Pesach Edition 5776

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Pesach Edition 5776 Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi Volume 8 Number 10 Brought to you by Naaleh.com The Four Cups: Levels of the Soul Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Hershel Reichman The Shem Mishmuel discusses the number shel yud, the small line at the top of the yud. The Shem MiShmuel explains that the five four, which plays a central role in the Chassidut teaches us that there are four levels senses correspond to the five levels of the Hagadah. There are four cups of wine, four of reality; atzilut, briah, yetzirah, and asiyah. soul. When Adam and Chava sinned with the questions, and four sons. In Parshat Va’eira, Above these four universes stands the four levels of the soul they damaged their four Hashem uses four expressions of redemption ultimately unknowable source of the universe, senses and in turn the four letters of Hashem’s – V’hotzeiti, V’hitzalti, V’ga'alti, V’lakachti – represented by the kutzo shel yud, the fifth line name. The four letters were a foundation for which parallel the four cups of wine. There is which has no sound. the fifth level, yechida, which then had no a fifth expression, V’heiviti, corresponding to foundation to rest on. The sin of Adam the fifth step in the redemptive process. The human mind can achieve a certain grasp produced four evils which parallel the four V’hotzeiti, I will remove the bondage. of the four worlds. But there’s a higher, major exiles. Idolatry corresponds to neshama V’hitzalti, I will save you from their threats. infinite, fifth level beyond them. The Ein Sof is and relates to Bavel. Immorality is associated V’ga'alti, I will redeem you. V’lakachti, I will limitless, ineffable, and unfathomable. The with ruach, misplaced passion and Paras. bring you to Me as My people, which refers to Shem MiShmuel explains that Hashem Yavan corresponds to murder and neshama. the giving of the Torah at Sinai. Finally, created the world in triplicate form. Just as Edom, the final exile, relates to lashon hara V’heiviti, I will bring you to the land of Israel, there are five levels of the universe, the human and chaya. Hashem though is the essence of the ultimate goal of redemption. soul also have five levels: nefesh, ruach, goodness, Man was created in the divine neshama, chaya, and yechida. Nefesh is the image and therefore he must be fundamentally Instead of focusing on five levels of redemp- biological level, ruach is the emotional level, good. tion, why did the sages only focus on four? If neshama is the intellectual level, and chaya is the expressions of redemption parallel the the divine aspect of the soul which is the We drink the four cups and focus on the cups of wine we drink at the Seder, why do connective, pervasive, force that knits together number four because at the Exodus of Egypt we not have a fifth cup? the three levels of the soul and makes us there were four levels of redemption of the divinely human. The fifth level is yechida, soul. The fifth level remains inaccessible. The Shem MiShmuel explains that there are which is beyond anything we can grasp. In When Mashiach comes and brings us to the seven special names of Hashem. The primary Kabbalah it is called the 50th level, the yovel land of Israel, Hashem will recreate that realm name is the shem hameforosh written as or the nekuda penimit. It is the unreachable of Adam and Chava before the sin. The fifth yud-keh-vav-keh. This name was never realm, our core identity which defines who we cup is the cup of Eliyahu which we do not pronounced except in the Beit Hamikdash on are but is beyond description or human drink. It signifies the era of Mashiach when we Yom Kippur. According to Kabbalistic teaching perception. This parallels the kutzo shel yud. will finally reach V’heiveiti, the level of yechida, there’s a fifth letter in this name, the kutzo when evil will no longer reign. Pesach: The Concealed Candle Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles The Gemara instructs us that on the night of understand what we are meant to learn from throne and enter a human body. However, it the fourteenth of Nissan to search for the challenges He puts us through. always yearns to return and free itself from its chametz throughout the house by the light of physical trappings. The body, on the other a candle. In each generation we are obligated The Torah tells us that Hashem saw and He hand, is enslaved. If it does not accept the to see ourselves as if we left Mitzrayim. How knew. The Pa’amei Moed explains that He control of the soul, it and the soul will remain are we to accomplish this, and how does saw our suffering, and knew that within the enslaved to physicality. Our soul, however, using a candle help us in our tasks? deep recesses of our hearts we were repent- always sees God and wants to serve Him. The ing – even though we were unaware. That is moment the body recognizes its true purpose Rabbi G. Rabinowitz notes that in retrospect why it took us a full forty-nine days from our and desires to serve Hashem, it sets the soul we understand that our horrific enslavement exodus until we reached Mount Sinai to be free. The soul can then lead man to a higher served a purpose, for it made us a compas- ready to accept the Torah, one day for each spiritual standard, just as the Jews are meant sionate people who treat of the weak and level of impurity to which we had sunk. to lead mankind to a higher moral standard. downtrodden farily. Similarly we must realize that our personal challenges and troubles also Rabbi Moshe Schwab quoting the Chovot This struggle of the soul is symbolized best serve a purpose. Hashem provides us Halevovot notes that man is a composite of through the image of a candle, writes Rabbi opportunities for growth through these two elements, the physical body and the Mindel in My Prayer, for a candle flutters and situations. The Seder should serve as a spiritual soul. The soul was forced to come strives to move continually upward. It looks like platform to reach out to Hashem to help us down from its abode under the Heavenly it wants to detach itself from the wick 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 8 Number 10 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Pesach: The Concealed Candle Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Mrs. Shira Smiles Continued from page 1 keeps it anchored. This analogy is based on ward at will. He lost this ability after the sin. but rather through our open hearts and souls. the verse, “The soul of man is a candle of However, when Eliyahu rose to heaven, he God.” Some families have an especially long regained this ability. He returns to earth from Halekach Vehalebuv writes that Eliyahu can candle on their Seder table to symbolize this time to time and is always welcomed at every bring out the inherent holiness in each of us. yearning of the soul. A more universally circumcision and at every Seder where he As we celebrate our Seder, let us take that accepted custom is the Cup of Eliyahu. The bears witness to the covenant of the blood of symbolic flame and reach inward and upward Malbim explains that when Adam was first circumcision and to the blood of the Pascal to open the door of our heart that will open the created, body and soul were not fused and Sacrifice. The Kotzker Rebbe taught that gates of heaven. Adam could shed his body and rise heaven- Eliyahu does not really enter through the door, The Holiday of Pesach – Part II Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Our forefather Yaakov was called nirdaf, the fulfill our roles with passion and dedication. Moshe replied, “Now the matter is known.” one who was persecuted. First he was Rashi explains that he meant to say, “Now it is oppressed by Esav, then by Lavan. Esav The most feminine of all traits is malchut, known why the Jews are still suffering in wanted the birthright. But he sold it to Yaakov which is recognizing Hashem’s Kingship. It’s Egypt, for they have talebearers (baalei lashon and said, “What do I need it for?” Rashi tells telling Hashem, “I will be whatever You want hara) amongst them.” The enemy is negativity. us that he knew the birthright carried with it a me to be. Once I’ve negated my own spiritual heritage. It was not just a material limitations before You, I will influence others.” The heroines of Mitzrayim, Yocheved and inheritance, but demanded responsibility and The woman in Mitzrayim personified this with Miriam, teach us great lessons. Yocheved’s accountability from its bearer What did he their deeds. They gave birth under inconceiv- name can be read as yud, vav and kavod. The need that for? able circumstances. They understood the yud is Hashem’s name. The subsequent vav is value of life and desired to actualize their an elongated yud that takes the yud down to Yaakov though wanted this level of account- mission.
Recommended publications
  • Source Sheet on Prohibitions on Loshon Ha-Ra and Motzi Shem Ra and Disclosing Another’S Confidential Secrets and Proper Etiquette for Speech
    Source Sheet on Prohibitions on Loshon ha-ra and motzi shem ra and disclosing another’s confidential secrets and Proper Etiquette for Speech Deut. 24:9 - "Remember what the L-rd your G-d did unto Miriam by the way as you came forth out of Egypt." Specifically, she spoke against her brother Moses. Yerushalmi Berachos 1:2 Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said, “Had I been at Mount Sinai at the moment when the torah was given to Yisrael I would have demanded that man should have been created with two mouths- one for Torah and prayer and other for mundane matters. But then I retracted and exclaimed that if we fail and speak lashon hara with only one mouth, how much more so would we fail with two mouths Bavli Arakhin15b R. Yochanan said in the name of R.Yosi ben Zimra: He who speaks slander, is as though he denied the existence of the Lord: With out tongue will we prevail our lips are our own; who is lord over us? (Ps.12:5) Gen R. 65:1 and Lev.R. 13:5 The company of those who speak slander cannot greet the Presence Sotah 5a R. Hisda said in the name of Mar Ukba: When a man speaks slander, the holy one says, “I and he cannot live together in the world.” So scripture: “He who slanders his neighbor in secret…. Him I cannot endure” (Ps. 101:5).Read not OTO “him’ but ITTO “with him [I cannot live] Deut.Rabbah 5:10 R.Mana said: He who speaks slander causes the Presence to depart from the earth below to heaven above: you may see foryourselfthat this is so.Consider what David said: “My soul is among lions; I do lie down among them that are aflame; even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword” (Ps.57:5).What follows directly ? Be Thou exalted O God above the heavens (Ps.57:6) .For David said: Master of the Universe what can the presence do on the earth below? Remove the Presence from the firmament.
    [Show full text]
  • Shomrei Torah
    Shomrei Torah Shabbat - Pesach VIII 22 Nisan, 5778/ April 7, 2018 Benjamin Yudin, Rabbi Andrew Markowitz, Associate Rabbi MAZAL TOV Hadassah Kovacs on the birth of a grandson, born to her children Chani and Rabbi Oran Zweiter of Stam- Pesach VII - VIII Schedule ford, CT. Erev Pesach - Thursday, April 5 Shacharit 5:35,6:30,8:00am HAKARAT HaTOV Early Mincha 5:55pm Ba’al Kriah Upstairs– Gideon Bannett Early Candle Lighting 6:10pm Ba’al Kriah Downstairs– Joseph Jarashow Candle lighting 7:07pm Mincha 7:12pm G’MAR HaCHAG FOR ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOLERS WITH THE YUDINS Pesach VII - Friday, April 6 Come celebrate G'mar HaChag with the Rabbi and Shevi at their home: Shabbat Day, April 7th, 5:30- Shacharit 8:00,8:45,9:00am 6:15pm for 3rd, 4th and 5th Graders; 6:15-7:00pm for High Schoolers. Early Mincha 5:55pm Early Candle lighting 6:11pm ANNUAL PESACH YIZKOR APPEAL Candle lighting 7:08pm Please help support Shomrei Torah’s Yizkor Appeal, which is an important fundraising effort for the shul. We hope that you will continue to make Shomrei Torah a priority in your charitable giving. Our primary objective Daf Yomi 6:30pm for this appeal is 100% participation, at whatever level you feel comfortable. To participate in advance, make Mincha 7:13pm your pledge on the Shomrei Torah website: www.shomrei-torah.org/passoveryizkorappeal. Pesach VIII - Yizkor - Shabbat, April 7 Shacharit 8:00,8:45,9:00am YOM HASHOAH EVENT On Wednesday, April 11 at 8pm, Shomrei Torah will host Isaac Levendel, Holocaust survivor, researcher, Yizkor Approximately 11:00am renowned lecturer, and acclaimed author.
    [Show full text]
  • Eight Days of Praise He Shulchan Arukh, O.C
    Eight Days of Praise he Shulchan Arukh, O.C. 683, writes that throughout Chanukah we recite the full Rabbi Akiva Koenigsberg THallel. The source for this halakhah Faculty, IBC School of Jewish Studies, YU is the Gemara in Arakhin 10a.1 The Gemara quotes a baraita that lists all the days we recite the full Hallel; the Torah discusses the olive oil for the the Mishkan would have occurred on the eight days of Chanukah are part Menorah, which hints to Chanukah.3 the 17th of Tammuz, the day Moshe of that list. But the Gemara does not We find this same juxtaposition of returned with the Luchot, and they st of explain why we recite the full Hallel Sukkot and Chanukah mentioned would have completed it by the 1 Tishrei. After 12 days of dedication on Chanukah. TheBeit Yosef, O.C. by R. Elazar of Worms, a student of offerings by the nesi’im, the Jews 683 s.v. Kol, quotes from the Shibbolei R. Yehudah haChassid, in his Sefer 4 would have traveled for three days into Haleket §174 (in the name of Rashi) Roke’ach. TheRoke’ach notes that this Israel and the Beit Hamikdash would that Chanukah is similar to Sukkot. juxtaposition teaches us that, just as have descended on the 15th of Tishrei.8 Just as we recite the full Hallel each we recite the full Hallel on Sukkot, we day of Sukkot because the number also recite it on Chanukah. In terms of Chanukah, it is recorded of sacrifices varied from day to day, in (ch.
    [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]
  • Parshat Vayigash
    ב ס ״ ד Torah Do You Know Your Soul? worst type of abuse. It stands to many congregations Friday The story of Joseph revealing reason, therefore, that they evening.) The soul, in other himself to his brothers after would be utterly in shock when words, is that dimension of our Weekly they finally faced him. Could any psyche that needs not self- decades of bitter separation is one of the most dramatic in of us have ever have caused a aggrandizement, dominance or December 29, 2019- the Torah. Twenty-two years similar affront to G-d, as to excessive materialism. It January 4, 2020 earlier, when Joseph was experience such dread in the face despises politics, manipulation 1-7 Tevet, 5780 of G-d's rebuke? (This first and dishonesty. It is repulsed by Torah: Vayigash: Genesis seventeen years old, his brothers question is raised in Shem unethical behavior and by false 44:18 - 47:27 kidnapped him, threw him into a Haftorah: Ezekiel 37:15-28 pit, then sold him as a slave to Mishmuel, Vayigash p. 271. The facades. What are its aspirations? VAYIGASH Egyptian merchants. In Egypt, second question in Or Hatorah, The soul harbors a single Joseph spent twelve years in Vayigash vol. 6 p. 1974.) Our yearning: to melt away in the all- We have Jewish prison, from where he rose to Inner Dreamer To understand pervading truth of G-d. The Calendars. If you become viceroy of the country. this, we must recall the idea Abused Soul Yet, how many of would like one, Now, the moment was finally stated a number of times that all us are even aware of the please send us a ripe for reconciliation.
    [Show full text]
  • Shapells Daf Kesher Naso 5775
    #62 • NASO • 12 SIVAN, 5775 • 5/30/15 SHAPELL'S / YESHIVA DARCHE NOAM · MIDRESHET RACHEL V'CHAYA · PATHWAYS ISRAEL · PATHWAYS PLUS This issue is dedicated in memory of ז"ל ,Shimon ben Yitzchak Halevi DVAR TORAH 4 WHITE GARMENTS The Arizal, had a custom, still kept by some mekubalim (Jewish mystics), of wearing four special white of Sochotchov) explains this ,זצ"ל garments every Shabbat. The Shem Mishmuel (Rav Shmuel Bornshtein practice in his comments on this week’s parshah about two differences between the Leviim and the Kohanim. the first Sochotchover Rebbe) asks: Why is it that ,זצ"ל , The Avnei Nezer (his father, Rav Avraham but Leviim do not? A Kohen is forbidden to serve ,בגדי כהונה Kohanim have special clothes, the .but we find no such requirement by Leviim ,בגדי כהונה without wearing and – משוררים The Shem Mishmuel asks: The Leviim were divided up into those who sang – the ;Each Levi was locked in to a particular job .שוערים those who guarded the gates of the Temple – the a singer was prohibited to function as a Temple guard, and a guard was prohibited to participate in the Leviim’s singing in the Temple. The opposite is true for Kohanim – with the exception of the Kohein Gadol, all Kohanim were able to perform all of the priestly jobs in the Temple. Once again, why this difference between Kohanim and Leviim? their service is exceedingly inward – פנימיות The Avnei Nezer explains that the Kohanim have the quality of and hidden. They therefore need special clothes that cover up and protect, just as everything inward needs to be specially covered up and protected.
    [Show full text]
  • Bal Tashchit : the Jewish Prohibition Against Needless Destruction Wolff, K.A
    Bal Tashchit : the Jewish prohibition against needless destruction Wolff, K.A. Citation Wolff, K. A. (2009, December 1). Bal Tashchit : the Jewish prohibition against needless destruction. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14448 Version: Corrected Publisher’s Version Licence agreement concerning inclusion of doctoral thesis in the License: Institutional Repository of the University of Leiden Downloaded from: https://hdl.handle.net/1887/14448 Note: To cite this publication please use the final published version (if applicable). BAL TASHCHIT: THE JEWISH PROHIBITION AGAINST NEEDLESS DESTRUCTION Copyright © 2009 by K. A. Wolff All rights reserved Printed in Jerusalem BAL TASHCHIT: THE JEWISH PROHIBITION AGAINST NEEDLESS DESTRUCTION Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van Doctor aan de Universiteit Leiden, op gezag van de Rector Magnificus prof. mr P.F. van der Heijden, volgens besluit van het College voor Promoties te verdedigen op dinsdag 1 december 2009 klokke 15:00 uur door Keith A. Wolff geboren te Fort Lauderdale (Verenigde Staten) in 1957 Promotiecommissie Promotores: Prof. Dr F.A. de Wolff Prof. Dr A. Wijler, Rabbijn, Jerusalem College of Technology Overige leden: Prof. Dr J.J. Boersema, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Prof. Dr A. Ellian Prof. Dr R.W. Munk, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Prof. Dr I.E. Zwiep, Universiteit van Amsterdam To my wife, our children, and our parents Preface This is an interdisciplinary thesis. The second and third chapters focus on classic Jewish texts, commentary and legal responsa, including the original Hebrew and Aramaic, along with translations into English. The remainder of the thesis seeks to integrate principles derived from these Jewish sources with contemporary Western thought, particularly on what might be called 'environmental' themes.
    [Show full text]
  • A Pesach Reader 5774/2014
    W A PESACH READER 5774/2014 Celebrating 50 YEARS of dedication to our students and the community. YESHIVA OF GREATER WASHINGTON WWW.YESHIVA.EDU • 301-962-5111 Celebrating 50 YEARS of dedication to our students and the community. Fifty years ago Rabbi Gedaliah Anemer, zt”l, founded our yeshiva with a small handful of students. It was a time of pioneering, a time of enormous dedication. People took second mortgages on their homes to enable the yeshiva’s existence. We look back with much gratitude to Hashem for all of the chesed He has bestowed upon us, and we dedicate ourselves anew with the spirit and determination of our founders to the cause of Jewish education Rabbi Anemer held so dear. SPONSORED BY Rabbi Benzion and Chana Berliant in memory of Chana’s mother, Sarah bas Yisroel Leib, whose Yartzeit in observed on 11 Nisan. In memory of Alfred and Betty Rosenblatt a”h And in honor of William and Barbara Silver Rabbi Aryeh and Netanya Silver And Moshe Tzvi, Avraham, Shayna, Shira, Gedaliah, and Dina Leib and Sarah Don And Naftali, Reuven, Shmuel and Leah Dustin and Malka Widofsky And Adiella By Rochelle and Paul Silver The Daily Cause for Shira Rabbi Yitzchak Scher Rebbe, Yeshiva Gedolah, Kollel Zichron Amram “This month shall be for you the head of the months. It shall be the first for you of the months of the year. Speak to the entire congregation of Israel saying that on the tenth of this month they shall take for themselves a sheep for each family, a sheep for the household...1” The introduction to the holiday of Pesach in the Torah begins with the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh.
    [Show full text]
  • E-Oneg-Korach-.Pdf
    THIS WEEK'S ONEG SHABBOS IS DEDICATED לכבוד ה' ולע''נ מרת מישקט יענטא בת ר' משה יעקב ע''ה נלב''ע כ''ח סיון תשע''א ת.נ.צ.ב.ה בס"ד OnegShabbos North West London’s Weekly Torah & Opinion Sheets A Torah publication that enables local Rabbonim and Avreichim to share their insights and Divrei Torah on a variety of different levels, to provide something for everyone For questions on Divrei Torah ,24TH JUNE 2017 please contact the Editor in Chief //ל' סיון תשע”ז // ראש חודש תמוז // פרשת קרח Rabbi Yonasan Roodyn Shabbos Times LONDON MANCHESTER GATESHEAD [email protected] To receive this via email please email PM 9:27 PM 9:34 PM [email protected] 9:06 הדלקת נרות PM 11:07 PM 11:24 PM 10:38 מוצש’’ק To Sponsor a Week please email [email protected] לעילוי נשמת הש"ץ שלמה בן אברהם משה ז"ל לעילוי נשמת חנה בת אלעזר ע"ה KINDLY SPONSORED Cost per week: £500, which covers production costs לרפואת אריאל יהודה בן יהודית נ" י Rabbi Nosson Krausz Rosh Chaburah, Leeds Kollel Parshah YOU’VE GOT TO START FROM THE BOTTOM! Following the episode of Korach, Hashem wanted to a chance. But the truth is that such an honour with all its Something make an everlasting reminder that Aharon is the chosen responsibilities only comes after years of hard work of self A small glimpse is revealed to us .עבודת ה’ Kohen and no-one should even consider questioning this. perfection and And” ,“וראך ושמח בלבו” )שמות ד’-י”ד( He told Moshe to instruct all the tribes to hand in a in Rashi on the pasuk staff inscribed upon it the name of its Nasi, with the staff he [Aharon] will see you [Moshe] and he will be happy in of Shevet Levi having Aharon’s name written on it.
    [Show full text]
  • Naso 5781 Numbers Rabbah 6:1 Another Explanation: 'She Is More
    Naso 5781 Numbers Rabbah 6:1 Another explanation: ‘She is more precious than fine rubies,’ refers to Kohath and Gershon. Although Gershon was the firstborn and we find that Scripture always shows honor to the firstborn, yet, because Kohath bore the ark where the Torah was deposited, Scripture gives him precedence over Gershon. Shem Mishmuel, Naso In Midrash Rabbah, the children of Kohath and the children of Gershon use the phrase “Nesiot Rash” in for G-d to give them honor – For Kohath, because of their duties with the Ark, and for Gershon because he was the firstborn, but for Merari whose work was less holy in what they carried, there wasn’t such honor. Biography of Yosef Yavetz, OU Website Rabbi Yavetz was born in Spain and left there during the Expulsion in 1492. He finally settled in Mantua, Italy, and assumed an honored place in the community. He was absorbed with the meaning of the Spanish Expulsion and why it occurred, and wrote an entire treatise, Ohr HaChaim, in which he provided his interpretation. According to R. Yavetz, the catastrophe resulted from Spanish Jewry’s preoccupation with philosophy and secular knowledge which became their central focus, whereas Torah and mitzvot no longer were the primary purpose of their lives. He was not opposed to knowledge per se, but rather to the fact that it had supplanted Torah and mitzvot in importance. R. Yavetz testifies that only one in a hundred philosophers is preoccupied with Torah and mitzvot, and even those few are ambivalent. And in an oft quoted passage points out that the Jewish philosophers were the first to convert, whereas the simple folk, imbued with simple faith, refused to succumb.
    [Show full text]
  • Seder Tu B'shvat
    Seder Tu B’Shvat ‘Hagadah’ compiled by Elli Fischer Instructions: The idea of this ‘hagadah’ is to facilitate a hands-on learning ​ experience, in which themes of Tu B’Shvat are explored with our minds and our taste-buds. Each section of the hagadah corresponds to particular foods and particular learning material. Each section should be read aloud by alternating narrators. Instructions will appear throughout in italics, and need not be read aloud. ​ ​ Part I: On Tu B’Shvat we celebrate the ‘new year for trees’. This designation has ​ ​ ​ meant different things during different eras of Jewish history. At this ‘seder’ we will look at the different ways that Jews have thought about, learned about, and tasted the fruit of Eretz Yisrael through time. In fact, the story begins even further back, on the very first day of creation, when the very first human being tasted a forbidden fruit. Rabbi Chaim Vital says in the name of the Arizal that one must intend while eating the fruits to repair the sin of Adam who erred by eating fruit from the tree: Take a wheat-based product, a glass of wine/grape juice, and a fig. Make a ​ ​ ‘Ha-motzi’/’mezonot’ on the wheat product, a ‘ha-gafen’ on the wine, and ‘ha-etz’ on the fig. ​ תלמוד בבלי מסכת ברכות דף מ עמוד א אילן שאכל ממנו אדם הראשון, רבי מאיר אומר: גפן היה, שאין לך דבר שמביא יללה על האדם אלא ​ ​ ​ ​ יין, שנאמר: +בראשית ט'+ וישת מן היין וישכר; רבי נחמיה אומר: תאנה היתה, שבדבר שנתקלקלו בו נתקנו, שנאמר +בראשית ג'+ ויתפרו עלה תאנה; רבי יהודה אומר: חטה היתה, שאין התינוק יודע .לקרות אבא ואמא עד שיטעום טעם דגן ​ ​ Babylonian Talmud, Brachot 40a What was the tree from which Adam ate? Rabbi Meir says: It was a grapevine, because nothing brings woe onto man like ​ wine, as it says [about Noah in Bereishit 9], “And he drank of the wine and became ​ ​ drunk” Rabbi Nehemia says: It was a fig, so that their object of ruin was also their ​ object of repair, as it says (Bereishit 3) “And they sewed together fig leaves”.
    [Show full text]
  • Bringing Torah to Life #7- Building Parent-Child Relationships Part 3
    Dedicated in memory of Rachel Leah bat R' Chaim Tzvi Volume I, number 48 Brought to you by Naaleh.com Chassidut: Parshat Teruma – The Mishkan Based on a Naaleh.com shiur by Rabbi Hershel Reichman The Shem MiShmuel discusses a disagree- love stem from? According to the Ramban soul. The Mishkan had three points of ment about when the commandment to and the Zohar, it was a direct natural holiness. The Chatzer was open for all Jews build the Tabernacle was given. Ramban outcome of Matan Torah. They felt except those who were impure. The Kodesh and the Zohar maintain that the mitzva Hashem’s closeness so intensely that they was open only to the kohanim. And the came right after the giving of the Torah poured out their ahavat Hashem through Kodesh Kadashim was closed all year before the sin of the golden calf. Rashi and their donations to the Mishkan. Rashi and except on Yom Kippur when only the kohein the midrashim say that it was given after the midrashim maintain that the Jewish gadol was allowed entrance. cheit haegel, as a sign of the Jewish people’s love was aroused as a result of Time also has multiple levels of kedusha. nation’s reconciliation with Hashem. cheit haegel. After Moshe showed the Rosh Chodesh is more holy than weekdays, Almost everything about the Mishkan was Jewish people how they had distanced yet work is permitted. On Yom Tov we can miraculous. The Aron fit into the Kodesh themselves from Hashem, they did teshuva perform work for ochel nefesh (food prepara- Kadashim despite the fact that its physical at the deepest level of their souls.
    [Show full text]