CLD #471

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Tonight is a HUGE night. Tonight is a night where we can really work on ourselves. Tonight we can see where we stand. Tonight is a night we can see who our friends are. Tonight we can get to know ourselves so much more.

How?

Unfortunately (forget about the Jews for a moment) tonight there is so much spiritual dirt spread throughout the world. The non-Jews take this night as a celebration. They party and drink and do filthy sexual acts with eachother (talking about majority, obviously there are exceptions). What is tonight all about in America and the rest of the non-Jew world? It is about filling their sexual desires and it is about drinking and acting without a logical thinking process. We can find out if our friends are true friends. According to the Torah, a true friend is one who helps you get closer to Hashem. Will tonight be a night where you can change everyone around you by not involving yourself with this impurity? The truth sometimes hurts: Are we willing to be embarassed and go to the parties and be with these "friends" (not real friends) or are we more embarassed of Hashem and the Torah and are attracted to the truth to follow in the ways of purity?

What do Jews do in their celebrations? Check it out: Us Jews we open up wine bottles, we prepare the most delicious foods, we make sure everyone knows what they are celebrating for and most importantly > we thank Hashem with all our hearts for all the good He does for us. With these things we further help ourselves push for a happier life. We make sure to tell ourselves why we do what we do. A side effect includes giving chizuk (inspiration) to other people to come closer to Hashem and it is a cycle of positive energy and spiritual effect!

For example, in a wedding we have a mitzvah (commandement) to make the Hatan and Kalah (bride and groom) happy. In a Brit (circumcision) we have a mitzvah to sit and eat and enjoy with the father of the boy. In a Bar Mitzvah we have a mitzvah  to listen to the Torah HaKdosha being read. We are commanded to do good.

How can we even compare a night of ‘new year’s eve’ to a single minute of participating in a real Simcha of a Jew (happy occasion)?! We absolutely cannot.

Look at Millions of Jews who do follow the Torah and live in the path of Mitzvot and Emunah in Hashem. What are they doing tonight? Nothing. Why? Because tonight has no significance at all in Jewish life. If anything it just gives all of us more chizuk to get closer to Hashem and see how beautiful a life of Torah is.

We are not saying that there is no spiritual significance behind their holidays. However we are saying that we cannot mix in with the non-Jews. We are different and we always will be. Am Yisrael Chai VeKayam.

SHAVUA TOV!

Judaism=Think.

Want to sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK!

DID YOU KNOW NEW YEAR'S EVE IS THE CELEBRATION OF THE CATHOLIC POPE 'SYLVESTER' WHO KILLED THOUSANDS OF JEWS?!
HOW CAN WE LET OURSELVES CELEBRATE IN SUCH HORRIBLE CELEBRATIONS?!

SHAVUA TOV!

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PIC OF THE WEEK!

Even though the entire world is 'celebrating' (there is nothing compared to Jewish celebrations of real Simcha and happiness) the non-Jewish holiday, there are still Jews who continue living their lives devoted to Hashem. Coming to the Kotel tonight is just a tiny itsby bitsy part of what it means to be connected to Hashem in the holy city of Yerushalayim.

Judaism=Think.

Shavua Tov Umevorach.

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEHOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

For the Refua Shlema of Mordechai ben Shoshana & for the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef:

1. One should not speak during a Seuda (meal), even Divrei Torah (words of Torah), to avoid the danger of choking. Even if someone sneezes in the middle of the Seuda, a friend does not say “Bless You.” Today when we do not hold Lehesev (to lay on our left side of the body), we can be lenient in this matter and speak in the middle of the Seuda. Also Talmidei Chachamim (Torah scholars/students) hold to speak during the Seuda, especially to say words of Torah and Halacha on the table. If one heard a Beracha while chewing or while about to swallow the food, he/she should only answer amen in their head (think it) rather than say amen out loud.

2. One should be cautious not to get his/her clothing dirty while eating. It is preferred to eat using a knife and a fork and not eat with two hands, rather only with one (when needed). Also one should not speed up the chewing process when eating and should pause between each chew. One should chew quietly. One should also avoid drinking two full glasses of a beverage one after the other and should not hold a large piece of bread that is disproportionate compared to the others guests/people at the meal. This should also be the behavior in one’s home even alone.

SHAVUA TOV!

Want to sponsor today’s Halachot for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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CLD #470

For the Refua Shlema of Mordechai ben Shoshana & for the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

There is always an endless amount to learn from the Torah HaKdosha. Packed with Mussar (characteristic trait refining rebuke) in the story of Yosef and revealing to his brothers’ his true identity to Yaakov coming down to Eretz Mitrzayim (Egypt) after 22 years of mourning his son’s ‘death.’

What is one tiny thing we can learn that we can use today from our Parasha, Parashat VaYigash?

Yosef HaTzadik reveals to his brothers’ after 22 years of non stop suffering and pain “Ani Yosef, Ha’Od Avi Chai…” (Bereshit 45:3). I am Yosef, is my father still alive? Yosef spun around his borthers figuratively for months, taking Shimon captive and then claiming all the brothers are spies. After that he sent all the brothers back home to force Binyamin to come down to Mitzrayim. Binyamin comes down and Yosef invites the entire group to his mansion (after claiming they’re spies) and then has them leave with gifts on full stomachs. On the way out of the land, Yosef makes up a scheme that Binyamin stole a Gold Goblet from Yosef’s mansion. Yehudah argues endlessly about Yosef’s cruelty and how if they do not bring back Binyamin to their father, Yaakov, they will cause him to die.

After this Yosef reveals himself and after 22 years of being hidden and enslaved and put in jail (which was a 30 foot underground pit), the first thing he asks is if his father is still alive. Yosef in fact is giving huge Mussar to his brothers. He tells them: “this whole time you all are worried about your father’s emotions and reaction if Binyamin does not come home (remember Yaakov thinks this is Rachel’s only son that is left and Yosef has died, so Binyamin not coming home is triple the pain for Yaakov). But what about 22 years ago when I was thrown into a pit and then sold as a slave?! Yehuda, do you remember that you were the one who instructed all this?! Why didn’t you care for Aba’s health and reaction when giving him my trenchcoat soaked in blood?!”

Yosef is telling the brothers here, and the Torah is telling us that one should always be searching in his past actions in a healthy manner to find where they can improve. And the Torah HaKdosha is telling us that one should always remember to do Teshuva (repentance) properly so they will be forgiven by Shamayim (the Heavens). No matter what the person has done, they should know Od Avi Chai, translated literally: still my father is alive. 

Our father is Hashem, no matter what low levels we have G-d forbid reached, no matter how badly we have distanced from Hashem, no matter how messed up of an education we have received that is completely anti-Torah values; we can always return to Hashem, He is always ‘alive’ and always listening to our Tefillot.

Everything Hashem does for us is for our own good.

Judaism=Think.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

Want to sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEHOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

For the Refua Shlema of Mordechai ben Shoshana & for the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef:

1. A drawer that has inside it things that are forbidden to carry on Shabbat like cash money, flour for baking, and the like cannot be opened on Shabbat, because the drawer is the holder/foundation for something that is forbidden. However, if the drawer has inside it more objects that are allowed to be carried on Shabbat than objects that are forbidden letaltel (carry) on Shabbat, then one is allowed to open this drawer on Shabbat Kodesh.

2. One’s allowed to carry an automatic hand watch on Shabbat Kodesh, and this is not considered as an object that is the foundation for something that is forbidden on Shabbat (Basis LeDavar Ha’Asur). However it is clear that one is forbidden to click the button on the watch to light up the screen to see the time in the middle of the night, because this is definitely forbidden according to the Torah.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

Want to sponsor today’s Halachot for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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CLD #469

For the Refua Shlema of Mordechai ben Shoshana & for the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Baruch Hashem, Eretz HaKodesh is amazing. Even the air feels more spiritual and clean! We had the zchut (privelige) to learn with Rav Darmoni shlit’a and one of the Shana Alef Yeshiva students (first year) brought up a beautiful Dvar Torah from the learning of Hilchot Shabbat (the Laws of Shabbat). We learned that if there is a semi-cooked pot of food on the Plata (Blech/Metal Plate on open fire), if someone lifts off the pot on Shabbat then they cannot put it back on the plata. Why? Because when one takes the pot off the plata and then puts it back on, it’s considered Melachat Bishul (cooking, which is forbidden on Shabbat). This is exactly like turning light on and off. The flow of fire heating up the semi-cooked food in the pot stops when lifting the pot off the plata, so therefore when one puts it back onto the plata, it is like they are ‘cooking’ again.

How can we connect this to our lives?

We know that we are brought into this world to reach shlemut, completion. We can say that we are like ‘semi-cooked’ food trying to reach completion by doing Mitzvot and following the Torah HaKdosha. Just like the pot of food on Shabbat, we all need to be continuing in the Bishul (cooking) itself. We need to be connected to a permanent link of fire to reach that cooking perfection. Our Neshama yells everyday that it wants to get closer to Hashem and dive into a world of Torah and Mitzvot (only)!

When we unplug ourselves from the Torah, from minyanim, from Tefillin in the morning, from wearing appropriate length skirts, etc., we are really cooling ourselves down and stopping ourselves from being in the direction to completion.

Its like re-routing ourselves off the GPS directions.

B’H we should realize it’s a big zchut to be given the Torah to live by, and it’s an even bigger zchut to have Hashem always there for us that we can simply close our eyes and ask for whatever we want. We contstatnly need to plug into Hashem Himself, and we can only accomplish that through consuming spiritually, that means to listen to Torah classes or simply read Tehillim. Any connection is good connection.

Judaism=Think.

Want to sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEHOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

For the Refua Shlema of Mordechai ben Shoshana & for the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef:

1. One is forbidden to drink and eat before Tefillat Shacharit (morning prayer service) however one can drink water before the Tefillah. One is allowed to drink coffee or tea with sugar before the Tefillah. This Halacha also stands on Shabbat.

2. One is forbidden to engage in business like matters before Tefillat Shacharit. Therefore, one cannot drive from city to city before Shacharit. In any case, one can drive from city to city for the means of Tefillah/minyan, for example: when one drives from his city to the Kotel (Western Wall) for minyan. In this case it is not considered as business-like matters.

Want to sponsor today’s Halachot for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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CLD #468

For the Refua Shlema of Mordechai ben Shoshana & for the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Being above nature is something that we take for granted.

We need to understand what the 8 days of Chanukah is. It is something that is just multiplied exponentially just because of the Miracle that happened over 3,000 years ago at this exact time. It is something that we overlook and just seem to forget. It is something that the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) wants us to REJECT and even PROTEST AGAINST! Hashem is always with us. It is as simple as that, but yet it is the most difficult and complicated fact and piece of truth that we tend to ignore.

Sadly, when one distances him/herself from this truth and from the way of the Torah, they seem to believe that they in fact are in control of the world, of their lives. We (me included) need to know that we are mere messengers of the plan of Am Yisrael. We are simple in the hands of Hashem at all times. Even if you are reading this from your mobile device on the LIRR or from your home computer or iPad by some Starbucks. We are all connected in the fact that we are HUGE pieces of Hashem’s puzzle in life.

In Chanukah, Am Yisrael was done. They were finished. There was no future for the Torah to really gain entry into people’s hearts to change and bring to the world more Kedusha (purity). The Greeks thought they succeeded.

With what began as a 13 person army, the Maccabim eliminated tens of thousands of Greek soldiers in a miracle. NO. THAT IS WRONG! It was not a miracle. It was Hashem.

If we believe in Hashem, we know everything He does is good for us. If we believe in Hashem we must believe that He can change anything! Unfortunately, we do not let ourselves surrender to Hashem’s power and let Him take control.

Hashem is in control. No matter what we do, where we go or what our plans are Hashem’s plans will always prevail.

What does He want in return? Nothing. He only wants whats best for us, which we are told by the Gemara and the Torah verses themselves that what’s best for us is a life of Torah.

B’H we will take Chanukah’s key ingredient into our heart’s and everyday’s actions and realize nothing is up to us and everything is in His hands. And not only to say it and say “that’s cute,” but to really act upon it.

I hope this Chanukah opened your eyes up to realize Hashem is in control, like it did in mine.

CHANUKAH SAMEACH!

Want to sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEHOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

LiRefuat Mordechai ben Shoshana & L’yilui Nishamt Avraham ben Ester.

From Yalkut Yosef:

1. Every day of the Eight Days of Chanukah in Tefillat Shacharit (morning prayer) one adds the Full Hallel (with Berachot at the beginning and end), whether they be praying individually or at Shul/in a minyan. The beginning Beracha is “Ligmor et Ha’Hallel” and the end Beracha is in Birkat Yehallelucha (in the end of Hallel prayer) and one says Amen after this Beracha (as written in the Siddurim).

2. One is not allowed to disrupt himself during Hallel with any kind of conversation. However, if one does hear his friend say a Beracha, they in fact need to answer “amen” and it is not considered a Hefsek (interruption/break) of the Hallel.

CHANUKAH SAMEACH!

Want these Halachot to be for the Ilui Nishmat (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Sponsor these Halachot today! Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the proper information! 

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YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE SMILES ON THEIR FACES!

B'H We have paid and delivered to the Yeshiva One Suit for each Yeshiva Bachur (Student)!
We have raised in total $3,200 BARUCH HASHEM and are still looking for sponsors to reach our goal of $4,400!

We also want to take this opportunity to thank all the sponsors for this CLD Fundraising Project (including the sponsor who donated 60 towels for the yeshiva students last week)!


We can also have the Yeshiva Students learn for the Refua Shlema/L'yilui Neshama of your loved one.

TIZKU LEMITZVOT & CHAZAQ U'BARUCH!

Chanukah Sameach & Chodesh Tov!

Judaism=Think.

Smile, cuz G-d loves you.

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CLD #467

For the Refua Shlema of Mordechai ben Shoshana & for the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Today is the Seventh day of Chanukah! Chag Sameach.

What does Seven represent in the Torah? Seven represents completion, perfection, shlemut. There are seven days of the week, seven continents, seven seas, seven weeks of the Omer, seven days for each Chag (Sukkot & Pesach), Seven is Shabbat, Seven is Malchut in Kabbalah which represents the son of David HaMelech (Mashiach), and on and on. What can we infer from this and how can we relate this to Chanukah?

In Masecher Berachot 8a the Gemara brings up the Pasuk from Tehillim 32:6, “Al Zot Yitpalel Kol Chassid Elecha Le’Et Metzo Rak LeShetef Mayim Rabim Elav Lo Yagi’u.” "For this let every pious man pray to you at the time that You are found, only about a flood of vast waters that should not reach him."

The Gemara brings many De’ot (opinions) on what one needs to pray for all his life. The first De’ah says Metzo in the Pasuk (verse) means a wife, because there is a Pasuk from Misheli that says “Matza Isha Matza Tov…” The one who finds a Women finds ‘good.’

That’s beautiful but what does this have to do with Chanukah?

We know from previous CLDs that women play a major rule in the Torah and Jewish History, their Kedusha is crucial for our lives. So where does the man come in? In order for this Kedusha to be embraced and spread throughout the world (causing Hashem’s name to spread throughout the world as well), a man and a woman need to get married.

This big question is what does one need to do to find a wife? What does he need to look for? The most important factor by far is Yirat Shamayim, Fear of Heaven. It is known that the woman is the Akeret Bayit (the foundation of the Home). Also in the Gemara the wife is named “Beta” (literal translation=home).

In Chanukah we see the power of Women, from Yehudit and the daughter of Yochanan the Cohen (who’s sons later became the Maccabim from the war of Chanukah).

We need to ask ourselves? What are we in this world for? Who do we want to live with for the rest of our lives to start a Mishpacha (family) and build a Bayit Ne’eman Le’Yisrael (A Home of Emunah for all of Israel)?

Do we look at Yehudit and the daughter of Yochanan the Cohen (look at previous CLDs for refernace) as examples or do we look at the celebrities and the actresses on TV and in movies in what we want from a women. And no, some from both never works out. If you believe it does then you are just living in a lie.

CHAG SAMEACH & CHODESH TOV!

Want to sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEHOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

For the Refua Shlema of Mordechai ben Shoshana & for the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef:

1. One needs to light the Chanukah Candles in its specific appropriate place, meaning either in the window, on the table in the kitchen, in the living room, etc. Because even though the actual lighting of the Candles is the Mitzvah of Chanukah candles, it is still needs a specific place where to light every night. However if one did already light the Menorah in a place where it is not appropriate to light (for example in one’s bedroom), they still do not need to move it to a specific lighting location.

2. If the Homeowner (the one who lights Chanukah Candles) is sick in bed and cannot get out of bed to light the Menorah, one should not bring the Chanukah Candles near his bed to light, rather the homeowner should appoint a ‘lighting messenger’ verbally to light in the appropriate place. Also the homeowner should not say the Berachot on the Candles and then the messenger light, rather the messenger says the Berachot and lights.

CHANUKAH SAMEACH & CHODESH TOV!

Want to sponsor today’s Halachot for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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CLD #466

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

It all began with Mesirut Nefesh (giving up one’s life for Hashem/putting one’s life at risk for Hashem). The brave daughter of Yochanan put her life at risk, and that is what began the entire Rebellion of the Maccabim agains the Greeks.

How does the story break down? As said in previous Halachot/CLDs, the Greeks made an evil decree that each virgin bride (pure Bat Yisrael) would have to be escorted to a Greek minister after the Chupa and then returned to her Chatan hours later. Hashem yaazor!

Imagine your sister, your cousin or your aunt is at her wedding and all of a sudden U.S. National Guards walk in and say they must take away the bride for a couple of hours to ‘dwell’ in the city’s counsel leader’s home and then she will be returned. How devastated would the entire Jewish community be?! Take it a step further. How would you feel if on YOUR wedding night you would be raped by some government official?! 

This is exactly what happened in the time of Chanukah! But what was different about Yochanan’s daughter? On her wedding night she tore off her dress and her beautiful Kalah garments and once in a lifetime accessories. She stood completely nude in front of the entire Kahal (audience/wedding guests) and yelled at her brothers: Are you embarrassed by my actions now?! Why aren’t you embarrassed WHEN IN 30 MINUTES THEY WILL COME TO TAKE ME AND RAPE ME?! (Intense, right?!) The brothers wanted to kill the sister for completely ruining the family name and causing all of them to sin by looking at her. 

Instead the brothers got a shock of purity in their hearts and realized they need to act quickly. They formed a group of brave men in the name of Hashem to fight off the Greeks. These brothers later came to be known Matityahu the Cohen and the Maccabim (Hashmonaim)! This story for the Midrash is the foundation of Chanukah. Besides for the Mesirut Nefesh Yochanan’s daughter showed Am Yisrael, she also shows us how the foundation of the Jewish people is the Kedusha (purity) and where we let our sisters, daughters, and cousins go.

The Geula (redemption & Mashiach) rests in Bnot Yisrael’s hands (the women of Israel). What are you doing about it?

Judaism=Think.

CHANUKAH SAMEACH & CHODESH TOV!

Want to sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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VIDEO OF THE WEEK!

CHANUKAH SAMEACH!

Shiur by Rav Yoshiyahu Pinto shlit'a: Channukah 5772!

Enjoy. (In Hebrew).

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PIC OF THE WEEK!

A Child's innocence is priceless. Children are free from sin, they are the ultimate pathways to truth because their minds and hearts are clean. Only when we work on ourselves to reach a direction of cleansing ourselves from impurity is when we can really feel the presence of Hashem everywhere we go.

CHANUKAH SAMEACH!

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEHOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef:

1. There is a De’ah (opinion) that says one who lights candles in a place where there is wind all the time fulfills the obligation of lighting Chanukah Candles. However, according to Rav Ovadya Yosef shlit’a (who is backed up by many Achronim), whoever lights Chanukah candles in a place where they know the candles will blow out, they must re-light the candles because thy have not fulfilled the obligation of lighting Chanukah candles.

2. If during the time of lighting Chanukah candles there wasn’t enough oil/wax to light the candles for the appropriate time (a full 30 minutes after Nightfall), even if during the 30 minutes the person who lit fills up the oil holder/wax placement to add more time to the actual lighting, this person did not fulfill the Mitzvah of Nerot Chanukah. The act of lighting the Chanukah candles is the act of doing the Mitzvah, therefore at the time of lighting the candles everything must be like Halacha.

SHAVUA TOV & CHANUKAH SAMEACH!

Want to sponsor today’s Halachot for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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CLD #465

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester & the Refua Shlema of Mordechai Tzvi ben Sara.

We are officially more than halfway through Chanukah. We have lit the Menorah FIVE TIMES! Have we taken anything from Chanukah yet to really make our lives better than a week ago? The difference between the Greeks and the Jews was TRUTH.

A Jew goes in the way of Yaakov Avinu, he/she lives life by following the Truth. This means to go against the emotions and feelings and do what is according to the Torah, according to the Truth and not what our heart tells us. 

We say “Lo Taturu Acharei Levavchem Ve’Acharei Enechem” Do not stray after your hearts and after your eyes. Our hearts tell us “It’s okay to kiss my aunt and cousin because I knew them forever. What’s the problem?! It’s only a kiss.” But the Torah says otherwise. It does hurt once or maybe twice, but in the end your family will understand. Kedusha of Am Yisrael is the NUMBER ONE priority for us to continue being strong and united.

Another example is how women dress. The Greeks thought that a woman’s respect is to show her skin and publicly run around and act like animals. However, we need to understand that a woman’s respect is the modesty, is the Kedusha that she holds when she does NOT reveal herself. It is also naturally more attractive to have a woman who is more modest because then she is cleaner of sin and dramatic situations.

A woman is not a toy or an object to use to fill up man’s desire. She is the reason of the Spiritual and literal freedom out of Mitzrayim’s Tumah (Egypt’s impurity) 3,300 years ago and the Holy Women in our generation is the reason for the MASHIACH BB’A! The Greeks and the Jews have a tiny difference: the Greek would rant and rave about what he/she is doing is 100% correct and true even according to the Torah! However, when looking deeply, we can find the falsity behind the Greek’s actions, because in the end it is filled with Tumah.

Just like having a Menorah and a tree next to one another. We do not mix with the non-Jews. We are here to be examples of purity and true happiness in the world. This means to be higher in spirituality by doing what Hashem tells us, and not what our brains and hearts tell us.

B’H we should PUT EFFORT in doing the Torah and rely on Hashem’s help to succeed in everything we do.

Judaism=Think.

SHAVUA TOV!

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEHOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

L’yilui Nishamt Avraham ben Ester.

Translated From Yalkut Yosef:

1. There are those who have the minhag (custom) to greaten the intake of dairy foods on Chanukah due to the Nes (miracle) with Yehudit and Nikanor (evil greek general). Yehudit fed Nikanor cheese to have him be thirsty. Then she gave him wine until he dozed off. She then sliced off his head! His entire army saw that he died so in a frenzy they fled in retreat for their lives. To remember this Nes, we eat dairy foods.

2. During Chanukah we have the minhag to eat foods with oil, such as Sufganiyot and Latkes, in order to remember he Nes with the Pach Shemen (jar of oil) in the Beit HaMikdash. Therefore, we eat a reasonable amount of oily foods all Leshem Shamayim (in the name of Hashem, meaning in respect and in the right context).

SHAVUA TOV & CHAG SAMEACH!

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CLD #464

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

Baruch Hashem, its Shabbat Chanukah with a remarkable Parasha, Parashat Miketz!

This Parasha includes the famous interpretation of Pharoah’s dreams. Yosef HaTzadik was stuck in a pit (or known as ‘jail’ 3,500 years ago, imagine the conditions) for 12 years. In a matter of hours Yosef went from being in a 30 feet underground pit to wearing Royal clothing!

Why did Yosef do to have such a zchut (privilege) to come out of the pit after being enslaved by his own brothers so quickly? What is going on here? In the entire story, from the slavery up until the interpretation of the dreams, Yosef ALWAYS brings up Hashem in his life (which affects everyone else). If you look at the Psukim thoroughly you see Yosef says over and over “Not I, G-d will give an answer…” “what G-d is doing He (G-d) has told Pharoah…” “…what He has shown Pharoah” (Bereshit 41:25, 28, 32). Yosef is always bringing into his life and the lives of the people around him the RECOGNITION of HASHEM and HASHEM’s Control of this world!

We need to know that we are each special Chanukah candles to light up the world and show everyone that Hashem is the one controlling the world. And then at the right time, whether it be 22+ years (like in Yosef HaTzadik’s case) or after 6 months (like with some seminary girls who go to Israel for a semester), The person will see people changing. Just like Yosef, which after the entire story of the slavery, traveling, imprisonment, the pit, Potiphar’s wife, having a father weeping and moruning in another country, having brothers who hate you, and on and on at the end of the interpretations Pharoah said: “Since G-d has let you know all this, there is no one understanding…” (Bereshit 41:39).

Only with real faith in Hashem can someone succeed in being on the right path and INFLUENCING OTHERS. We also need to know that we were all at Har Sinai when Hashem gave the Torah to Moshe Rabbenu. This means we have the power of the Torah HaKdosha in our bones, our skin and our blood. Start influencing others and boosting that power with this Shabbat: to sing Zmirot Shabbat on the table and enjoy Oneg Shabbat Kodesh while viewing the glowing Chanukah candles!

Judaism=Think.

Only with the help of Hashem we should all experience a real SHABBAT SHALOM & CHAG SAMEACH!

Want to sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one? Click the Donate Button on the Right Sidebar and BH e-mail us (CLDFundraising@gmail.com) with the name(s)! All monies go to the current CLD Fundraising Project. 

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