Singing Praise (II)

ב"ה למען ישמעו • שופטים תשע"ח • 475 EDITOR - RABBI SHIMON HELLINGER SINGING PRAISE (II) THE WAY TO PRAISE amongst other things told him, “Listen to me. It’s bracha, and not think about anything else. time to stop behaving like a child. When you’re When one says the Name of HaShem, he must When one makes a bracha, he should contemplate about to make a bracha over food or drink, and have concentrate on the meaning of the four letters what he is doing: he is thanking HaShem for the food that He is the Master of everything and – י-ה-ו-ה to say ‘Boruch Ata’, remember to Whom you are or the mitzvos that He has given us. A bracha should going to say ‘Boruch Ata’.” that He always existed, exists in the present, and not be recited out of habit. In fact HaShem sent reminds אלקים will always exist. So, too, the Name )סה"ש תש''ג ע' 143( Yeshayahu HaNavi to reprimand the Yidden who him that HaShem is all-powerful, above and below. were making brachos for washing their hands or In days gone by, people regarded the very letters before eating, without thinking of HaShem. HaShem of the Torah with respect. This stemmed from their It is forbidden to do anything while saying a bracha, for it would then appear that one is careless and is even withheld wisdom from them. yiras Shamayim, which was clearly apparent even not regarding it as important. It follows that even among ordinary, unlettered Yidden. When a bracha There was once a man who appeared in a dream to an activity which does not require concentration is had to be said, they would first wash their hands, or one of his relatives, several years after his passing. also prohibited. The relative asked him, “How are you doing in the at least clean them with grass or whatever. )סדר ברכת הנהנין פ"ט ה"ג, שוע"ר סי' ה, סי' קפ"ג סי"ד( other world?” The deceased replied, “Every day Regarding this the Frierdiker Rebbe related: “One I am judged for not having been careful to think day, when I was playing outdoors as a little boy and Many brachos begin with the words, Baruch Ata about HaShem when making brachos,” and he added making a toy ship, I overheard a gardener reciting HaShem Elokeinu Melech haolam. As is explained that though many years had passed, he was still in Chassidus, the very word beracha signifies that being cleansed of this fault. a bracha – Shehakol, and from the way he said it, I began to tremble. Today, however, people don’t something is being drawn down from above. The )ס' חסידים אות מ"ו( hear the brachos they are saying, and the brachos next word, Ata, means that that spiritual energy is being drawn down from the essence of HaShem, don’t hear them.” When a person says brachos properly, with kavana through the successive levels of Seder Hishtalshelus. The term Elokeinu refers to the sustenance that )סה"ש תש"ג ע' and simcha, he draws upon himself HaShem’s )119 kindness. Also, brachos should be recited audibly comes down to the Yidden, and Melech haolam refers and carefully, because hakol meorer es hakavana – CONSIDER to the sustenance that then comes down to the rest voicing words arouses one’s devout concentration. of the world. )תו׳׳א בראשית ו, א, ד"ה בלילה ההוא ת"ש( What is the significance )ראשית חכמה, של"ה, ס' החינוך מצוה תל( Reb Chaim Vital writes: “My Rebbe, the AriZal, of the general kavana of The Alter Rebbe held a number of debates with the warned me to be very careful about having kavana all brachos and the unique geonim of Lithuania over the validity of Chassidus. when reciting brachos, for doing so refines a person, On these occasions he would discuss concepts in enabling him to become a vessel for kedusha, and it kavana in each bracha type? halacha (generally the halachos of Birkas HaNehenin), is a major step towards Ruach HaKodesh.” and would conclude with a ruchniyusdike lesson. ,The Rebbe once explained that when one recites At the second debate, which took place in Minsk )כף החיים סי' קצ"א סק"ו( the one hundred daily brachos, the emphasis everyone recognized his outstanding geonus, and it HEARTFELT PRAISE should be on their essence – bringing one to fear, deeply impacted the Lithuanian talmidei chachomim. At the conclusion of that debate, he taught a lesson Throughout his entire lifetime, whenever the love and remember HaShem. When the hundred from the Mishna: “Whoever drinks water out of esteemed chossid Reb Dovid Tzvi Chein (better brachos are recited properly, these feelings thirst should say shehakol nihyah bidevaro.” He known as the Radatz) would make a bracha over permeate the entire day. explained that water symbolizes Torah, and the )סה"ש תנש"א ע' 134( food or drink, he would first place his right hand test of whether one is truly learning Torah properly over his forehead, as people do when they are deep is whether he recognizes that everything (shehakol) in thought, and only then recite the bracha. UNDERSTANDING THE BRACHA is being created by the word of HaShem (nihyah bidivaro). Among those present were many diligent The Frierdiker Rebbe related, “When I was a little The Alter Rebbe writes: boy, I asked him the reason for this, and he told me students, masmidim who would learn for eighteen that when he was twelve years old, his father Reb One should be most meticulous about having the to twenty-one hours every day. When they heard Peretz brought him to Lubavitch to see the Tzemach proper kavana when saying brachos and recognizing this explanation, scores of them were attracted to Tzedek. When he went into the Rebbe’s room, the their basic idea – that he is bensching HaShem. One becoming disciples of the Alter Rebbe. )סה"ש תש"ד ע' Rebbe showed him closeness and affection, and should also keep in mind the subject of his present )139 In merit of this publication's founder מתיבתא דקינגסטאן Wellspring PRESS ר' אהרן בן חנה A small out-of-town mesivta in Kingston, PA Limited spots available for shiurim alef and beis. May the zechus of the thousands GET YOUR BOOK PUBLISHED Email [email protected] of readers bring him a total and www.SELLMILESNOW.com or call 718-208-0172 immediate recovery [email protected] 732-987-7765 RABBI CHAIM HILLEL RASKIN ROV - KFAR CHABAD BEIS R. ZALMAN ZLATAPOLSKY TZITZIS FOR KIDS R. Shlomo Schneur Zalman Zlatapolsky trees, my father pointed out a bench and lived in Krementchug, and was a chosid said to me: What size and material tzitzis should I get for my child? of the Rebbe Maharash. The Rebbe “In the year 5645 (1885), three years A garment is only obligated in tzitzis if it is large enough Maharash held him in high esteem after the passing of my father [the for a nine-year-old to cover his head and the greater part and would occasionally say maamorim Rebbe Maharash], R. Zalman sat on this of his body with it, and a thirteen-year-old would not be especially for him upon his visits to bench, and while deep in thought, sang a embarrassed to wear it at times in the marketplace.1 Lubavitch. R. Zalman was very thorough nigun with great dveikus for many hours in everything he did. He had a special Practically, a tallis katan for an adult must have a width and straight. I did not want to disturb him seder when coming to Lubavitch, how length of an amah (19 in or 48 cm) on both the front and back from his dveikus, I just looked at his face long to stay and when to leave. His trips individually, excluding the area of the hole for the head. The and saw R. Zalman’s eyes were shut and Alter Rebbe points out that any folded portion detracts from to Lubavitch, hearing Chassidus and going into yechidus were particularly tears were flowing on his cheeks. He was the shiur, thus one ought to ensure that the garment is fully totally immersed in the niggun. spread out. For this reason, it is recommended to purchase meaningful to him. tzitzis that are slightly larger than the shiur.2 "At a later opportunity I asked R. Zalman which maamar he was contemplating at The halachic obligation of chinuch for the mitzva of tzitzis The Rebbe once related: After the the time. R. Zalman was not soft hearted begins at the age of six, when the child is capable of putting Rebbe Maharash passed away, R. (he was from Kremenchug – known for on a garment, draping two of the corners in front and two in Zalman longed greatly to see him. He their intellectual nature), yet when I back, and holding the tzitzis by shema. At this point, his father discussed his feelings with the Rebbe asked him that, he burst out crying and is obligated to buy him a four-cornered garment and attach Rashab. After doing many preparations could not neither speak or catch his tzitzis to it.3 For a child between six and thirteen, the Alter that the Rebbe Rashab had instructed breath. When he calmed down he said, ‘It Rebbe rules that it is sufficient for the total area of his tallis 4 him (including wearing a gartel was a maamar [he mentioned the opening katan to be a square amah, excluding the hole for the head.

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