CLD #891

In this weeks Parasha, the Torah brings down the Ketoret, the incense that included 11 different species that when mixed together they would have an amazing aroma that would make G-d happy. The Keli Yakar explains on the pasuk that brings down the spices that there is one spice called the Helbena (galbanum) that was really stinky.

The Keli Yakar explains that the helbena is needed in the ketoret even if it smells bad because the smelly spice resembles the poshim of Israel, the sinners and all the sinners are also a group of Israel. There is a concept of kol yisrael arevim ze la ze. This means that every Jew is responsible for his fellow Jew. Whatever action you take affects my life and vice versa. The Ketoret is coming to teach us that every Jew has a role and even those that sin against Hashem. Why? Because the sinners that do teshuva (repentance) have all their sins change into merits when the teshuva is done out of love and then they also add to the 'bag' of mitzvot in the world to make the world seem stronger in holiness and purity.

The Torah does NOT teach us to do sins in order to repent, however; if a Jew does fall then he needs to remember that there IS a way back and a way to fix the damage! Also, tip for Purim, Helbena has a numerical value of Haman to teach us that sometimes Hashem brings evil people in the world to threaten the Jews to repent and get closet to Hashem if the state of the generation is that bad.

Judaism=Think.

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CLD #890

This morning the students at Yeshiva Ba'alei Da'at had the privilege to sit in a class on the Parasha, Parashat Tetzaveh given by Rabbi Haim Levy. The Rabbi walked us through the beautiful teachings of the Mishkan and the clothing of the Kohen Gadol (the high priest that would walk into the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur) and how each piece of clothing atones for another major sin that occured in the desert in our travels from Egypt to the Land of Israel.

By one of the commentaries on the Torah, the Keli Yakar's beautiful commentary brings down a source to break down the reasoning of the atonement regarding one of the articles of clothing worn by the Kohen Gadol. The source is the Talmud on tractate Baba Batra and explains how the worst type of torture is to be a captive. The Gemara explains how a captive includes all the sufferings and misfortunes that exist. Being in a state of no control causes an individual to experience the most suffering.

There is a beautiful piece of Torah by Rabbi Avigdor Neventzhal shlit'a, the Senior Rabbi of the Old City. He explains before Pesakh that an individual is truly free when he is connected to the Torah and Mitzvot. However, an individual who is not is most likely under the reign of his desires and the worldly materialistic view of the world. 

Think about it:

An individual who is controlled by society needs to buy the newest smartphone, then the most luxurious car, his children need to wear the most fresh brand name clothing and he must have the most youngest-looking wife on the block or else he is no accepted. 

In a world of Torah and Mitzvot this is not the primary motivation of one's life! An individual was created in the world to overcome his physical desires and the only way to do that in a perfect path to success it through Torah and Mitzvot. There are only a few Mitzvot an individual must do on a daily basis and IT IS POSSIBLE.

You can change the world, you just need to believe in yourself!

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CLD #889

When we are born we are already brought into a mindset of giving up our entire selves to G-d. At the age of 8 days we go under the knife, at the age of 3 we are already forced to say verses from the Torah and by 13 wrap some leather skin on our body with boxes and parchments inside them and everything becomes so bland.

That is the lifestyle of an individual who sees Judaism as a burden. The truth is that our Torah provides freedom from the rush and stress of today's society. Instead of feeling trapped to the Torah's laws a Jew should be proud to be under the umbrella of Hashem's protection. We constantly have an inner battle between our Neshama, the soul, and our body, the guf. The physical is always in a war zone with the spiritual. Our soul, which what makes us become a living thing that is created in the image of G-d, pleads to be the primary reason for the Jew's actions. The reason I sleep is to get energy to do Mitzvot tomorrow. The reason I eat is to say berachot, blessings. The reason I smile is to uplift another person's day. If we see our life as an opportunity to grow and connect with Hashem and the people around us what was written on top looks and seems ridiculous. David Hamelech writes in Tehillim that if only an individual tastes a little bit of a life with G-d he just experiences goodness all day. The Holy Ohr Hachaim also writes on The Torah that if an individual will really know what The Torah is all about he will continuously desire for Torah and become so in love with it he will reach a state of insanity!

How lucky are we to be the children of G-d and have the opportunity to use our mouths to speak to Him whenever we want!

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CLD #888

A Jewish life entering this world can be easily compared to a new fresh and clean soccer ball. Due to the generation we are currently living in, it is common to bring children to a world that is not open to a religious lifestyle and therefore people are raised without a strong foundation for Torah.

Therefore, the life of a Jew, this soccer ball, slowly becomes contaminated with 'sins,' or simply with stains. Slowly slowly the ball becomes dirtier and dirtier and the stains become dry and yucky. It fills up around the entire ball to the point that people do not want to get near it because they are disgusted by its state. This soccer ball one day experiences rain falling down from the sky and starts to look cleaner. When the sun comes out and the rain stops it still has some stains on it but not like before. It gets to a point where the ball slowly slowly becomes cleaner and only then does it get chosen to be played around with back to its happy state.

The same is with a Jew. Unfortunately we fall to the hands of the Yetzer Hara, our Evil Inclination, and follow our desires to behave against the Torah's values and laws. We end up contaminating ourselves with the world's pleasures and distance from Hashem. The goal is to splash some water on ourselves, some laundry detergent; this can only be done through the means of Torah, Mitzvot, saying blessings for food, after using the bathroom, speaking to Hashem through prayer like speaking to a friend on the subway, connecting to religious friends...etc.

B"H may we become closer to G-d and love ourselves enough to realize we are more valuable than falling to our Evil Desire and keep our own "soccer ball" clean!

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CLD #887

Shabbat Shalom & Hodesh Tov!

This year's Rosh Hodesh Adar Aleph began Thursday night and will end G-d willing Motzei Shabbat nightfall (Saturday night).

The mazal (symbol) of Adar is Dagim, which means fish. In the book Hai VeKayam it explains that reason that Adar represents fish is because during this time of the year fish tend to mate and reproduce. The fish are creatures that reproduce and receive shefa (blessing) from the Heavens in a hidden way, under the water, so noa other animal is jealous of the fish. Not but not least, the Jewish people represent fish: just like fish cannot live in a habitat outside of water, so too Jews cannot survive in a habitat outside of Torah, as Torah is compared to water.

In history, there were two main events that happened in Adar that 'lifted up' the Torah, just like the fish mate so too it is as if the Torah reproduced and greatened in the world. The first is the birth (and death) of our Rabbi, Moshe Rabbenu on the 7th of Adar and the second is the miracle of Purim, which was a nation-wide acceptance upon the nation of Israel to accept the entire Torah willingly. [The Oral Torah was accepted forcefully as G-d carried Mount Sinai over our heads and forced us to accept the Oral Torah.] This fact stayed true until Purim came where after Haman and Amalek people were killed in battle and then the Jewish nation accepted the Torah willingly.

Adar is a time to refrain from showing off and acting like fish, that do everything hiddenly, as the Talmud teaches (tractate Taanit) that blessing is not received unless the individual acts hiddenly without eyes looking at him.

B'H this month we should celebrate many semakhot, including the coming of the Mashiakh and for everyone to reach true understanding and meaning of Torah and its meaning in the world.

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CLD #886

Us Jews usually aim to conquer this world in spiritual terms, such as doing Mitzvot and helping others so we can gain an advantage to get a first class ticket to Olam Haba, a.k.a. The World To Come (the Afterlife). Our Sages teach us that on the first days of The Creation G-d created light and darkness, but this light was stored in G-d's storage to be saved for the Tzadikkim (the righteous ones) for The World to Come.

This spiritual light is a total goodness that cannot be explained in simple words. It is beyond our capability of thinking. Therefore, most of us sadly aim to do Mitzvot, help others and accomplish spiritual tasks in order to enjoy from this light in The World to Come. However, the excitement of living a life of Torah should NOT mainly be for The World to Come, in reality an individual who lives in this world with accomplishing Torah and Mitzvot lives TO THE FULLEST in this world.

We always run to do things for The World to Come but if we take a minute to just look around us and see how beautiful a life of a Jew who keeps Torah and Mitzvot is we will RUN to continue doing more Mitzvot and living life CONNECTED to Hashem. 

Start looking around you and see how valuable a life of Torah is compared to a life of materialism and disconnection from the reality of life's gifts and beauties. The best part of all this is that an individual who chases this world to fill it up with Torah and Mitzvot will definitely reach that enjoyment of the "light" that Hashem created in the first days of Creation.

Smile, cuz G-d loves you.

Judaism=Think.

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CLD #885

Our Parasha this week begins with Vayehi, this is speech in the Torah that symbolizes sadness.
Rabbi Nissim Levy shlit'a explains a beautiful concept about the reasoning behind why the Torah testifies that there is sadness in the time of Israel leaving Egypt.

The Pasuk states: "It came to pass when Paroah let the people go." The question stands: why is the Torah testifying that there is language of sadness? If anything it should be completely the opposite!

Rav Nissim explains that Paroah was the one who was sad out of everyone. But an individual should ask: why was Paroah sad? The people who came into his country who destroyed everything in the end, these are the people who caused his first born to die!

But no, the Pasuk states in the Torah that Paroah let the people go, the people who are now A NATION. Rav Levy explains that this nation that Paroah saw before him leaving Egypt was THE NATION that was in the desert led by Moshe. It was THE NATION that was split up into 4 camps representing the 4 directions of the world, East South West North. On each side were 3 tribes of Israel, making up the 12 great tribes.

Paroah saw what he lost. Paroah saw what was not under his control anymore. He was upset because he KNOWS THE POWER OF ISRAEL!

The question ends off like this: do we, us Jews, know our own power? Our own potential? Do we appreciate our Judaism? Do we love ourselves?

B'H with the divine essence of the Holy Shabbat we should keep it to understand that Shabbat is the ultimate testimony that G-d exists. If we do not keep Shabbat, we testify that Hashem did not (G-d forbid) create the world.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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CLD #884

What is the difference between The Jewish Nation during the 10 Plagues and while they were

experiencing the splitting of the Red Sea?

During the 10 Plagues Hashem took out the philosophy of "G-d created the world but He does not manage every small detail of my life."

When the splitting of the Red Sea occurred, not only did the nation understand that Hashem "runs the show," but He also implanted in them this understanding of "it does NOT matter what spiritual level you are at for me to REDEEM YOU!"

This concept is fundamental for our everyday lives. We are at a point in history where for a Jew to stay religious, to spiritually grow and bloom to become a big Rabbi is unheard of without many difficult spiritual obstacles. Also, unfortunately we are in a generation with many difficult nisyonot and tragic events such as health issues for loved ones, financial disruptions, and other tragic events. 

WE MUST BELIEVE THAT HASHEM CAN AND WANTS TO REDEEM US!

WE JUST NEED TO LET HIM ENTER OUR LIVES!

G-d willing may we decide to live WITH Hashem and not wait for Hashem to decide to live with us, because He wants to.

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CLD #883

What is tefillin all about?

Tefillin, the boxes that a Jew is obligated to wear everyday, are one of the three fundamental

signs that a Jew is the son of G-d. 

The other two are:

Shabbat

Circumcision

All these symbolic activities show that G-d is running the world.

Shabbat is the testimony that a Jew believes in G-d's creation of the world in 6 days and on the 7th day He rested by avoiding certain melachot (activities forbidden on the Sabbath day such as erasing, cutting, planting, writing, painting, etc.).

The Berit Milah (circumcision) is a testimony that began with our forefather, Avraham, who accepted this commandment at the age of 99 and made all his household circumcise themselves. This shows the uttermost belief in G-d since an individual gives over his entire being, flesh and blood to G-d and states: G-d is running the world, my body and my life.

The Tefillin are another form of showing those around that G-d is the Creator of the World. The Ramban in last week's Parasha writes that before the exile from Egypt people in the world did not believe in G-d fully (he categorizes the non-believers into 3 groups). When Hashem caused the nation of Israel to escape Egypt, He literally showed the entire world His power since it was above nature for them to leave the most powerful country (and that they saw in astrology that the stars testified that Israel were going to be slaves forever).

After the exile Hashem commanded Moshe to make these Tefillin and place inside them four portions from the Torah that talk about Hashem, His miracles, the miracle of the exile from Egypt and other Mitzvot like learning and teaching Torah, placing a Mezuzah on the doorpost, etc. The Tefillin are placed above the hairline and by the muscle bulge on the bicep to symbolize Hashem's Torah subjugating the mind and the heart to follow in the way of Hashem.

G-d willing with this CLD we will get the strength to continue posting and reviving theCLD experience.

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CLD #882

A delicious Devar Torah by the Ben Ish Hai ZTK’L on our Parasha, Parashat Beha’alotcha. There is a part of the Parasha where we find Moshe Rabbenu, the greatest Rabbi and Prophet and individual of all time, pleading to Yitro to stay with am Yisrael and not return to Midyan! The Ben Ish Hai brings down that Hashem loves gerim (converts) and the greatest convert in the Torah is Yitro.

The question is why? What is so special about a convert? There is a difference between a Jew by conversion and a Jew from birth. The Jew by conversion does not know the way of Judaism, he did not grow up with it and everything is foreign and new to him. The convert is changing his nature and battling his Evil Inclination on an hourly basis to stay in line with Judaism and the Torah! The convert is constantly perfecting himself and getting closer to Hashem. The Ben Ish Hai adds beautifully and explains that the Gemara;s story between Rabi Akiva and Rabi Eliezar.

One time there was a decree on the Jewish people in the times of the Talmud and Rabi Eliezer prayed for the nation and nobody saw salvation or any rescue in sight. When Rabi Akiva began praying RIGHT AWAY everything worked out! The Gemara explains that because Rabi Akiva ma’avir al midotav is an individual who is of great ba’al middot and keeps on surrendering his anger, stubbornness, impatience, etc, his tefillot (prayers) are answered. The Ben Ish Hai explains that because Rabi Akiva was a son of converts he also had to change his nature to become a better person, unlike Rabi Eliezer who was from a righteous family!

How much more can we say about the typical ba’al teshuva (an individual who changes his/her entire life to get close to G-d and tries to observe the Torah)?! I think today we can say that a person who goes to yeshiva, who begins putting on tefillin every morning, who decides to start wearing more modest skirts, who says I will wear a kippa today: these individuals are the most precious in the eyes of G-d! B’H we should understand that TODAY is the time to make these life changes and set spiritual goals and a new direction and not after we are married or when we need to start parenting our children. Shabbat Shalom!

Judaism=Think.

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CLD #881: The Logic Behind Learning Torah

When we take a moment to understand what the Torah is and who we are in the context of the world we really begin to LOVE Hashem. In reality, Judaism is divided into two major sections: Loving G-d (Ahavat Hashem) and Fearing G-d (Yirat Hashem). Our Sages (Hachamim) teach us in various places that the entire Jew’s life is supposed to direct him/her to a service of loving G-d.

However, there is a catch. The only way to reach this love of G-d is by fearing Him first! How does this make sense? Imagine a father and son. Everyone knows from an outside perspective that the father loves his son, however; the son might not always see that. For example if the son is three years old and he is playing in a playground. All of a sudden the ball rolls out of the playground area and start heading for the street where there are cars passing by once in a while. The boy obviously runs after the ball.

A moment passes and the father is already running after his boy. “What did you do?! How many times do I need to tell you never to run after the ball!!” The boy is crying and yelling about not being able to get the ball, but in reality WHO CARES if the boy is scared of his father?! The boy is still healthy and alive! He won’t understand until he is older.

The same goes for us in life. We go through intense obstacles that avoid us from reaching spirituality because we think we can live life without fear of G-d and follow society’s trends of “free for all” lifestyle. The answer is to know that the only way to BEGIN to love G-d is by fearing Him! As David HaMelech (who died on Shavuot) writes in Psalms (111:9) Reshit Hochma Yirat Hashem…the peak and zenith of wisdom is FEARING G-D! Now it makes sense. The entire reason of Judaism is to love G-d and Judaism is wisdom, so therefore the only way I can reach this wisdom is by fearing G-d and then I can reach loving G-d. If you now ask how to begin fearing G-d the answer is simple: Learning Torah.

B’H through the holiday of Shavuot, the time when we celebrate the wedding  of Shavuot between us and Hashem as a nation and the receiving of the Torah, we should all come to realize that without learning Torah in my daily schedule my connection with Hashem is not strong! Celebrate Shavuot with Torah learning!

Hag Sameakh!

Judaism=Think.

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CLD #880

When an individual performs the Mitzvah of Berit Milah (circumcision) on his 8 day old baby there are two special Berachot (blessings) that they say during this day. The first isAl HaMilah (the blessing stating the commandment of doing a Berit Milah) and the second is Lehikanes Leberito Shel Avraham Avinu (which is the blessing to continue the special covenant that was created between our forefather, Avraham, and Hashem). This shows that besides for the actual performance of the Mitzvah, there is also a connection that is created between the Jews and Hashem.

In regards to Shavuot, the central theme is Torah learning and the continuation of Torah throughout history. The two special berachot that an individual says every morning in Birkot HaTorah are Asher Kideshanu…Al Divrei Torah (to stress the commandment of learning Torah) and the second is Asher Bakhar Banu (to stress the special choice that Hashem made that He specifically chose US as His nation).

Rav Pinkus in his sichot (discussions) on Shavuot explains that on Shavuot, on the day of receiving the Torah, not only did we receive Mitzvot (special commandments that make us close to Hashem and receive eternal goodness), but also we received a special golden lock on our hearts that makes us Asher Bakhar Banu. We are chosen. Yes, you and me are chosen by Hashem went placed in front of ALL THE OTHER NATIONS.

Hashem literally tells us on Shavuot night: I WANT YOU! I WANT YOU TO BE CLOSE TO ME! I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE YOU! And what do we have to do? Eat with our family, say berachot, go to Shul, enjoy singing and praising G-d, learning our holy Torah! What a simkha (happiness)!

Hag SAMEAKH!

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)! 

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CLD #879

In this week’s Parasha, Parashat BaMidbar, not only do we start a new book of the Five Books ofTorah but we also go in depth into the organization of how the tribes traveled throughout the desert during the 40 year journey. The Hida ZY'A in his book Nahal Kedumim picks up on a beautiful part of this explanation of their journey.

If someone analyzes the Parasha and its description of the Shevatim (tribes) and how they managed around the Mishkan (Tabernacle), you can see a similarity. How did they camp? There were four groups of three tribes meaning for each direction (N,E,S,W) there would be three tribes together. The first group on the east consisted of Yehuda, Yisachar and Zevulun. The southern part of the camp at large included Reuven, Shimon and Gad. On the western side Efrayim, Menashe and Binyamin camped together. Finally the northern section included Dan, Asher and Naftali.

 

The Hida ZY’A notices a similarity that is remarkable. We know from the beginning of the Parasha that Hashem explains in the Torah that each Shevet (tribe) had a leader to it. When looking at the arrangement, one can see that the leaders of the middle tribe in each direction around the Mishkan had a similarity.

East Side Middle Tribe = Yisachar (Leader: Netanel ben Tzuar)

South Side Middle Tribe = Shimon (Leader: Shelumiel ben Tzurishadai)

West Side Middle Tribe = Menashe (Leader: Gamliel ben Pedatzur)

North Side Middle Tribe= Asher (Leader: Pagiel ben Ochran)

The Hida ZY’A says that each first name of the Middle Tribe Leader in each section around the Mishkan ended with one of Hashem’s names: El (which symbolizes strength). This is a hidden message in the Torah to state that Hashem’s Divine Presence is present in ALL of Am Yisrael, there is no such thing as one group having no spirituality or G-dly existence! The second hiddush (Torah teaching) that the Hida ZY’A explains is that the order of these tribes’s sacrifice giving (each one on a different day) makes up Hashem’s name. Yisachar gave on the 2^nd day, Shimon on the 5^th, Menashe on the 8^th and Asher on the 11^th. If you add 2+5+8+11, this equals 26 which is Hashem’s name in Gematriya.

What an uplifting way to end off Rosh Hodesh and enter Shabbat Kodesh tonight by thinking about Hashem’s presence and protection in our lives when singing Lecha Dodi!

Shabbat Shalom and Hodesh Tov!

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)! 

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CLD #878

Be’ezrat Hashem (with G-d’s help) Shavuot arrives in FOUR NIGHTS. Are we ready? How can we be ready for such a holy night?! Shavuot is The Night that changed the History of the World! It is the night the Torah was brought down from The Heavens into Moshe Rabbenu’s hands to teach us until the end of time.

The Torah is simply a guideline of how to live life to the fullest with religious inspiration and to strengthen the connection we have with Hashem. Our mission in life is to push us to recognize G-d’s reign and kingship in the world. This is why the Torah constantly urges us to do Mitzvot because a Mitzvah is another channel to recognize Hashem.

In the famous book Michtav Me’Eliyahu by Rav Dessler TZK’L, the Rav explains that there are two different extremes of personalities in the world. People are broken down into a Notel (a taker) or a Noten (a giver). There is no such direction of identity building in the middle. Either you revolve your life to giving or you don’t realize that you immerse yourself with taking.

Rav Dessler explains that an individual who aims to give throughout their life will become a successful Jew that constantly sees their relationship with Hashem becoming stronger and stronger. We should all urge eachother to become givers. But what does this have to do with Shavuot? The beauty is in the simple understanding of G-ds kindness in giving us the Torah: The Torah is the source of energy in the world. When Hashem gave us the Torah 3,325 years ago He really transferred to us the source of success! He said all you have to do is learn it and practice it, then you can become the decision makers in the world! By Hashem GIVING us the Torah we are “takers,” so what does Hashem want from us? He literally teaches us to be takers! The answer is that only from the power of learning and practicing the Torah we can train ourselves to become the NUMBER ONE GIVER!

 

There is no such thing as becoming more selfish after living the Torah, you just automatically become a giver.

Judaism=Think.

Shabbat Shalom & Hodesh Tov!

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CLD #877

The Parshiyot this week are intense, Parashat Behar and Behukotai have different studies that all relate to one thing: each study and action lead to a greater connection by livingwith Hashem. Parashat Behar breaks down the laws of the Sabbatical Year (Shemitah) and the Fiftieth Year (Jubilee/Yovel), which all have to do with parnassah (livelihood). Then Behukotai goes into the depths of what happens to us if we, G-d forbid, violate and don’t listen to the Torah’s laws. The results are scary, filled with curses of diseases, plagues, wars, etc. that are in the Torah to wake us up to live a Jewish life with happiness because there is so much reward in this world (obviously in Olam Haba as well) after following Hashem’s ways.

One the central Pesukim throughout this week’s Torah reading is the first Pasuk (verse) in the second Parasha (VaYikrah 26:3), Parashat Behukotai. The first pasuk of the Parasha is an introductory Pasuk that goes into the rewards the Jewish people will receive if they follow the Torah. The second Pasuk already begins stating that all the fruits of the land will be healthy fruit, will grow in a natural manner and everything will simply work out well, etc.

Rashi on these two Pesukim teaches two different things, but we may want to connect them to see how this relates to us TODAY. Sometimes we complain about what Hashem gave us: I am too angry of a person, I love eating, I always have back pain, I never succeed in academics/school, I continuously fail at business, my mind is not fit for the technology world, etc. If an individual sits for three minutes they can list five to ten issues they have with themselves.

On the first Pasuk Rashi writes that there is already another place in the Torah that commands us to keep the Mitzvot. So why does Hashem write to keep the Mitzvot again? Rashi learns that this is to teach us that one should be living a life with a schedule that includes Torah learning! They should live the Torah by learning it. The second Pasuk says what will happen from this: the Jewish people will celebrate life with amazing fruits that are nutritious and filling. They will see no curse in their produce. Rashi says that the type of tree that is discussed in the Pasuk (VaYikrah 26:4), Ez HaSadeh, is not a fruit tree! The great part of this Pasuk is that Rashi explains that if an individual keeps the Mitzvot (as written in the Pasuk before), Hashem will have TREES THAT BEAR NO FRUITS PRODUCE FRUIT!

This comes to teach us that if an individual keeps the Mitzvot, which as taught before means learns Torah and then lives Torah, they will “produce fruit” even in places where they thought no fruit (result) can be produced! This comes to teach us that whatever issue and problem we have in this world (examples listed above) can be resolved from the greatness of Torah learning! Our Hachamim (Sages) taught us that the days of Shabbat and Yamim Tovim were brought to the world to inspire us to Learn Torah!

Shabbat Shalom!

Judaism=Think.

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CLD #876

This CLD is for the Ilui Neshama of my Grandfather, Avraham ben Ester Z'L who passed away two years ago on this very day. With G-d's great help I had the zechut (privilege) to do a siyum and have cake at Yeshivat Shuva Israel tonight for finishing Seder Zerayim in Shas Mishnayot. 

The Hid'a (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai) ZTK'L writes in one of his EIGHTY books that each Seder in Mishnayot (broken down into six different sedarim) are examples for each type of perfection in this world. For example, the tikkun (perfection) that corresponds to the Seder of Zerayim (agriculture) is Tikkun Ha'Achila (the perfection of eating). The words of our Hachamim (Sages) teach us that each individual needs to eat like a human being during meals and not pig out on food like an animal.

Just like there is a tikkun for staying pure and holy in regards to running away from idolatry, murder, sexual immorality, slander, gossip, etc., there is also a great effort in a Jew's life to perfect the way they eat. These have a direct connection since the last word in Seder Zerayim (which is the Seder that corresponds to the perfection of eating) is HaMikdash (the Holy Temple), which signifies purity.

This shows us that everything that has to do with life is written in the Torah. The fact that purity and eating are directly connected is not something new to the world since we know we are always in a battle between our physical desires and the satisfaction of our neshama (soul). So B'H besides for the Mishnayot being a Ilui Neshama for Saba Avraham Z'L, they should also be a lifting for all of Am Yisrael to be in the generaiton of the Mashiakh and to continue servicing Hashem with a smile!

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)! 

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CLD #875

Ki Kol Ish Asher Bo Mum Lo Yikrav Ish Iver o’Piseakh o’Huram o’Saruah (VaYikrah 21:18)

The pasuk on top explains that Kohanim (holy priests of the Bet HaMikdash) who have blemishes or are blind are not allowed to bring the sacrifices to the alter in the Bet HaMikdash. That is a beautiful piece of law and great for the Third Bet HaMikdash when Mashiakh comes and for Kohanim but at the end of the day, what does this have to do with me?

Sometimes we think we are perfect, we have 100% health, we are young and beautiful, everything seems so right. Even though we do need to thank Hashem for our health and use it for the greatest way of living with Hashem, we still need to remember that we are always put in specific places in life to perfect our middot (characteristic traits and behavior). Sometimes we are placed in difficult situations just to pray to Hashem and yell: HELP ME! Why? Because if Hashem loves us, He wants us close to Him like a father who loves his son. He wants to hear from us all the time, so therefore he puts us in situations that will make us come back and plead: Aba, I need your advice!

This Pasuk from our Parasha, Parashat Emor, comes to teach us to strengthen ourselves because sometimes we are spiritually blemished in our outlook and think what is true is false and what is right is wrong. Its to put us in a place of prayer to ask G-d for the correct outlook in our decision making. For example, someone might think that learning Torah all day is an actual disaster for society! Who will take care of all society’s issues? Who will make sure that X, Y, Z will get accomplished?! On the other hand, an individual with a spiritual mindset will see that this person is completely off and needs to work on their Bitakhon (trust in Hashem) and Emunah (belief in Hashem) because after all, if Hashem created the world I am pretty sure He knows how to run it and get X, Y, Z done.

This all connects to keeping Shabbat and resting on Shabbat Kodesh! When an individual has Shabbat they literally testify every week over and over again: G-d, I know you are in control of the world and when I am doing the Mitzvot you command me, whatever I think I am “losing out on” by keeping Shabbat I know you will take care of me and watch over me that in the end not only will I not lose out, but I will become more successful than everyone else.

Shabbat Shalom!

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)! 

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