November 8, 2019

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

November 8, 2019 November 8—14, 2019 10—16 Cheshvan 5780 Congregation Torah Ohr 19146 Lyons Road, Boca Raton, FL 33434 (561) 479-4049 www.torahohrboca.org Rabbi Benjamin S. Yasgur President Jonas Waizer VETERANS DAY Office Hours Veterans Day is a time for all of us to honor those who have served Mon. - Thur. 9:00am - 3:00pm in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. Congregation Friday 9:00am - 12noon Torah Ohr greatly appreciates the bravery, dedication, and service SHABBAT SCHEDULE that these extraordinary men and women veterans have given to Parshat Lech Lecha our country. Thank you for defending our rights with courage and honor, with Parasha pg. 54-77 Haftarah pg. 1133 loyalty and love, and some even with lives, to ensure the freedom we enjoy every FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9th day. We appreciate all you have done, and continue to do, to protect us and serve CANDLE LIGHTING our country. Today, the nation honors you with gratitude. You will always have Earliest 4:26pm our respect and will be forever in our thoughts, in our hearts, and, most Standard 5:16pm Mishnah Yomit 5:00pm importantly, in our prayers. Mincha/Kabbalat Shabbat 5:15pm Thank you on behalf of Congregation Torah Ohr. SHABBAT SHACHARIT May G-d bless all of America’s veterans. Hashkama Minyan, Beit Midrash 7:30am Jacob Peison, US Army Veteran Nusach Sfard Minyan 8:00am Main Minyan, Main Sanctuary 8:30am Sermon by Rabbi Kranzler: “Our First November 9-10 commemorates Kristallnacht, the Night of Broken Patriarch: Why did Abraham succeed and Glass. On the nights of November 9-10, 1938, rampaging mobs Noah did not?” throughout Germany freely attacked Jews in the street, in their Latest Shema 9:19am homes, and at their places of work and worship. At least 96 Jews were SHABBAT AFTERNOON killed and hundreds more injured. More than 1,000 synagogues were Daf Yomi 3:30pm burned, almost 7,500 Jewish businesses were destroyed, cemeteries Mishnah Yomit 4:15pm and schools were vandalized, and 30,000 Jews were arrested and sent Shiur by Neil Nissel 4:30pm to concentration camps. The pogroms of Kristallnacht marked an Mincha 5:00pm intensification of Nazi anti-Jewish policy. followed by Seudah Shlisheet D’var Torah by Maurice Kofman Ma’ariv 6:05pm As we remember Kristallnacht and its victims, we pray that G-d bless Shabbat Ends 6:10pm us and the entire world with peace. WEEKDAY SCHEDULE 18th Annual Kristallnacht Film Forum Earliest Davening (Sun-Thurs) 5:28am* The March of the Living & the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Earliest Tallit/Tefillin (Sun-Thurs) 5:55am* Daf Yomi after 7:30am Minyan in Commemoration of the 81st Anniversary of Kristallnacht presents: WITNESS THEATER SHACHARIT Sunday, 11/10/2019 - SCREENINGS: Matinee at 1:00pm Sunday 7:00am 7:30am 8:00am and Early Evening at 5:00pm. Monday 6:50am 7:30am 8:00am Zinman Hall on the Richard & Carole Siemens Jewish Campus Tuesday 7:00am 7:30am 8:00am at the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County. Wednesday 7:00am 7:30am 8:00am Purchase tickets at www.molsouth.org or call 561-852-3126 ($10 in advance) Thursday 6:50am 7:30am 8:00am Message from Rabbi Yasgur Friday 7:00am 7:30am 8:00am MINCHA/MA’ARIV I am currently traveling to New York & Connecticut to visit family and for a Sunday—Thursday (one minyan) 5:15pm professional meeting. Barbara and I plan to return to Boca on Monday evening, Repeat Kriat Shema after 6:10pm* November 11. Should you need my assistance, you may reach me by email or by Hattie Thum Women’s Tehillim Group phone/text: Sunday, 9:00am Email: [email protected] Phone: 203-526-4014 *These are the latest times during the week Have a Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Yasgur Event flyers and forms can be printed from the Torah Ohr website torahohrboca.org or picked up in the shul lobby. SPONSORSHIPS SEUDAH SHLISHEET Shabbat, November 9th, is sponsored by Paula and Bob Bromberg .(ע'ה in memory of her father Max Rosa (Menachem ben Chaim A Year of Learning ע'ה A Year of Learning for Rabbi Dr. Chaim Shapiro, HaRav Chaim ben Shlomo Aharon ע'ה Learning Friends in memory of Saul Chapman, Yisrael Kalman ben Moshe ע'ה Friends of Judy Garber in her memory, Yehudis bat Shalom ע'ה Friends of Alvin Greenfield in his memory, Avraham ben Yaakov ע'ה Friends of Dr. Sonny Meiselman in his memory, Nissan Yitzchak ben Shlomo Zalman (ע'ה Charlotte Chandler Stone in memory of her brother, Steven Chandler (Shalom ben Moshe Dovid (ע'ה Dov Bodlander in memory of his wife, Adele Bodlander (Odel bat Yehudah Tzvi A Month of Learning Sponsored by In Memory of ע'ה Friends of Chana Lanis Chana’s father, Ilya Eliyahu ben Avraham Zushya 10/11-11/8 ע'ה Phyllis and Chaim Reiss her mother, Malka bat Zev 10/25-11/22 ע'ה The Sklar Family in memory of their father, Moshe Mordechai ben Mayer 10/25-11/22 ע'ה and his father, Meir ben Yaakov ע'ה Charles Gelfenstein his mother, Dasia Gittel bat Meir HaLevi 11/8-12/6 A Week of Learning Sponsored by In Memory of ע'ה Michael and Sharon Glass his father, Yitchak Zvi ben Yichael Michal 11/1-11/8 A Day of Learning Plus Book Dedication Sponsored by ע'ה Carol and Paul Schwartz her father, Yaakov Yitzhak ben Zev 11/10 ע'ה Zahava Baum her husband, Yosef ben Reuven 11/10 A Day of Learning Sponsored by In Memory of ע'ה Chuck and Shelley Orgel his sister, Zipora bat Nosson Natta 11/3 ע'ה Herman and Linda Neuman his father, Shmuel ben Chaim 11/7 ע'ה Arthur Ritholtz his brother, Gedalia ben Boruch Leib HaCohen 11/8 ע'ה Esther Slochowsky her brother, Dovid Pinchas ben Zorach Dov 11/8 ע'ה Sheila and Eli Zimmerman her mother, Tsiril bat Menachem Mendel 11/9 ע'ה Gail and Milton Meller her sister, Bryndel bat Aryeh Leib 11/10 ע'ה Elayne and Harold Rinn her father, Avraham ben Dovid 11/11 ע'ה Paula and Bob Bromberg her father, Menachem ben Chaim 11/12 Mazel Tov Rose Huttel on the birth of a great-grandson Ileana Goldwasser on the Bat Mitzvah of a granddaughter New Members Moshe and Masha Metzger on the birth of a great granddaughter Sarah and Marty Lazarus on the birth of a granddaughter Avigdor and Miriam Braun Condolences to Robin Lerner on his passing ע'ה To the family of our member, Simon Wenger REFUAH SHELAYMAH Sam Colman (Shmuel ben Sarah Rachel), Malka Silver Fuchs (Malka Shoshana bat Esther Beila), Martha Gittler (Charna bat Rivka), Ileana Goldwasser (Leah bat Sara), George Heino (Rafael Yaakov Yissocher Noson ben Alta Elka), Carl Heit (Chaim Gershon ben Zelda), Rabbi Michael Kanterovitz (Rav Michael ben Batia), Jack Kaufman (Yaakov Yehoshua ben Bayla Gitel), Art Kraut (Eliezer Anshel ben Perl Gittel), Bruce Lederman (Baruch Aharon ben Bashya), Aviva Levine (Aviva Rachel bat Tzila), Malka Levy (Malka bat Leah), Molly Lieberman (Malka bat Esther), Charles Meyers (Meier ben Chava), Mitchel Nerenberg (Menachem Mendel ben Leah), Margareta Neulinger (Malka bat Esther), Jay Rosenfeld (Yehuda Baruch ben Golda), Rachel Rosner (Rachel bat Toiba), Sheila Shapiro (Sarah Esther Malka bat Fayga Raizel), Barbara Sterman (Bracha bat Batya), Rabbi Shmuel Tokayer (Rav Shmuel ben Malka), Heni Weisfogel (Esther Hena bat Gitel), Susan Wertman (Chaya Sarah bat Leah), Louis Witonsky (Lavan ben Yehuda), Reuven Eliyahu ben Shaindel Malka, Elchanan Yisrael Ben Devora Leah, Ahuva bat Tema, Aharon Dov ben Tiferet Chana Information session for those who wish to join us on the Israel Mission Wednesday, December 4th at 7pm Israel Bonds Unity Dessert Pick up the 5780 Education Brochure in the lobby today! Reception at Temple Beth El Rabbis On rotation starts This week. Thursday November 21st 7:00pm Thursday, November 21st Honoring Upcoming Book Reviews: Health Fair at Beth Shalom Mel and Eileen Greenbaum Wednesday 11/27 10am 9am– Noon “Beneatha Scarlet Sky” (There will be a bus at 6:15) Monday 12/2 8pm “IBM and The Holocaust” *THURSDAY* Attention Key West December 5, 2019 Trip Participants: Thursday 12/19 8pm “The History 12:15pm Orientation/ of the Jewish People from Yavne Rabbi Noach Light Information “Flow — Tapping meeting Into Limitless Potential” to Pumbedisa” Thursday 11/14 at Noon New Sisterhood Tribute cards now available in the office. Prepackaged sets of 3 cards for $10 These lovely cards were designed by our member, Sheryl Satzman. Thanksgiving Dinner at Century Grill Sisterhood Holiday Boutique Thursday, 11/28 at 2pm Sisterhood is now accepting orders for Mah Jongg cards for 2020. Wednesday, $45 per person Flyers are available in the December 4th Shul lobby. RSVP soon—space is limited Any questions - please contact Judy 11am-1pm Cohen or Eunis Penn. פרשת לך-לך Parashat Lech Lecha Congregation Torah Ohr November 8 — 23, 2019 ● 10 – 25 Cheshvan 5780 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Earliest Davening: 5:28am* Earliest Tallit/Tefillin : 5:55am* 8 (10 Cheshvan) 9 (11 Cheshvan) Daf Yomi: after 7:30amMinyan Lech Lecha Plag (Sun-Thurs): 4:25-4:23pm 7:30a, 8:00a, & 8:30a– Shacharit Mishnah Yomit: Sun-Fri: 15 minutes before 1st Mincha ● Shabbat: 15 minutes before shiur sermon by Rabbi Kranzler 9:19a— Latest Shema Mincha/Ma’ariv: Sun - Thurs: 5:15pm Repeat K’riat Shema: 6:10pm* 3:30p— Daf Yomi (*Latest time during the week) Candle Lighting 4:15p— Mishnah Yomit 4:26p- Earliest with Mishnah Berurah will resume in the Fall 4:30p— Shiur by N.
Recommended publications
  • Introduction to Zohar with Rabbi Roller: Session 2 the Rose Among Thorns
    Introduction to Zohar with Rabbi Roller: Session 2 The Rose Among Thorns Genesis 1:1-3 When God began to create heaven and earth—the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water—God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. Rashi: This verse does not say anything except “explain me!” Song of Songs 2:1-3 I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys. Like a lily among thorns, So is my darling among the maidens. Like an apple tree among trees of the forest, So is my beloved among the youths. I delight to sit in his shade, And his fruit is sweet to my mouth. Mishnah Yadaim 3:5 The Song of Songs and Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) defile the hands. Rabbi Judah says: the Song of Songs defiles the hands, but there is a dispute about Kohelet. Rabbi Yose says: Kohelet does not defile the hands, but there is a dispute about the Song of Songs… Rabbi Akiba said: Far be it! No man in Israel disputed that the Song of Songs [saying] that it does not defile the hands. For the whole world is not as worthy as the day on which the Song of Songs was given to Israel; for all the writings are holy but the Song of Songs is the holy of holies. Zohar 1:1a-b Rabbi Hizkiyah opened, “It is written, as a rose among thorns.” (Song of Songs 2:2) What is the Rose? It is the Congregation of Israel.
    [Show full text]
  • Lacatul Si Cheia
    LACATUL SI CHEIA 41. Rabbi Chiya şi Rabbi Yosi se plimbau pe un drum. Când au ajuns la o câmpie, Rabbi Chiya i-a spus lui Rabbi Yosi, „Cuvintele BARAH SHEET (şase create) cu siguranţă fac aluzie laBERESHEET , deoarece cele şase Zile Cereşti, VAK de Bina, strălucesc peste Tora (ZA), în timp ce altele, GAR de Bina, sunt ascunse.” ZA al lumii Atzilut este numit Tora. Cele şase Zile Cereşti suntVAK de Bina care se află deasupraZA . De aceea, primul cuvânt al Torei, BERESHEET = BARAH (creat) şi SHEET (şase) indică faptul căSfira Bina se întoarce către Sfira Hochma cu scopul de a primi Ohr Hochma şi de a o transfera la ZA. deoarece ZA este incapabil să primească toată Ohr Hochma (GAR de Hochma, Lumina celor zece Sfirot) de la Bina, ci doar VAK de Hochma (Lumina celor şase Sfirot), acest lucru este subliniat în cuvântul BARAH SHEET – ŞASE CREATE. Aceasta înseamnă că ZA primeşte de la Bina, Lumina de la doar şase Sfirot, HGT NHY sau VAK de Hochma, în timp ce GAR de Hochma, Lumina Sfirot KHB, este ascunsă de el. Motivul este că, deşi Partzuf Atik aparţine lui Tzimtzum Aleph (prima restricţie), este obligat să strălucească în jos, peste toate celelalte Partzufim ale lumii Atzilut şi peste toate lumile BYA cu Lumina lui Tzimtzum Bet. De aceea, cu privire la Partzufim inferioare, ele apar ca Partzuf care aparţine lui Tzimtzum Bet. Cu alte cuvinte, intenţionat el şi-a autoimpus o limită exterioară (referitor la celelalte) pentru a permitePartzufim inferioare să primească de la el. De aceea, el a înălţat-o Malchutpe de la Peh la Eynaim şi a făcut unZivug deasupra ecranului ce stă în Nikvey Eynaim, în acest fel dând naştere Partzuf –ului AA.
    [Show full text]
  • The Soul of a Jew and the Soul of a Non-Jew an Inconvenient Truth and the Search for an Alternative
    47 The Soul of a Jew and the Soul of a Non-Jew An Inconvenient Truth and the Search for an Alternative By: HANAN BALK Holiness is not found in the human being in essence unless he sanctifies himself. According to his preparation for holiness, so the fullness comes upon him from on High. A person does not acquire holiness while inside his mother. He is not holy from the womb, but has to labor from the very day he comes into the air of the world. 1 Introduction: The Soul of a Jew is Superior to that of a Non-Jew The view expressed in the above heading—as uncomfortable and racially charged as it may be in the minds of some—was undoubtedly, as we shall show, the prominent position maintained by authorities of Jewish thought throughout the ages, and continues to be so even today. While Jewish mysticism is the source and primary expositor of this theory, it has achieved a ubiquitous presence not only in the writings of Kabbalists,2 but also in the works of thinkers found in the libraries of most observant Jews, who hardly consider themselves followers of Kabbalah. Clearly, for one committed to the Torah and its principles, it is not tenable to presume that so long as he is not a Kabbalist, such a belief need not be a part of his religious worldview. Is there an alternative view that is an equally authentic representation of Jewish thought on the subject? In response to this question, we will 1 R. Simhạ Bunim of Przysukha, Kol Simha,̣ Parshat Miketz, p.
    [Show full text]
  • Tanya Sources.Pdf
    The Way to the Tree of Life Jewish practice entails fulfilling many laws. Our diet is limited, our days to work are defined, and every aspect of life has governing directives. Is observance of all the laws easy? Is a perfectly righteous life close to our heart and near to our limbs? A righteous life seems to be an impossible goal! However, in the Torah, our great teacher Moshe, Moses, declared that perfect fulfillment of all religious law is very near and easy for each of us. Every word of the Torah rings true in every generation. Lesson one explores how the Tanya resolved these questions. It will shine a light on the infinite strength that is latent in each Jewish soul. When that unending holy desire emerges, observance becomes easy. Lesson One: The Infinite Strength of the Jewish Soul The title page of the Tanya states: A Collection of Teachings ספר PART ONE לקוטי אמרים חלק ראשון Titled הנקרא בשם The Book of the Beinonim ספר של בינונים Compiled from sacred books and Heavenly מלוקט מפי ספרים ומפי סופרים קדושי עליון נ״ע teachers, whose souls are in paradise; based מיוסד על פסוק כי קרוב אליך הדבר מאד בפיך ובלבבך לעשותו upon the verse, “For this matter is very near to לבאר היטב איך הוא קרוב מאד בדרך ארוכה וקצרה ”;you, it is in your mouth and heart to fulfill it בעזה״י and explaining clearly how, in both a long and short way, it is exceedingly near, with the aid of the Holy One, blessed be He. "1 of "393 The Way to the Tree of Life From the outset of his work therefore Rav Shneur Zalman made plain that the Tanya is a guide for those he called “beinonim.” Beinonim, derived from the Hebrew bein, which means “between,” are individuals who are in the middle, neither paragons of virtue, tzadikim, nor sinners, rishoim.
    [Show full text]
  • The Archetype of the Tzaddiq in Hasidic Tradition
    THE ARCHETYPE OF THE TZADDIQ IN HASIDIC TRADITION A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA IN CONJUNCTION wlTH THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS BY YA'QUB IBN YUSUF August4, 1992 National Library B¡bliothèque nat¡onale E*E du Canada Acquisitions and D¡rection des acquisilions et B¡bliographic Services Branch des services bibliograPhiques 395 Wellinolon Slreêl 395, rue Wellington Oflawa. Oñlario Ottawa (Ontario) KlA ON4 K1A ON4 foùt t¡te vat¡e ¡élëte^ce Ou l¡te Nate élëtenæ The author has granted an L'auteur a accordé une licence irrevocable non-exclusive licence irrévocable et non exclusive allowing the National Library of permettant à la Bibliothèque Canada to reproduce, loan, nationale du Canada de distribute or sell cop¡es of reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou his/her thesis by any means and vendre des copies de sa thèse in any form or format, making de quelque manière et sous this thesis available to interested quelque forme que ce soit pour persons. mettre des exemplaires de cette thèse à la disposition des personnes intéressées. The author retains ownership of L'auteur conserve la propriété du the copyright in his/her thesis. droit d'auteur qui protège sa Neither the thesis nor substantial thèse. Ni la thèse ni des extraits extracts from it may be printed or substantiels de celle-ci ne otherwise reproduced without doivent être imprimés ou his/her permission. autrement reproduits sans son autorisation, ïsBN ø-315-7796Ø-S
    [Show full text]
  • THE TRUE TZADDIK Selected Thoughts from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
    HH cover: THE TRUE TZADDIK title page: THE TRUE TZADDIK Selected Thoughts from Rebbe Nachman of Breslov Published by Rabbi Yisroel Ber Odesser Jerusalem the Holy City 18 Tammuz 5752 TABLE OF CONTENTS Prologue....5 Introduction...7 1. The Concept of the Tzaddik...9 2. Who is the Tzaddik?.....23 3. Rosh Hashana with the Tzaddik....29 4. The Letter from the Tzaddik...35 5. The Gift from the Tzaddik -THE HOLY COVENANT...47 -THE TIKKUN HAKLALI...53 -PRAYER OF RABBI NATHAN...87 -PRAYERS TO GO TO UMAN....103 -THE TIKKUN CHATZOT....111 5 Prologue This book has been published through the collective effort of any individuals, in order to help the reader become acquainted with the concept of the Tzaddik. The price of this book is considered Tzeddakah (charity). In the merit of purchasing this book, may the owner be considered to have give a Pidyon (redemption money) to the True Tzaddik on behalf of the entire Jewish People. May it be Your will, O L-rd our G-d and G-d of our Fathers, to sweeten all the harsh and strict judgements against the entire Jewish People, through the supreme wonder, who acts with great loving- kindness and complete and simple mercy, without any trace of harsh judgment at all, Amen. 7 “And they [the children of Israel] believed in the L-rd and in Moses, His servant.” (Shemot 14:31) Rabbi Nathan of Nemirov, Rebbe Nachman's closest disciple, explains: “It's impossible to believe in G-d without the help of the Tzaddik of on one's generation.” [Four-fifth of the Hebrew people died in Egypt because they didn't believe in Moses' words.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tenth Commandment
    Celestial Grace Temple English Zohar – The Tenth Commandment Zohar Book 29 - The Tenth Commandment: 237. The tenth Mitzva obliges man to put on Tefillin and to attain the Supernal properties, as it is written, THE CREATOR CREATED MAN IN HIS OWN IMAGE. He opened and said, “Your head upon you is like the Carmel.” This text refers to the Supernal head – the Tefillin worn on the head of the Holy, Supernal King HaVaYaH, written in separate letters. Each letter in the holy name HaVaYaH corresponds to a certain paragraph in the Tefillin. Thus, the Holy, Supernal Name is written in the scrolls of Tefillin, in the secrets of the letters. For THE NAME OF THE CREATOR IS UPON YOU, AND THEY SHALL BE AFRAID OF YOU refers to the head Tefillin, which contains the Holy Name HaVaYaH. By being merciful to the poor, one merely begins to receive the Creator’s Supernal image. Bina absorbs the properties of Malchut, described by the verse, LET US CREATE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, AFTER OUR LIKENESS. By unifying Bina’s properties with those of Malchut, AHP de Bina (the letters ELEH) fell to ZON, and only the letters MI (GE) remained in Ima. AHP de Bina that fell to ZON consist of Aba and Ima: Aba assumes the properties of ZA, and Ima assumes the properties of Nukva. Since AVI descended to the place of ZON, they became like ZON. And from them ZON receive the state of Katnut, called TZELEM Elokim, likeness to Bina (VAK), for Ima lost the GAR of her own state, that is, since her AHP fell to ZON, she lost the Light of GAR.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 I. Introduction: the Following Essay Is Offered to the Dear Reader to Help
    I. Introduction: The power point presentation offers a number of specific examples from Jewish Law, Jewish history, Biblical Exegesis, etc. to illustrate research strategies, techniques, and methodologies. The student can better learn how to conduct research using: (1) online catalogs of Judaica, (2) Judaica databases (i.e. Bar Ilan Responsa, Otzar HaHokmah, RAMBI , etc.], (3) digitized archival historical collections of Judaica (i.e. Cairo Geniza, JNUL illuminated Ketuboth, JTSA Wedding poems, etc.), (4) ebooks (i.e. HebrewBooks.org) and eReference Encyclopedias (i.e., Encyclopedia Talmudit via Bar Ilan, EJ, and JE), (5) Judaica websites (e.g., WebShas), (5) and some key print sources. The following essay is offered to the dear reader to help better understand the great gains we make as librarians by entering the online digital age, however at the same time still keeping in mind what we dare not loose in risking to liquidate the importance of our print collections and the types of Jewish learning innately and traditionally associate with the print medium. The paradox of this positioning on the vestibule of the cyber digital information age/revolution is formulated by my allusion to continental philosophies characterization of “The Question Concerning Technology” (Die Frage ueber Teknologie) in the phrase from Holderlin‟s poem, Patmos, cited by Heidegger: Wo die Gefahr ist wachst das Retende Auch!, Where the danger is there is also the saving power. II. Going Digital and Throwing out the print books? Critique of Cushing Academy’s liquidating print sources in the library and going automated totally digital online: Cushing Academy, a New England prep school, is one of the first schools in the country to abandon its books.
    [Show full text]
  • The Hidden Light of Chanukah Rabbi Hershel Reichman(Vol6num43)
    The Hidden Light of Chanuka Rabbi Hershel Reichman The Bnei Yissachar writes that Kislev contains writes that ner Chanukah is a very precious say in davening, “Ha'melamed Torah l’amo the secret of the ohr haganuz (the hidden mitzvah and one should be careful to perform Yisrael.” Rav Soloveitchik points out that it’s light). This is hinted to by the word Kislev, it in the best possible way. The general rule is written in present tense to teach us that which can be read as keis (concealed) lamed that if one would need to spend more than Hashem is continuously transmitting Torah to vav (36). During the first three days of 20% of his assets on a positive mitzvah, he is us directly and through our Torah teachers. creation, Hashem let this secret light shine for exempt from the mitzvah. However, for 36 hours before hiding it away for the tzadikim Chanukah candles, the Rambam says one While a scientist may limit wisdom to physical in the next world. The 36 lights of Chanuka should spend everything one has and if one reality, a musician knows that music is not just signify the 36 hours that the ohr haganuz has nothing one should collect charity or musical notes on a sheet of paper. There’s shone during creation. It was this special light borrow money. something beyond definition, a measure of that supplied the tiny cruse of pure oil with divine inspiration beyond the physics of sound, energy to burn for eight days. It was also this There’s a difference of opinions about when to that makes great music.
    [Show full text]
  • UNMASKED! – SHH! Being Able to Carry out the Attack
    THE OHR SOMAYACH TORAH MAGAZINE ON THE INTERNET • WWW.OHR.EDU O H R N E T SHABBAT PARSHAT BECHUKOTAI • 22 IYAR 5763 • MAY 24, 2003 • VOL. 10 NO. 31 PARSHA INSIGHTS And I don’t mean a deterrent. I mean a device that stops ISRAELI SECRET WEAPON your enemies either thinking about attacking you or if they think about attacking you, it ingeniously stops them from UNMASKED! – SHH! being able to carry out the attack. The weather stops them, “If you will follow My decrees…you will dwell securely or their billion dollar research program turns up a dud, or in your land. I will provide peace in the land, their entire army gets the dysentery. and you will lie down with none to frighten…” (26:1-6) Not only does such a weapon exist, but we have that weapon. an you keep a secret? Every year, nations spend bil- It’s called… lions of dollars on defense. Every country wants to Lean a little closer to your monitor so not everyone sees Chave the latest secret weapon – a “smarter” bomb this, okay that can pin-point military headquarters and take it out with- It’s called… out touching a hair on the heads of the babies in the mater- Shh! nity hospital that some beneficent dictator has built next (the Torah!) door; a anti-missile missile that can discriminate one hun- Okay? Mum’s the word – right? dred percent between an enemy rocket and a planeload of The Talmud teaches that learning Torah is greater than tourists; a foolproof WMD detector, a super-snooper sur- saving lives.
    [Show full text]
  • Strengthening Our Emunah in Moshiach Through
    STRENGTHENING OUR EMUNAH IN AND MOSHIACH THROUGH CHASSIDUS PART I BY ARYEH GUREWITZ In your column for Chof Cheshvan, you The Mitteler Rebbe compares our relationship with suggested that we need to learn Chassidus Hashem—i.e., that of the whole Klal Yisroel throughout all Q in a way that strengthens our emunah in the the generations—to the relationship of a father and son, coming of Moshiach. Can you explain what exactly that where the father has hidden from the son in order to get could look like? –Yehuda M. his son to look for him. Before the father decided to hide, the son knew the father face-to-face and knew that his father loved him. If the son is wise and mature, then he This is a vital question and a perfect one realizes that the father would never really abandon him, for Chodesh Kislev, so we’ll try to address and, recognizing that his father is just playing a game, he A at least a few aspects of it over the next few happily searches all the places where he knows his father weeks. usually goes. The father continues to hide, but he knows One of the main challenges involved in developing his son is looking for him, and that causes him to feel even complete emunah in the coming of Moshiach is that it more love for his son than before. Eventually, the father requires us to believe that the way we experience the comes out of hiding and showers his son with more love world will change significantly.
    [Show full text]
  • Final Copy of Dissertation
    The Talmudic Zohar: Rabbinic Interdisciplinarity in Midrash ha-Ne’lam ​ by Joseph Dov Rosen A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Joint Doctor of Philosophy with Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley in Jewish Studies in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in Charge: Professor Daniel Boyarin, Chair Professor Deena Aranoff Professor Niklaus Largier Summer 2017 © Joseph Dov Rosen All Rights Reserved, 2017 Abstract The Talmudic Zohar: Rabbinic Interdisciplinarity in Midrash ha-Ne’lam ​ By Joseph Dov Rosen Joint Doctor of Philosophy in Jewish Studies with the Graduate Theological Union University of California, Berkeley Professor Daniel Boyarin, Chair This study uncovers the heretofore ignored prominence of talmudic features in Midrash ​ ​ ha-Ne’lam on Genesis, the earliest stratum of the zoharic corpus. It demonstrates that Midrash ​ ​ ha-Ne’lam, more often thought of as a mystical midrash, incorporates both rhetorical ​ components from the Babylonian Talmud and practices of cognitive creativity from the medieval discipline of talmudic study into its esoteric midrash. By mapping these intersections of Midrash, Talmud, and Esotericism, this dissertation introduces a new framework for studying rabbinic interdisciplinarity—the ways that different rabbinic disciplines impact and transform each other. The first half of this dissertation examines medieval and modern attempts to connect or disconnect the disciplines of talmudic study and Jewish esotericism. Spanning from Maimonides’ reliance on Islamic models of Aristotelian dialectic to conjoin Pardes (Jewish ​ ​ esotericism) and talmudic logic, to Gershom Scholem’s juvenile fascination with the Babylonian Talmud, to contemporary endeavours to remedy the disciplinary schisms generated by Scholem’s founding models of Kabbalah (as a form of Judaism that is in tension with “rabbinic Judaism”), these two chapters tell a series of overlapping histories of Jewish inter/disciplinary projects.
    [Show full text]