AnashNews has an article in Hebrew about a woman who dreamed Friday night that Rav Kaduri and the Baba Sali appeared and stated that Mashiach is in Yerushalayim and he is a Sefardi.
Click here to read the article.
The last words of Birchas Kohanim are "V'Yaseim Licha Sholom". The Medrash says, "Sholom B'Knisasech, Sholom B'Yitziasech, Sholom Im Kol Adam," peace in your coming, your going, and peace with every man.
The Iturei Torah brings the Ksav Sofer who explains this Medrash. The Gemara in Brachos (59) tells us the interpretation of many different dreams. Among these dreams, three of them tell of peace; the kettle, the river, and the bird. The Ksav Sofer says that these represent three different kinds of peace. The kettle represents peace in your home, where all the household members use the same kettle. The river means peace in your country, where all the citizens share the water and benefits of the country's river. The bird symbolizes world peace, like a bird who is not limited to any specific local and can fly wherever its wings take it.
When Hashem gives us a bracha of peace it is all encompassing. The Medrash says, "Sholom B'Knisasech," you will have peace in your coming, meaning within the confines of your home. "Sholom B'Yitziasech," peace when you go outside and interact with your countrymen. "Sholom Im Kol Adam," no matter where and no matter with whom, peace will reign supreme!
Read full article: http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/medrash/Medrash-Naso-Ksav-Sofer-Three-Dreams-Of-Peace/3828
28 May 2012
25 May 2012
Freedom
I just came across an article in which a Reform rabbi writes how he believes rabbis should officiate at same gender weddings. Among his reasons is that he believes in freedom as an absolute necessity. He also explains that he won't use Scripture to justify his point because you can find texts which support arguments for and against. But that doesn't stop him from selectively adopting an Orthodox rabbi's writings to support his argument.
This morning I read about a 19-year-old woman and how emergency services had to work for 8 hours to cut her free from her home because she was so obese that she couldn't walk out the door to get to the hopital. This woman was free to eat all she wanted but she was imprisoned in her home. Is that freedom?
Many Jewish bloggers are signing off for two to three days starting this evening because they are celebrating Shabbos and Shavuot. Those who live outside of Israel won't resume posting till Monday evening. Who is freer? Those who will be spending time with family and friends, praying in the synagogue, enjoying quality time with family while being disconnected from technological deviices? Or those who are glued to the computer for the next three days?
Rabbi Yaakov Menken discusses freedom in an article titled The Meaning of Freedom.
Signing off till Monday evening.
This morning I read about a 19-year-old woman and how emergency services had to work for 8 hours to cut her free from her home because she was so obese that she couldn't walk out the door to get to the hopital. This woman was free to eat all she wanted but she was imprisoned in her home. Is that freedom?
Many Jewish bloggers are signing off for two to three days starting this evening because they are celebrating Shabbos and Shavuot. Those who live outside of Israel won't resume posting till Monday evening. Who is freer? Those who will be spending time with family and friends, praying in the synagogue, enjoying quality time with family while being disconnected from technological deviices? Or those who are glued to the computer for the next three days?
Rabbi Yaakov Menken discusses freedom in an article titled The Meaning of Freedom.
Signing off till Monday evening.
Justice
The following is an excerpt from an email I received by Rabbi Frand (which is posted at Torah.org).
The Chofetz Chaim once gave a parable to explain the expression "tzodku yachdav" in the pasuke "The laws of Hashem are True, together they are just" (tzodku yachdav) [Tehillim 19:10]: There was once a person who came down to this world and was fantastically wealthy. As is many times the case, wealthy people can be terribly arrogant with people not of their means. This person was indeed arrogant and abusive to people of less stature. He offended many poor people in this world. He came up to Heaven and was chastised for never asking for forgiveness from all these poor people he offended. It was therefore decreed that he would have to revisit the world to make amends. The soul pleaded to the Almighty – "Please Hashem send me down the next time as a poor person, as a pauper." The Attribute of Justice responded: "No, that would not be a true test. Send him down again as a wealthy man!" But again the soul pleaded with the Almighty to be sent down the second time as a destitute and broken person. The Almighty in His Compassion granted the soul his wish and it came down as a pauper, a smelly nobody. He lived a miserable existence, but he rectified the sin of his soul and cleansed it.
The Chofetz Chaim explains that this is the interpretation of the pasuk "The laws of Hashem are True, together they are just." We would look at this fellow and ask "Why is he unable to make a living? Why is he so down-trodden? What did he do to deserve it?" We cannot understand it. But ultimately it is "Tzadku Yachdav". If we take into account the entire picture, his earlier existence and sins in that situation, the fact that he was here once before and had abused his privilege of wealth...then the matter becomes clear and sensible. It only makes sense when the two things are taken together. Read full article: http://torah.org/learning/ravfrand/5772/bamidbar.html
The Chofetz Chaim once gave a parable to explain the expression "tzodku yachdav" in the pasuke "The laws of Hashem are True, together they are just" (tzodku yachdav) [Tehillim 19:10]: There was once a person who came down to this world and was fantastically wealthy. As is many times the case, wealthy people can be terribly arrogant with people not of their means. This person was indeed arrogant and abusive to people of less stature. He offended many poor people in this world. He came up to Heaven and was chastised for never asking for forgiveness from all these poor people he offended. It was therefore decreed that he would have to revisit the world to make amends. The soul pleaded to the Almighty – "Please Hashem send me down the next time as a poor person, as a pauper." The Attribute of Justice responded: "No, that would not be a true test. Send him down again as a wealthy man!" But again the soul pleaded with the Almighty to be sent down the second time as a destitute and broken person. The Almighty in His Compassion granted the soul his wish and it came down as a pauper, a smelly nobody. He lived a miserable existence, but he rectified the sin of his soul and cleansed it.
The Chofetz Chaim explains that this is the interpretation of the pasuk "The laws of Hashem are True, together they are just." We would look at this fellow and ask "Why is he unable to make a living? Why is he so down-trodden? What did he do to deserve it?" We cannot understand it. But ultimately it is "Tzadku Yachdav". If we take into account the entire picture, his earlier existence and sins in that situation, the fact that he was here once before and had abused his privilege of wealth...then the matter becomes clear and sensible. It only makes sense when the two things are taken together. Read full article: http://torah.org/learning/ravfrand/5772/bamidbar.html
Canceled
Miami's Temple Israel yanked a program featuring Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz after a high-profile Republican donor quit the congregation in protest of the Democratic congresswoman's involvement.
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/05/temple-israel-cancels-wasserman-schultz-speech.html#storylink=cpy
As we read Parshat Bamidbar this coming Shabbat which discusses a census of Bnei Yisrael, there is another counting of people that is the focus of a Senate Amendment which is in the news today.
Read article: http://freebeacon.com/redefining-refugee-status/
Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2012/05/temple-israel-cancels-wasserman-schultz-speech.html#storylink=cpy
As we read Parshat Bamidbar this coming Shabbat which discusses a census of Bnei Yisrael, there is another counting of people that is the focus of a Senate Amendment which is in the news today.
Read article: http://freebeacon.com/redefining-refugee-status/
24 May 2012
Begetting children
Click here to read a Torah thought by Rabbi Eli Mansour about parenting, the Ten Commandments and how disrespectful children may be the consequences of envy.
Internet filtering
Anew law calling for the automatic censorship of pornographic websites by Internet service providers was being proposed in the Knesset on Thursday.
Read full article: http://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-to-consider-pornography-censorship-law/
Read full article: http://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-to-consider-pornography-censorship-law/
Wise words and unwise words
AnashNews reports about a Rav from Breslov who was asked about the tragedy that befell the Attias family this week and why young children who didn't sin were fated to such a death. The Rav replied that there is a time to be silent. There are things we don't understand and which are incomprehensible. He added that therefore it is not for us to ask questions or to investigate. Rather, we should wake up to do a complete teshuva and remember that there is justice and there is a judge.
Wise words coming from a wise man. As a friend always cautions me, "never ask why because you don't want to be taken up to heaven for the answers."
I have deleted the rest of the post regarding the Ten Commandments because I have been advised that there there is a different numbering system used by the Gentiles. I apologize to Mr. Beck.
Wise words coming from a wise man. As a friend always cautions me, "never ask why because you don't want to be taken up to heaven for the answers."
I have deleted the rest of the post regarding the Ten Commandments because I have been advised that there there is a different numbering system used by the Gentiles. I apologize to Mr. Beck.
The drone attack and happy countries
NBC has reported the following:
"A U.S. drone strike on suspected militants killed at least 10 people Thursday morning in northwest Pakistan, officials have told NBC News."
Below is an excerpt from a comment posted under the article.
Funny how under obama, these attacks are applauded as complete successes, but if it were under Bush, the headline would read "10 dead, mostly civilians, at mosque following US led drone attack"
And what if it would have been Israel?
Speaking of Israel, Yahoo has an article titled The Happiest Countries in the World.
Israel ranks 6th!! The U.S. didn't figure in the top ten.
"A U.S. drone strike on suspected militants killed at least 10 people Thursday morning in northwest Pakistan, officials have told NBC News."
Below is an excerpt from a comment posted under the article.
Funny how under obama, these attacks are applauded as complete successes, but if it were under Bush, the headline would read "10 dead, mostly civilians, at mosque following US led drone attack"
And what if it would have been Israel?
Speaking of Israel, Yahoo has an article titled The Happiest Countries in the World.
Israel ranks 6th!! The U.S. didn't figure in the top ten.
23 May 2012
The Mountain
Click here to see "When Moses brought the tablets down from the mountain."
Speaking of mountains, Ynet reports about a young Israeli who sacrificed a dream to help someone in need.
Only 300 meters were between Nadav Ben-Yehuda and the title of "the youngest Israeli mountain climber to conquer the Everest summit." But Ben-Yehuda didn't hesitate for a second when he saw a Turkish climber lying unconscious on the ground.
Read more: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4233225,00.html
Rabbi Baruch Taub has an article at INN about the location of Mount Sinai. At the end of the article he relates an incident about Mark Twain.
... In the 1800’s, The Boston Globe advertised a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the grand finale being to scale Mount Sinai and read the 10 Commandments atop the mountain. The price of this sea-mission was exorbitant and could only attract the rich and famous. None-the-less, the paper attracted many potential participants.
Twain wrote a letter to the Globe which put a sudden end to the expedition. He wrote: “Instead of spending a fortune on this trip to climb Mount Sinai and reciting the 10 Commandments on the mountain’s peak, I have a better idea. Save your money, stay home and keep the Commandments in Boston.”
Read full article: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/11687
Speaking of mountains, Ynet reports about a young Israeli who sacrificed a dream to help someone in need.
Only 300 meters were between Nadav Ben-Yehuda and the title of "the youngest Israeli mountain climber to conquer the Everest summit." But Ben-Yehuda didn't hesitate for a second when he saw a Turkish climber lying unconscious on the ground.
Read more: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4233225,00.html
Rabbi Baruch Taub has an article at INN about the location of Mount Sinai. At the end of the article he relates an incident about Mark Twain.
... In the 1800’s, The Boston Globe advertised a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the grand finale being to scale Mount Sinai and read the 10 Commandments atop the mountain. The price of this sea-mission was exorbitant and could only attract the rich and famous. None-the-less, the paper attracted many potential participants.
Twain wrote a letter to the Globe which put a sudden end to the expedition. He wrote: “Instead of spending a fortune on this trip to climb Mount Sinai and reciting the 10 Commandments on the mountain’s peak, I have a better idea. Save your money, stay home and keep the Commandments in Boston.”
Read full article: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/11687
The same goal
It was only after a year in the Midbar, that the Bnei Yisrael were counted in order to be set up under the Degalim, where each Shevet was given their own flag. Why did Hashem wait so long to give them this mitzva?
Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky (Emes L'Yaakov) says that in principal creating the Degalim was a dangerous move. By dividing up a group of people with each one having their own banner and motto, competition could evolve with feelings of nationalism. However, if all of the groups have the same goal, and each contribute to the cause in their own unique way, this danger doesn't exist. The eyes don't compete with the ears since their roles are different. This way various factions can work together towards their mutual goal.
The Mishkan was only put up in Nissan of the second year. Hashem wanted to wait for the Degalim until the Avodas HaMishkan become the focal point of life in the Midbar. Only then, was it safe to give a clear identity to each Shevet. That is why the pasuk says (Bamidbar 2:2), "Ish Al Diglo B'Osos L'Bais Avosam... Saviv L'Ohel Moed Yachanu," only when their lives revolved around the Mishkan did Hashem divide them up and give them each their own specific mission.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Bamidbar-Rav-Yaakov-Kaminetzky-Degalim-In-The-Midbar-Dividing-Only-To-Conquer/3783
Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky (Emes L'Yaakov) says that in principal creating the Degalim was a dangerous move. By dividing up a group of people with each one having their own banner and motto, competition could evolve with feelings of nationalism. However, if all of the groups have the same goal, and each contribute to the cause in their own unique way, this danger doesn't exist. The eyes don't compete with the ears since their roles are different. This way various factions can work together towards their mutual goal.
The Mishkan was only put up in Nissan of the second year. Hashem wanted to wait for the Degalim until the Avodas HaMishkan become the focal point of life in the Midbar. Only then, was it safe to give a clear identity to each Shevet. That is why the pasuk says (Bamidbar 2:2), "Ish Al Diglo B'Osos L'Bais Avosam... Saviv L'Ohel Moed Yachanu," only when their lives revolved around the Mishkan did Hashem divide them up and give them each their own specific mission.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Bamidbar-Rav-Yaakov-Kaminetzky-Degalim-In-The-Midbar-Dividing-Only-To-Conquer/3783
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