Monthly Archives: January 2014

BS’D

Today, 5th of Shevat, is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yehudah Leib Alter ztk’l (1847-1905), leader of the Ger chassidic dynasty. Rabbi Alter is better known as the “Sfas Emes,” the title of his book of insights into the Bible, Jewish thought and holidays. He built up Ger as the largest chassidic group in Poland prior to the Holocaust, numbering 250,000. The son of Sfas Emes escaped the Nazis, and came to Israel, where he oversaw the rebuilding of the Ger community, which remains vibrant till today (Aish.com) May his zechut protect us, Amen!

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By observing the wondrous creation and admiring the infinite wisdom in every aspect of this world,  one can reach a level of love, praise and appreciation towards Hashem. At the same time, this leads a person to feel a sense of smallness as Dovid HaMelech ztk’l writes in tehillim (144:3), “Hashem, what is man that You should know him, the son of man, that You should consider him?” Within the vast greatness of Hashem’s being, He still ‘knows’ us on a very intimate level through careful observation and closeness.  The idea that I am so important to Hashem and merit His personal attention certainly causes an influx of love.

The Rambam ztk’l teaches us that we cannot love an object if we are unaware of it.  Meaning, that one’s love for someone is in direct proportion to how much knowledge he has of him.  In order to increase our love of Hashem, much of our time should be invested in learning the purpose of our soul’s existence and our mission in the scheme of creation. This too creates immense love for Hashem when we realize what an important task we hold.

Fear of Hashem comes as a result of learning practical wisdom.  After we beseech Hashem’s help and are enveloped in His love and care, we feel immense gratitude as we realize how much we are dependent on Him.  A wise man values his yirah since he recognizes that trusting in Hashem is vital to his existence.  Without a trembling awareness that life has consequences and benefits beyond this world, we cannot embrace the entire picture of Hashem’s awesomeness.

Ahavah is created through the study and recognition of all of the good that Hashem does for us.  Yet yirah stems from a place of understanding that there is an accounting of every move, down to the minute detail, and all will be taken into consideration in the realm of the World to Come.

We need both.  Hashem is our loving Father who wants only for our best but is nonetheless just and exact in His intervention and guidance.

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Yaakov Akiva ben Feiga.  He is a young father of three boys in the hospital. Please daven for Yaakov Akiva ben Feiga that he merit a complete recovery amongst all those in Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen!

BS’D

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On Shabbat we sing songs of tehillot v’tishbachot (praises) to Hashem for all the goodness He showers onto Klal Yisrael.  Perek 124 in Tehillim is such a song of praise to Hashem regarding the future redemption.  We thank Hashem glorifying Him; for had He not come to our aide the nations around us, “Then they would have swallowed us raw when their anger was kindled against us”  (124:3).

These perakim of Tehillim are songs that depict the future, since Shabbat symbolizes the future, ‘a world that is entirely Shabbat’, when all will be crystal clear.  At that time we will readily see all of the dangers that Hashem saved us from, “Blessed is Hashem, Who did not give us as prey for their teeth” (124:6). 

On Shabbat we are likened to caring angels whose only concern is to exalt Hashem’s name for we realize the great gift of Shabbat that was gifted solely to us.  Hashem chose to bestow His prized possession hidden in His special treasure box to us!  This gift is a foretaste of the World to Come which awaits us, B’H. Shabbat is an intimate relationship “between Me and the Children of Israel.”

When we complete the Torah reading of the weekly parsha in shul the words ascend and are taken by the merkava (the holy chariot) before Hashem Yitborach.  The words form a crown as we proclaim Hashem to be King and the Shechinah, the bride, rises to ‘join’ Him in complete unity.  Happy is Ahm Yisrael who sings the words of tehillim, tefillot and the reciting of the parsha thus bringing harmony up above.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Shabbat!

Today’s daily dose of emuna is dedicated to the refuah shleimah of Daniel Reuven ben Rivka Kayla.  He is young boy, in 6^th grade, who is in the 4^th and final stage of treatment for cancer.  He then moves into a two year maintenance program. The doctors are optimistic for a full recovery, B’H.  Please daven for Daniel Reuven ben Rivka Kayla that he merit a complete recovery amongst all those in Klal Yisrael who are sick and suffering b’karov, b’rachamim, Amen!

BS’D

Today’s daily dose is dedicated to the safe, easy and healthy birth and delivery of Elisheva Ruth bat Sarah Imeinu.  May we soon celebrate a new neshama in this world b’simcha!

If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the people in the world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet and small change in your pocket, you are amongst the 8% of people who are the richest in the world.

If you awoke this morning with more health than sickness, you are blessed more than those who will not feel this way.

If you have never experienced what it is like to live through war, be isolated in a prison cell, suffer through famine, you are blessed to not be amongst the 700 million people in the world who have.

If you can go anywhere without feeling a fear of threat and death, being scared of imprisonment or other distress than you are envied by 3 billion people who aren’t blessed to feel such tranquility.

If you can lift your head and smile, you are luckier than the many that cannot right now.

I am the first to send my ‘return receipt’ to the confirmation room; a huge note of thanks to Hashem for the many riches I was gifted with… many of which go unnoticed in the daily rat race of life.