You gotta live it!

One of the most important mitzvos at the Seder is "Vehigadita l'vinchah", retelling the story of yitzias mitrayim/Exodus to our children, and even more than that to impart to our children the significance of the event and how it is one of the foundation stones of Yidishkeit/Judiasm.

One of the main, if not the main lesson that we learn from Yitziyas Mitzrayim is Emunah in Hashem. That everything is from Hashem, that everything Hashem does is for a reason, and lastly that everything that Hashem does for a reason fits into the big puzzle that we call life. I heard two stories that can maybe help us prepare for next years Seder and just teach us a lesson about how to teach our kids in general.

The first story I heard in the name of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach z"ya. In Europe in the early nineteen hundreds the was a grade school girl who was doing very poorly with her math studies. She started going out to the park to do her studies thinking that maybe the fresh air would help her. She noticed an old man on a bench, went over to him and asked him if he could help her with her math, and he said gladly. So every day she would meet this old man and he would help her with her studies. Her grades gradually improved and her teacher asked her what had changed. She told the teacher about the old man and the teacher asked what his name was. So that day she asked the man and he gave her his card. She gave the card to her teacher and she exclaimed "Albert Einstein! Maybe you could ask him to come and speak to the class?" And so she did. And Albert Einstein came in and gave over the basic idea of the theory of relativity to a class of grade school kids in a way that they were able to understand. End of story. Reb Shlomo asked; How was Einstein able to get grade school kids to understand the theory of relativity, even if it was only on a basic level? The answer Reb Shlomo said is that the theory of relativity was Einstein's life! When you live something you can give it over to anyone! So we have to live our beliefs, not just talk about them! That's how we can give over our heritage to our children!

The second story is told in the name of Uri Zohar. There were two chareidim riding on a Vespa (scooter). An anti-religious cop started to follow them so that he could give them a ticket. He followed them for an hour and they did nothing wrong, so in frustration he pulled them over. "I've been following you for an hour and you did nothing wrong! How could it be!" the cop said. "Hashem is with us!" said the chareidim. "Ah, three on a scooter! Now I could give you a ticket!" The lesson of that story is that we have to live with Hashem with us at all times! As if he is mamesh with us sitting next to us! That is what we have to teach ourselves and our children!

A gut moed to one and all!
peace & joy,
Etan

Our first Jewels Pesach!!!

We've all been running around, scrubbing, scraping, sweeping, shopping, some more running, and of course some more cleaning. Then time starts running out, it's getting closer to Pesach. "Oy vey! I'm not ready yet! I'm not finished preparing! I'm a mess! I can't think straight! Oy! Hashem, help me! Lets try something new. Lets try letting this gnawing in our hearts to pour forth and let it become a great yearning for Hashem! From our distance we desire closeness, from the depths we aspire to the heights. Yearning (Kissufim) elevates the soul. This is our Neshama Yeseira - the extra, Higher soul. (Lekutei Moharan 1 -31:9) The Kedushas Levi among many others says that there is an aspect of the Neshama Yeseira on the Chagim just like there is on Shabbos.

"Vhee Sheamda la'avoseinu v'lanu.../It is this that has stood by our fathers and us...." At this point in the Haggadah we cover the Matzos and lift up our cups of wine. Kos/cup is numerically 86. The Divine Name Elohim alludes to Malchus, the Divine Manifestation indicating emunah/faith, the source of the Jewish Nation. Elohim is also 86. We lift up the cup of wine, the Kos. We lift up the fallen Shechina, the Divine Manifestation of Malchut. We lift up our emunah, our faith. We uplift ourselves and declare: Many are the counterfources (miniyos)which obstruct the Jewish People from elevating humanity to its ultimate goal. Many are the hindering forces which manifest themselves in the physical and spiritual/emotional world of every individual Jew who seeks to come close to Hashem. Even greater, though, are the Wonders of Guidance (Hashgacha Pratis), the encouragement and support which Hashem provides for all of those who truly seek to come close to Him. It is the strength of emunah we derive from those Wonders which enables us to overcome all the adverse experiences we encounter in our path. (Lekutei Halachos, Basar Bchalav, 4:13-14)

A little later on we read how the sons of Yackov Avinu said to Pharaoh " we have come to live in this land temporarily, for there is no pasture for the flocks that belong to your servants, for the hunger is harsh in the land of Canaan; now, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen." (Bereishis 47:4) In times of hunger, in times of any type of harshness, there is one way to get out, no matter where you may be. Dwell in the land of Goshen! Simple! Another gematria Goshen is 353 and so is Simcha/Joy! If you live in joy no matter what the circumstances may be you will come out on top in the end. But it's not easy. You many times have to force yourself to be joyful, but as long as you try, in the end you will succeed.

One last gem from the Haggadah for now!
"Vnitzak el Hahem Elohei avoseinu" cma shenemar "vayihee bayamim harabim hahem vyamas melech mitzrayim vyeianchu Bnei Yisroel..../"and we cried out to Hahsem, the God of our fathers" as it is written:"And it came to pass during that long period, that the king of Egypt died. The children of Israel moaned..."
Time is a dimension of our life experiences (Likutei Halachos, Gittin 3:12, 4:7) we cannot imagine a different existence nor envision an alternate reality. Yet, beyond our imagination there is a level of life above time, a plane of transcendent time. At that level, Shana, a year, is Shinuy, a change. Chodesh, a month, is chadash, a renewal. (Maggid Dvarav L'Yackov #116) Renewal is the essence of creation. Awareness of this ongoing process is what enables us to take part in it. Acting, and not just acted upon! We become partners with Hashem in the act of creation. Then we will have transcended time. On the other side of the coin, when we are trapped in earthly time, we stagnate. Time progresses and moves ahead, but we don’t . Time changes, but we don’t change with it, Feeling that we cant break out of its constrictive power, that we cannot transcend our limitations, and we become servants to our desires. We cannot see beyond the pleasure of the moment. (Likutei Halachos Milah 4:2)
This is the power of Pharaoh who is numerically equal to shana (355) He enslaves us under time, he constricts us to our personal Mitzrayim. He tells us that theere is time! We will live for generations. Lulled into the Mochin de'katnus/immature consciousness, we are like children who think of life as continuing forever. Many of us do not wake up until we can only look back and say "It was all like a dream." Yes, it was. These are the "yamim rabim/many days" the time illusion of Pharaoh. And his death denotes our awareness, in retrospect, of this delusion. Lets cry out to Hashem while there is still time. We dare not wait until the last minute. But even if we have, there is always hope. How long we live is not important. Eternity is earned by possessing true emunah, true faith, even if its only for a moment.

By Rabbi Lazer Brody (Taken from www.breslovworld.com)

"This night is protected from the forces of evil" (Rama, Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim 481:2).

The Torah describes Seder night as a "night of protection" (Shemot 12:42), when God personally took His beloved children of Israel out of Egypt. The Midrash interprets the original Hebrew lail shimorim two different ways: First, it is a "reserved" night, since God redeemed Israel from bondage on the night of the 15^th of Nisan, he reserves this same night to redeem his children Israel in the future (Yalkut Shimoni, Bo, 210). Second, it's a "protected" night (ibid), since God's divine presence repels all mazikim, the dark-side forces of evil.

"Night of protection" is no mere homiletic catchphrase; it's anchored in religious law! The Abridged Code of Jewish Law (119:9), in explaining how to perform the latter part of the Seder, writes: "After grace following the meal, we pour the fourth cup. According to custom, we open the door in remembrance that tonight is a protected night and we fear nothing."

What's the secret of Seder night? Why is a person so protected that he or she doesn't even need to say Kriat Shema before going to sleep (ibid)? With God's grace, the following parable will explain why:

The King was furious at his servants. One spilled the King's best wine all over the monarch's new white velvet robe. A second served "sweetened" the King tea with three teaspoons of salt instead of sugar. A third left a straight pin in the King's new shirt that painfully pricked His Majesty in the arm. A cloud of premonition descended upon the palace. The servants trembled in apprehension of the King's wrath.

The trusty butler summoned the palace musicians. The King craved music, especially the delightful string-instrument arrangements of his beloved musicians. "Go into the King's chamber and begin playing – don't stop even if your fingers fall off! Only you can placate the King," said the butler with urgency.

All eyes were cast on the musicians: The violin laughed while the cello cried; the viola tiptoed on the upper octaves to the King's delight, while the bass fiddle maintained a steady and soothing tempo that relaxed the King's soul. Enchanted by the exquisite strains, the King put all other matters aside to fully enjoy the music. Gradually, a gratifying smile replaced the monarch's frown.

The musicians had saved the day. The King not only pardoned the servants, but declared a palace holiday in honor of his wonderful string quartet.

The string quartet is symbolic of the four sons. On Seder night, even the wicked, the simple, and the timid sons join their wise brother in singing God's praise and relating the story of our exodus from bondage in Egypt. Such "music", when all four sons join in, is indescribably gratifying to God, the King of all kings.

On Seder night, every Jew speaks to God. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov explains (Sichos HaRan, 70), "For when a Jew wishes to speak to God, God casts aside everything else. Evil decrees are even set aside at this time. God puts aside everything and only listens to the person seeking His presence."

In light of Rebbe Nachman's above teaching, it's easy to understand why Seder night is called a "night of protection", since all of Israel is busy at their Seder tables thanking God and singing His praise. All the heavenly hosts come to earth to hear the story of our exodus from Egypt. God bestows his divine presence on His beloved children, and listens to all the sweet words that are said around the Seder table. The evil elements

don't dare show their faces on a holy night like this.

A person can turn any night into a "night of protection" by simply pouring his or her heart out in personal prayer. Rebbe Nachman teaches that when a Jew desires to speak to God, God moves everything aside to listen. By virtue of our speaking to God, we hasten the day of the ingathering of the exiles and the final redemption of our people, amen.

A chag kasher v'sameach to one and all. And remember to try and enjoy!

peace & joy,
Etan

Parshas Tzav/Shabbos Hagadol

"....v"eish ha'mizbeiach tookad bo./...and the fire of the Altar should be kept aflame on it. "(Vayikra 6:2)

The question is asked as to why only by this korban (the korban olah) does it say this about the fire being kept aflame. And it says a little later on one of my favorite psukim (Just ask my kids!) "Eish tamid tookad al ha'mizbeiach lo sichbe/A permanent fire shal remain aflame on the Altar; it shal not be extinguished."(Vayikra 6:6)

So the Ramban says that this comes to teach that it is a positive commandment (Mitzvas Aseh) that the Kohanim must place enough wood on the fire to keep it burning at all times, including all the night.

Ok but what about us who dont have the Beis Hamikdash and the korbanos? There has to be something for us to learn... and of course there is. The midrash (Vayikra Rabba 7:3) says that the Korban Olah comes to atone for hirhur halev/foreign thoughts. The Toras Avos (Derachim B'Avodas Ha'Borah 138) brings a mashal to a man who owned a forest and wanted to cut down the trees to build houses. He started cutting them down one by one and very soon saw that it would take him his entire life. So he lit a huge fire and pretty soon all the trees where gone. So too it is with foreign thoughts. You get rid of one and up pops another one. What can you do? Light a huge fire, the fire of Hashem. That was the fire of the mizbeiach then and it is the fire of the Torah and our Avodas Hashem that rids our hearts and our minds of foreign thoughts. The reason this inyan of "tookad bo" is brought down specificaly by the "Olah" is because thoughts are the hardest things to get rid of. Any other sins have reasons why not to do them. Maybe people will see, maybe I'll lose money etc... But you could go on acting like the biggest tzadik, davening and learning and at the same time have these thoughts in your heart and mind. Thats why you need to make sure theres lots of wood for that fire. Learn and daven. Daven and learn. Every letter is another log of wood. Even if you don't feel your heart in it, it still works! So learn and daven, daven and learn!!! And even if you can't, at least try working on the desire to. For kisufim/desire/longing also goes a long way.

This also ties into why we have to look for chametz with a flame in all of the cracks and holes. We have to get rid of all of those foreign thoughts. And it's also why the only way to get rid of the chametz is by burning. So let us all start piling up the wood so we could really get the fire going. (Based on The Nesivos Shalom)

This Shabbos is Shabbos Hagadol. The Maharal explains that the Shabbos before Yom Hakippurim is called Shabbos Shuva because the goal and purpose of Yom Hakippurim is teshuva. If so, the Maharal explains this Shabbos is called Shabbos Hagadol because the goal and purpose of Pesach is greatness…gadlus! I would venture to say that the greatness of a person is defined by his ability to overcome the temptation of his base desires, and to choose to do what is right and what he really wants. Freedom defines the greatness of man. (Heard from the "Mash"giach" of Neveh Tzion Rav Blumenfeld)

So that seems to be another definition of what a true hero is (See last post). The problem is that Pharaoh's power is the power of dimyon/illusion/imagination. If we would only be able to realize our true selves, our true potential, and our true power we would be able to really live the Seder this year and really merit to leave both our personal and our collective Mitrayim's.

Heres another very improtant point which should be spread and repeated every year before Pesach. (This is taken from www.breslov.com) If you have time be sure to check out a video on the subject @Lazer Beams .

Rabbi Nachman’s view of overly-stringent practices performed during Passover

Rabbi Nachman cautions people not to be overly-stringent in any religious practice (2 Lekutai Moharan 44). Rabbi Nachman quotes the Talmudic maxim: “G-d does not rule over His creatures with tyranny” (Avoda Zara 3a), and “The Torah wasn't given to ministering angels" (Brachot
35b). "It would be enough if we were worthy of keeping all of the Torah's commandments according to the law, without going beyond it."

Rabbi Nachman was against taking on too many special stringencies on Passover. Many people go so far in observing many fine points of custom that they are literally depressed by the holiday. Rabbi Nachman said that keeping ultra-strict practices are nothing but foolishness. He told us that he had also been caught up in this, and would waste such time thinking up all sorts of unnecessary restrictions.

Once he worried about the drinking water used during Passover. He was afraid that a small amount of leaven night have fallen into the well from which they drew water. The only alternative would be to prepare water in advance for the entire Passover week, as some people do. But this was not good enough, for water had to be carefully safeguarded from leaven from the day before Passover, and this was very difficult.

He finally came to the, conclusion that the only satisfactory water would be that, drawn from a flowing spring, just as it emerges from the ground. The problem was that the only such spring in the area was very far from his home. He thought of traveling to a place near a spring and spending Passover there.

This is an example of how deeply a person can become immersed in unnecessary stringencies. He cam to ridicule such practices, teaching that such ultra-strictness is unnecessary, even on Passover.

Rabbi Nachman emphasized, “True devotion to G-d consists mainly of doing things with simplicity and sincerity. Pray much, study much Torah, do many good deeds. Do not worry yourself with unnecessary restrictions. Just follow the way of our forefathers.” The Torah was not given to the ministering angels. There is nothing that you absolutely must do. If you're not able to do something, “G-d exempts a person under duress” (Baba Kama 28b). “There is no such thing of ever doing anything perfectly” (Sichos HaRan 235).

Once Rabbi Nachman and his student Rav Nosson were once invited to the sukkah of a simple Jew. When Rav Nosson questioned the validity of the sukkah, Rabbi Nachman remarked, “A Jew works very hard to build his sukkah and you seek to invalidate it based on stringencies found in the code of Jewish Law?”' (Avencha Barzel 25:17).

A great Shabbos to everyone! Get ready for the Geulah!!!

peace & joy.......

Etan

The real Heroes!!!

We all love the show Heroes! As Reb Nachman teaches us, we have to see Hashem in everything. My cousin Ari Teman and my brother are a few of the real life heroes! Yashar Koach to them and may they go from strength to strength! Here's a pic of my bro (Who's coming to visit us tomorrow! Yay!) feeding the hungry....See more about it and how you too can help @http://jcorps.org/

Peace & joy,
Etan
P.S. Wow! 2 posts in one day! What's next????