For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L &
Yissachar ben Yona Z’L.
Love is something that is indescribable, however we can look
at events that occur between two loved ones to maybe explain how the two show
the love that makes them really a single entity. Hashem and Am Yisrael,
literally us individuals, are similar to a Khatan
and Kalah (Bride and Groom). A bride
and groom, especially during the moments of the engagement, the Huppah (wedding
ceremony), the Shevah Berakhot (7 days of celebration after the Huppah) are at
their peak of love.
What do us Jews do? We bring Hashem into the picture, we
dance and sing for the Mitzvah of Lesameakh
Khatana ve Kalah and we say Divrei Torah and eat with the proper berakhot
(blessings), etc. We make sure Hashem is in the picture. Sukkot is different in
the fact that Hashem is the Sukkah, Hashem is the Zeman Simhatenu (which we are commanded to be in special happiness
of this ‘time of happiness’). But the question is: how do we see this
everlasting love between us and Hashem.
Everyday of the year we are obligated to remember different
Mitzvot, like one of the Rambam’s 13 foundation principles we must remember
which is to remind ourselves we cannot accomplish anything without Hashem, or
in Shema Yisrael where we say to love Hashem with all our heart and soul and
wallet and on and on. In reality, we show this love for Hashem throughout the
year. So WHY IS SUKKOT SO SPECIAL?!
The answer is beautiful and it is said by the Rav of the Old
City of Yerushalayim, Rav Avigdor Neventzhal shlit’a (may he reach 120 and stay
healthy BH). Rav Neventzhal says like this: the days of Hodesh Elul (the month
of Elul) is the shidduch (dates)
between Hashem and us. We get to know Hashem, Hashem gets to know Am Yisrael.
We recite Hashem’s characteristics: He is merciful, He is ever forgiving, He
loves us, He provides for us, and on and. Then Rosh HaShanah is the meeting
between the two families: we exchange all the tenaim (gifts/conditions) for the marriage. Yom Kippur is the
actual wedding between us and Hashem, a covenant that will last forever. And
SUKKOT IS THE SHEVAH BERACHOT >>> The time where we celebrate because
of the Huppah.
What is real love? It cannot be explained. But it can be expressed through us
sitting in the Sukkah, reminding ourselves that Hashem wants to wrap us inside
His home. He wants us to know we are loved. He wants us to get closer to Him.
He wants us to be happy because the Sukkah is a place of protection. Its
actually funny because during Sukkot it gets colder and people warm up in their
homes with fireplaces but we go into the Sukkah OUTSIDE IN THE COLD and SLEEP
THERE OVERNIGHT! Why? Because we state: Hashem is the one warming me up, Hashem
is the one protecting me! On a spiritual level, Sukkot is a time of Emunah and
Bitachon (belief and trsut in Hashem) and on a bodily level it is a time of
dancing an jumping and singing and sweating in the name of Hashem. When we join
the two, we reach the ultimate peak of Happiness, aka Simhat Torah!
theCLD wishes you a Hag filled with eternal spiritual light
of happiness and real love or Torah and Mitzvot. Tip: If you are having trouble
feeling it, pray to Hashem that you feel it. Even if you don’t want to feel it,
pray to Hashem for you to want to want to feel it.
Hag Sameah!
Judaism=Think.
Sponsor theCLD for the Ilui Neshama (memory of) or
Refua Shlema (the speedy recovery) of your loved one! Click the Donate Button
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We have to
look at the ‘fruits’ or ‘offspring’ of our actions. For example, the only way
you know if you did well after an hour of studying is by taking a test. If you
are not tested, you do not know if the studying was worthwhile. Therefore, we
look at the number of pesukim (verses) Ha;azinu has. It has exactly 52, which
is the gematriya (numerical value) of ben (son). The way you know if you
spiritually succeeded or not is based on the fruit, the son, of your actions of
your life. 
From the pasuk in our Parasha we see that directly. “Ki Goi Oved Etzot Hemah Ve’En Bahem Tevuna.
Lu Hachmu Yaskilu Zot Yavinu Le’Aharitam (Devarim 32: 28-29).” Ki Goi Oved
Etzot Hemah”: when the Yetzer Hara brings into our mind to do awful actions and
pushes us to believe its GOOD DEEDS and “En Bahem Tevuna”: there is no
spiritual background to these actions, “Lu Hachmu Yaskilu Zot”: how can I
figure out if its for the good or the opposite? “Yavinu Aharitam”: after
you did whatever action then you will see if its good or bad! It’s a couple of
hours before Shabbat, what did we do last Shabbat, last Friday night, last
Saturday morning, last Saturday afternoon, last Saturday night? Did we feel
satisfaction from it? Did we feel full benefit from it? Was it only bodily
satisfaction or satisfaction for the soul? Or both?
We are all diamonds, literally we come from the most
expensive jewelry locations in the world (the Heavens) and we are directly
connected to Hashem because our body’s engine is the Neshama (soul). The
Neshama is part of Hashem and it was given to our body for basic survival. When
doing a sin we literally scratch and dirty the diamond we got from Hashem. But
what just happened? We went through all of Hodesh Elul, Rosh HaShanah, Aseret
Yemei Teshuva and Yom Kippur. We were in 40 days of laundry service for our
Neshama, our diamond. Its mavreek
(clean in Hebrew). We took it to the best of the best diamond cleaner specialists.
Now what do all the robbers in the area want to do? They
want to steal this diamond. All the specialists did all the work for them to
make it brand new so it can be placed on the market. They just need to come and
steal it. This is why after Yom Kippur we have Sukkot. Now we are in a
vulnerable state of being attacked by all sorts of impure desires and wants
that the yetzer hara (evil
inclination) wants us to do and become impure. The goal is to be extra cautious
and get away from them.
Back to the Vidui, the basis of all of Yom Kippur! The Holy
Ben Ish Hai asks a questions: Why do we go through all types of different words
explaining different forms of sinning in Vidui, because the vidui prayer is in
alphabetical order??? Simply just say: Hashem I sinned, forgive me for all my
sins! Please, Hashem, you know I am made of dust just like Adam HaRishon with
the Etz HaDa’at! It was a mistake. Have mercy on us!!! But no, we say 24+ words
explaining our sins in detail by the alphabet. And the answer is because we are
showing Hashem we actually THOUGHT ABOUT OUR SINS. We sat down and with all our
hearts pondered about what mistakes we did this past year and what we need to
change.
For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L &
Yissachar ben Yona Z’L.
For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L &
Yissachar ben Yona Z’L.
What are you talking about? It’s a simple filter and just
cartons of grapes combined. That’s the whole beauty of it. If one takes all the
spiritual ‘fruits’ he/she has created throughout the entire year, obviously
fine juices will come out of them, unless the fruits are not so fine. Every
action or in Hebrew, ma’aseh, we do
is considered either a ma’aseh tov or
ma’aseh rah (good or bad). 
Let’s take at least 5 minutes of our next forty-eight hours
and think a little about the major events this past year and about what we can ask
for forgiveness from Hashem. Only this action alone awakens Rahamim (mercy) on us from Shamayim (the
Heavens). Why? Because Hashem sees we are at
least trying to get close to Him! G-d willing these small acts of Teshuva
will shake up the spiritual realms so we will be signed into the Book of Life
and all Good.