Who says that a Jew can't have a good time? Who says that serving Hashem isn't cool? Who's the heavy with the big sour face that's sending people to purgatory all the time? If a person isn't smiling, he or she isn't serving Hashem. If you want to turn your kids on to Hashem, then show them that you're enjoying yourself. If you're down in the dumps - yet you consider yourself observant - don't expect your kids to want to be like you...
In the education of children, it is meaningless to say simply, "This is permitted; that is forbidden." A child must see his parents perform the mitzvos joyfully. If a child hears his father say, "It is very difficult to keep Shabbos and Yom Tov, but I, nevertheless managed to overcome the temptation to work on Shabbos," the son will not necessarily follow suit. He may rationalize "I am not as strong willed as my father; I cannot withstand the temptation." But if children hear from their parents that it is not at all difficult to keep the Torah, and that mitzvos are wonderful for they are the essence of life and the length of our days, their education has a chance of being effective.(Rabbi Moshe Feinstein)
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
The Holy Rimonover Rebbes Yartzeit!! Hey, better late than never!!!
Yesterday, the 19th of Iyar, is the yahrzeit of Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Riminov, one of the pivotal figures in the Chassidic world. As a young man he studied Torah and Chassidus under the illustrious Rebbe Shmelke of Nikolsburg, and the Rebbe Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk, together with two of his friends - two other future Chassidic masters, the Chozeh of Lublin and the Maggid of Kozhnitz.
It happened once that R. Menachem Mendel begged before G-d to help him attain a higher spiritual level, and in a dream, the Rif instructed him to go to Lizhensk to the Rebbe Reb Elimelech, where he would merit his spiritual desire [see, however, an alternative story below].
Among his disciples were such outstanding Chassidic leaders as Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz and Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov [the Bnei Yissaschar] and, of course, Rebbe Tzvi Hersh M’shareis of Riminov.e following is a modified transcription of a story that Reb Shlomo Carlebach told one Rosh Chodesh:
Sometime ago, I had the privilege to say Hallel on Rosh Chodesh in a prison - a heavy prison. Nebich, [oy, "how unfortunate"] there were young Jewish people, young chevra 22 and 23 [years old] - a lifetime! So here I tell them about Hallel, I look at their faces – nebich! How can I ask them to say Hallel? So I told them this story, I heard it from the heiliger (holy) Bobover (Rebbe). You know, there are a lot of versions of why the parents of Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Riminov had the privilege of having such a holy son. And this is one version
Chassidim of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech were on their way to Lizhensk. They passed by a broken house in a village, where they saw a little boy of nine [years old] standing on a broken balcony and mamash [really] dancing like crazy. So they asked him, "Why are you dancing?"
"I’m dancing because I haven't eaten in three days."
"You haven't eaten in three days, and you’re dancing?"
He said, "I'll tell you the truth, I was standing here, I'm nine years old, and I was so angry at G-d. Gevalt was I angry. I said, 'Master of the World, I’m only nine years old. How many aveiros, how many mistakes could I have made in my life? Do I deserve not to eat for three days?' Then suddenly I realized, it's true, G-d hasn't fed me yet for three days, but Baruch Hashem [thank G-d] I have a father, I have a mother, I have a brother and a sister. It’s true our house is not so big, and it's broken - but it’s still a little house. Suddenly it occurred to me - I never thank G-d for what I [do] have. So [that's why] I’m dancing!"
The Chassidim walked in to (talk to) the parents and said, "Do you know what kind of son you have?? What kind of gevaldig neshama [lofty soul]? Are you sending him to cheder [school]?"
They said, "We’re too poor to send him to cheder."
The Chassidim said, “Such a great soul. Please let us take him to our Rebbe, Reb Elimelech."
It happened once that R. Menachem Mendel begged before G-d to help him attain a higher spiritual level, and in a dream, the Rif instructed him to go to Lizhensk to the Rebbe Reb Elimelech, where he would merit his spiritual desire [see, however, an alternative story below].
Among his disciples were such outstanding Chassidic leaders as Rebbe Naftali of Ropshitz and Rebbe Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov [the Bnei Yissaschar] and, of course, Rebbe Tzvi Hersh M’shareis of Riminov.e following is a modified transcription of a story that Reb Shlomo Carlebach told one Rosh Chodesh:
Sometime ago, I had the privilege to say Hallel on Rosh Chodesh in a prison - a heavy prison. Nebich, [oy, "how unfortunate"] there were young Jewish people, young chevra 22 and 23 [years old] - a lifetime! So here I tell them about Hallel, I look at their faces – nebich! How can I ask them to say Hallel? So I told them this story, I heard it from the heiliger (holy) Bobover (Rebbe). You know, there are a lot of versions of why the parents of Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Riminov had the privilege of having such a holy son. And this is one version
Chassidim of the Rebbe Reb Elimelech were on their way to Lizhensk. They passed by a broken house in a village, where they saw a little boy of nine [years old] standing on a broken balcony and mamash [really] dancing like crazy. So they asked him, "Why are you dancing?"
"I’m dancing because I haven't eaten in three days."
"You haven't eaten in three days, and you’re dancing?"
He said, "I'll tell you the truth, I was standing here, I'm nine years old, and I was so angry at G-d. Gevalt was I angry. I said, 'Master of the World, I’m only nine years old. How many aveiros, how many mistakes could I have made in my life? Do I deserve not to eat for three days?' Then suddenly I realized, it's true, G-d hasn't fed me yet for three days, but Baruch Hashem [thank G-d] I have a father, I have a mother, I have a brother and a sister. It’s true our house is not so big, and it's broken - but it’s still a little house. Suddenly it occurred to me - I never thank G-d for what I [do] have. So [that's why] I’m dancing!"
The Chassidim walked in to (talk to) the parents and said, "Do you know what kind of son you have?? What kind of gevaldig neshama [lofty soul]? Are you sending him to cheder [school]?"
They said, "We’re too poor to send him to cheder."
The Chassidim said, “Such a great soul. Please let us take him to our Rebbe, Reb Elimelech."
This boy eventually became the great Rebbe, Menachem Mendel of Riminov.
Reb Shlomo continued: So I told this to our brothers in prison. "I’m sure you have many reasons to be angry at G-d, and I have no excuses for Him. I wish - I bless you to come out fast. But maybe in the meantime, let’s just dance and thank Him for what we have!!!"
Reb Shlomo continued: So I told this to our brothers in prison. "I’m sure you have many reasons to be angry at G-d, and I have no excuses for Him. I wish - I bless you to come out fast. But maybe in the meantime, let’s just dance and thank Him for what we have!!!"
*
Zechuso yagein Aleinu - May the Riminover's merits protect us!
Quoted from http://heichalhanegina.blogspot.com Great blog!!
peace & joy,
Etan
Quoted from http://heichalhanegina.blogspot.com Great blog!!
peace & joy,
Etan
Friday, May 4, 2007
Parashas Emor. A kingdom of Priests, and a holy nation!!!
"Va'yomer Hashem el Moshe emor el ha'cohanim bnei Aharon v'amarata eleihem lnefesh lo yotama b'amav./And Hashem said to Moshe, speak to the priests, the sons of Aharon, and say to them, for a person he shall not defile himself among his people." (Vayikra 21:1)
The Chozeh of Lublin explained this pasuk that Moshe was told that the cohanim should be worthy descendants of Aharon. That is, just as Aharon had the midah/trait of loving and pursuing peace, so too they should also work on this midah. That is why the end of the pasuk warns that even though they should try to make peace between people whenever they can, they must be very careful not to defile themselves in the process. Now all of you non cohanim don't think this doesn't apply to all of us as well. We are after all a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation!!
"V'shamru es mishmarti v'lo yisu alav chet./And they shall observe My charge, and they shall not bear sin for it." (Vayikra 22:9)
Rashi explains that this pasuk is warning to the priests (and the rest of the Jews as well!) not to eat trumah while they are in a state of Tumah.
Even though eating trumah is the fulfillment of a mitzvah, they must be very careful not to do so in a manner that will turn the potential good in a transgression. Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz commented that we see here an important principle; that even when a person id involved in doing Hashem's service, he must be very careful that no transgressions should come from it. And yes of course Reb Nachman says the same thing!!! In Torah Aleph in Lekutei Moharan when explaining the story of Rabbah bar bar Chanah's story. (Baba Basra 73a) "That wave which would sink a ship appears to have a spark of white flame at its crest...(the white flame at its crest is the yetzer hara who disguises himself in good deeds....) What's the solution? We beat it with a staff on which was etched Ehyeh asher Ehyeh (In short, we beat him with the Torah!!!)
That brings us to Lag Ba'Omer. Without going any longer we can say that Lag Ba'Omer is a celebration of Torah!! For more on the subject check this out. Have a great Shabbos and a wonderful Lag Ba'Omer!!!
peace & joy,
Etan
The Chozeh of Lublin explained this pasuk that Moshe was told that the cohanim should be worthy descendants of Aharon. That is, just as Aharon had the midah/trait of loving and pursuing peace, so too they should also work on this midah. That is why the end of the pasuk warns that even though they should try to make peace between people whenever they can, they must be very careful not to defile themselves in the process. Now all of you non cohanim don't think this doesn't apply to all of us as well. We are after all a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation!!
"V'shamru es mishmarti v'lo yisu alav chet./And they shall observe My charge, and they shall not bear sin for it." (Vayikra 22:9)
Rashi explains that this pasuk is warning to the priests (and the rest of the Jews as well!) not to eat trumah while they are in a state of Tumah.
Even though eating trumah is the fulfillment of a mitzvah, they must be very careful not to do so in a manner that will turn the potential good in a transgression. Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz commented that we see here an important principle; that even when a person id involved in doing Hashem's service, he must be very careful that no transgressions should come from it. And yes of course Reb Nachman says the same thing!!! In Torah Aleph in Lekutei Moharan when explaining the story of Rabbah bar bar Chanah's story. (Baba Basra 73a) "That wave which would sink a ship appears to have a spark of white flame at its crest...(the white flame at its crest is the yetzer hara who disguises himself in good deeds....) What's the solution? We beat it with a staff on which was etched Ehyeh asher Ehyeh (In short, we beat him with the Torah!!!)
That brings us to Lag Ba'Omer. Without going any longer we can say that Lag Ba'Omer is a celebration of Torah!! For more on the subject check this out. Have a great Shabbos and a wonderful Lag Ba'Omer!!!
peace & joy,
Etan
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Pesach Sheini!!! Theres always a second chance!
Hashem told the the Jews to prepare for the Pesach Festival. There were Jews who were tamei (impure) and were not ready in time. They came to Moshe and asked, 'How can we still partake of Pesach, when it was too late for us to purify ourselves?' Moshe asked Hashem and He replied, 'They can have a second chance. Let them celebrate the holiday of Pesach Shaynei, one month later, on the fourteenth day of the second month the month of Iyar'(Bamidbar 9)."How great these impure people must have been! they were able to initiate the revelation of a new law of Torah" (Rashi).
Reb Noson explains that this came about specifically because of their great desire to partake of the Mitzvah. These people were impure. It was their own negligence that brought them to be distanced from the rest of the Jews on Pesach and thus not being able to participate in the Paschal lamb. Still, they never gave up hope. They came Before the Tzaddik, Moshe, pleading, "We are impure, we know we are impure, but we do not want to fail to be included in the sacrifice to Hashem."Similarly, continues Reb Noson, every Jew should come to the Tzaddik and say, "I'm impure. I know I'm impure. Still why should I be held back? Why should i not come close to Hashem, to learn Torah, to pray, to do t'suvah? Is it because I am to distant that there is Hashem forbid no hope for me whatsoever? Hashem can always help, even those who are very distant from Him." A person must know that if he always turns to Hashem and constantly searches for the true Tzaddik who can show him the right path, he will definitely come true repentance (Likutey Halakhot, Birkhat HaPeirot 5:15, G'viat Chov M'Yetomim 3).
Reb Noson explains that this came about specifically because of their great desire to partake of the Mitzvah. These people were impure. It was their own negligence that brought them to be distanced from the rest of the Jews on Pesach and thus not being able to participate in the Paschal lamb. Still, they never gave up hope. They came Before the Tzaddik, Moshe, pleading, "We are impure, we know we are impure, but we do not want to fail to be included in the sacrifice to Hashem."Similarly, continues Reb Noson, every Jew should come to the Tzaddik and say, "I'm impure. I know I'm impure. Still why should I be held back? Why should i not come close to Hashem, to learn Torah, to pray, to do t'suvah? Is it because I am to distant that there is Hashem forbid no hope for me whatsoever? Hashem can always help, even those who are very distant from Him." A person must know that if he always turns to Hashem and constantly searches for the true Tzaddik who can show him the right path, he will definitely come true repentance (Likutey Halakhot, Birkhat HaPeirot 5:15, G'viat Chov M'Yetomim 3).
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