CLD #580

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

A Yeshiva student here at Shuva Yisrael told me I must put this on the blog. The classic book, Shomer Emunim, on Emunah (belief in G-d) says something that pack’s ones heart with blazing inspiration to do Mitzvot and Ma’asim Tovim. This is the translation:

All the suffering that HaKadosh Baruch Hu has placed upon an individual no matter what level of spirituality he is currently standing at, it is given to the person from the uttermost kind and charitable place of Hashem’s “personality” to the most loved and cherished of all. It is written in Mishlei 13:24 “…he who loves him (his son) will discipline him early.” Our Sages have said in the Midrash that Am Yisrael does not deserve the suffering Hashem places upon them because the suffering purifies a Jew from his/her sins. This extra act of Hessed is seen with Hashem only with Am Yisrael and it was not fitting for the non-Jews; however, if Hashem only did this with Am Yisrael the world would not understand the Jewish nation’s importance. Therefore, Hashem also brought suffering and pain to the other nations as well to make sure we are seen as ‘normal.’

This little section from a single page of Shomer Emunim shows us the importance of what we believe is suffering, where in fact every difficult event and/or situation we go through is an act of kindness from Hashem to erase our sins and purify our Nefesh (soul). The question still stands: why bring suffering at all? Just have all of us live a life without disease and pain? Well, imagine a world like that, do you think people will be devoting their time and effort to do Mitzvot. We need to follow the Torah because Hashem commanded us, but in the end of the day not many of us are on such a pure level to understand to do Mitzvot Leshem Shamayim and because Hashem said so. Unfortunately, we need something to lure us into the powerful (‘healthy’) drug of a Torah life.

Therefore smile, because again: Hashem loves you.

Judaism=Think.

SHAVUA TOV!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Chai Yaakov ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

1. One may ask a Talmid Haham (a Torah Scholar that knows where to find Halachot pertaining to the questions you ask of him) for a favor to grab something for him or pass something over and the like. However, this only stands when one is not causing the Talmid Haham to lose out on his Torah time (which falls into the category of the horrible avera, sin, of Bitul Torah).

2. If one is old in age and the people around him do not know if he has reached 70 years (the minimum baseline where one must stand if this old person is in your 6 foot radius), then one must still stand because of the doubt that he might be above 70, where this is a Mitzvah from the Torah and we are strict when it comes to doubt. However, if there is a doubt whether he is 60, one does not have to be strict and stand. If there is a doubt whether a Talmid Haham is really an expert in Torah learning, in Shulchan Aruch and major Halachot or not, one must be strict and stand.

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #579

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

"כי תזריע וילדה זכר"

"If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male..." (VaYikrah 12:2)

The famous Hida ZT'L explains that the Rashei Tevot of this Pasuk from the Parasha we heard this morning spells out Zechut (privilege), Zayin-Chaf-Vav-Tav. What does this mean? 

The Hida explains that the entire Zechut (privilege) of the baby boy that was born rests in the mother's hands throughout life. Its important when going on Shidduchim (religious dating) to find the correct woman to raise your children in the future. A true Bat Yisrael is one who puts her life on the line for Hashem. "What is more important? My sleep or my children's Hinuch (parenting/teachings) on Shabbat morning?" A Bat Yisrael will do anything for her children to know how to read shema Yisrael properly and live a life of Torah and Mitzvot.

How beautiful is a Torah that just results in more good events and occasions? 

Judaism=Think.

SHAVUA TOV!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Chai Yaakov ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

1. Its an obligation on each and every one of Am Yisrael to count the omer, as it is written "VeSafartem Lahem" which commands us as many and does not command the individual, teaching us that each mouth needs to count the Omer separately. In any case if one had the intention to fulfill his obligation of counting the Omer while the Shaliah Tzibbur (Hazzan) read the Beracha in Shul and the Hazzan had in mind to fulfill the obligation for others specifically, only then one fulfills his obligation through the Hazzan's Beracha, as the rule of Shomeah Ke-Oneh stands (meaning the one who hears is like the one who says, in some cases the auditory mirrors the speech of another, you can just listen and fulfill your obligation like in Shabbat Kiddush).

2. During the days of Sefirat HaOmer 30 minutes before Shkiya (sunset), one is prohibited to have a full meal with 50 grams of bread (about 3 slices) or cake until they have said the Beracha of Sefirat haOmer (at the appropraite time of Tzet HaKohavim/nightfall). If one has began a Seuda (meal) before this time and the 30 minute before Sunset time has arrived, they only need to count the Omer after they end their meal and they do not need to stop their meal immediately at this point. However, if one has begun a meal in this time they must stop and count the Omer. One may taste fruits and the like before the time for counting the Omer. 

SHAVUA TOV!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #578

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

"והזרתם את בני ישראל מטאמתם ולא ימותו בטמאתם בטמאם את משכני אשר בתוכם"

"And you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, so that they will not die on account of their uncleanness, if they defile My Sanctuary which is in their midst" (chabad.org) VaYikrah 15:31.

The message is clear from Hashem: Distance away from impure things. Today we are constantly being attacked by impure visionaries. Such as italian fashion deisgners showing the world: this is what you need to wear, or american teachers teaching little girls: this is how you need to act in front of boys or even producers and directors on television: this is the level of violence and anger you constantly need to maintain.

The mistake we Jews make is we actually listen, behave, and even SUPPORT these wrong ideas and visions of how to live life. For example because of society, especially in New York City, we think it is okay and even NECESSARY to constantly become angry. Did you know (taken from Orchot Tzaddikim) that Chazal (our Sages) say someone's life full of angry is not a life at all! We need to live in a view point that the Torah just wants to do us good, to be honest with ourselves and with the way we live our lives and not throw on a fake smile and be another pretender.

Hashem put His Divine Presence inside each and everyone of us, as seen from the Pasuk above! We need to take advantage of that ora of goodness and that flame of power and influence to help others live a life of good. For example we learn to live happy lives, to see everything as in G-ds control because it is in G-d's control, not because we pretend its in G-d's control and we think its in our hands. For example girls and women cover up because they understand they are like diamonds and rubies and should not be shown to the derogatory world of impurity. Another example is the food we eat. All the laws and guidelines are for us to understand Hashem said so we do. We don't ask questions because we TRUST The Creator of the World knows what He is doing when He tells us something to do.

Shabbat is all about trusting Hashem that He will cover for us for those 25 hours we hold back and stop everything, including work and business. 
Do you trust Hashem?

Judaism=Think.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Chai Yaakov ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

1. One is prohibited from speaking words of hol, words of the weekday, meaning to speak about events to do that are prohibited on Shabbat, such as "tomorrow I will do...", "tomorrow I will drive to..." "...write a letter to..." "...buy this type of merchandise for that store at..." or "the best architect for our new kitchen we need to begin building this week is..." If one only says this out loud to himself it does not make it permissible, so too if he/she speaks to others about the Shabbat-prohibited behavior that have nothing to do with what was discussed. 

2. This even stands for idle conversation that has no sense of production or that does not results in any form of productivity or output. The conversations on things that do not have to do with work or business at all should be dwindled down on Shabbat as well. And even a couple words of notoriety/shame or levity/lightmindedness are prohibited even on a regular weekday.

3. It is suggested and correct for whoever has a bit of closeness to his/her heart to Shabbat Kodesh not to speak during that time but words of Torah and related subjects. Everyday of the week we say: there will be like this and like that, but on Shabbat the Creation was over and speech was complete as well. We need to rest from the speech of the weekday as well, just like Hashem rested from everything weekday related.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #577

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

In Masechet Hagiga 7a we learn a little about what Hashem is all about. There is a Sugiya (piece of Talmud) that goes through the logic behind why we are obligated or exempt to bring a korban (animal sacrifice) every time we go up to the Beit HaMikdash Azara (men’s section) to reveal ourselves to Hashem during the Regel (Pesach, Sukkot and Shavuot).

There is a Mitvzah from the Torah to bring two different types of Korbanot (animal sacrifices). The first one is a Korban Shelamim that has its meat given back to its owners who paid for the sacrifice and the second in Korban Olah. The Olah sacrifice is special. The rule behind it is that the entire Korban is thrown onto the Mizebach (barbeque alter) to be burned fully ‘for’ Hashem.

What does this have to do for us? The real learning in the Gemara goes like this: Just like the Shelamim Korban is the most fitting for people because it keeps people busy with eating the meat afterwards so too the Korban Olah with Hashem. The Korban Olah is the most fitting for Hashem. How come? Because it burns all the materialism before it accepts the Korban.

Hashem is all pure, all holy, all everything positive. We need to keep in mind to strive to become better and more Fear-of-Heaven-oriented Jews. This means to realize just like Hashem burns all the meat and fat (that is delicious) of the Korban so too how much do we need to work on ourselves and how we manage with friends and family. The fact that Hashem only accepts for Himself a Korban Olah that all of it in its entirety is burnt also shows how much we need to put on the line in our own lives for Hashem, the Torah and Mitzvot in general.

What a great way to have the mindset of giving everything to Hashem when Shabbat Kodesh is less than 24 hours away.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Chai Yaakov ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

1. Whoever forgot to count the appropriate day of the Omer Thursday night and the following day prayed Arvit of Shabbat before Sunset (still Friday) and remembered before Sunset that he did not count the Omer yet, he may count the Omer without a Beracha and then continue counting the Omer and say the Beracha for the following day after Nightfall on Shabbat. And the following nights he can continue counting the Omer with a Beracha.

2. The one who writes on a letter the day of the Omer, such as “Today is the 20^th day of the Omer,” and has forgotten to count the Omer using speech last night and throughout the day, this person can continue counting the Omer with a Beracha.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #576

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

There are many people that come up to religious leaders, Rabbis and Talmidei Chachamim to complain about the lack of spirituality they feel (or don’t). We always think that because we have Neshamot Hashem “has to” and is “obligated” to make us feel spiritual and help us enjoy from the spiritual energy that fills up the world to make it function.

That is absolutely incorrect. What we do not know is that we make up our own spiritual agenda and our own spiritual acceptance or rejection. The Shechina, or Divine Presence, which stands for Hashem’s spirituality (I guess) is exactly like a female dove. She needs to be cared for and one needs to work for her to even look at him. We cannot expect the Shechina to be as low as some bimbo who throws herself at the low life for $5, Hashem Yaazor. The Shechina is a queen who needs to be respected and taken cared for in every aspect.

This means that we, Am Yisrael, are not doing our job. How can we have Hashem’s presence live inside us and literally dwell in our beings? It says it directly in Shema Yisrael. We say it everyday “VeAhavta Et Hashem Elokecha Bechol Levavcha U’Vechol Nafshecha Uvechol Me’odecha. VeHayu HaDevarim HaEleh Asher Anohi Metzavecha Hayom Al Levavecha.” And love Hashem your G-d with all your hear and all your soul and all your wealth. And these things that I Hashem command you will be on your heart.

If we only put the effort WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTIONS, meaning without excuses like “5 minute snooze this nap is amazing” or “I am not sure if this is Kosher, it has a certificate so its good enough” or “she has a Jewish last name so she is okay”, ONLY THEN will we really live a life of Torah and spirituality. We cannot expect Hashem to throw His Divine Presence onto us and INTO our hearts without doing any work for it. Hashem is some professor that gives out A’s for no effort? Obviously not. Everything is based on 100% fairest judgment! We will only receive what we really deserve, and who knows better than Hashem?

Judaism=Think.

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Chai Yaakov ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

1. It’s a pleasant and beautiful minhag (custom) that many communities of Israel during the days of Sefirat HaOmer (now) between Mincha and Arvit (afternoon and evening Prayer Services) to read Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) which is filled with Mussar (rebuke and criticism) to help shape up the Jewish figure and lifestyle. It is found that the phrase Mitzvah Gorreret Mitzvah fits here (a Mitzvah follows a Mitzvah, where it is best to wait until the one teaching the Pirkei avot reaches Tzet HaKochavim time to count the Omer at nightfall exactly). It fits to additionally add the Torah learning up until the appropriate nightfall hour where the one who strengthens the public has that zechut (privilege) standing for him.  

2. It is the minhag of Yerushalayim, which we should all follow, to count the day of the Omer in Shul at the end of the Shacharit Tefillah (prayer) without a Beracha to remind those who forgot to count during the night to count then in order to aid them in the counting of the Omer and to allow them to say the Beracha during the following night (where as if they would have forgotten they would not be allowed to say the Beracha anymore).

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #575

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

The question stands: Why is a newborn so calm when he/she is around his/her mother? The answer is simple: its been constructed inside its mother for nine months. The Em (mother in Hebrew) represents home base, square one, protection and eternal love.

What does this have to do with us? Hashem Yitbarach created Adam HaRishon (The first Human Being > Adam) with His own might and power. Of course today all of us are created in the image of G-d with Hashem carving out how we look and what makes up who we are, but it is still mixed greatly with our parents’ genes and influence. Adam HaRishon was purely Hashem’s craft being born into the world.

This explains why Adam HaRishon before eating from the tree was such a divine creature who was barely human and barely filled with any mistakes! It is known that all the Jews in the entire world make up Adam HaRishon. Adam HaRishon’s Neshama (soul) was broken up into 600,000 mini-souls, which each one in the word performing to fix the damage created in Adam’s sin. Therefore we are all fixing his sin up until today. So we are like Hashem’s pure children and we can now understand that in the essence of our Neshama our parents do not influence us in anyway.

So what do I have to do with a newborn? Sometimes we do not understand why we might have this empty, upset or just unsatisfying feeling of life. We feel like we are missing out on something, like we are in a quiet search for fulfillment and endless happiness. There is something OFF. When you stick a newborn back to its source, to its Ema, it calms down and feels okay naturally.

The same is with us and our Neshama. Sometimes we have the incredible zechut (privelige) to feel our Neshama’s mood status and we do not understand where this sadness is coming from. Therefore, just like the newborn, we must get glued back to our source, our home-base, our security headquarters.

That is our Ema, our parent: Hashem. It says in the Zohar Am Yisrael Hashem and the Torah are all one. Therefore, the only way to really boost the level of fulfillment and serenity in life for us is to reconnect to Hashem on a drastically high level.

Change is all up to you.

Judaism=Think.

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Chai Yaakov ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

1. A sick person who did not have the opportunity to count the Omer during the nighttime can count during the day and may not say the appropriate Beracha for Sefirat HaOmer at that moment. After the sick person counts the Omer without saying the Beracha he can say the Beracha the following night. If one completely forgot to count the Omer they may no longer count the Omer with a Beracha.

2. The Counting of the Omer must be done with the actual pronunciation of the Counting done by one’s lips and mouth and cannot be done through thought because thought does not have one fulfill his obligation to count the Omer. It does not count, because thought is not the same as actual speech. However, if one did only think the counting of the Omer, they may still say the Beracha of the Omer afterwords and then count the Omer using speech. Lechatchila (the best alternative,route) one should have the counting of the Omer be loud enough for one to hear himself speak, and if one said the Omer low so that his ears do not hear his words, he still fulfills the obligation of counting the Omer (yatzah lidei hova).

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #574

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

Our society teaches us instant gratification. Directly after hearing those two words the Internet comes to mind. How long will it take for us to completely forget about patience, about morality, honesty, love, caring for another person, or even the simple task of getting up when seeing a pregnant lady on public transportation and offering your seat?

The answer is that G-d will never let His morals and characteristics leave this world. Nature is against what society is doing to us. I was at a little restaurant recently and in the bathroom the hand dryer had a button to begin it operation. It was not one of those dryers that worked by sensing your hands underneath it. Automatically I realized that I have become accustomed to receiving things without appreciating.

We are being constantly told how to act and how to behave. For example, the only way one learns to be patient is by becoming a parent. A child is not some machine that you can shut off by pressing a button on a remote control. If the baby is wailing away you need to love it and care for it to set it down. The woman you married will not throw herself at you because you smiled to her after signing the bill for your shots at the bar. Things that are most beautiful and most cherished today require real work on oneself. Unfortunately, NYC is packed with homes of a mother, a father, a child, and four pets. The number of people in a family is constantly decreasing and more people are turning to living a single life forever.

With the Torah, we see how special it is to bring in more life into this world. Just the characteristics that a parent is forced to work on is a small thing we realize that Hashem has given us. But we cannot become perfect boys and girls of G-d in a single day. It takes a lifetime of constant focus. Why not start now, after all it is Rosh Chodesh, the first of Chodesh Iyar.

Talk to Hashem, do not be embarrassed to ask Him for help!

 It doesn’t cost ANYTHING. You will see Him answer.

Smile, cuz Hashem loves you.

Judaism=Think.

Chodesh Tov.

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

A Guest Writer Shares His Torah

The word Gefen, grape, in hebrew has a beautiful meaning behind it. If we combine its letters, Gimmel Pei and Nun we find the three levels of a person, which each letter representing a level.

The first letter in Gefen is Gimmel, representing the Guf, or body/covering of the person.

The second letter in Gefen is Pei, representing the Panim, or face/facade of the fruit.

The third and last letter in Gefen is Nun, which is the highest form of man representing the word Nozel which means to drip. This is the verb that represents the dripping fruit juice that contains the sweetness and essence behind the fruit. This symbolzies the human's Neshama, soul.

From Gefen, grapes, people produce Yayin, wine. Wine is the child, offspring of what is derived from the fruit. This shows us when someone uses all of the parts of what is contained in themselves to their potential, they receive the best results. Wine has the same Gematriya as "Sod" which means Secret in Hebrew. Therefore, by learning to understand the Gefen, the inner self of the friend, the Jew, the fellow; one can really understand the "sod" behind who he/she is.

Chodesh Tov!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Chai Yaakov ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Rav Ovadya’s Halacha Yomit:

1. The one who is in doubt whether or not he counted the Omer the night before, continues to count the Omer tonight with the Beracha of “Al Sefirat haOmer.” However, only if he is for sure he has not counted even a single night of the Omer or has completely said the Beracha the wrong way (and has not fixed his mistake that same night), this Jew cannot continue saying the Beracha of the Omer (whereas he can continue counting it).

2. In regards to wearing a new article of clothing (not include underwear, under shirts, etc.) it is suggested to be stringent and not wear a new piece of clothing during Sefirat HaOmer. However, if there is a need to wear this new item, it is correct to take it up a notch and wear it for the first time specifically on Shabbat when this person can say the Beracha of Shehecheyanu on it as well. Also for a celebration of a Bar Mitzvah and Brit Milah one can be lenient and wear new clothing during Sefirat HaOmer.

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #573

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

It is known that Parshat Shemini, the Parasha we heard (in US) today in Shul, is mainly focused around the sons of Nadav and Avihu being burned to death by Hashem and the Laws of Kashrut.

What can one link between them? The Holy Ben Ish Chai brings from the Gemara, based on one of the opinions, that Nadav and Avihu deserved death because they did not ask their Rabbis (which were their father and their uncle, Moshe Rabbeinu and Aharon) for permission or for the halacha on bringing the Korban they brought. What really happened? The two giants of Torah, who were single, went into the Kodesh Kodashim with a Korban (animal sacrifice) that never went through Moshe and Aharon.

Directly after this happens, the Torah states that a fire burned the two sons of Aharon. The Gemara explains that the fire went through their nostrils, which is a sign of Spiritual Glory and Leadership.

After this story the Torah continues with the Laws of Kashrut. What is the link between the two? One can say that the Kosher Kitchen is one of the most difficult things to keep and in regards to discipline it does the job. Staying Kosher makes the Jew disciplined to understand that Hashem is in control and greatens humility in the person’s character.

Therefore this links completely with Nadav and Avihu, who did not ask their Rabbis what to do. Unfortunately today we justify almost everything we do with our own logic and reasoning. The entire greatness of the Jew is to throw away this logic and reasoning and to believe that everything revolves around the Rabbanim and the Torah to teach us in what direction to go. And the best part of it is knowing we can do it because if Hashem commanded us and created us then He knows our potential and that we can succeed in doing this.

SHAVUA TOV!

Judaism=Think.

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

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

VIDEO OF THE WEEK!

BE HAPPY, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE!!!

SHAVUA TOV!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

L’yilui Nishamt Avraham ben Ester ZT’L.

From Yalkut Yosef:

1. If one has mistakenly counted the wrong day (in days and weeks, like he said its Day 27 which is 3 weeks and 6 days and it was really Day 29) and has not remembered of his mistake until the following night, he can no longer count the Omer with the proper Beracha. If one has remembered the same night of his mistake, he can return to counting the right day of Sefirat HaOmer. If one has remembered in a matter of 3 seconds after counting that he has made a mistake and quickly fixed it, he can return and say the Beracha of Sefirat HaOmer. If one remembered during the following day (before Sunset) they simply need to say the correct day and count it properly without the Beracha.

2. Whoever is in confusion which day it is of the Omer (for example if they are lodging in a non-Jewish populated city or they are in the desert), he should count both days he is in question about without a Beracha. The next night where he will find out the correct date, he should simply continue counting the Omer with a Beracha.

SHAVUA TOV!

Want these Halachot to be for the Ilui Nishmat (memory of) or Refua Shlema (the speedy and full 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! 

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #572

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

From Rav Darmoni shlit'a, who explained this to me over the phone from Yerushalayim, Israel.

Our parasha, Parashat Shemini, includes the Limud (teaching) of Hilchot Kashurt (the Kosher Jewish laws). The two main ingredients that need to show up in any animal in order for it to be labeled as Kosher (before the proper slaughtering) are: 1) Mafreset Parsah, which means the animal must have split hooves and 2) Ma’alat Gerah, which means the animal must chew its cud.

However, there are only four animals in the entire globe that obtain a single of these signs, without having the other one as part of their body’s system. One of these animals is the Pig. The Pig shows an external sign, it has split hooves where one can see the floor between the pig’s foot. It literally has a fingerlike foot that cuts into two. What does the Pig represent?

The Pig represents someone who is hated by society. Honestly, besides the non-Jews who love the animal after it is slaughtered, the pig is pretty much seen as a dirty animal always rolling around in its own garbage. But on the one hand it’s a tricky animal because it represents the middah (characteristic) of forgery, trickery, lying, etc.

The Pig is like a liar. It shows us from the outside what he wants us to believe about him, while on the inside he is really an impure animal not housing any good qualities whatsoever.

Everyone you will ask will tell you the dislike they have of liars and dishonesty. No one respects a loser with that quality. This is to teach us to think about who we are. Are we showing Hashem on the outside, on the street I wear a kippa or a skirt or a Shema Yisrael necklace and I’m all fluffy and cute religious but when I am alone only G-d knows what I am doing against the Torah?

 

This is Yetzer Hara’s greatest weapon, to have us fall in times where we are alone in secrecy so then he can tell us how big of a Rasha (wicked) I am and there is no point to behave like a Jew even in public. Even if we G-d forbid fall in private, we need to know that we need to work on ourselves in private and actual change!

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

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

For the Ilui Neshama of Avraham ben Ester ZT’L. Lehavdeel For the Refua Shlema of Chai Yaakov ben Margalit shlit’a.

Translated from Yalkut Yosef Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

1. The one who launders his/her clothing on Shabbat violates the prohibition of malben and it is forbidden from the Torah (as opposed to Derabanan). Therefore it is forbidden to pour water on an article of clothing that got a stain on it during a Shabbat meal, even though the entire shirt/tie is not being laundered. Also one cannot rub off a stain or put cleaning powder or the like on the stain. There is no difference in regard to the color of the clothing, whether it be rainbow, black, old or new. One can only pass their hand on the stain or smack it with a dry napkin but cannot attempt to rub it off with his/her hand or dry napkin.

2. A woman is not allowed to walk in the reshut harabim (the public domain) with a handbag or wallet in her hand, even if it is just for decoration and plays as an accessory to her outfit. Even in our communities where an eruv is present, it is preferable to be stringent and not take a handbag or wallet on Shabbat Kodesh.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

CLD #571

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

For the past year almost every week at least once I have been seeing an ad on the Subway trains. The ad reads something along the lines of “Holidays come and go. Clothes wear out. Bank accounts go up and down. Philosophy is something that lasts a lifetime. Philosphy Works is a…” This is an ad for some philosophy course on the upper west side. It tries to sell a weekly philosophy course.

The big mistake in this ad is that it explains philosophy is the only way one can reach happiness which then leads one to obtain wisdom. The Torah and Mitzvot is the biggest and most effective bridge from emptiness to a sense of completion. A Jew does not need to run away to India or some fancy college in California to gain wisdom or knowledge of what the meaning of life is. They just need to open up the vast Tractates (Masechtot) of the Yerushalmi and Bavli Gemarot and they can feed off the thousands of Sugiyot (passages) filled with endless humor, meaning, essence of self worth, spirituality, purity, happiness, success and on and on.

The mistake we have today is we think the Gemara is a 2,000 year old set of books written by Sages who have no idea what solutions work best for my issues! What we do not know or more precisely: what we do realize is the truth behind their words and how relevant it is to every generation. Why? Because the entire Talmud is based off of the holy Torah which is the blueprint of the Creation of the World. Chazal teach us that Hashem used the Torah to create this world! That means that all the problems G-d forbid in our lives are rooted from practical things/people in this world. Because Hashem created these people and they are part of the world, the foundation of this world can be used to fix these problems.

So we see from this simple logic that the Torah HaKdosha is the main cable line ANYONE can use to help fix their issues.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

May all of Am Yisrael only experience Smachot.

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)!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More

PIC OF THE WEEK!

We gotta keep on reminding ourselves: Every Jew is like a Banana, even though they might not look so perfect or righteous from the outside it does not mean they are dirty or spoiled from the inside!

Check anonymous Reaction Below:

Read More