CLD #254

According to our Mesora (tradition), we have Torah SheBeAlPe and Torah SheBeChtav (the Written Torah and the Oral Torah). How do we know, without the Torah itself that we need to live the Torah and learn both types? How many hours do we have in a day? 24. How many books make up the Torah SheBeChtav (Tanach)? 24. How many minutes do we have in an hour? 60. How many Masechtot make up the entire Shisha Sidrei Mishnah (Mishnayot)? 60. 


What do we do with our time?


Shavua Tov!


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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA

1. From the 2nd night of Pesach we start counting for Sefirat HaOmer after Arvit. The Bracha of Sefirat HaOmer should be said standing and the day counted after the bracha. For ex. Day 1: Today is day one.  at Day 8: Today is day 8, one week and one day, etc.


2. Whoever asks a friend during Ben HaShmashot (Between sunset and tzet hakochavim, which is right in between 2 days) what day is it for the Bracha of Sefirat HaOmer, he should answer: Yesterday was x, because if he would answer today is y then the person cannot count with a bracha.


Shavua Tov!


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CLD #253

It always comes down to a couple of minutes. With what? With EVERYTHING, especially with religious/spiritual events between good and bad. From tefillah to mikveh to running away from the Tuma (impurity) and the urge to do things that we are not supposed to do. Whenever we are in moments that are "make it or break it," it always comes down to a tiny decision that becomes the biggest deal (and that is because of the Yetzer hara). For example, we want to make a minyan at a gate of JFK, and with tefillot to Hashem and general help from everyone trying to persuade people to get in, there is always a decision made that either makes the minyan or breaks it, even if its by one person. One time in Costa Rica, we had 8 people ready for a minyan and because a couple people did not believe that it was going to happen, it did not happen. Even in business, if you are trying to start a business, it always comes down to a couple minutes of your time to avoid being lazy and then the success comes quickly after. 
And this all connects to how much faith/bitachon/emunah we have in Hashem to help us succeed. The Garden of Emunah book really helps seeing how one should view the world. It says that no matter what situation, if we believe G-d can do EVERYTHING and ANYTHING NO MATTER WHAT, then he really could do everything and anything no matter what. Its as simple as that. Therefore, if we really believe in this, then when praying and BELIEVING that your prayer has influential force BEYOND NATURE, then it will come true. But only with 100% belief.

B'H next time when we are in a position where its a nisayon telling us to choose nature over Torah/mitzvot/something spiritual, we will choose something spiritual, because how can Hashem not help someone who (WITH ALL HIS HEART AND MIGHT) really believes in him AND chooses the good?


SHABAT SHALOM!


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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA

1. One only does Shabat Kiddush on aglass of wine that contains a majority of wine and a small amount of water. With this in mind, Spharadim are Machmir (strict) about buying wine that has Ashkenazi kashrut certificate because Ashkenazim do not hold that the wine needs to have majority grape, rather a majority of a glass filled with water is alright.


2. Every person has to eat three Seudot on Shabat, therefore the person who is smart will not fill him/herself up on Seudat HaBoker (Shabat morning after Mussaf) so he will be hungry for Seudat Shlishit (especially on winter days when the Shabat days are short).


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CLD #252

 Today in Baruch in a conversation with a friend we were speaking about the concept of "LePhum Tzara Agra." This phrase is famous. It explains that based on the Tza'ar, the suffering/pain, comes the Schar, reward. This person was telling me how he told himself before Purim that no matter what happens he will fast on Ta'anit Ester. Ta'anit Ester fell out on st. patrick's day. All his friends from colleges around the US came home and all they did was get intoxicated and joke around using substances to consume, which would mean they would break the fast. This Jew I spoke with went against nature and fasted. I explained to him the concept of LePhum Tza'ara Agra. He said back to me that it is exactly like lifting weights.

When someone lift weights, the more suffering and pain he/she goes through, the bigger of a workout results and the more toning that person does on his/her muscles. The same goes for the Torah, mitzvot, and doing mesiroot nefesh when it comes to being Ivdei Hashem. When someone really wants to accomplish something Ruchani related, the only way he/she can reach that goal is through sacrificing something and really pushing the world aside in order to succeed spiritually.

B'H May we lift spiritual weights everyday and reach our neshamot's maximum potentials!

This obviously works with our Parashat HaShavua, Kedoshim, because the Parasha speaks about sexual immorality which is most likely the toughest mitzvah to deal with in our generation. In order to beat this type of Yetzer Hara we need to put our entire effort.
SHABAT SHALOM!

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT KOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEHOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

1. Its recommended and correct (aka the Halacha is as follows) that every man should withold from drinking tea or coffee during Tefillah because this is a sign of disrespect. One should be extra cautious not to drink at all from Baruch SheAmar.If one has to drink because it is the ONLY WAY he will concentrate and ave kavana, then he needs to leave the room where he is praying and drink for tzniut purposes (because drinking alone causes other people to stop focusing on the tefillah).
2. From Baruch SheAmar until after Amida (and if its a day that we say Tachanoon then after Tachanoon) one is not allowed to speak at all. Those that say Chazak UBaruch to the Chazan of Pesukei DeZimra and Bechavod to the next Chazan for Kriyat Shma and so on should be taught that at this time no one is allowed to speak.

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CLD #251

The power of the circle, the measure for measure, completion, perfection, etc. is all over Yahadut. Even in the Halachot we see the power of doing things in a circle, in a completion type of form. For example, when putting on shoes there is an order to do it. First we put on the right shoe first, then the left, then tie the left shoe, and then tie the right, forming a type of pattern that symbolizes completion. This is also seen in Tefillat Shacharit, where us men who put on tefillin have a certain order to follow. When we put on our talliot, we stand, then sit to put on tefillin, and at the end of the Tefillah, we sit to take off the tefillin, and then stand to take off and fold the Talit. 
From many creations we can also learn this concept. The fact that planet earth is round while constantly moving shows us what we need to be like. The sun is constantly blazing, providing us with heat, so too we need to take advantage of our ability to learn Torah and get closer to Hashem. We need to constantly move to do what we need to do in this world, Olam Haze. In order to reach this goal we HAVE TO follow the Torah and the Mitzvot, and then our eyes will open to what we need to do in each stage of our lives. We always need to continue asking ourselves Why are we here? and Why is the world is at it is? Through thinking and observing the wonders of this world, we will reach the ultimate understanding of G-d being the ONLY ruler of this world.


B'H we will all understand that in EVERY SINGLE SITUATION we need to turn to G-d to thank Him for His help!


SHABAT SHALOM! :D


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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA

1. Every man is required to have in his own nature and instinct to run to do mitzvot. There are people that delay everything off and just go along their day without notice of anything and then run to Bet Knesset (shul), thinking this is Midat HaZrizut (the characteristic of speed to do mitvzot), but this is not Midat HaZrizut. When we see these people run to shul, it is because they are running late, and just trying to make it to shul on time. For all of life, every man needs to prepare for Tefillah and Torah in general, and not fall to the desires of sleep, because the Torah and its reward stands forever.


2. (We all struggle with this one): One should always prepare himself every morning to wake up early to get to Tefillah on time and not miss the Zman of Tefillah (Daily Zmanim check here: MyZmanim.org).


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PIC OF THE WEEK!

Flowers from Costa Rica!
Ma Rabu Ma'asecha Hashem!
How much does it take for Hashem to create beauty after beauty in this world for us to realize He is The Creator?

Shavua Tov. 
Rise
Rise
Keep on Rising (Spiritually obviously)


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CLD #250

SHAVUA TOV! I Hope you all enjoyed your Chag and really got a lot of Chizuk from everyone being together, asking questions, and most importantly: getting closer to Avinu BaShamayim!
Unfortunately, I only thought of this on Shvi'i Shel Pesach (2 days ago) before Yom Tov began, so I can only put it on the blog now. To have a sort of recap of Chag Pesach, we will look at the word Haggada in hebrew, which consists of 4 letters: Hey, Gimel, Dalet, and Hey. 
Rav Darmoni from Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh told us in the past that the world is symbolized by the letter Hey. How does the Hey look like? It has a small opening on the upper left side and a huge opening on the bottom. How does this represent our world?
In order for us to really reach a height of spirituality and get to Olam Haba (which is the reason we are here in the first place), we have to work really hard to do the mitzvot from the Torah properly in order to have the zchut (privelage) to get their, which is seen by the tiny opening on the top left of the letter Hey. However, in order to do whatever we want and fail at our task in this world to follow the Torah and Mitzvot, it is very easy and a huge bottom whole is there for us, as seen in the bottom of the letter Hey. In the word Haggada, we have 2 Hey's and a Gimel and Dalet in the middle. If you have read a previous CLD (CLICK HERE for CLD #148) you see that the letters of Gimel and Dalet have their own mashmaut (intelectual depth to them) and its not just random the way of the way they are written. These letters represent the idea in this world to run after the poor to help them out and give charity and do gmilut chassadim. However, from the word Haggada we see alone that even though the center, the base, the yesod, the foundation fo this world is to do chessed by the placement of the gimel and dalet in the middle of the word Haggada, in the beginning and end the main point is to do what the letter Hey represents.
In Gematriya 2 Hey's is 10, which is the number for minyan, completion, perfection. In order for us to reach this idea of the letter Hey and work for Olam Haba and reach a state of perfection, we do not only need "our own Hey," rather we need 2 Hey's. We need to help each other out to reach a state of perfection, where Mashiach will come and we will become real Ivdei Hashem.
B'H we will continue to take the ruchaniut from Pesach and use it for the rest of our lives forever. I hope you all are just growing higher and higher in spirituality and never falling!

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT KOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE'HOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

Taken from Rav Ovadya Yosef shlit"a's Halacha Y
omit:

1. Objects which are used for work permitted on Shabbat, such as forks, knives, chairs, and tables, which are primarily used for work permitted on Shabbat, are subject to some prohibitions of Muktzeh. For example, if a dish is lying in the sun and it may get damaged due to the heat, one may move it into the house on Shabbat. This is what is called moving from “sun to shade”, meaning, from a place where the sun is shining to a shaded area. Regarding an object which is used for work permitted on Shabbat, this kind of moving is permitted, whereas by other Muktzeh objects, one may not move  them from sun to shade. 

2. Certainly, one may move these objects for their own use, for instance a fork to eat with or a bowl to serve with, on Shabbat. Similarly, if one needs the object’s place, for instance if one needs to move a table in order to sit in the place where it is currently standing, one may move this kind of object for this purpose.

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CLD #249

This CLD is L’Yilui Nishmat the Yehudi who was murdered by Palestinian officers Imach Shmam today at Kever Yosef.

From Shenhav Shoshani shlit’a:

Another beautiful CLD about ATVs. Today we went ATV-ing and I asked the entire bus what I should write about for theCLD. Shenhav was the first one giving me a beautiful drasha about ATV-ing and another proof of how we can increase our Emunah and Chizuk from everything we do in this world.

When we went on the ATV tour, it was approximately an hour and a half long and we had to be in a straight line, with the tour guide at the front “controlling” the speed and behaviors of each ATV behind him/her. Shenhav explained beautifully that our life is exactly like what we just experienced. We all are supposed to be in one line, one direction towards being Ivdei Hashem. However, sometimes, like the ATV tour, we want to drive out of line, try to go faster and just “have fun (or what we believe is fun).” Whenever someone goes out of the line, the tour guide kept on stopping and giving us mussar. LEHAVDEEL Ha Kadush Baruch Hu gives us little messages, targeting our parnasa, nature around us, or anything small to try to get us back in line by doing tshuva (from Garden of Emunah book). When we do not listen G-d forbid, Hashem targets us personally, Chas Ve Chalilah.

B’H we will all realize that NOW is the time to do tshuva, and not “after college” or “when I’ll get married,” because lets face it, G-d is running the show. In the end of the day, what we think is fun for us really hurts us, and only our creator is The only one who knows what is good for us. Especially now when we have so much time on our hands to do Cheshbon Nefesh and just think about where we are at religiously and where we want to be on such a glorious Chag, Chag Pesach. We are all in 6^th gear spiritually because of the Chag, but we need to take advantage of this time to do tshuva and get closer to Hashem.

Chag Kasher Ve Sameach :D

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT KOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE'HOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

Taken from Rav Ovadya Yosef shlit"a’s Halacha Yomit

1. Maran Harav Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a writes that if an Ashkenazi woman, who would customarily not consume Kitniyot on Pesach in her father's house, marries a Sephardic man, who is customarily lenient regarding this matter, she may be lenient in accordance with her husband's custom for she is considered to be a person who left a certain place in order to settle somewhere else.

2. The land of Israel is considered to be the place of Maran HaShulchan Aruch, who lived and was active there, and from Israel did his rulings spread and become accepted as Halacha. Therefore, Maran Harav Shlit"a writes that if a Sephardic woman marries an Ashkenazi man, although she is obligated to follow her husband's customs in his house, for instance not cooking rice and Kitniyot on Pesach in his house, nevertheless, if they live in Israel which is "the place of Maran" she is not considered to be one who has completely left one place and settle in another, rather she may still continue to consume rice and other Kitniyot on Pesach in her parents' house even after her marriage, like the opinion of Maran, master of the land of Israel.

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CLD #248

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On Motzei Shabat all the negative, not-good spiritual forces (that have been controlled by Hashem not to enter the world on Shabat) are freed to attempt make Am Yisrael do sins. One of the biggest sins that are the most desirable, especially in our age (teens, young adults), is the sin of wasting (seed) sperm. There are many arguments that go against the idea of preventing oneself from wasting sperm, such as scientists saying it is healthy to waste sperm and others. First of all, as we all know already from our Rabbis, books, the Torah itself, and many stories, the Torah and the reality of the world is that the Torah is above nature. Whenever it comes to nature vs. the Torah, the Torah will ALWAYS prevail. Therefore, I believe following the “advice” (its 100% a commandment) of G-d is much more suggested than some scientist, no matter how intelligient, because in the end of the day G-d is the one who created us. 

Another argument arises where one says “but the sperm cells die anyway, so why not just do it?” Here we can step a little deeper into the ideas of Nisyonot (spiritual tests). We can answer this argument that those specific sperm cells were only created in the body just for us to not waste them and have that challenge! Also it is the most selfish thing us men can do. When we waste sperm, we are killing (literally) potential babies. In books on this sin, and in general, the Kabbalah explains that these babies yell at their father after death on judgment day “Father, father, why did you not take care of us?” This is why the children at their father’s funeral (Lo Alenu, Chas VeShalom) do not walk after the father’s coffin, not to make the wasted sperm babies jealous of the live children.
A tip that we should all listen to (obviously me too): whenever we want to follow these urges or just do a specific sin (any sin, and not only this one), we should tell ourselves: I am about to do something that I know is COMPLETELY against Hashem.


B’H may we all have the zchut to enjoy Melave Malka and/or listen to a shiur to help push away these forces to try to push us down spiritually. Especially after Shabat Kodesh, we are on such a high level that Hashem gives us challenges to even pull us higher closer to him (after BH we overcome them). Also if G-d forbid one falls, ONLY AFTER the fall, one could tell himself: this happened just so I could pray to Hashem and get closer to him.


SHAVUA TOV & CHAG KASHER VE SAMEACH!

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT KOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE'HOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

Taken from Rav Ovadya Yosef’s Halacha Yomit:

1. One may not use the same dishes that he uses during the rest of the year on Pesach for these dishes have Chametz absorbed in them since when a hot food is inside these dishes, the walls of these dishes absorb its Chametz flavor, just as they absorb dairy or meat flavor. Thus, one must either use dishes that are specially designated for Pesach that have not been used for Chametz or kosher (make kosher for Pesach) his Chametz dishes.

2. Just as one must take care to eat food that is Kosher for Pesach and from dishes and utensils that are Kosher for Pesach in his home, one must also take care that anywhere else he eats is absolutely kosher. Thus, if one is staying as a guest in his friend's home or in a hotel for Pesach, he must think this through beforehand in a tedious manner so that a tumultuous situation does not arise that will cause him to eat in an unworthy place. One should be very careful in advance not to be invited to a place that is not absolutely kosher so as not to, G-d forbid, transgress any prohibitions. 

SHAVUA TOV & CHAG KASHER VE SAMEACH!

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CLD #247

In the last couple of days we have been playing many hours of volleyball (and Baruch Hashem have also learned Torah). Yes, we can even get Chizuk from something as simple as volleyball. In this sport, which holds 6 people on each side, on sand, and with a net dividing the two teams. In order to play and win (and have fun) we need to prepare. The teams need to communicate with one another, know how to bump, set and spike before the game begins (not during, but we are Jewish so we always manage to learn everything real quick during the sport itself bli ayin hara). After everyone begins to play, we learn that without one person’s attention and desire to get into the game, the team will not move on.

The same is for this world and Yahadut in general, in order to succeed spiritually we have to have one another and work together to reach our goal of the Final Geula and the ultimate happiness. If one person, or even one tiny midah (characteristic) of a person is off (or unstable or just simply bad) then the whole team falls. All of Am Yisrael are Arevim Ze La Ze. We are all one nation, one heart.
Next time you are going to minyan try to grab a couple of your friends. DO NOT be embarrassed to pressure your friends and make them feel uncomfortable to eat Non-Kosher (obviously in a respectable way, and without G-d forbid embarrassing anyone). If we already reached a point (which is very unlikely) where we can say we have no Yetzer Hara with this Nisayon, then we should try to help eachother out with a specific matter. For example, if you have no desire whatsoever to eat Non-Kosher pizza, and you have gone through the battle of stopping and going out of your way not to get into the area of the restaurant, etc, than you should help out your friends.
B’H we will really work on our achdut (quick story: Achav the King was a complete Rasha who did Avoda Zara and the Am was acting with achdut towards one another, so they won their battles, but David HaMelech, in all his kdusha and glory, had no achdut in his dor, therefore they lost their battles!) and with one person beginning to work on his/her kdusha, a lot will follow, leading to the times of the Mashiach!

Like a lightbulb that needs a couple twists to turn on, so too with Am Yisrael, it takes only one person to start twisting, reaching ultimate light :D.


From all the heart and all the happiness (and with the help of Chaya Khalili and Shenhav Shoshani):

SHABAT SHALOM UMEVORACH & CHAG KASHER VE SAMEACH!

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT KOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE'HOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

Taken from the Halacha Yomit of Rav Ovadya Yosef shlit’a (Click Here for Rav Ovadya Yosef Halachot Yomit):

1. One may turn a fan to another direction on Shabbat.

2. Similarly, one may use an electric blanket on Shabbat that was connected to a power source before Shabbat. However, care must be taken that the plug not be pulled out of the outlet on Shabbat.

SHABAT SHALOM UMEVORACH & CHAG KASHER VESAMEACH!

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CLD #246

Our Rabbanim specifically left us off at the end of tefilla with the Bracha of Alenu. In Alenu LesShabe'ach there is a lot going on. First of all, to look at the tefilla with a bird's eye view, we see an amazing thing. Alenu has 2 paragraphs that both begin with Ayin and end with Dalet. This spells out Ed (witness) x 2, which makes 2 edim. In Law, we learn that throughout every mikreh (situation) we need 2 edim to testify for us. According to google web search (which brought me to another blog post comment) these 2 witnesses testify about our truthfulness in tefillah. 

Now to look into Alenu even more, we see that Hashem specifically chose us to take upon ourselves the Torah and the Mitzvot after Har Sinai than any other Am. In Alenu it specifically says we HAVE TO take it upon ourselves to praise Hashem for making us Jewish and having the zchut to do Mitzvot and learn Torah and just influence the world to do good. Alenu was composed by Yehoshua (according to this blog post) after the walls of Yericho were brought down by Hashem's rachamim on us. Yehoshua specifically says that we need to praise and sing and chant to Hashem that we were not like the nations of the Goyim and the nations of the soil who bow down to nothingness and emptiness (their gods). Rav Levy shlit'a explains that Am Yisrael is like a Na'ara Meorasa (Engaged woman) and Hashem is the Arus (Chatan). The Torah states that when one rapes a Na'ara Meorasa, he is punished with Skila (the most stringent type of death-stoning). When Kriyat Yam Suf took place, the waters of the Yam became like frozen pieces of ice and were used to stone the Mitzrim (Egyptians) for abusing Am Yisrael spiritually. 

B'H we will have the zchut to be with our family and friends (now with Chaya Khalili and Rachamim Soleimani) and remind ourselves that Hashem gave us the present of being with them and enjoying their company and their divrei Torah even in a place so dark like Puerto Rico in Pesach!

**Please do not forget to add in Tefilla (prayer) Morid HaTal instead of Mashiv Haruach, Barchenu instead of Barech Alenu, and to add Ya'aleh VeYavo throughout the Chag. 

CHAG KASHER VE SAMEACH! 


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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT KOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE'HOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

1. It is permitted to use perfume and other cosmetic items on Pesach (even those that might have chametz), because they are not even suitable for a dog to eat. 


2. One should not use a microwave on Pesach. However, it may be used if the food being microwaved is wrapped well in plastic or closed in a carton. Some say that if a boiled cleaning detergent was microwaved in water and the walls of the microwave absorbed the soap or whatever, than this is enough to make the microwave Kasher LePesach. Rav Ovayda Yosef prefers the first way (wrapped in plastic/carton) and the one who is strict shall be blessed.


**Please do not forget to add in Tefilla (prayer) Morid HaTal instead of Mashiv Haruach, Barchenu instead of Barech Alenu, and to add Ya'aleh VeYavo throughout the Chag.


Chag Kasher Ve Sameach!
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CLD #245

Tonight B'H we will be going through the Kdusha of Lel HaSeder. Throughout the night we will be going through a specific order which begins with Kadesh U'Rchatz. From Kadesh U'Rchatz alone we can learn many things. One dvar Torah that the Ben Ish Chai teaches in his Haggada is the concept of making the body Kadosh (from the word Kadesh) and then something else we learn from the order of the Lel HaSeder, which is the following step after Kadesh (Kiddush on wine): U'Rchatz (Netillat Yadayim). The word Kadesh, which means holy, teaches us that when it comes to doing Cheshbon Nefesh (or doing a self evaluation on your spiritual level), we need to only look at the future. 

Usually when someone falls in regards to a Chet/Avera, Chalilah; has an urge to completely stop doing Avodat Hashem. But Ben Ish Chai teaches us that we need to look at our future and wash away the past. From the words of the Haggada, we need to LeKadesh (to make holy) our Atid (future) and Lirchotz (to wash) our past, or simply to forget the past and deal with the future.

Thank G-d for tshuva.

This morning we washed away the past by burning the Chametz and b'H tonight we will begin to LeKadesh (make holy) our Neshamot and environments with the same spiritual energy that enters the world from the time of Yetziyat Mitzrayim. B'H we will welcome Hashem's schina (divine presence) with open arms and only want to get closer to Him.

CHAG SAMEACH VE KASHER!

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT KOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE'HOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

1. Lel HaSeder consists of many steps. The first one is Kadesh, where we say Kiddush on wine. After filling up the wine to the top, we pour in 3 drops of water one after the other. Wine symbolizes din (judgment) and water symbolizes rachmamim (mercy), so in order to dilute the din with the rachamim, we pour in water.

2. Throughout the entire Lel HaSeder we drink 4 cups of wine. After each wine we need to clean out the cup. Symbolizing freedom, someone other than the Ba'al HaBayit needs to pour the wine into the cup for him to hand it to the Ba'al HaBayit (the Father). The home owner (usually the father) needs to accept the cup of wine with both hands, and says the Kiddush with his right hand.

CHAG SAMEACH!

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CLD #244

The Ben Ish Chai's Haggada is amazing. Baruch Hashem I had the zchut to buy one and am currently reading it Bli Ayin Hara. The Ben Ish Chai explains to us what it means to be Bnei Yisrael, and real Bnei Yisrael not the free-country-lifestyle Bnei Yisrael. He brings hundreds of metaphors throughout his commentary on the Haggada. One of them caught my attention B'H.

Ben Ish Chai explains that there is a way to show us how huge we are as spiritual beings in a physical suit. He says that there was once two villages. The King of the land decreed that each village's inhabitants needs to fill up a barrel with wine for an unknown reason. The village with the inhabitants who disliked the King separately thought to themselves: "If I fill up my part of the barrel with water, no one would notice, and one glass of water will not make a difference in an entire barrel of wine." The village with the people who loved the King all did their part with love and compassion. After checking both villages, the village with the "schemers," had a barrel filled with water, and even if one person did fill up his part of the barrel with wine, it would not have been noticed due to the amount of water. This village was punished for their disrespect of the King's order. The village with the love and compassion filled up their barrel with the finest of wine, leading to the King to reward them.
What does this have to do with Am Yisrael? The village with the love and compassion represents those who do mitzvot and follow the Torah like real Bnei Yisrael, and the ones trying to scheme are the ones running away from the Torah. What is the big problem today? There is a section of Am Yisrael around the world (most because they never learned) who believe that the Torah is something bad and they can simply 'trick' G-d into seeing they are following the Torah, but in the end they just have it bad for themselves. Those who simply go into the mission of life with a smile and show love to Hashem, even though it is hard, are the ones who really benefit from this world and next.

2 liters of water are needed everyday
for your body. But do you care about what's needed
 for your soul?

B'H this Pesach we will clean our attitudes towards the Torah and hopefully B'H input it into oiur systems that the Torah is the ONLY truth and the ONLY source of happiness.
Bdikat Chametz tonight.
Biur Chametz tomorrow morning.
Lel HaSeder tomorrow!!!
CHAG SAMEACH VE KASHER!


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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT KOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHE'HOO BEN HAOLAM HABA

Repetition of Halachot:

1. 30 minutes before Bdikat Chametz, one is not allowed to work and EVEN learn Torah until the end of the Bdika. If someone got a Heter (permission/excused) from a Rabbi to learn, he does not need to stop. This is talking about an individual learning Torah ALONE. If there is a weekly Shiur in a shul and Bdikat Chametz falls on the same night, then the Shiur can NOT bo postponed and at the end of the Shiur someone needs to remind everyone to do Bdikat Chametz.

2. The best type of candle to use for Bdikat Chametz is one with a single wick made of wax. One should not use a wax candle with 2 or more wicks because it does not fulfill the requirement for a candle that can be used for Bdikat Chametz. A candle made from animal fat, lit by oil, or from Chelev (a different type of animal fat) should not be used, but if it is used, this type of candle is considered good enough for the candle requirement for Bdikat Chametz. Paraffin candles, cotten dipped in oil and burnt, and a flashlight can also be used as a "candle" for Bdikat Chametz.

Shabat Shalom!

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PIC OF THE WEEK!

What do we do with our time?


SHAVUA TOV!


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VIDEO OF THE WEEK!

Twins Singing Echad Mi Yodea 
Chag Sameach! Rak B'Smachot.


SHAVUA TOV!
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CLD #243

Its raining outside and its "gross," but obviously we can learn something from the rain and Hashem's nature. How does rain "happen?" Well, as we all know its a cycle that is continuous and found throughout the world. It begins from the clouds in the sky acting as vacuums, inhaling the rain. Then Hashem pushes the wind to blow the clouds over land, where at a maximum capacity they open up and let all the water fall back down and the cycle goes on and on. 

The same thing works with Yetziyat Mitzrayim and our day to day lives. We are reminded of Yetziyat Mitzrayim continuously throughout the day. During all the tefillot, Birkat HaMazon, Kiddush, chagim, Shabat, etc., we remind ourselves of Yetziyat Mitzrayim. Sure when we walk outside when its raining we complain and throw on a rain jacket, but whois the one who really contemplates and thinks about the rain understands that beauty behind it. The rain is a symbol of G-d's interference with nature showing how nature is not stable (its not always going to be sunny or cloudy). Even though Yetziyat Mitzrayim is an event that occured in the world causing the entire world to change, it impacts our lives everyday (or at least it should feel that way). With the rain, we do not see the actual water cycle happening, but only see the end result of rain. With Yetziyat Mitzrayim and Am Yisrael and Pesach, Hashem showed the entire world that He is the one in control, throughout the 10 plagues and the whole process of bringing Moshe Rabenu back to Mitzrayim to save the Yehudim. Hashem showed us that we are going to be saved. It rains once in a while and thank G-d water is a blessing, however Yetziyat Mitzrayim unlike rain, is something that we need to input into our hearts everyday that reminds us Hashem loves us. 

B'H this Pesach we'll understand that Yetziyat Mitzrayim is not only a daily reminder we need to put for ourselves of Hashem's love for us, but it is also a time where we ask Hashem to have our own Yetziyat Mitzrayim. If its troubles with a shidduch, money, education, learning Torah, even something as simple as a cut on our finger, this entire world was created for us to get closer to Hashem, the ultimate creator, and understand that whenever we want we can turn to Him and open our hearts to ask for help.

Gematriya Fun fact: The gematriya of Pesach is 613, showing us that one who follows the Mitzvot and Halachot of Pesach is as if one is taking part in all of the Torah. 

CHAG SAMEACH.

Tomorrw Night B'H Bdikat Chametz

Monday morning Bi'ur Chametz (burning chametz)

Monday 10:15am last time to eat bread.

Monday & Tuesday Nights Lel Seders

SHAVUA TOV :D

Smile, cuz Hashem loves you.

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KOL HASHONEH HALACHOT BECHOL YOM MUVTACH LO SHEH'HOO BEN HA'OLAM HABA

1. Tomorrow Night G-d willing we will all enact the mitzvah of Bdikat Chametz (checking for chametz). The time to do the Bdika is 20 minutes after the shkiya (sunset), which falls around 7:56pm. From 7:26pm we are not allowed to have any type of meal, which includes 56 grams of cake or fruits/vegetables, rice, and the like. However, Tea or coffee is allowed to be drunk beforehand. Also after 7:26 we are not allowed to involve ourselves in any type of work, no learning Torah unless one began to learn by accident (without the knowledge of this halacha).


2. In order to make the Bdikat Chametz happen we say a bracha. After the bracha we do not speak until halfway through the bdika, when we only can speak about bdika related matters (such as asking which area of the room the bread was hidden). According to the Kabbalah, we put 10 pieces of bread that is less than 27 grams each in a wrapping (usually tin foil) and put it in places that seem hard to find. With a wax candle (with one wick) we walk around looking for the bread, checking cracks, and places where chametz is found.


Shavua Tov 


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CLD #242

Taxis, especially in New York have the MOST ANNOYING drivers. Period. Even Israeli drivers, may all the Jewish ones be well, are better than the New Yorkers (lehavdeel). They do whatever they can to make the meter jump more and more (causing a higher charge at the end of the ride). Even in a taxi we can get chizuk :D. Lets look deeper: As we all know, or at least I hope we do, each one of us assumes his/her life is worth billions of euros (more valuable than dollars), even if in the case of shabat vs. saving a life we choose saving a life (as it says in the Parasha BH we will read tomorrow: Parashat Acharei Mot). If our lives are worth so much than we know that every minute is probably worth around $300, $400. Now what do we do with our time and what does it have to do with the meter in taxi? 
As we know from previous CLDs we need to form for ourselves permanent Jewish glasses, always looking at life through glasses where we can learn how to greaten our Emuna in Hashem. Just like a meter jumps and $0.40 is taken from you every (about) 25 seconds, so too $300, $400 worth of life is taken from us every minute. So what do we do with our time? Since this is the most valuable gift, given by Hashem, we need to do something to "pay" Him back. Hashem tells us to "VeHagita Bo Yomam Valayla," and you shall delve into it (the Torah) day and night. In essence, by learning Torah we "pay" Hashem back, but in reality by living the Torah we are the ones getting paid. It is discussed through many great Jewish inspirational books that living the Torah makes one enjoy the most out of this world and the next.


What do you do with your time?
Please don't forget to sell your chametz! Sunday Night bH is Bdikat Chametz, Monday Morning is Biur Chametz (with the last time to eat chametz at 10:15am)! Monday Night is the Lel HaSeder, where Hashem sends His army to hear us praise Him at our tables!
May You all have a Chag Sameach ve Kasher and a Shabat HaGadol Umevorach!
SIMCHA SIMCHA SIMCHA :D


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