The Torah's endless preaching about the terrible act of gossping is something that is LOGICAL. You don't have to be a Torah scholar to know that Hashem HATES when we gossip about each other.
Let's push to stop the trash talking together!
Monday, December 31, 2012
CLD #774
Tonight there is a serious yetzer (inclination) to go out clubbing, to go out to all the parties, to chase after the places filled with celebration for the new gregorian year. However, instead of explaining the wrongdoings behind those parties and events, it is rather more important and attractive to delve into the depth behind the concept of ‘completing’ the year.
What is the difference between Jews and non-Jews in regards
to finishing the year? We celebrate (Rosh HaShanah) by having a feast with the entire family,
singing songs, praying from the depths of our hearts so the next year will be
spiritually, physically and financially successful, we tend to ponder about our
actions from the past to change our ways for the future, etc.
The question is why do we do what we do and why do most
non-Jews do what they do for their new year? The non Jewish people celebrate
that they ended another year. Maybe they think about their past year to improve
their future or maybe they do not, but the point is that Jews aim to excel in
their middot (characteristics) and improve their actions between man and their
actions between themselves and G-d for the upcoming year. Some of the important values that the
American people care about (from Consumer Behavior class at Baruch College) are
efficiency, athleticism, weight loss, health and wealth. Where in these values
is there room for caring about another individual or people outside the
immediate family?
The point is that the Jewish people are always aiming at
using their time for the best things. We try to appreciate time, we try to
appreciate every day of our lives, we see a year as 365 opportunities to excel,
prosper and progress. Judaism is about taking the best of life to glue
ourselves to Hashem, not to the physical desires of the world.
Is tonight just another night or is tonight a night to
celebrate a non Jewish holiday?
Judaism=Think.
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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA
Translated from Shulhan Aruch:
1. It is forbidden to be alone with a woman, whether young
or old, because this action leads to forbideen relations, except for a son
being alone with his mother and a father with his daughter and a father with
his wife who is in Niddah.
2. When Amnon raped
Tamar (in the Navi), David HaMelech
and his High Court ruled that being alone with a single woman is forbidden even
though there is no prohibition from the essence of Halacha (the Law). Shamai and Hillel ruled that being alone with a non Jewish woman is forbidden
generations later. Therefore, it is forbidden to be alone with any woman,
whether she is married or single, Jewish or non Jewish.
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Sunday, December 30, 2012
CLD #773
Today we live in a society that it not so easy to live the
prominent religious life of following Torah and Mitzvot and being surrounded by
people who are constantly aiming at making Hashem happy. We tend to look at
people whoa re living secular lfiestyles, who have no ‘burden’ of waking up
early without an alarm to run to Shul, they have no weigh down of paying off
bills to Jewish schools, they are people living without any Shabbat meals
expense and Mitzvot expenses (for example just paying for a single Sukkah in
America costs hundreds of dollars), etc. It is very easy to complain and give
examples in this regard.
The Orhot Tzadikkim brings down the mindset WE SHOULD
IMPLANT IN OUR HEADS every time we see a person who unfortunately does not
follow Torah and Mitzvot and is incredibly happy doing the things that are
forbidden to do (for example driving to the beach on Shabbat or enjoying an ‘extravagant’
night of clubbing). The Orchot Tzadikkim booms: ONE SHOULD BE HAPPY FOR WICKED
PEOPLE’S HAPPY MOMENTS! Why? Because if Hashem does Hessed (kindness) with the wicked by giving them a sense of
happiness (even though its not permanent happiness and lacks depth of true joy)
from doing forbidden things, how much more so will Hashem make the Tzadikkim
(righteous) happy for doing things that we are told to do by the holy Torah?!
If one sees Mitzvot as a GIFT and not a burden, Has VeShalom
(G-d forbid), then obviously the
individual will turn around and join those running to the clubs and beaches!
The true Jewish thinking process is delving into the reality behind our
actions. What does going to the beach do for me on Shabbat? What does going to
Shul mean to me? What does being surrounded by my entire family around a
glorious Shabbat feast mean to me?! When one fills their thought processes with
happiness for the Mitzvot, obviously Hashem will add to that happiness to strike
our hearts with love and joy forever!
May we always aim to practice Judaism with LOVE and
happiness, because if we put our heads down all day and say “I am only doing
this to avoid Hell,” we will never feel what real Judaism is all about.
Judaism=Think.
If G-d commanded me
to do it and He created me, OBVIOUSLY its for my benefit!
KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA
Translated from Yalkut Yosef:
1. An individual who wants to drink water in the
shower/while bathing is forbidden to think the beracha (blessing) in their mind
and drink because it is forbidden to think of holy matters in a room for
bathing. In the room where people undress to enter the showers (where people
are dressing and undressing), one is also forbidden to think of the beracha for
the beverage because thinking the beracha does not mean they fulfilled their
obligation to bless on the beverage and it does not count as saying the beracha
out loud (even though in this room one is allowed to think Torah learning). One
should simply wait until they dress to bless on the drink outside the dressing
room. There are those who are lenient and say one should simply bless on the
water outside the dressing room and have in mind the beracha to hold for
drinking while entering/being in the dressing room.
2. One who enters to shower in a bathtub or shower needs to
do Netilat Yadayim after finishing their shower. However, the Netilat Yadayim
(washing of hands) only needs to be a washing of each hand once, unlike washing
for bread or after one awakens. One can also fulfill the obligation of washing
their hands after showering by running each hand under the sink, meaning even
without a washing cup because this washing is just to wash off an evil spirit.
This also stands for someone who dipped in the Mikveh. An individual who just
enters a shower room to grab something, according to the essence of the law,
does not have to do Netilat Yadayim
and if he/she does, they should be praised. One who enters a room with a
bathtub does not have to wash their hands as well. However, an individual that
enters a room with a toilet (even if the room has a shower/bathrub in it), they
must do Netilat Yadayim.
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Saturday, December 29, 2012
CLD #772
This Devar Torah is heavily based on words from Rav Darmoni
shlit’a.
Shemot is the time of the exile from Egypt and with the completion of Sefer Bereshit (the first book of Torah) we are officially entering into a mindset of becoming a single nation and getting ready to leave Mitzrayim (Egypt). During the entire time
of the exile and the years in Mitzrayim, Am
Yisrael was determined in keeping modesty a top priority, or in Hebrew: having Tzeniyut. Tonight also marks the first night of Shovavim, or the time period of the first six Parshiyot (Torah portions) of the second Sefer of Torah, Shemot. Shovavim is an acronym of the first six letters of the six Parshiyot in Shemot and therefore it lasts for exactly six weeks.
Shovavim is all about Modesty and Shemirat HaBerit (staying holy in regards to one's reproductive organs). People incorrectly think that modesty is only
about what we wear. This mistake is made often. In reality, tzeniyut is in clothing,
speech, the way one walks, the way one stands, how much attention an individual needs, it pertains when someone is alone with Hashem, when someone is in public, the way one uses their facial expressions, etc.
Tzeniyut and Anava (the characteristic of being modest) are directly connected and from this we can understand at a certain level that an individual who is not a modest speaker or one who walks modestly holds the poor attribute of Ga'ava, or self pride.
Modesty is like a crown. If an individual looks at a crown it sees that the crown has many parts to it, with each part having room for a certain number of diamonds. When an individual focuses on all the parts of mdoesty (as stated abve such as speech, walk, stance, etc) its like they hold a crown filled with diamonds. Our goal as Jews who are the vessels of kedusha (purity) for Hashem in this world is to work on our individual crowns and fill it up with diamonds of modesty.
However, the trick is to always progress and BE HAPPY even with the smallest step. Even though it is tough to be completely modest in all categories that relate
to modesty, taking upon oneself modesty in a single category is greatly looked
upon by Shamayim (the Heavens), such as for now working on having modest speech. In Judaism we take everything step by step to
reach a complete life of spirituality and connection with Hashem. Be'ezrat Hashem may we all be put on the right path of that spiritual success!
Shavua Tov!
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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA
Translated from Yalkut Yosef Online (Yalkut.Info):
Due to tonight marking
the first night of Shovavim, we are posting Halachot regarding modesty:
1. We learn in Masechet (Pirkei) Avot: Yehuda Ben Tema Says:
One should be courageous like a Cheetah, as light as an Eagle, as quick as a
deer, and a hero like a lion in order to fulfill the will of Our Father in
Shamayim. We learn from this four things regarding Avodat Hashem: Courageous
like a Cheetah=When a person does a Mitzvah he/she should never be embarrassed
from those abusing him/her, As light as an Eagle=Be quick to close your eyes
from wickedness (because the sight of wicked things/people is the first step
towards a sin), As quick as a deer=to make oneself accustomed to running to
good things/places, a Hero like a Lion=to overcome the Yetzer Hara. Therefore
one should overcome his urge to sleep by waking up to do Avodat Hashem and not
be late for Zman Tefillah and Kriyat Shma.
2. One should make his nature accustomed to always running
to Dvar Mitzvah (things related to Mitzvot/Mitzvot). There are those who sleep
late and slack off in their homes and then seem like they are practicing the
Midah of Zrizut (quickness for Torah which is a great thing) by running to Shul
to make the Zman for Tefillah, and people should know this is NOT Zrizut. And
forever man should be quick to make Zman Tefillah and in general quick for the
Torah and should not be attracted to sleep and general luxuries. One should not
feed their Yetzer because of his wealth and property, because all is passed on
and lost, and the Torah has a reward that stands forever.
Shavua Tov!
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Thursday, December 27, 2012
CLD #771
The beracha (blessing) that Yaakov gives Yehuda (Bereshit 49:11), or the Shevet of the Mashiah, the Messiah is explained through the word gefen, or grapevine. It is known that Hazal use the grapevine to represent Am Yisrael. Why the grape? Because grapes is a fruit that cannot be grafted with other fruits. Am Yisrael is also a nation that, when sticking to the Torah and the way of Hashem, it cannot be grafted and breached by impurity.
Am Yisrael is a nation that loves itself, Am Yisrael is a nation that promotes Torah learning and progress and Am Yisrael is a nation that promotes reproducing a fresh generation of Jews that want to SERVE HASHEM!
It is known that Be’ezrat Hashem we are beginning the Six Week Span of Shovavim on Motzei Shabbat, which is the time that we read the Parshiyot (Torah portions) that contain the assembly of the Jews in Mitzrayim to create the Jewish nation! This is also a time to work on the madrega of yesod, the level of ‘foundation,’ which is represented by Ysoef HaTzadik in the Zohar.
This level pertains to all the forms of kedusha, purity. As Rav Bina shlit’a said tonight in Yerushalayim: if a Jewish individual does not believe that before living a life of Torah a Jew must live a life of kedusha (meaning shemirat ha’berit, watching over one’s actions to avoid any sexual immorality including ejaculation), then this person is not Jewish.
Be’ezrat Hashem may we receive strength to stay pure and happy in the direction of Torah and Mitzvot. Maybe we can continue by attempting to keep Shabbat?
Shabbat Shalom!
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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA
Translated from Yalkut Yosef:
1. It is forbidden to shine one’s shoes on Shabbat and it is
also forbidden to instruct a non-Jew to shine one’s shoes. However, if a non
Jew did the act without the instruction of a Jew on Shabbat, the Jew is allowed
to wear the shoes.
2. It is allowed to brush off the dust on one’s shoes on
Shabbat. It is also allowed to pass over a dry
cloth on furniture to take out the dust on the furniture, however; if there it
takes much effort one should avoid doing so on Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom!
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CLD #770
Yesterday’s CLD:
The word Mitzvah,
or commandment in Hebrew, comes from the action called Letzavot, or to gather/bring together. If someone takes a look at
the Halachot we have on a daily basis, which includes Birkat HaMazon, Tefillah,
Tzedakah, Hessed opportunities, etc. they can see that all these Mitzvot have
something to do with more than a single individual.
The entire point of Judaism, as seen from the teachings of
the great Tanna (Sage) Hillel and
Rabi Akiva, is to accomplish the Mitzvah in VaYikrah: Ve’Ahavta Lera’acha Kamocha, Love
your Fellow as you Love yourself. The point of Mitzvot is to remember
Hashem and His kingship upon us as well as to remember that there are other
people living in this world and there are others that we need to put in front
of ourselves. Caring for others is fundamental in our lives and the act to do
Hessed (charity/kindness among people) should be in our instinct.
Be’ezrat Hashem may we begin to realize that being Jewish
and having the DIRECT connection with Hashem by having Neshamot (souls) is a
privilege! May we also have the strength to regulate our HEARTS into our
actions and have Hashem’s will in our reasoning for our actions.
Judaism=Think.
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Wednesday, December 26, 2012
KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE’HOO BEN HA’OLAM HABA
From Yalkut Yosef:
1. In a case where a father or mother converted to another religion, the children are exempt from respecting them, either when they are alive or when they passed on to the next world. In any case, the children should NOT belittle them, curse them or hurt them.
2. A child who has an older brother/sister who is a rasha
(wicked) and is a ba’al averot (lives with many sins) does not have to
respect him/her.
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Tuesday, December 25, 2012
CLD #769
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In
Masechet Terumot in mishnayot, the mishnah explains a law regarding Terumah.
Terumah is the portion or percentage an individual takes from their produce
that they must give to the Kohen (priest tribe) according to the Torah. Our
Hachamim taught that it is 2% of the entire produce. There are certain
restrictions regarding the consumption of this 2%, or Terumah.
For
example, if an individual who is not a Kohen benefits in anyway (including
eating) from the Terumah, they are liable the punishment of karet (which
is a form of cutting off the individual from the Jewish nation). Therefore, if
an amount of Terumah is mixed with regular food, there are cases where the food
is also considered forbidden to certain individuals who are not allowed to
benefit from Terumah (mostly people who are not Kohanim).
The
Mishnah in Terumot 10:7 explains that if olives that were placed aside as
Terumah and put in brine with olives that aren’t terumah (called hulin), sometimes the entire can is forbidden to non-Kohanim (zarim).
The olives are forbidden to everyone only if the Terumah olives were crushed
and the Hulin olives were whole. The commentator on the Mishnah, Rav Ovadia
MeBartenura, explains that the whole olives which are Hulin ARE STILL ALLOWED
even if they are mixed with Terumah only because they are whole!
What
does this teach us? Besides for the human nature and will to be whole and
complete with ourselves and at a point of serenity and happiness, we are only truly
successful when we reach a point of wholeness. How do we reach this wholeness?
Only through the power of following Torah and Mitzvot, as David HaMelech wrote
in the worldwide famous Tehillim The law of Hashem is perefect, restoring
the soul; the testimony of Hashem is faithful, making the simple one wise
(Tehillim 19:8), translation: chabad.org.
Another wonder from this Mishnah is
the fact that whenever we are in a state of being forced to mix with others, we
can always stick to our Jewish roots by holding onto this wholeness, because
when you are at a balanced state of mind from the power of the Torah only
success will befall you! When you are honest with yourself to say “I believe in
Hashem, I believe in the Torah,” you become untouchable.
Judaism=Think.
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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE’HOO BEN HA’OLAM HABA
From Yalkut Yosef:
1. The Mitzvah of Kibbud Av Ve’Em (respecting one’s parents) is also applicable when one’s parents are strict, troubling or causing distress for their children, specifically when they get older. Even if parents are cursing their children or they are difficult people with horrible middot (characteristic traits) the law stands. If the children are justified by everyone and correct in a situation with their parents, they still must continue to fear and respect their parents and are forbidden to embarrass or belittle their parents. In any case, if the parents have horrible middot where it is unbearable and others agree, or the father is a drunk, an angry person then a child may ignore and avoid their parents even if it belittles their respect.
2. A father and son who are in a fight and angry with each other
should stay away from each other due to their angry. The best alternative is to
have both parties live away from each other.
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CLD #768
In Masechet Moed Kattan 7a, the Mishnah brings down an important concept that connects to the fundamentals of Judaism. The Mishnah teaches that if we are in the middle of the seven days of holiday (either Pesah or Sukkot) and an individual is in doubt whether he/she has tzara'at (skin impurity) we do not send the individual to the Kohen (priest). According to the our Holy Torah, the Kohen is the only person that can point to the individual with the impure blemish on his/her skin and decide whether they have this tzara'at. Another fact: once the Kohen sees the individual's blemish he must tell him/her if they are pure or impure.The Mishnah explains, according to two different opinions, the best way to AVOID getting the person who is in doubt whether they have the blemish upset! What do we learn from this? A minimum of two major fundamentals: 1) we always should stay in the direction being happy and positive and 2) being alone is actually a punishment from Hashem and we should strive to find our zivug (soulmate)! The first one is obvious because the Mishnah teaches that we do everything in the power of the Torah to avoid the Kohen to tell the individual that they are impure.
The second reason comes from the outcome. If a Kohen does tell the person they are impure, they must go outside of the camp of Israel and sit alone in a place away from everyone. This is a punishment due to slander and gossip one speaks about, because the gossip causes Hashem to create this blemish on their skin which leads to their excommunication for seven days, etc. We see from this the punishment of being alone. We all should strive to find our spouses and live a life of Torah, because this is the ultimate blessing! AND DON'T WORRY, YOU PUT THE EFFORT TO FIND YOUR SHIDDUCH AND HASHEM WILL DO THE REST!Be'ezrat Hashem tonight is the non-Jewish holiday that they look forward to year round and the night we tend to separate ourselves from their holidays and customs! May we always be PROUD OF OUR JUDAISM!
Smile, cuz Hashem loves you.
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Monday, December 24, 2012
KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE’HOO BEN HA’OLAM HABA
From Yalkut Yosef:
1. An individual
must stand for his/her parents once seeing them from any location, meaning from
a distance of 420 feet. One needs to stand fully with a stretched back. One may
not sit down until they see their parent sit in their place or just stand in
their place, until they disappear from their eyes, or until they enter another
domain.
2. Once a
son/daughter is standing for his/her parent, the child may not lean on the wall
or a shtender (piece of wood Torah
Scholars learn on), because when leaning it is not as if the individual is
standing. However, one may lean on something where if they do not have it as
support they will not fall. Anyhow, one should simply stand fully erected
without any support for their parents. If a Talmid Hacham passes (where one
needs to stand for them), they are allowed to lean on something, so long as
they are standing to respect the Torah [them].
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