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Inspirational words of Torah from Gedolei Yisroel.
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HASHEM IS CLOSE TO US - PREPARING OF TISHA B’AV
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As Rabbi Yochanon ben Zakkai was traveling, he noticed a poor woman picking grains of barley from a pile of garbage. She told the Rabbi that she is the daughter of Nakdimon ben Gurion, who was at one time the wealthiest man in Israel. When Rabbi Yochanon heard of this tragedy he cried out, "Happy are the People of Israel - When we fulfill HaShem’s will he protects us from the strongest nation; and when we don’t do HaShem’s will, He hands us over to the lowest nation."
We understand why Rabbi Yochanon said, "Happy are the People of Israel in a time when HaShem protects them from every nation." But why did he also say, "Happy are the People of Israel because when we don’t fulfill HaShem’s will, He hands us over to the lowest nation."
When a child misbehaves, the father will talk to the child and explain to him what he did wrong. In this case, the child knows that his father wants him to improve himself. As soon as the son shows the father that he understands his mistake, his father forgives and forgets. Whereas, if the child does something so awful that the father refuses to talk to him, the child has no way to know why his father is so upset. Even worse, the child has no way to reconcile himself with his father.
HaShem always conducts Himself with the People of Israel like the father, who encourages his son to correct his ways. In other words, He never severs His relationship with Klal Yisrael. One of the ways that we recognize that HaShem did not give up on us, is by the unusual turn of events in Jewish history. The sore troubles that we have endured, clearly demonstrates that HaShem is "talking to us" and He has not abandoned us to the natural course of events.
During these days before the Ninth of Av, may we realize that HaShem is next to us. As soon as we correct our ways, He will bring the final redemption and rebuild the Holy Temple.
[Based on Lev Eliyahu]
TODAY: Know that HaShem is with you and will never leave you. He will always readily accept your desire to improve.
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Posted 8/4/2008 12:00 AM |
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Elevating Our Brachos
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26 Tammuz 5768
By now, much of the Torah community has heard or read of the recent story of the young girl who did not eat for a couple of hours after she got home because her family had accepted upon themselves (as a zechus for their departed mother) not to recite a bracha unless there was someone present to answer Amen—and there was no one home to answer. The reward for her selfless act, as was revealed in a dream, was that another girl in her class was completely healed from an extremely serious illness.
In actuality, an extremely significant Sefer, HaMevorech Misborech by HaRav Yaakov Moshe Shechter, Shlita, was published prior to this event. In the sefer, HaRav Shechter demonstrates the power and effect that our daily brachos have, and how a mere change in the manner in which we make the brachos (which we are reciting anyway) every day, can literally guard our lives physically, enhance our lives spiritually and serve as a source of tremendous Shemira--guardian--for all of Klal Yisroel.
In this very special sefer, HaRav Shechter provides us with the following essential insights and information:
1. Rabbeinu Bachya (in the Kad HaKemach) writes that one who is careful with making brachos (both on Mitzvos and over food), “demonstrates the quality of his Emunah, the purity of his heart and testifies about himself that his Yahadus is deeply rooted within him.”
2. Similarly, the Rashba (to Brachos 7B), writes that proper recital of brachos causes an increase of Rachamim, of mercy, from HaKadosh Baruch Hu. The Maharsha (to Brachos 64A) adds that brachos are “marbeh shalom”--they increase the peace" between Klal Yisroel and our Father in Heaven.
3. It is said in the name of HaRav Elchonon Wasserman, Z’tl, H’YD, that, because the proper recitation of brachos can prevent “mageifos, machalos, u’pegoim raim min haolam--plagues, sicknesses, and negative events from occurring in the world,” if a person does not recite his brachos properly, he can actually be said to be violating the requirement of “Lo Saamod Al Dam Reyacha--do not stand idly by when your brother’s blood is being spilled” (Vayikra 19:16). “There is no greater cruelty than this, may Hashem spare us from it.”
4. There are many points to be made about the great maalos of being careful to recite “Meah Brachos”—100 brachos every day. We will refer to only a few here:
a. The Halacha regarding the requirement to recite 100 brachos every day is explicitly stated in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 46:3.
b. The basis for reciting 100 Brachos a day is the fundamental Pasuk in Devorim (10:12) which asks: “What does Hashem [actually, really] ask of you...” Chazal (Menachos 43B) teach about this Pasuk “Do not read it as: What {Ma} does Hashem ask of you?” but rather “One hundred {Me’ah} [brachos] is what Hashem asks of you.” This Chazal is far from a play on words. While many first associate 100 Brachos with Dovid HaMelech (when, upon his insistence, the people were careful to recite 100 Brachos daily, 100 people stopped dying daily), Rabbeinu Bachya and the Chida actually write that 100 brachos were recited in the times of Moshe Rabbeinu, but, over time, the requirement was forgotten. We were then, unfortunately, “reminded” to renew the practice by the plague in Dovid’s time. Indeed, the Bach (to Tur, Chapter 46) writes that reciting these brachos properly saves one from mortal danger…even in our time.
Hakhel Note: The Sefer Piskei Teshuvos (Orach Chaim, 46), brings a Ma’aseh with HaRav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach, Z’tl. A Torah scholar who was seriously ill came to visit him, seeking Chizuk in his illness. HaRav Auerbach responded that his best advice would be for the scholar to recite his daily brachos slowly and with Kavannah.
c. The Chida writes that there are 26 words in the Pasuk of “What does Hashem ask...”, and that the Pasuk begins with a Vav and ends with a Chaf (26, in total), indicating that Hashem’s Name of mercy (with the gematria of 26) will surround us in reward for our efforts in reciting the 100 Brachos properly.
d. There is a machlokes haposkim as to whether women are obligated to recite 100 brachos every day, or whether it is a mitzvas asei shehazman grama, from which women are exempt (but could perform!). The Shevet HaLevi, Shlita, and HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, Shlita, for instance, rule that women are exempt. HaRav Elyashiv, Shlita, and HaRav Ovadia Yosef, Shlita, rule that women, too, should recite 100 Brachos a day.
e. HaRav Shimshon Pincus, Z’tl, writes that if we were entitled to speak to Hashem 100 times a day, and spoke to Him properly those 100 times--it would be absolutely impossible for Hashem to be upset or angry with us. Need anything more be said?
f. For further detail on how to ensure that you recite 100 brachos every day, see the Mishna Berurah to the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 46, Seif Katan 14, and other commentaries to Shulchan Aruch there.
5. HaRav Yerucham Levovitz, Z’tl, teaches that if a person would know what goes on in his body from the time food enters his mouth until it is utilized or leaves, he would send a telegram home to his house not to worry, that everything went well. In a similar vein, HaRav Eliyahu Roth, Z’tl, taught, “Do you know what the bracha of Asher Yotzar is?! You have just undergone difficult and complicated surgery, which has been accomplished without anesthesia, and without terrible pain and suffering, by the greatest Doctor--and for free!!”
6. The Chayei Odom (5:26), writes that before making a bracha, one should reflect for a moment on the wondrous Chesed that Hashem has granted you with the fruit, the bread, etc.
7. Likewise, before concluding each bracha of Shemone Esrei--i.e., before Boruch Ata Hashem of each bracha, one should focus on the simple meaning of the bracha that he is about to make. The Tur (Orach Chaim 101) writes that there are exactly 113 words in the aggregate in the “chasimos” (from Baruch Ata Hashem on) of the brachos of Shemone Esrei --corresponding to the Tefillos Chana! How Powerful!
8. In compiling the thoughts of Chazal, Rishonim and Achronim, the HaMevarech Misborechconcludes that the following are practical means to maximize the literally super-human powers contained in one’s daily brachos. To the extent possible, one should recite them:
a. First thinking for a moment of “L’Mi Hu Mevorach, V’Al Ma Hu Mevorech--to Whom he is reciting the Blessing, and on what he is reciting the Blessing.”
b. aloud
c. slowly, with patience (even/especially if you are hungry)
d. clearly
e. pleasantly
f. while not doing anything else; and
g. sitting (for brachos over food).
9. The above simple change in one’s daily routine could truly effect a change in one’s entire life (and the lives of others around you). A person can feel a heightened sense of Kedusha, and can actually feel uplifted when making a bracha. If starting with “100 Brachos a Day” seems too difficult a task at first (although remember you are doing it anyway!), you can start with ten Brachos or so a day and build up at your own pace from there...
10. The Chida writes that the word Bereishis--the first word of the Torah--is an acronym for “B’Kol Rom Avorech Shem Hashem Tomid--I will bless Hashem out loud always.” Thus, with the first word in the Torah, Hashem has already signaled to us the purpose of our creation...
11. Finally, the Medrash Tanchuma (Bereishis) advises: “...and just as a person blesses Hashem, so does Hashem bless him!”
May beautiful Brachos abound in our World!
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Hakhel MIS
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Posted 7/31/2008 12:00 AM |
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A TIME FOR REBUILDING
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As we commence the Second Week of the Three Week period, we may address a fundamental question. Every year, for almost 2,000 years, we have been observing the very same Three Week period, beginning with the calamities that befell us on Shiva Asar B’Tammuz, and ending with the catastrophes that occurred on Tisha B’Av. There may be differences of Minhagim among the different communities, but the sullenness and solemnity of the days are common to them all. One may legitimately ask his Rabbi whether it is permitted to eat peanut butter ice cream with chocolate fudge topping and colored sprinkles during the Nine Days, and even receive a definitive response that it is not prohibited. However, a question of this sort emphasizes the "tofel" (even ice cream can be tofel, secondary), and disregards the "ikar" of the period that we are in.
So here is the fundamental question: Do we simply continue observing the period that we are now in the same way as we did last year--10 years ago and 20 years ago--or do we do something different? After all, on the one hand, we have been and are doing everything that we thought was, and is, right according to Halacha during this time--to the point that when we are doubtful, we ask a Rav. On the other hand, it does not appear that we have succeeded, for the Bais HaMikdash is still in ruins and we find ourselves in a world pervaded by terrorism and materialism, and with a value system completely incongruous to Torah. So perhaps we should try something different, something else, and something we have not done before. Perhaps we should approach the Churban and exile from a different angle. After all, in the business and professional world, if something does not work one way, you try another way, before giving up.
In order to deal with this dilemma, in order to determine whether we should continue doing the same (proper) things we have always been doing, and that our fathers and forefathers have been doing for hundreds upon hundreds of years--or whether we should do something else--we look to the analogy of our Gallus existence, as taught to school children. You may recall being taught that while in exile, we rebuild the Bais HaMikdash brick by brick, with every Mitzvah that we perform being at least one brick in the new, magnificent, everlasting, Third Bais HaMikdash.
Thus, as we continue to do what we are supposed to do, and as our ancestors have done over all these years, we are continuously building and building and building an edifice that we can simply not currently fathom. However, to continue the analogy, sometimes one can build faster if he has the right equipment, the right tools and the right skill. Yet at other times, the construction process may be quickened simply by pure effort, toil and exertion. In Egypt, for example, Chazal teach that the bitterness of our toil significantly curtailed the decreed term of our exile (the "quality" of the labor making up for the additional time that had to be spent there). It is for this reason, many teach, that Maror, the bitter herbs, are eaten **after** the Matzah on the night of the Seder--for through the Maror the redemption was hastened.
It is no secret that Tisha B’Av always falls on the same day of the week as the Night of the Seder (which is the reason, some explain, that we have the egg symbolizing mourning on the Seder Plate, and that some actually eat the egg at the beginning of the otherwise festive Seder Meal). Obviously, we are to learn from the Exodus from Egypt how we are to accomplish the Exodus from our current exile, as well.
We may therefore suggest that while we can and should continue to build the Third and Final Bais HaMikdash in the same manner as we have done in the past; there is room for us to perhaps further hasten the redemption by taking some new and different action so that those bricks are put up faster and faster. Picture the difference between viewing a bricklayer building a wall in regular motion, and watching him build that very same wall in "fast-forward." It will most certainly take a much shorter time for the wall to be completed.
Let us try to avoid the Maror, the bitterness, as the catalyst for a speedy redemption if at all possible. Instead, perhaps we should look at what caused the initial walls to fall in such a short period, as taught by Chazal. Over the next several days, b’li neder, we intend to mention some of these causes of destruction, which, if rectified, can be the means of redemption. We are assured in the "Nacheim" Tefillah that we recite on Tisha B’Av--for You, Hashem, with fire You consumed her, and with fire You will rebuild her…The same fire that destroyed, can and will rebuild.
Today, we will begin with the Chazal (Nedarim 81A) teaching that the reason we lost Eretz Yisroel was that: "They did not make the Bracha before studying Torah". Many find it difficult to learn that this means that the appropriate Bracha was not actually recited by the masses prior to Torah study. Rather, it is suggested that the Bracha was not recited with the sufficient feeling and thought, as is befitting Torah and all that it is and that it represents. After all, what makes me different from all of the nations, all other peoples, all of the beings around me? It is the Torah--with its Divine source, and the Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim that emanate directly and unabatedly from it. If we do not appreciate this, if we recite the Brochos hastily and/or sleepily, while walking in the home or to Shul, and not from a Siddur, then perhaps we ought to go out to (or stay in) Exile--among the nations--to study and finally appreciate what makes us different.
One tikun, one improvement that we can undertake over the next two weeks is to recite Birchos HaTorah a little more properly--from a Siddur, understanding the meaning of the words, and with an appreciation for what the Torah means to each one of us individually, and to us as a people. If we do, we may be laying some of those last rows of bricks--at a "fast-forward" pace!
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Reprinted with permission from Hakhel MIS
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Posted 7/29/2008 12:00 AM |
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17th of Tammuz and the Three Weeks.
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Today is the Seventeenth day of Tammuz, a fast day by Takanas HaNeviim, which is no small matter. If we look at the number 17, we will soon realize that it is concomitantly the Gematria of each of “Oy”, “Chait”, and “Tov”. Thus, we see that the power of the day need not only lie in the negative, but can and must extend to the positive and good, as well.
We typically remember that the first frightful event that happened on this day was Moshe Rabbeinu’s breaking of the Shnei Luchos which contained the Aseres Hadibros, as a result of the sin of the Golden Calf. If only the people had shown enough faith to wait one more day for their venerable and venerated leader, their happiness and dancing would have resulted in the greatest Simchas Torah ever(!). Instead, we still feel the pain from the torturous event.
In fact, there was one prior significant event on this fateful day which preceded the breaking of the Luchos. The Luach Dovor B’Ito writes that the Yona, the dove sent by Noach out of the Ark, could not find a place to land and so returned to the Teiva (Bereishis 8:8). The obvious question is, why would Noach bother sending the dove out without any indication whatsoever (from Hashem directly, or otherwise) that the waters had receded? Was he taking a stab in the dark? We may posit that Noach sensed or knew that the day was right for renewal and joy. The fact that the dove returned indicated to him that it was he and his family, representing all of mankind, who were the ones not ready for this renewal. The same lesson carried through on this date to the Golden Calf, and thereafter the subsequent tragedies on this day in which our people’s spiritual growth was stunted rather than cultivated.
Today and the three weeks in front of us should not be viewed as a burden to be overcome, evidence by our expression to others to have “an easy time of it.” Instead, it should be a meaningful and important time in which we hope, pray and take action. Depression and despair should not be the hallmark of these days, for they may evidence a breach or lack of faith which is the antithesis of spiritual growth. We should learn from the gift of gravity that Hashem has given us to always keep both feet firmly on the ground despite the forces working against us.
It is the custom of some to recite “Tikun Chatzos” during the Three Week period--some even in the middle of the day. We may not as yet be on this level. However, we should remember that every day, three times daily in Modi’im, we thank Hashem “for the goodness given to us in the evening, in the morning, and in the afternoon.” What goodness is it that Hashem gives us at these especially designated times? We suggest that it is Tefillah itself. If we can conclude the Yehi Ratzon at the end of Shemone Esrei with Kavana during these three weeks, three times a day, we will have sincerely davened for the Beis Hamikdash and our redemption more than 60 times during this short period! Rather than wallowing in self-pity, we will demonstrate a renewal of our faith and have beautifully affirmed our supreme goals.
In the merit of our prayers, may we see with our own eyes the ultimate redemption at the beginning of the short period of special thought that lies ahead.
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Reprinted with permission from Hakhel MIS
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Posted 7/21/2008 12:00 AM |
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Important Numbers
