A disturbing proposal for a ban on Bris Mila was revealed in the media Today.
This ban, though only proposed currently in San Francisco has sent shock waves thru the Jewish community. This is the first time that this kind of proposal was introduced in the United States.
We hope you all had a meaningful Yom Tov, and hopefully we will all bring the inspiration into action.
This week we are privileged to read the portion of Kedoshim. The Torah tells us (Vayikra 19/2) You shall be holy for I, Hashem your G-d, am holy. This is rather hard to understand. What relation does G-d's holiness have with our being holy ? There's an interesting Medrash, which can perhaps shed some light on the issue. The Medrash says, three will testify one on the other: Hashem, Shabbos and the Jewish people.
The Medrash is telling us that we, the Jewish nation are testifying, that although we are human beings and a human naturally desires mundane and materialistic things, yet since we as Jews have a Neshomo (soul), which is a part (so to say), of Hashem , we desire holiness and spirituality. However, the nations of the world don't have this natural leaning. This is what the Torah is telling you Kedoshim tihiyu - you shall be holy, for I am holy, meaning that this is the reason that you'll be able to achieve holiness for you are a part of Me and I am holy.
Now we can understand the the meaning of the Medrash. When Jews are holy they are testimony to G-d's sanctity. The same is true for Shabbos. How does Shabbos become holy as naturally all times (days) are the same, only because Hashem sanctified this day, does it have a holiness. This along with the Jews who sanctify the Shabbos makes the circle complete. G-d's sanctity was given to Jews (human) and to Shabbos (time) and they are testimony to the holiness of their source.
May we merit to follow in the ways of G-d, and be holy.
Gut Shabbos,
This week we are privileged to read the portion of Acharei. The portion discusses how the Kohein should conduct himself on Yom Kippur when he enters in to the Kodesh Hakodoshim.
Later, the Torah describes laws of forbidden relationships (arayos), the different improper ways and their punishment.
When beginning to discuss forbidden relationships, the Torah (vayikrah 18/23) begins as follows: as the actions of the land of Mitzrayim, which you sat (lived) in, and as the action of the canaanites where I will bring you, one shall not do (imitate).
Rebbe Bunim of Przesischa explains this Phraise as follows. When one wants to get someone off a lust/ addiction to Alcohol or any similar lust, the best way to teach him is by taking him to visit another drunk, and say to him "you see how awful it looks and is, when you are drunk, don't follow in his footsteps! The Torah says the same thing "you lived in Egypt, you saw the lives they lead, this is not what you want. You remember what they looked like, and you certainly don't want to follow. You saw their empty lives ....don't follow in their footsteps!
This week the Shabbos preceding Pesach, is called Shabbos Hagadol - the Great Shabbos. There are many reasons given for this name. One reason is, that on the Shabbos preceding the exodus of Egypt, the Jews took the sheep/goats in preparation of bringing it for an offering. As we know, the Egyptian worshiped cattle (sheep), this however did not stop the Jews from taking it in front of their eyes and prepare it for an offering. Due to the GREAT miracle which occurred at that time, this Shabbos is known as the Great Shabbos.
In addition, we know that the Shabbos preceding a Holiday has an influence on the upcoming Holiday, and being that Pesach is the first of all Holidays, it too has an influence on the remaining Holidays, thereby this Shabbos is empowered with great influence.
May we merit to benefit from the abundance of light that comes from this Great Shabbos and utilize it properly to strengthen our Emunah in Hashem.
No new posts until after the Pesach Yom Tov.
We wish you all a true Chag Kosher V'sameach!!!!!!!
MALAY KOL HA'ARETZ KVODO!
This week we are privileged to read the portion Metzorah. The Torah teaches us the laws of someone who was punished with tzoraas and the laws of negoim that appear on a home. The Torah also describes the offering that a metzorah has to bring after he is clean (cured).
Regarding the negoim the Torah teaches us that until the kohein says "tomei (impure)", it is not tomei, and the same is required to purify a nega. (See rash"I Vayikra 14/36).
The Chofetz Chaim explains that the reason for this law is, to teach us the value of words. Whereas, tzoraas comes, for not being cautious with ones word, in the same way, it only becomes pure by word of the Kohein. The biggest scholar may give his opinion, it will still not change the status until a Kohein says Tomei or Tahor.
The Medrash tells us a story regarding a peddler who came to various cities and announced that he has a remedy for long life, whoever wants to live long, can come and buy. Rav Yanai was fascinated by this man and he approached him, as did many other people. The man took out a Tehillim and showed R' Yanai the phrase in Tehillim 34 who is the man who wants life, loves days to see good. Guard your tounge from speaking evil....
The question is what was so fascinating about what the man said ? The answer may be based on an anecdote told by The Zlatypoly Rebbe. Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev had once been thru Zlatypoly and met the local Rav (not the Zlatypoly Rebbe), and he noticed that the man was a man of a higher caliber. The Berdichever asked him "how he had obtained such a high level"? The Rav answered that in his youth he once came from a far way and stopped in a shul, tired and weak. When he entered the shul, the Rabbi repeated the Mishna in Avos 4/4 me'od me'od hevey shfal ruach, shetikvas enosh rima. "One shall be very very humble spirited, for the anticipated end of mortal man is worms". I was not fully able to follow the entire speech, said the Rav, however, after hearing those words I became a different man. Later, he found out that the Rabbi who was speaking at that time, was Reb Nochum of Chernobyl. The influence of a tzaddik can be so great, that although one may not be able to follow the depth of the lecture, the message can still penetrate.
Reb Shimon Zhelichover explained that Rav Yanai saw that this peddler's words, although they were simple, they had a tremedous influence, and that is what fascinated him.
May we always be influenced and influence others for the good. May we always merit to speak only positive words.
The whole Jewish world joins the communities in Yerushalayim who are celebrating with Tefilos of gratitude to the Boreh Olam upon the 101st birthday of Maran Harav Eliyashuv Shlit"a, which took place this week.
The Gadol Hador still answers Halachic questions sharply and immediatly.
Klal Yisroel is Mispalel that we should be Zoche to have him amongst us for many more years.
