DOCSLIB.ORG

Shaná Tová Umetuká

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Shaná Tová Umetuká AÑO 15 / Nº 53 / TISHREI 5775 / INVIERNO 2014 CONTACTO SHANÁ TOVÁ UMETUKÁ 5775 SUPLEMENTO: FOLLETOS DE TISHREI Y VELAS DE SHABAT Destaque EDITORIAL RESPONDIÉNDOLE A MARK TWAIN 4 -Rabino Eliezer Shemtov NUESTRA TAPA Una cadena es tan fuerte como el CARTA DEL REBE eslabón más débil que tiene. LA PROTECCIÓN DE LA MEZUZÁ 8 Nuestra responsabilidad es asegurar que nuestros hijos tengan una EL REBE educación adecuada como para que EL TRABAJO DEL REBE 10 sepan y quieran ser ser eslabones -Yanki Tauber fuertes. El secreto de la supervivencia del TESTIMONIO pueblo judío no está tanto en la importancia que damos a nuestros CAMPAMENTO DE REFUGIADOS 12 ancestros sino en la valoración -Dovid Margolin que tenemos por nuestros descendientes. ISRAEL ¡Am Israel Jai! HISTORIAS SOLIDARIAS 18 -Tzvi Freeman DE NUESTRA HISTORIA EL GALLO QUE NO CACAREÓ 24 -Nissan Mindel Publicación de Beit Jabad Uruguay Obligado 1387 JÓVENES 28 11300, Montevideo-Uruguay 15 pensamientos que los Telefax: (+598) 2709 34 44 E-mail: [email protected] adolescentes quisieran compartir con sus padres Director: Rabino Eliezer Shemtov -Nomi Freeman Diseño editorial: Daniel Laizerovitz Traducciones: Marcos Jerouchalmi JABAD POR EL MUNDO 32 Impresión: Meralir S.A. (Empresa Gráfica HISTORIAS Mosca). Guayabo 1672 Depósito legal: 342.133 DIAMANTES Y PESCADOS 38 Agradecemos a www.chabad.org por -Yanki Tauber habernos autorizado a reproducir varios de los artículos publicados en este número. ENSEÑANZAS Si sabe de alguien que quiera conocer la MI “PETACAS” 40 revista Kesher y no la recibe, o si usted -Rabino Mendy Shemtov cambió de dirección, le rogamos que nos lo haga saber de inmediato al PERSPECTIVAS Tel.: 2709 34 44 o al celular: 096 105050 ES CUESTIÓN DE PERSPECTIVA 42 -Rabino Eliezer Shemtov Los artículos de opinión y la kashrut de los avisadores son responsabilidad de quienes COMUNICACIÓN los firman y no necesariamente coinciden con la posición de Beit Jabad Uruguay. MI SEMANA SIN CELULAR 45 -Blumie Abend . EDITORIAL Respondiéndole a Mark Twain 4Por Rabino Eliezer Shemtov / Director de Beit Jabad Uruguay erseguidos y dispersos durante milenios, mucho ruido pero también desaparecieron. seguimos existiendo; pocos, pero segui- Otros pueblos han crecido y mantenido su mos. ¿Cuál es el secreto de nuestra supervi- antorcha prendida en alto por algún tiem- vencia como pueblo? po, pero finalmente se les apagó y ahora se encuentran en el crepúsculo o ya no El autor norteamericano Mark Twain1 lo P existen. El judío los vio a todos y les ganó expresó muy elocuentemente a fines del a todos. Es ahora lo que siempre fue, no siglo XIX: ha mostrado decadencia ni envejecimien- “Si las estadísticas son correctas, los ju- to, ningún debilitamiento de sus partes, díos constituyen el uno por ciento de la raza ningún enlentecimiento de sus energías, humana. Es como una nebulosa partícula ningún desafilamiento de su mente alerta de polvo dentro del polvo estelar perdido y agresiva. Todo es mortal excepto el judío; en la grandeza de la Vía Láctea. Realmente todas las demás fuerzas pasan, pero él no debería escucharse casi nada acerca del perdura. judío, sin embargo, se oye acerca de él, y “¿Cuál es el secreto de su inmortali- siempre se ha oído. Es tan prominente en dad?” el planeta como cualquier otro pueblo, y su 2 importancia comercial está extremadamente En la lectura bíblica de Balak , encontra- fuera de proporción en relación a su peque- mos una pista para poder responderle al Sr. ñísimo tamaño. Clemens. “Sus contribuciones a la lista de grandes Balak, rey de Moav, vio que los judíos nombres en el mundo en literatura, ciencia, estaban acercándose a su territorio en arte, música, finanzas, medicina y el apren- camino a conquistar la Tierra de Cannan. dizaje abstruso están también fuera de Tuvo miedo que lo destruyeran tal como proporción en relación a la debilidad de sus hicieron con los reyes vecinos Og y Sijón y números. Ha peleado de una manera excep- sus pueblos. cional en el mundo, en todas las épocas; y Mandó buscar al hechicero Bilam, lo ha hecho siempre con las manos atadas reconocido por el nivel de su profecía y el detrás de su espalda. Podría ser vanidoso y poder de las palabras que salieran de su ser excusado por ello. boca. “Los imperios Egipcios, Babilonios y El final de la historia es que en lugar de Persas, crecieron, llenaron el planeta con so- maldecir al pueblo judío, los bendice. Las nido y esplendor, y después desaparecieron palabras de Bilam contienen bendiciones del como parte de un sueño. Después apare- más alto nivel, algunas de las cuales fueron cieron los Griegos y los Romanos e hicieron incorporadas en nuestras plegarias diarias, 1 Concerning the Jews, Harper’s Magazine, Marzo, 1898 2 Números, 22:2–25:9 (Continúa en la pág. 6) 4 como también profecías que hablan de la manera de disminuir su valor. Siendo que historia del pueblo judío, su pasado, pre- es invisible, y su existencia no se define sente y futuro hasta el final de los tiempos. por el espacio que ocupa, es más bien una Veamos algunas de sus perlas: existencia conceptual, existirá aunque el círculo deje de existir. “Veo que [su fuerza] desde sus comien- zos son [como] montañas y colinas; es una Tal como en el ejemplo, el valor del nación que vive sola, y no es considerada pueblo judío no está en el espacio que ocu- entre las naciones.3” pa, sino en su adhesión a su rol y función cósmicos: ser la consciencia e inspiración El comentarista bíblico Rashi trae la ex- para las naciones. plicación que los “comienzos” se refieren a nuestros patriarcas Avraham, Isaac y Jacob Tuve la oportunidad últimamente de co- y a nuestras matriarcas, Sará, Rivká, Rajel nocer diferentes lugares de nuestro pasado y Lea. Es gracias a lo que heredamos de e historia.¿Qué sentido tiene viajar hacia ellos que tenemos la fuerza inamovible de el pasado, más allá de satisfacer la curio- “montañas” y “colinas”. sidad? ¿Qué relación tiene mi historia de ¿Qué es lo que heredamos de nuestros hace siglos o milenios conmigo hoy en día? patriarcas y matriarcas que nos hace tan Creo que aquí también se aplica la invencibles? respuesta multi-uso: Depende. Cuando uno Fuerza “no convencional” se encuentra con su pasado puede estar enfrentando algo que no tiene mucho que Las enseñanzas jasídicas dan la siguien- ver con él en la actualidad o puede estar te respuesta: Heredamos de nuestros pa- encontrándose con algo que tiene mucho triarcas y matriarcas la capacidad de lograr que ver con él: su propia esencia atemporal una abnegación personal y subyugación en su estado más original. En otras pala- total hacia D-os. bras, no se trata meramente de encontrar- Veamos de qué se trata ese tipo de se con sus antepasados, sino con aquello energía. que lo conecta con ellos y que trasciende el Para empezar, es un tipo de fuerza no efecto del tiempo. convencional. Digo “no convencional” Así que podríamos responderle al Sr. porque la fuerza “convencional” es resul- Clemens que el secreto de la supervivencia tado de grandeza y cualidades personales; del pueblo judío se basa en la naturaleza cuanto más grande o más inteligente, tan- de su identidad y su adhesión a esa razón to más fuerte. Esa clase de fuerza es una de ser. No es un pueblo más; es un pueblo fuerza relativa, ya que triunfa hasta que distinto. Su fuerza no radica en la fuerza venga uno que que sea más grande o más física o la astucia sino en su sacrificio por inteligente y tenga más fuerza. La fuerza su misión cósmica: reflejar y promover la judía inquebrantable, en cambio, viene de voluntad Divina en el plano terrenal. su “pequeñez”, de su capacidad y disposi- Con deseos por paz y seguridad en ción de sacrificarse por un valor más allá de Israel y en el mundo. lo que le conviene. ¡Shaná Tová!3 Quizás podríamos ilustrar este concepto con el siguiente ejemplo: Imaginémonos un círculo y el punto del centro. El valor del círculo depende de su tamaño; cuanto más grande, más vale. Si llegase a achicar, perdería valor. En cuan- to al punto del centro, empero, no hay 3 Números, 23:9 6 7 La protección CARTA DEL REBE de la Mezuzá 4Por Rabí Menachem Mendel Schneerson, el Rebe de Lubavitch, que su mérito nos proteja Por la Gracia de D-os to físico, es decir, saber las formas correctas Rosh Jódesh Elul, 5736 y medios que tienen que emprenderse en el Brooklyn, Nueva York orden natural de las cosas, y para tener éxito completo en esos aspectos, de acuerdo a la promesa Divina, “D-os, tu D-os, te bendecirá A las madres e hijas judías en todas partes en todo lo que hagas”, para estar protegido D-os las bendiga. y seguro de enemigos, y estar a salvo de cualquier suceso indeseable, D-os libre. Saludos y bendición: Los eventos arriba mencionados nos re- A la luz de los recientes eventos, el secues- cuerdan a todos de nuestros hermanos judíos tro y salvación de los rehenes en Uganda; y en general, y a las mujeres e hijas judías en el subsecuente intento de los terroristas de particular, dado que toda mujer judía casada perpetrar una cruenta represalia, D-os libre, es llamada Akéret Habait, “Fundación del en Kushta (Estambul), Hogar”, y aquellas aun no casadas van a ser Debe entenderse que esos eventos son Akéret Habait, para lo que deben prepararse una indicación que los judíos deben, lo antes desde temprana edad, lo siguiente: posible, fortalecer todos los aspectos de su La situación presente llama a la protec- seguridad y defensa, primero y ante todo en ción de todo hogar judío.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Daily Thought
    May 16, 2004 Shvout 5764 Daily Thought Comment: The Object Yanki Tauber The Personality Man turned away from G-d, searched for G-d, discovered truth, attained holiness. But Thing the physical world had no part in this; it was just scenery, a backdrop painted with patches of withheld light, against which G-d/man saga played You need to be honest with yourself: Are these feelings of Story: The Baal Shem Tov's Previous Live From the Chassidic Masters guilt and inadequacy based in Late one night, there was a knock on his door. On his threshold stood an old man with reality, or just a personality a long white beard and a countenance as radiant as the heavens issue? Does G-d really have it in for you, or is this just the Voices: What Jews Do Hannah B. Geshelin She looked me up and down as though I were a bug on a pin. Then she said the words pessimism of an anxious beast that still reverberate through my mind... inside? Idea of the Week: The Torah: An Anthology Compiled by Yanki Tauber If it is the latter, take a break 40 essays, stories, meditations and readings, each offering a glimpse into something from your self-derision and the Torah says about itself and its place in our lives nurture confidence in the Director of this universe. He Parshah: Bamidbar Numbers 1:1 - 4:20 carries you through every Numbers in the Book of Numbers: 4 camps, 12 tribes, 273 surplus first-born, 22,300 moment, but only as close as Levites, 603,550 Israelites -- each of whom count.
    [Show full text]
  • The 5 Towns Jewish Times
    $1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 7 NO. 19 21 SHEVAT 5767 ur,h ,arp FEBRUARY 9, 2007 INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK HALB GOES TO ISRAEL Daf Yomi Insights BY LARRY GORDON Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow 17 MindBiz Torah And Poverty Esther Mann, LMSW 32 The Yo-Yo Effect The Israeli parliament, the Karen Kahn, RD 38 Knesset, is a world of its own within the world it represents The 15-Minute Chef to the outside, the State of Jamie Geller 40 Israel. I spent a few hours in the Knesset on Tuesday, Why Do They Do It? ostensibly to meet and talk Hannah Reich Berman 50 with MK Avraham Ravitz, a member of the Degel HaTorah faction of United Torah Judaism, the party that MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz represents chareidi interests The Eighth Annual HALB Mission to Israel was deemed a smashing in the Knesset. Continued on Page 14 success, as its 140 participants spent ten days in the Holy Land. HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE Mored B’Malchus Jerusalem Diary BY RABBI YAIR first Gulf War. Iraq had invad- Important mission to Israel. HOFFMAN ed Kuwait. The United States, BY LARRY GORDON and stand in prayer facing See Page 41 under the first President Jerusalem. Part of the unique- Events often happen in the Bush, carefully put together a It’s always that first time, ness of this first-morning world around us that cause us coalition of forces dedicated over and over again. It always experience is that I am here, to wonder what the halachic to pushing Iraq out of Kuwait happens that first morning in standing in the very midst of ramifications would be if such by force.
    [Show full text]
  • Derech Hateva 2018.Pub
    Derech HaTeva A Journal of Torah and Science A Publication of Yeshiva University, Stern College for Women Volume 22 2017-2018 Co-Editors Elana Apfelbaum | Tehilla Berger | Hannah Piskun Cover & Layout Design Shmuel Ormianer Printing Advanced Copy Center, Brooklyn, NY 11230 Acknowledgements The editors of this year’s volume would like to thank Dr. Harvey Babich for the incessant time and effort that he devotes to this journal. Dr. Babich infuses his students with a passion for the Torah Umadda vision and serves as an exemplar of this philosophy to them. Through his constant encouragement and support, students feel confident to challenge themselves and find interesting connections between science and Torah. Dr. Babich, thank you for all the effort you contin- uously devote to us through this journal, as well as to our personal and future lives as professionals and members of the Jewish community. The publication of Volume 22 of this journal was made possible thanks to the generosity of the following donors: Dr. and Mrs. Harvey Babich Mr. and Mrs. Louis Goldberg Dr. Fred and Dr. Sheri (Rosenfeld) Grunseid Rabbi and Mrs. Baruch Solnica Rabbi Joel and Dr. Miriam Grossman Torah Activities Council YU Undergraduate Admissions We thank you for making this opportunity possible. Elana Apfelbaum Tehilla Berger Hannah Piskun Dedication We would like to dedicate the 22nd volume of Derech HaTeva: A Journal of Torah and Science to the soldiers of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Formed from the ashes of the Holocaust, the Israeli army represents the enduring strength and bravery of the Jewish people. The soldiers of the IDF have risked their lives to protect the Jewish nation from adversaries in every generation in wars such as the Six-Day War and the Yom Kippur War.
    [Show full text]
  • Fhe EWISH SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS BSERVER
    TISHREI, 5736 I SEPT., 1975 VOLUME XI, NUMBER 2 fHE EWISH SEVENTY-FIVE CENTS BSERVER :"tl~ J'1:l:tN> • ..,,,"S '"!'11 /"fN.,., : =>:17 I How Kosher are your Mezuzos? U:rtl 3'\V 1 "')::1.'.1', ';, l1 t::,page27 1'1"'t::l 1.1'1 :i....,.:t? How violence-prone is your home? 6page14 Should the Orthodox community get involved in 1V & Radio? t::,page 17 ® 27- Do inter-faith dialogues foster better relationships? t::,page38 Are yeshiva students respectful of authority? t::,page 9 THE JEWISH QBSERVER this issue• A Challenge to our Generation I Eliyahu KiTov 3 "Why Not Wednesday?" I Uri Sondheim 9 The Honey and the Sting I Reuben E. Gross 12 Television and the Jewish Home I Nissan Wolpin 14 A Jewish Observer Symposium Radio & T.V. and the Jewish Community I THE JE\.'VfSH OBSERVER is published Bernard Fryshman 17 monthly, except July and August, by the Agudath Israel of America, Radio & T.V. Without the Jewish Community I S Beekman St., New York, N.Y. Martin Waxman 17 10038. Second dass postage paid at New York, N.Y. Subscription: SEED-ing the American Countryside With Torah 20 $6.50 per year; Two years, $11.00: Three years, $15.00; outside of thf' Simchas Yom Tov I a poem United States $7.50 per year. 22 Single copy seventy··five cents. Printed in the U.S.A. Kutzo Shel Yud I The Point I Aryeh Kaplan 26 A Second Generation of Halacha Publications 31 RABBf NrssoNWOLPIJ\ Yesodei Smochos Editor Guard Your Tongue Aids to Talmud Study Editorial Board DR ERNST L.
    [Show full text]
  • Snapshots (9.28
    COLLECTED FROM CHASSIDUS CHASSIDUS - 12 STORIES - ONE WHY LEARN CHASSIDUS? Reb Berel Baumgarten of Argentina worked with A Yid also has the mitzvos of unifying, loving and many young people to help them learn Chassidus. On fearing Hashem. 2 Elul 5721 (1961), he wrote to the Rebbe regarding “Unlike in loftier generations, these mitzvos can now one young man with whom he was in contact, who only be performed through study and contemplation. had told Reb Berel that he does not enjoy learning If he does not learn Chassidus, tens of years could Chassidus. He relayed that if it would be an imperative pass without him fulfilling thesemitzvos even once. like nigleh, he would learn it anyways, but since it was “And concerning the lack of enjoyment from the not obligatory, he had decided to do without it. learning,” the Rebbe concluded, “mitzvos were not The Rebbe responded in writing, directing Reb Berel given for our pleasure.” what to say: “He should be explained that he has played enough (Tadfis mitoch Sefer Hatoldos Reb Berel Baumgarten, with Torah and mitzvos. Every Yid is obliged to think Iyar 5766, p. 46) of Hashem’s greatness at least three times a day. CHASSIDUS 3 TWO A SERIOUS STUDY Reb Leibel Groner relates: Prior to the first visit of the Toldos Aharon Rebbe of Yerushalayim in 5719 (1959), the Rebbe told me to be present in the room during the yechidus. At first I did not understand the reason. During the yechidus, the Rebbe asked him if the bochurim learn Chassidus in his yeshiva.
    [Show full text]
  • Av 29, 5781 Issue 206 the Professor and the Hot
    Parshat Re'eh Av 29, 5781 August 7, 2021 Issue 206 for listening to this nonsense. He was The Professor and the Hot Dog angry at G‑d, because the least G‑d By Rabbi Yossi Lew could do was arrange for his meal to Dr. Velvl Greene was a professor of be on this darn plane, especially after Greene had epidemiology and public health at the University done something nice for G‑d! But he was most ‘For Forgiveness is with You…’ of Minnesota. This was around 1960. Professor angry, fuming at Rabbi Feller for convincing him By A.B.S. Greene was involved in the NASA program to to do this. And Greene decided that he would show him yet. find life on Mars. Mazel Tov, we gave birth to our sixth son and our joy was great. Right before we were to be discharged from the hospital, the baby My uncle Rabbi Moshe Feller had recently He landed at Chicago’s O’Hare airport at midnight began to spasm. After a thorough examination, it was revealed that arrived in Minnesota, and became very friendly for a one-hour stopover. He arrived at the terminal, the baby had internal convulsions even though there were no and there was still one store open: a non-kosher with Dr. Greene, and they talked a lot. external signs. hot dog stand. The hot dogs looked and smelled Rabbi Feller called Dr. Greene and said, “Velvl, good, plump and juicy. There was even hot The doctors began to treat with medication that really did not I know you’re traveling somewhere by plane.
    [Show full text]
  • Megillah Reading
    13, 14 Adar II, 5768 / March 20, 21 2008 Celebration!Celebration! HOW TO PURIM the soulful meaning, customs, event schedules, and how to celebrate ERS HT IG L P M A L CELEBRATION! Purim 5768 / 2008 My Dear Friends, Wisconsin Jewry, from the revelation at Sinai to the miraculous PurimThoughts 2 PURIM THOUGHTS The other day a friend shared with me a 40 years of wandering in the desert, and time- story from his youth: and-again throughout our history. 3 THE REBBE’S MESSAGE His good hearted father would support him But then there are miracles in which G-d A Throw of Dice in every way, always responding generously to intervention is hidden behind a cloak of “the 4 THE HISTORY OF PURIM his requests and needs. As he grew older and natural order”. An expression of His love by 5 SERVICES & MEGILLAH bolder he took his father for granted. One His “pulling the strings” from behind the READINGS day – in a total departure from his character – scenes and directing nature to enable us to live his father announced that he would no longer within its course and find Him there. 6 HOW DO WE CELEBRATE? support him. “From now on you are all on your So it was in the time of the Purim miracle, Body & Soul own,” he said. Unshaken, the son responded and so it is now, every single day, 2300 years 10 PURIM RECIPES “Fine, I’m sure I will do well on my own. You later. Hamentashen and Kreplach will see” The story of Purim - beginning with 11 STORY: THE REBBE AND He immediately prepared his resume, Achashverosh’s feast, Haman’s plot, and the THE SPACE SCIENTIST filled out a number of applications and sent ultimate salvation of the Jewish people - spans them to prospective employers.
    [Show full text]
  • Purim Magazine 13-14 ADAR, 5781 FEBRUARY 25-26 2021
    Purim Magazine 13-14 ADAR, 5781 FEBRUARY 25-26 2021 The Story of Purim p. 4 Will I Ever Be Appreciated? p. 10 Unmasking p. 12 T H E R E B B E ’ S M E S S A G E VICTORY OVER INDIFFERENCE he total triumph of the Jewish people over the evil Haman their fiery faith in G-d and Moses. In fact, the very name Amalek is celebrated on Purim. The holiday transforms the entire has the same numerical value as the Hebrew word “safek,” meaning month into one of joy and happiness. What, one can ask, doubt. Amalek’s goal was not to win a military victory, but to pierce is so unique about Purim that, unlike other festivals, it has the faith of the Jewish people by introducing “doubts.” theT power to change a whole month? When the Jewish people were victorious over Haman the Haman was a descendant of the nation of Amalek, infamous Amalekite, it was a victory over all that he stood for – coldness, for their audacity in attacking the Jewish people soon after their doubt, skepticism, and the like. Thus, the entire month of Adar miraculous exodus from Egypt. With the exception of Amalek, the is permeated with the joy and happiness of the Purim holiday, nations of the world trembled at the thought of battling the Jewish nation. because the stakes were so high. For it is our faith and trust in G-d, as well as our enthusiasm and warmth for Torah and Mitzvot, that The Torah explains that Amalek “met” the Jewish nation during define us, the Jewish people.
    [Show full text]
  • Jewish Science Dr
    ב״ה An inspiring story for your Shabbos table שבת פרשת ויצא, ו׳ כסלו, תשע״ד HERE’S Shabbos Parshas Vayetzei, November 9, 2013 my STORY JEWISH SCIENCE DR. VELVL GREENE n 1960, I began working for NASA as part of the Planetary Quarantine Division, which was then charged Iwith trying to find life on Mars. The Rebbe was very, very interested in the work I was doing. When we first met, he asked me if I knew what the Baal Shem Tov, the 18th century founder of the chasidic movement, meant when he spoke of Divine Providence. I said that I did. The principle of Divine Providence which the Baal Shem Tov taught is that nothing a Jew sees and hears is random. Rather, it is all designed by Heaven to bring you closer to Torah and to G-d. There is nothing wasted. And the Rebbe said, “If this is true for everybody, how much more true is it for a person who is exploring the stratosphere, or searching for life on Mars, or working in a medical laboratory dealing with diseases, or traveling all over the world and meeting so many people.” He went on, “You must have a wealth of stories and anecdotes and events and impressions — each one of special moments in time as he thought for a while. And then which demonstrates Divine Providence. You should keep a he said this: journal of these stories and events, and then try to analyze them to see what is the lesson you can learn from these “You should look for life on Mars, and you should keep things.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study on the Rabbinic Perspective of Life and Living Beyond Earth
    275 A Study on the Rabbinic Perspective of Life and Living Beyond Earth By: YOSSI ROTH Part I: Life beyond Earth1 Introduction Up until the 16th century, it was generally believed that the planet Earth is stationary and is orbited by the sun and other planets. This model is called the Ptolemaic model or the Geocentric model.2 The Ptolemaic model organized the universe into nine spheres, with Earth at its center. It was also widely believed that the stars were not suns and there ex- isted no other planets besides the ones beyond the eighth sphere. In 1543 Nicolaus Copernicus published De revolutionibus orbium coelestium. In this book he offered an alternative to the geocentric model. He theorized a heliocentric model with the sun positioned near the cen- ter of the Universe, motionless while Earth and the other planets rotated around it in circular paths. The question of what the Torah regards as the correct position of the earth, in relation to the sun and planets, has been widely debated since Copernicus introduced his theory with both sides of the dispute furnishing various proofs.3 Regardless of the Torah view of his theory, Copernicus did not ex- pand our concept of the universe with his theory. He did not explain 1 Part one is devoted to the question what the rabbinic view on extraterrestrial life beyond Earth is. The idea of whether Humankind itself will live beyond Earth in a future age, is discussed in Part two, which will hopefully be pub- lished in the future. 2 There were other models which also based on the belief that Earth was at the center, but the most common one was the Ptolemaic model and this is the model the Rambam uses.
    [Show full text]
  • PARSHAT KORACH at Wimbledon
    בס״ד TORAH SPORTSMEN OR what kind of activities he Ben Gurion University. A WEEKLY SPECTATORS? could be involved in, whom young man signed up to join Are you a spectator or a he could marry, etc. Yet the paratroopers. On his first 30 June – 6 July, 2019 participant? Do you only watch Korach was absolutely single- training flight, the instructor 27 Sivan – 3 Tammuz, 5779 the soccer World Cup, or do minded in his aspiration to has him in his parachute, Torah: you sometimes kick a ball become the high priest. Said huddled at the door of the Numbers 16:1‐18:32 the Rebbe: this is something airplane, and starts counting Haftorah: yourself? A few years ago, it Samuel I 11:14‐12:22 was decided to widen the seats we can all learn from down. 5 . 4 . 3 . 2 . PARSHAT KORACH at Wimbledon. Apparently, the Korach—the yearning to 1 . “JUMP!” The problem was rather simple — serve G‑d in the holiest candidate is paralyzed with We have Jewish capacity, the craving to be a fear, and doesn’t move. Calendars. If you obesity. It appears that the fans who admire the tennis stars in kohen gadol. Would that all of “Okay, it happens to the best would like one, us shared similar aspirations of us,” says the instructor please send us a action don’t get much exercise. to holiness. Wouldn’t it be sympathetically. “We’ll try letter and we will The chairman of the British wonderful if each one of us again.” The second attempt, send you one, or Sports Council was prompted to state, “If only the admirers longed for a life of sanctity, however, is no better, nor the CALENDARS ask the Rabbi / Chaplain to contact of sport would practice it dedicated to the service of third or the fourth.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rebbe Prodded
    FOREWORD FOREWORD Yellow Chassidus Fraidka, the Alter Rebbe’s daughter, was well versed in Chassidus, and her father would often recite Chassidus privately for her. One Shabbos, the Alter Rebbe visited her home to recite Chassidus. Chassidim, ever thirsty for an opportunity to hear a word from their Rebbe, milled amongst the trees that surrounded her house. The Alter Rebbe turned to his son, the Mitteler Rebbe, and said, “Gazetten? They want news?!” He grabbed hold of the Mitteler Rebbe’s lapel and said emphatically, “Why aren’t they learning Tanya? I tell you – through Tanya one can become a chossid like Avraham Avinu.” The deeper issue was that the readers were This story seems quite unusual. Here were some dedicated chassidim, thirsty for another word of Chassidus, yet the Alter consistently and Rebbe turned them away! Why couldn’t he give in and let them hear what they so desperately wanted? progressively being In the late 19th century, the term “yellow journalism” was given to shocked with headlines reporting that emphasized sensationalism over facts, (often yellow ink was used for highlighting). The real problem with this style of journalism and newsflashes, was not just the distortion and exaggeration of facts to facilitate greater hype; the deeper issue was that the readers were consistently and and they were progressively being shocked with headlines and newsflashes, and they were therefore conditioned against any sort of meaningful thinking. therefore conditioned A psychological illness, writes the Rambam, spoils the sensitivities just like a physical one. When a person regularly eats unnaturally sweet against any sort of foods, the body begins to crave that level of artificial sweetness, and then meaningful thinking.
    [Show full text]