DOCSLIB.ORG

Parshat Vayigash – Dual Flames Class 2 – Shema Yisrael

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Parshat Vayigash – Dual Flames Class 2 – Shema Yisrael Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi Volume 6 Number 45 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Parshat Vayigash – Dual Flames Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles The Torah tells us that when Yaakov and his two stones and rub them together to create the yetzer tov will overcome the yetzer hara family went down to Egypt, he sent Yehuda fire. He then made the blessing Borei meorei and create light. The Zohar says the greatest ahead to prepare for them a place in Goshen. ha’aish. Another Midrash in Pirkei d’rav Eliezer light emanates from darkness. If we invest all Rashi explains that he sent him to set up a notes that fire was not Adam’s initiative. our strength and effort to fight evil, Hashem beit midrash, a place to learn or a place to Hashem sent down a pillar of fire to light his will help us emerge victorious. live. The Midrash Tanchuma writes on the way and protect him from evil. When Adam verse, “And Yehuda he sent ahead of him,” saw that Hashem hadn’t left him, he said the We face two battles in our avodat Hashem, the that the blessing on the havdala candle is not blessing Beorei meorei ha’aish. What actually inner battle of Yosef and the outer battle of said until we get pleasure from its light. We happened? The Shvilei Pinchas says both Yehuda. Maharal explains that evil is learn this from Hashem. First, He saw the midrashim are correct. everything that conceals Hashem. Goodness light was good and then He made a distinction is a manifestation of Hashem, who is the between light and darkness. Similarly, after The Gemara in Yoma says there cannot be an ultimate reality. The yetzer hara can be we benefit from the light, we say hamavdil awakening above unless there’s an awakening defeated by bringing Hashem into the picture making the distinction between Shabbat and from below. We have to create fire from below just as Yosef did when he saw the image of his the rest of the week. How does this relate to so we can draw down fire from above. Adam father. If one feels on the edge of sin one can Yaakov sending Yehuda ahead? took the initiative. He rubbed two stones simply say, “Hashem is here now,” and make together and was met with fire from above. that truth real. If one realizes that evil is an The Daat Sofrim explains that the idea of Every motzai Shabbat, we too create fire and illusion the battle is over. Yehuda’s philosophy havdala is seeing the difference between two Hashem responds. The Ramak says when we was to struggle with darkness head on and things. Yehuda’s mission was to separate the say borei meorei ha’aish, four angels come create a kidush Hashem in public. In contrast light and holiness of Torah from the darkness down, Michael, Gavriel, Rafael and Uriel. They Yosef said, “I’m not getting involved in this of the outside world. This too is the havdala bring the great light of the Shechina to guard world.” He wouldn’t eat with the Egyptian we make on motzai Shabbat. The Beer Yosef and illuminate our way throughout the week. people. He maintained his Judaism despite all echoes this idea. Yaakov was worried that the The custom to bend our four fingers before the odds in a hidden way. Yosef is called Tzafnat young children shouldn’t be exposed for even havdala flame hints to these four angels. We Paneach. The Sefat Emet explains that Yosef’s one moment to the impurity of Egypt. say beorei meorei ha’aish on two wicks hiddenness was his strength that allowed him Therefore, he sent Yehuda ahead to prepare symbolizing the intertwined fires, our fire below to unravel what was concealed. When Yaakov a separate place for them to live. Havdala is and Hashem’s fire from above. sent Yehuda ahead he was teaching us that the clear distinction between the ways of there are two ways to make havdala between Egypt and the ways of Yisrael. Wherever we The yetzer hara is called tov meod because good and evil, the hidden and public way. are, we have to have the foresight and when good overcomes evil, good takes on a When Yosef revealed himself to his brothers sensitivity that as Yaakov separated himself higher dimension. Struggling with and there was a reversal of roles. Yosef entered from the Egyptians, we should separate overcoming the yetzer hara brings us to into the arena of the outside world while ourselves and our youth from the negative greater heights. Adam did not comprehend the Yehuda was silent. environment around us. We must be sensitive repercussions of his sin until motzai Shabbat to how much of the outside world we let in, when darkness overwhelmed him. His The ultimate goal is not one or the other, but and at the same time invest effort to make the negative side, the part he had never met appreciating both. Yaakov sent Yehuda ahead light of Torah and mitzvot bright enough to before, stood before him and he was so that he would meet Yosef. The uniting of overshadow the darkness. overcome by terror. Then Hashem in His great these two opposite paths was like Adam mercy taught Adam how to create fire by rubbing the two stones together. When The Midrash says that on the first motzai rubbing two stones together. The lev ha’even Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben Shabbat Adam encountered darkness. He (heart of stone) is the yetzer hara. Hashem Yehuda will come together and take on the was afraid that evil would overcome him. hinted to Adam, instead of being frightened by quality of each other, it will inspire the ultimate Hashem gave him prophetic insight to take the evil inclination take both inclinations and light of redemption. rub them together. Once engaged in struggle, Class 2 – Shema Yisrael Declaration of Faith Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller We say in Shema, “Shema Yisrael Hashem intervention. Nature makes no choices. can have varying levels of relationship with Elokeinu Hashem echad.” Why do we call There’s no real inner difference between the Hashem. Those who draw closer to Him, Hashem, Elokeinu (Our Master)? Doesn’t varied species of flowers. They’re all part of become more like Him, and draw Him more Hashem rule the entire world? one kingdom with its own rules designed by intensely into their lives. Those who take the the Creator. Therefore Hashem doesn’t relate divine and corrupt it, who turn giving into Hashem interacts with the world in two ways: to each flower differently. taking and kindness into cruelty, become hashgacha klalit and hashgacha pratit. progressively more distant from Hashem. The Hashgacha klalit is generalized divine In contrast, humans, who have free choice, forces of evil are the choices we make that Continued on Page 2 Help support Naaleh by searching the web! For more information visit www.iGive/Naaleh.com & www.iSearchiGive/Naaleh.com visit us online at: www.naaleh.com | for questions, suggestions, or dedication opportunities, email [email protected] 1 Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi Volume 6 Number 45 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Class 2 – Shema Yisrael Declaration of Faith Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Continued from Page 1 block goodness and light. The more a person world. You can’t put together a puzzle if you a manifestation of Hashem's energy and chooses good, the closer he draws to don’t know what the picture will be. The Jews creativity, and at ourselves as a part of that Hashem. The more he distances himself from and the Torah provide that picture. The nations giant spectrum, our picture of ourselves, the Hashem the less Hashem reveals himself to of the world and all of creation are analogous world, and Hashem changes. The Jewish him. We have enormous power to change to the puzzle pieces. Each one has its place. people are one. This is hinted at in the word ourselves and the world. Yet the actual form is meant to come via the echad. Aleph refers to shevet Levi who is Torah, which is the world’s blueprint, and the unique among the tribes. Chet are the eight In our own life there are times we are closer Jews who actualize its commandments. The tribes who descended from the matriarchs. to goodness and truth and times we are far reward and punishment of the non-Jews are Daled are the four tribes who came from the away. In response, there’s a reciprocal level of mystically entwined with the fate of the Jewish handmaidens. We are all interwoven and energy from Hashem manifested through people. No one’s deeds are irrelevant. But our share a unique capacity to know Hashem’s hashgacha pratit (individual divine interven- closeness to Hashem and the level of oneness. tion). But it isn’t always visible to us so that intervention we receive is unique as the verse we don’t lose our free choice. When a person says, “Karov Hashem l’chol korav.” (Hashem is Each of us has a special purpose. How do we does a good deed the external side of it may close to those who call out to Him.) know what it is? We have to ask ourselves, have a defined end, but the internal side of it “Where is my point of conflict? Where do I affects our soul and our relationship with When we say Hashem is echad (one) we need to proactively choose?” For one person it Hashem.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Azharos-Piyuttim Unique to Shavuos
    dltzd z` oiadl Vol. 10 No. 17 Supplement b"ryz zereay zexdf`-miheit Unique To zereay The form of heit known as dxdf` is recited only on the holiday of 1zereay. An dxdf` literary means: a warning. As a form of heit, an dxdf` represents a poem in which the author weaves into the lines of the poem references to each of the zeevn b"ixz. Why did this form of heit become associated with the holiday of zereay? Is there a link between the zexdf` and the zexacd zxyr? To answer that question, we need to ask some additional questions. Should we be reciting the zexacd zxyr as part of our zelitz each day and why do we not? In truth, we should be reciting the zexacd zxyr as part of our zelitz. Such a recital would represent an affirmation that the dxez was given at ipiq xd and that G-d’s revelation occurred at that time. We already include one other affirmation in our zelitz; i.e. z`ixw rny. The devn of rny z`ixw is performed each day for two reasons; first, because the words in rny z`ixw include a command to recite these words twice each day, jakya jnewae, and second, because the first verse of rny z`ixw contains an affirmation; that G-d is the G-d of Israel and G-d is the one and only G-d. The recital of that line constitutes the Jewish Pledge of Allegiance. Because of that, some mixeciq include an instruction to recite the first weqt of rny z`ixw out loud.
    [Show full text]
  • SHEMA YISRAEL II After the First Pasuk, We Recite “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed - Blessed Is the Name of His Glorious Kingdom for All Eternity
    *Please respond describing if and how these Tefillah Tips are disseminated to members. Thank you* SHEMA YISRAEL II After the first pasuk, we recite “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso Leolam Vaed - Blessed is the Name of His glorious kingdom for all eternity. The simple understanding as to why we don’t say Baruch Shem out loud is because unlike the rest of the Shema, Baruch Shem is nowhere to be found in the written Torah and interrupts two Biblical sentences. It is however mentioned in the Talmud in tractate Pesachim 56A that our Father, Jacob said this sentence to his children before passing away (see last week’s edition). Therefore the Talmud concludes it should be said in an undertone. The Shema continues with the words “Veahavta Et Hashem Elokecha - And you shall love the Lord your G-d”. How exactly are you to express your love unto Him? “Bechol Levavecha, uvechol nafshecha, uvechol meodecha - with all of your heart, your soul, and your possessions”. The commentators ask, “How can the Torah command us to emote”?! We are commanded to don Tefillin, to eat kosher, and to observe the Shabbat, but to love G-d? Emotions are triggered and experienced but are not necessarily accessible at will. How then shall we understand - “Veahavta Et Hashem - You Shall love G-d”? HaRav Baruch HaLevi Epstein zt”l (1860-1941) in his work on the Siddur, The Baruch Sheamar advances two approaches to understanding this verse. The first approach maintains the literal translation of Veahavta – You shall love Him. He explains that the commandment of “Veahavta” must be seen in light of the previous prayer in the Siddur - “Ahava Rabbah”.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Birchot Kriyat Shema-2
    dltzd z` oiadl Vol. 2 No. 24 d"qyz dnexz zyxt INTRODUCTION TO rny z`ixw zekxa-2 How many zekxa were recited before rny z`ixw at the time that the ycwnd zia stood? The `xnb in '` 'nr '`i sc zekxa zkqn discusses the issue: ,ekxa mde !zg` dkxa ekxa :dpennd mdl xn` ,1mzd opz-'` 'nr '`i sc zekxa zkqn zn` :zekxa yly mrd z` ekxae ,xn`ie ,reny m` dide ,rny ,zexacd zxyr e`xwe dkxa i`n .`veid xnynl zg` dkxa oitiqen zayae ,mipdk zkxae ,dceare ,aivie dkxa i`n :ediipn era ,`xz` `eddl erlw` `a` xa iqei iaxe `a` iaxc `d ik ?zg` ,dcedi axl edeliiy ez` .dicia ded `l ,dpzn axl edeliiy ez`e .ediicia ded `l ?zg` oa oerny iax xn` in` iax xn` `wixf iax xn`e .dax dad` l`eny xn` ikd :edl xn` `l` xnz` yexita e`l `wixf iaxc `d :xn` sqei xa wgvi ax `z` ik .xe` xvei :yiwl - zxne` z`f :yiwl oa oerny iax xn` in` iax xn` `wixf iax xn`c ,xnz` `llkn oi` zekxac epiid - ixn` eed ,xe` xvei `nlya zxn` i` .ef z` ef zeakrn oi` zekxa i`n - ixn` eed dax dad` zxn` i` `l` ;dax dad` ixn` `w `lc ,ef z` ef zeakrn xvei onf `hn `lc meyn - xe` xvei ixn` `lc i`d `nlc ?ef z` ef zeakrn oi` zekxa dad` mlerl ,`llkn i`c - ?i`n `llkn i`e - !ixn` eed - xe` xvei onf `hn ike ,xe` - ?ef z` ef zeakrn oi` zekxa i`ne ,dil ixn` eed - xe` xvei onf `hn ike ,ixn` eed dax .zekxa xcq The `xnb concludes that in the ycwnd zia the dkxa that was recited before z`ixw rny was dax dad` and that xe` xvei was recited later in the morning because the mipdk recited rny z`ixw earlier than the time at which to recite xe` xvei.
    [Show full text]
  • Ohio Valley's RCVP Network Packet!
    Ohio Valley’s RCVP Network Packet! Created by Emma Zelkind, the RCVP of NFTY’s Ohio Valley 2018-2019 with the help of past NFTY and RCVP’s resources. In order to reach me: Phone number: (513)-444-5812 Email: [email protected] ​ Twitter: ov_rcvp Instagram: emma_zelkind Snapchat: emma_zelkind Dear RCVP’s for the 5778-5779 year, Hey! And welcome to your RCVP network (it’s an awesome one)! It is important to remember that we are all here since we are Jewish and that it is what connects all of us together. With this in mind it it is our job as RCVP’s to ask the question “what about this program is Jewish?” Amd if there isn’t one it is our jobs to create one. This packet, throughout the year, will aid you in doing so. You will need to put in work in order to create amazing programs, but trust me when you see your impact on the Jewish teens around you, you will know that it was all worth it! Since we only have a handful of regional events every year it is all of your jobs to make sure that NFTY makes a huge impact throughout the year! An RCVP’s job is to not only plan amazing and unique service and cultural programs, but to find a religious connection to every program that you TYG creates. You will find that even though there are so many amazing values in judaism you might find a program that doesn’t fit into a specific Jewish value, but that is okay! Continue working with your board on the rest of the programs to find their Jewish components.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ohio Valley RCVP Network Packet ✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡ Compiled by Micah Kraus, RCVP of NFTY Ohio Valley 2017-2018 with Help from Past RCVP’S and NFTY Resources
    1 The Ohio Valley RCVP Network Packet ✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡ Compiled by Micah Kraus, RCVP of NFTY Ohio Valley 2017-2018 with help from past RCVP’s and NFTY resources Contact info and Social Media Phone: (513)503-4171 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ov_rcvp Instagram: @mikraus1999 Facebook:Micah Kraus ✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡✡ Don’t forget to follow NFTY-OV on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Join the NFTY-OV Facebook group! Information on Holidays, Torah, and Judaism in general The URJ website The NFTY website, has lots and lots of resources 2 Dear Wonderful RCVPs of NFTY Ohio Valley, Welcome to the best network! NFTY is a Jewish organization, so it is our job, whatever the event or program is, to add some Jewishness to all of it, and help the rest of our board to incorporate Judaism into their programming. This packet will discuss what it is we all can do to make our experiences Jewish in a meaningful way throughout the year. This job is whatever you make it to be, as with any TYG board position. If you put in the work, you can see incredible results and a huge impact on your fellow Jewish teens, and even the community as a whole. Regional events are only several times a year; in order for our movement to make as big of a difference as it can, we all have to be the leaders we were chosen to be, and make NFTY’s impact a year round process. Often times, the RCVP is viewed as a position where you just plan services and cultural programs.
    [Show full text]
  • 0 the High Holyday Madrikh
    לְ(רַדַהמּ םַהָמְיִי ִי וֹנּר ָא םיִָ נּ THE HPCT-CAE@HOME HIGH HOLYDAY MANUAL שת פ א״ 5781 Rabbi Eliot Malomet The Officers and Board of Trustees of the Highland Park Conservative Temple – Congregation Anshe Emeth extends its warmest wishes to the Temple family for a Shanah Tovah u-Metukah! A sweet and healthy New Year! EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS Stuart Feinblatt, President Marcia Klioze, Sisterhood Barbara Parkoff, President-Elect Spencer Brooks, Men’s Club Carrie Mitnick, 1st Vice President Linda Diamond, 2nd Vice President PAST PRESIDENTS Philip Kibel, Treasurer Arthur Cohen Seth Gross, Financial Secretary Sheldon Freidenreich Susan Winter, Recording Secretary Edward Guttenplan Samuel Kamens Rabbi Eliot I. Malomet Zoltan Kemeny Linda Tondow, Executive Director Gertrude Klaus Carl Levy TRUSTEES Stuart Mitnick Susan Baron Gayle Brill Mittler Dave Cohen Fred Morgan Ira Cohen Mitchel Rosen Debbie Gerber Dr. Peter Schild Carey Glass Dr. Theodore Stahl Mindy Golden Roy Tanzman Phil Goldwasser Linda Tondow Simone Gore Eugene Gottlieb HONORARY TRUSTEE David Greenblatt Marlene Herman Ira Kizner Joy Kuchinsky Jerry Langer Sherri Lerner Steven Polinsky Joanne Rosenberg Terry Chazan Rothberg Michael Schoeffler Leonard Seader Daniel Shifrin Marlene Tarshish 2 ה״ב September 2020 Elul 5780 Dear Friends, When the pandemic struck six months ago, our lives changed. Worried for our health and safety, we were no longer able to gather together in large numbers to pray, study and live out the rhythms of Jewish life. This “Great Disruption” took a great toll on us as our lives ground to a halt. Some in our community lost loved ones due to Covid-19, others became sick and thankfully recovered.
    [Show full text]
  • Yeshiva University • a To-Go Series• Nissan 5772
    1 Yeshiva University • A To-Go Series• Nissan 5772 Richard M. Joel, President, Yeshiva University Rabbi Kenneth Brander, The David Mitzner Dean, Center for the Jewish Future Rabbi Joshua Flug, General Editor Rabbi Michael Dubitsky, Editor Copyright © 2012 All rights reserved by Yeshiva University Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future 500 West 185th Street, Suite 419, New York, NY 10033 [email protected] • 212.960.5263 This publication contains words of Torah. Please treat it with appropriate respect. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Genene Kaye at 212.960.5852 or [email protected]. 2 Yeshiva University • A To-Go Series• Nissan 5772 Table of Contents Pesach 2012/5772 The Defining Moment: Once and Again Rabbi Reuven Brand. Page 5 Sippur Yetzias Mitzrayim as a Special Form of Talmud Torah Rabbi Menachem Genack. Page 11 The Reality of Freedom Dr. Naomi Grunhaus. Page 21 Celebrating Pesach in the Land of the Pharaohs Dr. Jill Katz . Page 25 The Freedom of Family Rabbi Yona Reiss . Page 29 Pesach: The Festival of Liberty and Love Rabbi Eliav Silverman. Page 33 Geared To Go: She'eilat Keilim Mrs. Natalie Taylor. Page 36 Haggadah Discussions for the Family: A Collection from Yeshiva University’s Community Kollelim . Page 41 3 Yeshiva University • A To-Go Series• Nissan 5772 On this Chag of v’hegadata l’bincha, of telling the story of our people, we take special pride in sharing with you our Pesach-To Go. Through sharing the torah of various Yeshiva personalities, we hope to add vivid color to your Torah thoughts around the seder and holiday table.
    [Show full text]
  • B'nai Mitzvah Resources T'filot - PRAYERS
    Congregation B'nai Jeshurun B'nai Mitzvah Resources T'FILOT - PRAYERS FRIDAY EVENING Candle Blessing Kiddush Motzi SATURDAY MORNING Torah Blessings Haftarah Blessings Memorize Page SHABBAT PRAYERS: Yotzeir Or Shema Veahavta Avot G'vurot FRIDAY NIGHT CANDLE BLESSING READ BY PARENT'S OF THE B'NAI MITZVAH Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-O-lam A-sher kid’sha-nu b’mitz-vo-tav V’tzi-va-nu l’had-lik ner shel Sha-bbat (Amen) On Friday night, parents will be invited up to read an associated English Blessing, after which they will light the Shabbat candles & recite the Hebrew blessing. *REQUIRED MATERIAL FOR ALL B'NAI MITZVAH FAMILIES KIDDUSH & MOTZI FRIDAY NIGHT KIDDUSH Chanted by B’nai Mitzvah Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-O-lam Bo-rei p’ri ha-ga-fen (Amen) Friday Night ONLY: Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-O-lam Asher kid’sha-nu b’mitz-vo-tav V’ratzah va-nu V’sha-bbat Kod-sho B’ahava u-v’ra-tzon hinchilanu Zi-ka-ron l’ma-aseh v’rei-sheet Ki hu yom t’chi-lah L’mi-kra-eh ko-desh Ze-cher li-tziat mitz-ra-yim Congregation Joins: Ki va-nu va-char-ta V’o-ta-nu ki-dash-ta Mi-kol ha’a-mim V’sha-bbat kod-she-cha B’ahava u-v’ratzon Hin-chal-tanu Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai M’ka-deish ha-Sha-bbat HAMOTZI Ba-ruch A-tah A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-o-lam Ha-mo-tzi le-chem min ha-a-retz *REQUIRED MATERIAL FOR ALL B'NAI MITZVAH FAMILIES MORNING BLESSINGS B/M Reads: YOTZER OR: "We continue on page 199" AHAVA RABBAH: B/M Reads: Congregation Reads: B/M Reads SH'MA & V'AHAVTA "We continue on page 203"" AMIDAH Also referred to as "T'filah" - prayer, the Amidah is the centerpiece of the Jewish service.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction
    Rav Gifter zt”l 1 Introduction When Rav Tzvi Markowitz zt”l, the chief rabbi of Ramat Gan was asked why he doesn’t tell stories of his great Rebbe, Rav Shimon Shkop, he would say, “generally people who tell stories about their rebbe are usually telling stories about themselves, I don’t like talking about myself.” Writing about our Rebbe Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l, after 20 years, is an expression of how the void created by his passing is still evident. Hardly a day goes by without the feeling that his wisdom and guidance are sorely lacking. The years spent in his presence created the perimeters in which future growth were possible, always building on those foundations and returning to those lessons. It is my hope that this short compilation will arouse an interest in the hadracha of the Rosh Yeshiva that is available in his seforim and hundreds of tapes. Throughout his legacy he touches on a myriad of topics and issues that are as vital now as they were when the Rosh Yeshiva first addressed them. In a Hesped that the Rosh Yeshiva delivered on the yarzheit of the Alter Telzer Rov he stated1, “Although I did not know the Rosh Yeshiva personally, my knowledge of him is from his Torah. But this is the true way to recognize a person. Just as our recognition of Hashem is only through His Torah.” The same can be said of the Rosh Yeshiva, even though he lived amongst us, he was not of our dimension. As “talmidim” we can gain a 1 Printed in Moriah 131 page 99 2 Rav Gifter zt’l glimpse of his stature from his writing.
    [Show full text]
  • Ahavat Olam Beit Yisrael Amcha Ahavata – with an Eternal Love You Have Loved Your Nation
    Dear Friends, I hope you all had a relaxing winter vacation. We are now proud to present our next set of Tefillah Tips-Shabbat Shacharit Part 2. Daven well!! AHAVA RABBAH – WITH AN ABUNDANT LOVE The second and concluding blessing before the recitation of the Shema is Ahava Rabbah which means, With an abundant Love. Ahava Rabbah expresses our recognition of the overflowing love that G-d has for His people. There is a dispute recorded in the Talmud Brachot 11B regarding the appropriate wording for the opening phrase of this Tefillah. One opinion is Ahava Rabbah Ahavtanu – With an abundant love you have loved us; and the second opinion is Ahavat Olam Beit Yisrael Amcha Ahavata – With an eternal love You have loved Your nation. In practice we utilize both opinions – Ahava Rabbah in the morning at Shacharit and Ahavat Olam in the evening by Maariv. The Etz Yosef writes in his commentary on the siddur that the letter Zayin, which is numerically 7, is conspicuously missing in both Ahavat Olam and Ahava Rabbah. The reason for this is to reference the 7 potential types of love available in a natural immediate family i.e. a father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter and spouse. The missing Zayin – 7 in our Tefilllot demonstrate that the love that Hashem has for each and every one of us is more powerful and beyond even the closest family bonds in life. Rav Noach Orlowek shlitta of Jerusalem often mentions in his lectures how vital it is to teach our children and remind ourselves of G-d’s infinite love for all of His creations.
    [Show full text]
  • שפה ברורה the Halachos of the Month of Sivan and Shavuos
    שפה ברורה The Halachos of the Month of Sivan and Shavuos A Project of the Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synangogue Rabbonim שפה ברורה הלכות שבועות The Halachos of the Month of Sivan and Shavuos A project of Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbonim • • לעילוי נשמת אבי מורי הרב ברוך נתנאל בן ר’ אברהם זצ”ל ויבלח”ט לזכותה של אמי מורתי שושנה בת ר’ ישראל • • Compiled and Written by: Rabbi Yaakov Robinson Executive Director, Midwest Agudas Yisroel Council of Synagogue Rabbanim Rav, Beis Medrash Mikor Hachaim, Chicago, IL Reviewed by: Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst Shlit”a Dayan, Agudas Yisroel of Illinois With contributions from Rabbi Yisroel Langer and Rabbi Moshe Kaufman, Morei Horaah for the Midwest Bais Horaah Proofreading by: Mrs. Miriam Sara Rosenberg Typeset and prepared for print by: Machon Tiferes Lakewood 315 4th St., Lakewood NJ 08701 732.474.0101 [email protected] For questions or comments, please contact (773) 279-8400 5779/2019 Hilchos Shavuos I. From Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan Until Erev Shavuos A. Erev Rosh Chodesh i. Yom Mesugal — Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan is known to be an auspicious day for tefilla. ii. Tefillas HaShelah — Many parents read the Tefil- las HaShelah on Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan. It is a tefilla to have righteous and G-d fearing children. This tefilla may be said even on Shabbos. iii. Yom Kippur Kattan — Some people have a cus- tom to say the special Yom Kippur Kattan tefillos that are added to Mincha on Erev Rosh Chodesh. (א’ סיון) B. Rosh Chodesh שואלין ודורשין הלכות חג בחג..
    [Show full text]
  • Davening Tips for Shlichei Tzibbur
    Davening Tips for Shlichei Tzibbur Beth El Synagogue Durham, NC November 2011, Heshvan 5772 Table of Contents General Tips on Leading Davening 1 P’sukei d’Zimrah Tips 3 Shacharit Tips 5 Torah Service Tips 7 Musaf Tips 8 Background: Services at Beth El are an important time when our community comes together for study, prayer and friendship. Beth El’s commitment to the framework of the traditional Jewish framework, our participatory musical and intellectual traditions, and the value we place on kavannah are treasured hallmarks of our congregational character. At the same time, rabbinic tradition takes seriously the notion that the length of services should not become a burden to the community and that “if one grasps for too much, one may grasp nothing at all.” Towards the end of 2011, Rabbi Greyber and others received consistent feedback that Beth El Shabbat services were ending too late. After sharing this feedback with our Gabbaim and the Ritual Committee, it was decided to set a goal of completing services in the main sanctuary at 12:15pm. To achieve that goal, we took several complementary steps: 1. In October 2011 the start time for services in the Main Sanctuary was moved to 9:30am and approximate start and end times for each part of our services were established: o 9:30am to 9:50am - P’sukei d’Zimrah starts at 9:30 sharp even if the Shaliach Tzibbur is the only person in the sanctuary. It should conclude between 9:45 and 9:50 o 9:50 to 10:20am - Shacharit o 10:20 to 11:45am - Torah Service o 11:45 to 12:15pm - Rabbi's Drash and Musaf The Gabbai will inform the Shlichei Tzibbur when there are exceptions to this customary schedule.
    [Show full text]