DOCSLIB.ORG

PARSHAT VAYIKRA When We Seemed to Forget Web of Sin

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
PARSHAT VAYIKRA When We Seemed to Forget Web of Sin ב ס ״ ד Torah us. We are exposed to the big d Leah. You are a member of Identity Crisis wide world with all its the "kingdom of priests and Weekly Amnesia is a frightening seemingly tantalizing holy nation." You were freed illness. Imagine forgetting diversions. Even if we do from Egypt and stood at Sinai. March 14-20, 2021 who you are — suddenly you marry within the faith, we You have survived countless 1-7 Nissan, 5781 have no family, no history, become culturally attempts on your life and your Torah Reading: and no identity. It can happen assimilated. Slowly but faith. You emerged from the Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1 - 5:26 to an individual and it can surely, then, even a nefesh, a ashes of Auschwitz only to Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21 - 44:23 happen to a people. There Jewish soul, starts forgetting live again. And you ask "Who have been times in our history who she is and can fall into the am I?" This is a serious case of PARSHAT VAYIKRA when we seemed to forget web of sin. national amnesia. who we were and where we We have Jewish Remember the "wise man" So the holy Zohar reminds us came from. And all too often, Calendars. If you from Chelm and his problem? that we are not only "a person we seem uncertain about would like one, He worried that when he went who may sin." We are a soul, where we are going. please send us a to the public bathhouse where and shall a soul sin? A soul is letter and we will In the opening chapters everyone is unclothed he by definition part and parcel send you one, or of Leviticus, we read the wouldn't know who he was. of the Divine. And for the Calendars ask the expression Nefesh ki techeta Without his own personal set G-dly soul within us, Rabbi/Chaplain to — "when a person will of clothing to distinguish him distancing ourselves from our contact us. sin." The Torah goes on to from others, he might suffer very source is absolutely describe the various Do you have family an identity crisis. So he unthinkable. atonement offerings devised a plan. He tied a red How else can we explain the on the outside necessary to absolve one from string around his big toe so phenomenon that after 70 struggling? their trespasses. The that even in the bathhouse he years of Communist atheism, Please contact or Kabbalistic classic, Zohar, would stand out from Jews in the Former Soviet have them contact renders this phrase both everyone else. Sadly, when he Union are today fervently our office to learn literally and was in the shower, the water embracing the faith of their more about our spiritually. Nefesh is and soapsuds loosened the red forefathers? Or that after family programs. interpreted as not merely You and they are string, and it slipped off his decades of apathy, American a person but a soul, and the big toe. To make matters Family Programs Jews of all ages are not alone, we are verse is punctuated by a worse, the red string floated desperately seeking here to help. question mark. In other along to the next cubicle and spirituality? Or that the words, the Torah is twirled around the big toe of renaissance of Jewish life has We offer free Grape asking Nefesh ki techeta? the fellow under the next become a reality around the Juice and Matzoh Shall a soul sin? Can a Jewish shower. globe? Yes, there are good for you to be able to soul, a yiddishe neshamah, a Suddenly, our Chelmer people out there igniting make the blessings spark of divinity, really and genius discovered that his sparks and fanning them into a every Shabbos. truly stoop to commit a lowly string was gone. He started fiery faith. But the sparks Please have your sin? How is that possible? panicking. This was a serious would not take if there was not chaplain / Rabbi Indeed, the only way it can identity crisis. Then he saw a burning ember inside every contact us to enroll happen is when we forget who that the fellow next door was Jewish soul, an ember that (available to all we are, when we are no longer sporting his red string. remains inextinguishable no Grape Juice & Matzah prisons). in touch with our true spiritual Whereupon, he ran over to matter what. identity, when we start to him and shouted, "I know So if you ever have doubts Hyman & Martha Rogal Center suffer from spiritual amnesia. 5804 Beacon Street who you are, but who am I?" about who you are, remember Pittsburgh, PA 15217 Sadly, it does happen. In fact, Who are you? You are a Jew! the Zohar. You are a soul. And 412-421-0111 it's not really that difficult. You are a son a soul never dies. By Rabbi Fax: 412-521-5948 After all, we live in a secular of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Yossi Goldman www.alephne.org society. The old ghetto walls [email protected] a daughter are no longer there to insulate of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel an When Small Outside the sun was shining, essays; the ideas flowed from just as brilliantly as my inner my pen. I taught extensively, Sacrifices Are Huge sun. returning from each class This week, I had a great week. I was productive. I wrote exhausted but exhilarated. I IN JEWISH HISTORY Sunday, March 14, 2021 --- 1 Nissan, 5781 was flying high, exuberant. I was meeting people, Creation of man (in thought) (3761 BCE) connecting and touching them deeply just as I was The Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 10b-11a) cites two opinions as to the date of G-d's creation of the universe: according to Rabbi Eliezer: "The world was created in being touched by them. Instead of becoming tired or Tishrei" (i.e., the sixth day of creation--the day on which Adam and Eve were created-- depleted, the more I did, the more energized I became. was the 1st of Tishrei, celebrated each year as Rosh Hashanah); according to Rabbi Life was smiling at me. Hey, I even got an unexpected Joshua, "The world was created in Nissan." As interpreted by the Kabbalists and the Chassidic masters, the deeper meaning of these two views is that the physical world check in the mail that I had given up on. The week was created in Tishrei, while the "thought" or idea of creation was created in the month flew by in a dizzying haze of contentment. of Nissan. (see "Links" below) How different this week was from last week. The Patriarchs (1813-1506 BCE) According to the Talmud, the three Patriarchs of the Jewish people-- Abraham (1813- Last week, my work was stunted. My ideas were 1638 BCE), Isaac (1713-1533 BCE) and Jacob (1653-1506 BCE)--all were born and disjointed. I felt ill at ease with my life and with my passed away in the month of Nissan. accomplishments. There seemed to be a perpetual Jewish Calendar Inaugurated (1313 BCE) cloud over my home. No matter what I was doing, I On the first of Nissan of the year 2448 from creation (1313 BCE--two weeks before the Exodus), G-d showed Moses the crescent new moon and told him, "When you see the felt restless, uninspired. I couldn’t find my moon like this, sanctify [the new month]." This ushered in the first Jewish month, and equilibrium, no matter how much I relaxed or how commenced the lunar calendar Jews have been following ever since. much I worked. I couldn’t find solutions to my inner confusion. In the supermarket or on the streets, people Monday, March 15, 2021 --- 2 Nissan, 5781 First Red Heifer Prepared (1312 BCE) seemed impatient; my friends and family sounded On the 2nd of Nissan, one day after the inauguration of the Tabernacle, Moses prepared annoyed. The news I read reported tragedy and the very first Red Heifer, in order to ritually purify the Jewish nation in preparation for sadness, and the bills on my desk were unsettling. the bringing of the Paschal Lamb in the newly erected Sanctuary. Isn’t life like that? Some days, we’re riding high. Passing of Rashab (1920) The fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom DovBer Schneersohn ("Rashab"), was Other days, we’re in the pits. Some days, it’s natural born in the White Russian town of Lubavitch in 1860. After the passing of his for us to do good things; the more we do, the higher father, Rabbi Shmuel (in 1882), he assumed the leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch. we climb on an upward ascent to even more positivity. Famed for his phenomenal mind and analytical treatment of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Other times, we get stuck on a downward spiral of Sholom DovBer wrote and delivered some 2,000 maamarim (discourses of Chassidic teaching) over the 38 years of his leadership. In 1897, he established the Tomchei circumstances that rob us of opportunity, and before Temimim yeshivah, the first institution of Jewish learning to combine the study of the we know it, we’re in a rut, depleted of energy and "body" of Torah (Talmudic and legal studies) with its mystical "soul" (the teachings of initiative. Vayikra begins with G-d calling Moses: Chassidism); it was this unique yeshivah that produced the army of learned, inspired and devoted Chassidim who, in the decades to come, would literally give their lives to And G-d called to Moses; and G-d spoke to him out of keep Judaism alive under Soviet rule.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Rav Yisroel Abuchatzeira, Baba Sali Zt”L
    Issue (# 14) A Tzaddik, or righteous person makes everyone else appear righteous before Hashem by advocating for them and finding their merits. (Kedushas Levi, Parshas Noach; Sefer Bereishis 7:1) Parshas Bo Kedushas Ha'Levi'im THE TEFILLIN OF THE MASTER OF THE WORLD You shall say it is a pesach offering to Hashem, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel... (Shemos 12:27) The holy Berditchever asks the following question in Kedushas Levi: Why is it that we call the yom tov that the Torah designated as “Chag HaMatzos,” the Festival of Unleavened Bread, by the name Pesach? Where does the Torah indicate that we might call this yom tov by the name Pesach? Any time the Torah mentions this yom tov, it is called “Chag HaMatzos.” He answered by explaining that it is written elsewhere, “Ani l’dodi v’dodi li — I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine” (Shir HaShirim 6:3). This teaches that we relate the praises of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and He in turn praises us. So, too, we don tefillin, which contain the praises of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu dons His “tefillin,” in which the praise of Klal Yisrael is written. This will help us understand what is written in the Tanna D’Vei Eliyahu [regarding the praises of Klal Yisrael]. The Midrash there says, “It is a mitzvah to speak the praises of Yisrael, and Hashem Yisbarach gets great nachas and pleasure from this praise.” It seems to me, says the Kedushas Levi, that for this reason it says that it is forbidden to break one’s concentration on one’s tefillin while wearing them, that it is a mitzvah for a man to continuously be occupied with the mitzvah of tefillin.
    [Show full text]
  • Moses Mendelssohn and the Jewish Historical Clock Disruptive Forces in Judaism of the 18Th Century by Chronologies of Rabbi Families
    Moses Mendelssohn and The Jewish Historical Clock Disruptive Forces in Judaism of the 18th Century by Chronologies of Rabbi Families To be given at the Conference of Jewish Genealogy in London 2001 By Michael Honey I have drawn nine diagrams by the method I call The Jewish Historical Clock. The genealogy of the Mendelssohn family is the tenth. I drew this specifically for this conference and talk. The diagram illustrates the intertwining of relationships of Rabbi families over the last 600 years. My own family genealogy is also illustrated. It is centred around the publishing of a Hebrew book 'Megale Amukot al Hatora' which was published in Lvov in 1795. The work of editing this book was done from a library in Brody of R. Efraim Zalman Margaliot. The book has ten testimonials and most of these Rabbis are shown with a green background for ease of identification. The Megale Amukot or Rabbi Nathan Nata Shpiro with his direct descendants in the 17th century are also highlighted with green backgrounds. The numbers shown in the yellow band are the estimated years when the individuals in that generation were born. For those who have not seen the diagrams of The Jewish Historical Clock before, let me briefly explain what they are. The Jewish Historical Clock is a system for drawing family trees ow e-drmanfly 1 I will describe to you the linkage of the Mendelssohn family branch to the network of orthodox rabbis. Moses Mendelssohn 1729-1786 was in his time the greatest Jewish philosopher. He was one of the first Jews to write in a modern language, German and thus opened the doors to Jewish emancipation so desired by the Jewish masses.
    [Show full text]
  • Chabad Chodesh Nisan 5775
    בס“ד Nisan 5772/2015 SPECIAL DAYS IN NISAN Volume 26, Issue 1 Nisan 1/March 21/Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Nisan Parshas HaChodesh In Nisan the Avos were born and died. [Rosh HaShanah, 11a] In Nisan our fathers were redeemed and in Nisan we will be redeemed. [Rosh HaShanah, 11a] The dedication of the Mishkan began on Nisan 1, 2449 (1312 BCE) and Moshe Rabeinu completed the consecration of Aharon and his sons. Aharon brought the first sacrifices. The Nesiim, heads of the tribes, brought sacrifices from the first until the twelfth of Nisan, to of Yehudah, who was also the first to dedicate the Mishkan. jump into the Yam Suf. "...We don't fast in Nisan, nor decree a fast on the community, a custom Yecheskel Hanavi prophesied on the based on the words of the Chachamim fall of Egypt in the time of [Maseches Soferim]: The Nesiim began Nebuchadnetzer, the king of Bavel to bring their sacrifices in Nisan, [Yecheskal 29:17]. We read it for the through the twelfth. Each day was the Haftorah of Parshas Vaera. Nasi's own Yom Tov. The fourteenth is Erev Pesach, followed by eight days of Ezra Left Bavel with many Jews on Pesach; since most of the month went Rosh Chodesh Nisan and they reached by in holiness, we make it all holy as a Yeru-shalayim on Rosh Chodesh Av. Yom Tov..." [Alter Rebbe's Shulchan TZCHOK CHABAD OF HANCOCK PARK Aruch, 429:9] (And thus, we don't say Tachnun, "Av HaRachamim" or "Tzidkascha" in Nisan) Inside this issue: From Rosh Chodesh Nisan until Nisan Special Days 1 12, we say the daily Parshah of the sacrifice of each Nasi, after Shacharis, Laws & Customs of Pesach 7 followed by "Yehi Ratzon".
    [Show full text]
  • Fine Judaica, to Be Held May 2Nd, 2013
    F i n e J u d a i C a . printed booKs, manusCripts & autograph Letters including hoLy Land traveL the ColleCtion oF nathan Lewin, esq. K e s t e n b au m & C om pa n y thursday, m ay 2nd, 2013 K est e n bau m & C o m pa ny . Auctioneers of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Fine Art A Lot 318 Catalogue of F i n e J u d a i C a . PRINTED BOOK S, MANUSCRIPTS, & AUTOGRAPH LETTERS INCLUDING HOLY L AND TR AVEL THE COllECTION OF NATHAN LEWIN, ESQ. ——— To be Offered for Sale by Auction, Thursday, May 2nd, 2013 at 3:00 pm precisely ——— Viewing Beforehand: Sunday, April 28th - 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Monday, April 29th - 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Tuesday, April 30th - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Wednesday, May 1st - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm No Viewing on the Day of Sale This Sale may be referred to as: “Pisgah” Sale Number Fifty-Eight Illustrated Catalogues: $38 (US) * $45 (Overseas) KestenbauM & CoMpAny Auctioneers of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Fine Art . 242 West 30th street, 12th Floor, new york, NY 10001 • tel: 212 366-1197 • Fax: 212 366-1368 e-mail: [email protected] • World Wide Web site: www.Kestenbaum.net K est e n bau m & C o m pa ny . Chairman: Daniel E. Kestenbaum Operations Manager: Jackie S. Insel Client Accounts: S. Rivka Morris Client Relations: Sandra E. Rapoport, Esq. (Consultant) Printed Books & Manuscripts: Rabbi Eliezer Katzman Ceremonial & Graphic Art: Abigail H.
    [Show full text]
  • A Narrow Path: Language and Longing for a Holy Place That Is Lost
    1/6/2019 Luban_5_Nov_FINAL - Google Docs A Narrow Path: Language and Longing for a Holy Place that is Lost by Aviv Luban In geveb: A Journal of Yiddish Studies (December 2018) For the online version of this article: https://ingeveb.org/articles/a-narrow-path https://docs.google.com/document/d/1c5bLtACnTykkji3DgJ9JeInl3397OkJgUKuLof9Aaj0/edit 1/27 1/6/2019 Luban_5_Nov_FINAL - Google Docs A Narrow Path: Language and Longing for a Holy Place that is Lost Aviv Luban “There is a passionate confusion at the edge, and beyond the edge, of surrender.” - Coleman Barks Abstract: The First World War, 1917 revolutions, and Russian Civil War shocked Jewish communities in Eastern Europe spiritually, politically, and materially. For the nascent Polish Braslev Hasidic movement, the events of 1917 and their aftermath severed the group from its Holy Place: the grave of Reb Nakhmen in what is now Uman, Ukraine. This geopolitical reality elicited a unique literary and spiritual response in the form of an impassioned prayer, penned by Reb Yitskhok Brayter (c. 1886-1942), a leader of that community. The prayer, written mostly in Hebrew but shifting into Yiddish at critical junctures, narrates an expansive vision of history in which the Braslever T saddik , as well as his physical resting place, are crucial for redemption. Arriving at his historical present in which the Holy Place has been cut off, Brayter confronts God—most notably, in Yiddish. Across this messianically charged text, Brayter grapples with God’s concealment in history and the absence of the Holy Place, ultimately positing the possibility of prayer to overcome both.
    [Show full text]
  • צב | עב January Tevet | Sh’Vat Capricorn Saturn | Aquarius Saturn
    צב | עב January Tevet | Sh’vat Capricorn Saturn | Aquarius Saturn Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 | 17th of Tevet* 2 | 18th of Tevet* New Year’s Day Parashat Vayechi Abraham Moshe Hillel Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov Rabbi Salman Mutzfi Rabbi Huna bar Mar Zutra & Rabbi Rabbi Yaakov Krantz Mesharshya bar Pakod Rabbi Moshe Kalfon Ha-Cohen of Jerba 3 | 19th of Tevet * 4* | 20th of Tevet 5 | 21st of Tevet * 6 | 22nd of Tevet* 7 | 23rd of Tevet* 8 | 24th of Tevet* 9 | 25th of Tevet* Parashat Shemot Rabbi Menchachem Mendel Yosef Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon Rabbi Leib Mochiach of Polnoi Rabbi Hillel ben Naphtali Zevi Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi Rabbi Yaakov Abuchatzeira Rabbi Yisrael Dov of Vilednik Rabbi Schulem Moshkovitz Rabbi Naphtali Cohen Miriam Mizrachi Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Dessler 10 | 26th of Tevet* 11 | 27th of Tevet* 12 | 28th of Tevet* 13* | 29th of Tevet 14* | 1st of Sh’vat 15* | 2nd of Sh’vat 16 | 3rd of Sh’vat* Rosh Chodesh Sh’vat Parashat Vaera Rabbeinu Avraham bar Dovid mi Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch HaRav Yitzhak Kaduri Rabbi Meshulam Zusha of Anipoli Posquires Rabbi Yehoshua Yehuda Leib Diskin Rabbi Menahem Mendel ben Rabbi Shlomo Leib Brevda Rabbi Eliyahu Moshe Panigel Abraham Krochmal Rabbi Aryeh Leib Malin 17* | 4th of Sh’vat 18 | 5th of Sh’vat* 19 | 6th of Sh’vat* 20 | 7th of Sh’vat* 21 | 8th of Sh’vat* 22 | 9th of Sh’vat* 23* | 10th of Sh’vat* Parashat Bo Rabbi Yisrael Abuchatzeirah Rabbi Yehudah Aryeh Leib Alter Rabbi Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum Rabbi Nathan David Rabinowitz
    [Show full text]
  • Anécdotas Talmúdicas Y De Rabinos Famosos
    1 1 1 Rabino Dr. Simón Moguilevsky Anécdotas talmúdicas y de Rabinos famosos Rabino Dr. Simón Moguilevsky Anécdotas talmúdicas y de Rabinos famosos COLECCION escrituras Moguilevsky, Simón Anecdotas talmúdicas y de rabinos famosos. - 1a ed. - Buenos Aires : Milá, 2010. 232 p. ; 20x14 cm. - (Escrituras) ISBN 978-987-647-022-3 1. Narrativa Argentina. 2. Anécdotas. I. Título CDD A863 Diseño de tapa e interior: Rubén Longas ©Copyright 2010 Simón Moguilevsky ©Copyright 2010 para la presente edición: Editorial Milá Pasteur 633 - 8º piso (1028) - Buenos Aires - Argentina Hecho el depósito de ley Impreso en la Argentina - Printed in Argentina ISBN 978-987-647-022-3 6 Si has adquirido mucha sabiduría, no lo consideres un privilegio personal, pues para eso fuiste creado. Ética de los Padres, Cap. 2,9 7 En homenaje a la Congregación Israelita de la República Argentina. Á Comunidade Israelita de Curitiba - Paraná, Brasil. 9 PRÓLOGO Por Prof. Moshé Korin* De dos partes fundamentales consta la publicación “Anécdotas tal- múdicas y de rabinos famosos” que hoy nos ofrece el rabino Dr. Simón Moguilevsky. La primera versa sobre anécdotas del Talmud babi- lónico y toma algunos fragmentos del jerosolimitano. La segunda parte está compuesta en gran medida por anécdotas de rabinos ja- sídicos cuya particular sensibilidad hacia las carencias y persecucio- nes vividas por los judíos son agudamente señaladas por el autor como valiosas. Nos encontramos luego, con un último apartado en el cual nos pre- senta reseñas biográfi cas de rabinos ilustres. Los anhelos de un autor El sentido de este último tramo del libro dedicado a reseñas bio- gráfi cas de rabinos famosos, nos es revelado indirectamente por Mo- guilevsky en su prefacio cuando nos menciona el valor pedagógico que lo inspiró a crear este compendio de consulta para la enseñanza.
    [Show full text]
  • Reading Between the Lines: Mining Jewish History Through Extraction of Polish Archive Data
    READING BETWEEN THE LINES: MINING JEWISH HISTORY THROUGH EXTRACTION OF POLISH ARCHIVE DATA Judy Golan Kfar Vradim, Israel Keywords: • Polish Jewish genealogical research marriages 19th century • Opatów • Działoszyce • Polish archive record extraction • Council of Four Lands • Jewish merchant trade routes • Hasidic influence • Landau Rabbinical Clan Abstract What began as a study to explain the perceived proliferation of “other” towns outside the town of Opatów during the review of 19th century Jewish marriage record extracts from that town’s archive, evolved into an exploration of how these “other” towns became a “spouse pool” for marriage-seeking Jews from Opatów. The process of town identification became a pivotal exercise in the analytical process. Evaluating locations outside the archival town meant going beyond mere town name extraction; it meant pinpointing the precise location on a map. Accurate assessment of town location is a critical underpinning of genealogical research without which inroads are stymied. This paper highlights issues and prescribes methodology logic for resolving them. By benchmarking statistics from record extracts during the same time frame from two Polish archive towns, relevance is determined. Techniques used in business analyses are applied to genealogical research, enabling illumination of similarities and anomalies. Applying such methodology is a way of “reading between the lines” of archive extracts, and allows for isolating salient aspects of any archive data. After validating the evidence of “other town” statistics in town archive marriage records, the marriage registrations are divided into four segments in terms of each couple’s towns of residency. Comparison in this way enables isolating disparities that are evident in the segment comprised by non-Town brides who married non-Town grooms.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Catalogue
    F i n e J u d a i C a . printed booKs, manusCripts, Ceremonial obJeCts & GraphiC art K e s t e n b au m & C om pa n y thursday, nov ember 19th, 2015 K est e n bau m & C o m pa ny . Auctioneers of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Fine Art A Lot 61 Catalogue of F i n e J u d a i C a . BOOK S, MANUSCRIPTS, GR APHIC & CEREMONIAL A RT INCLUDING A SINGULAR COLLECTION OF EARLY PRINTED HEBREW BOOK S, BIBLICAL & R AbbINIC M ANUSCRIPTS (PART II) Sold by order of the Execution Office, District High Court, Tel Aviv ——— To be Offered for Sale by Auction, Thursday, 19th November, 2015 at 3:00 pm precisely ——— Viewing Beforehand: Sunday, 15th November - 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm Monday, 16th November - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Tuesday, 17th November - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Wednesday, 18th November - 10:00 am - 6:00 pm No Viewing on the Day of Sale This Sale may be referred to as: “Sempo” Sale Number Sixty Six Illustrated Catalogues: $38 (US) * $45 (Overseas) KestenbauM & CoMpAny Auctioneers of Rare Books, Manuscripts and Fine Art . 242 West 30th street, 12th Floor, new york, NY 10001 • tel: 212 366-1197 • Fax: 212 366-1368 e-mail: [email protected] • World Wide Web site: www.Kestenbaum.net K est e n bau m & C o m pa ny . Chairman: Daniel E. Kestenbaum Operations Manager: Jackie S. Insel Client Relations: Sandra E. Rapoport, Esq. Printed Books & Manuscripts: Rabbi Eliezer Katzman Rabbi Dovid Kamenetsky (Consultant) Ceremonial & Graphic Art: Abigail H.
    [Show full text]
  • Thunder in the Soul to Be Known by God Abraham Joshua Heschel
    Thunder in the Soul To Be Known by God Abraham Joshua Heschel Edited by Robert Erlewine PLOUGH PUBLISHING HOUSE Published by Plough Publishing House Walden, New York Robertsbridge, England Elsmore, Australia www.plough.com Copyright © 2021 by Plough Publishing House All rights reserved. PRINT ISBN 978-0-87486-351-2 EBOOK ISBN 978-0-87486-352-9 Cover art copyright © 2021 by Julie Lonneman. Reprinted by permission of Farrar, Straus and Giroux: Excerpts from God in Search of Man by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright © 1955 by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright renewed 1983 by Sylvia Heschel. Excerpts from The Insecurity of Freedom by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright © 1966 by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright renewed 1994 by Sylvia Heschel. Excerpts from Man Is Not Alone by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright © 1951 by Abraham J. Heschel. Copyright renewed 1979 by Sylvia Heschel. Excerpts from The Sabbath by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright © 1951 by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright renewed 1979 by Sylvia Heschel. Reprinted by permission of Farrar, Straus and Giroux on behalf of the Heschel Estate: Excerpts from Man’s Quest for God by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright © 1954 by Abraham Joshua Heschel. Copyright renewed 1982 by Susannah Heschel and Sylvia Heschel. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers: Excerpts from The Prophets by Abraham J. Heschel. Copyright © 1962 by Abraham J. Heschel. Contents Who Was Abraham Joshua Heschel? Robert Erlewine vii Reading Abraham Joshua Heschel Today Susannah Heschel xxii 1. Every Moment Touches Eternity 1 2. The Only Life Worth Living 12 3. In the Presence of Mystery 18 4. The Prophets Show Us God Cares 30 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Shiur Handout
    c"qa CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS? 1. Under whom did the "Chozeh" of Lublin study? 2. Which disciple of the "Chozeh" was instrumental in creating a new approach to Hasidism? 3. Who was R. Simcha Bunim of Pshyskha? 4. Name five of his disciples? 5. Describe the differences in approach between the Hasidism of R. Elimelech of Lizhensk, R. Shneur Zalman of Liadi, and R. Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. This and much more will be addressed in the twelfth lecture of this series: "In Pursuit of Truth: The Life and Times of Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk". To derive maximum benefit from this lecture, keep these questions in mind as you listen to the tape and read through the outline. Go back to these questions once again at the end of the lecture and see how well you answer them. PLEASE NOTE: This outline and source book was designed as a powerful tool to help you appreciate and understand the basis of Jewish History. Although the lectures can be listened to without the use of the outline, we advise you to read the outline to enhance your comprehension. Use it as well as a handy reference guide and for quick review. THE EPIC OF THE ETERNAL PEOPLE Presented by Rabbi Shmuel Irons Series X Lecture #12 IN PURSUIT OF TRUTH: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RABBI MENACHEM MENDEL OF KOTZK I. The "Chozeh" of Lublin A. awri d"en ux` ievw lka mqxetnd ciqgd axd ceak 'en xecd x`t laewnd yecw yi` . ekld miaxe oern aiyd miax xy` l"wevf uieexed ield xfril` mdxa` 'en axda wgvi w"tl 'd'y'r'x ux` zpy a`a 'h xnd meia oebil jtdp dgnye exec ipa egnyie e`xe exe`l "oilaeln dfegd" ,wgvi awri 'x zavn .d"avpz .
    [Show full text]
  • Metanomianism and Religious Praxis in Martin Buber's Hasidic Tales
    Article Metanomianism and Religious Praxis in Martin Buber’s Hasidic Tales Sam Berrin Shonkoff Religion Department and Jewish Studies Program, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA; [email protected] Received: 11 November 2018; Accepted: 28 November 2018; Published: 4 December 2018 Abstract: It is well known that Martin Buber abandoned Jewish law as a binding code. Scholars have identified him accurately as a religious anarchist, and his perspective is best characterized as metanomian—that is, one that locates the essence of religiosity outside of any fixed system, without necessarily opposing that system as a matter of principle. And yet, such general characterizations offer only a very vague picture of Buber’s stance. This paper demonstrates that it is especially illustrative for us to turn to Buber’s Hasidic tales. First of all, precisely because Buber’s concept of practice was irreducible to any static system or code, the genre of narrative conveys far more than any abstract formulation can. Moreover, inasmuch as Buber’s Hasidic tales were his own hermeneutical refractions of earlier sources, which were in themselves teeming with images of practice, our intertextual investigations reveal at once narrative representations of religious life and Buber’s personal interpretations of those narratives. What emerges from this study, then, is a textured and vivid vision of religious practice, which was not merely a peripheral concern but a life- encompassing core of Buber’s thought. Keywords: Martin Buber; religious anarchism; metanomianism; Hasidism; religious practice; false piety; law; commandment; kavanah 1. Introduction On the first Friday evening of Buber’s visit to New York in 1953, the Jewish Theological Seminary organized a Shabbat dinner in his honor, and at around ten o’clock, it was time for the 75-year-old scholar to return to his hotel.
    [Show full text]