jealous of a totally selfless person whose whole life is about giving. An element of jealousy stems from the intended or even unintended flaunting of oneself before others.
Yaakov gave Ephraim and Menashe a bracha, "V'Yidgu LaRov; They should multiply like fish." There are two attributes of fish that Yaakov had in mind. Fish are not seen from the dry land. Moreover the fish live a life totally separated from the inhabitants of the land. They don't compete with them in any way. That is why the Ayin Hara does not affect them.
If a person lives a life of Yosef, where he doesn't want what doesn't belong to him, and he lives and enjoys his material assets out of the public eye, he, too, will not suffer from any unwanted evil eyes.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Vayechi-Rav-Eliyahu-Dessler-Yosef-And-Ayin-Hara-Avoiding-The-Evil-Eye/3253
Penny-Wise And Pound-Foolish
Israel cuts UN funding following 'anti-settlement' resolution
Below is an excerpt from yesterday's State Department briefing.
QUESTION: Well, it’s – among the things that Maliki said while he was in Tehran was that Israel is the greatest terrorist threat in the region. Is it? The United States is supporting the Baghdad government, and he’s the vice president of the Baghdad government. How do you feel about someone saying something like that?
MR KIRBY: Well, we certainly don’t agree with the sentiment.
QUESTION: Do you condemn it?
MR KIRBY: We certainly don’t agree with the sentiment that Israel is a terrorist threat. I mean, that just flies in the face of fact. And there’s just – but I – I’m not – again, I’m not going to try to characterize everything he said. It’s for him to speak to.
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2017/01/266672.htm
The Shulchan Gavo'a brings from Rav Eliyahu Dessler, that no matter how rich a person is, no one is ever jealous of a totally selfless person whose whole life is about giving. An element of jealousy stems from the intended or even unintended flaunting of oneself before others.
Yaakov gave Ephraim and Menashe a bracha, "V'Yidgu LaRov; They should multiply like fish." There are two attributes of fish that Yaakov had in mind. Fish are not seen from the dry land. Moreover the fish live a life totally separated from the inhabitants of the land. They don't compete with them in any way. That is why the Ayin Hara does not affect them.
If a person lives a life of Yosef, where he doesn't want what doesn't belong to him, and he lives and enjoys his material assets out of the public eye, he, too, will not suffer from any unwanted evil eyes.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Vayechi-Rav-Eliyahu-Dessler-Yosef-And-Ayin-Hara-Avoiding-The-Evil-Eye/3253
Penny-Wise And Pound-Foolish
Israel cuts UN funding following 'anti-settlement' resolution
Below is an excerpt from yesterday's State Department briefing.
QUESTION: Well, it’s – among the things that Maliki said while he was in Tehran was that Israel is the greatest terrorist threat in the region. Is it? The United States is supporting the Baghdad government, and he’s the vice president of the Baghdad government. How do you feel about someone saying something like that?
MR KIRBY: Well, we certainly don’t agree with the sentiment.
QUESTION: Do you condemn it?
MR KIRBY: We certainly don’t agree with the sentiment that Israel is a terrorist threat. I mean, that just flies in the face of fact. And there’s just – but I – I’m not – again, I’m not going to try to characterize everything he said. It’s for him to speak to.
https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2017/01/266672.htm
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