1) In the Bracha of "Barech Aleinu" in Shemona Esrei, the Bracha where we request Parnassah from Hashem, in the winter months we insert the words "V'Sein Tal U'Matar L'Vracha, [Hashem please] Give us dew and rain for blessing [i.e. in its right time and in abundant supply]", in place of "V'Sein Bracha, [Hashem please] give us [abundant] blessing, that is recited in the summer months." (See Mishna Berura Siman 114:14)
2) In Eretz Yisroel [and its surrounding cities] "V'Sein Tal U'Matar L'Vracha" is inserted [instead of V'Sein Bracha] beginning on the seventh day of the month of Cheshvan, whereas in Chutz L'Aretz it isn't said until sixty days after the Tekufah of Tishrei (The autumn equinox), which according to the current way of calculating falls out on December 4 th or 5th. (See
Shulchan Aruch Siman 117:1. According to the Abudreham, When February
has 28 days we start on December 4 and when February has 29 days we
start on December 5)
V'Sein Tal U'Matar is said until Erev Pesach. On Motzaei Yom Tov of the first days of Pesach, we begin saying "V'Sein Bracha". (ibid.)
If
the image of Jacob's ladder was not the most spectacular prophetic
vision ever, it certainly comes close. In his dream, Jacob saw a ladder
planted firmly on the ground yet reaching all the way into the heavens,
and as he watched in utter fascination, he saw angels ascending and
descending the ladder.
Then
he wakes up, and lo and behold, it was all a dream. Jacob is shaken,
and he reacts rather strangely. How can it be, he laments, that I am in
the presence of the Almighty and did not even know it? No expressions of
transcendent joy. No ecstatic expansion of the mind as a result of his
sublime prophecy. Just chagrin. Why?
Our
Sages tell us that he was mortified that he had actually slept in such a
holy place. But even this does not fully answer the question. After
all, what is so terrible about sleeping on hallowed ground? And if it
was really such a terrible transgression, why did the Almighty reward
him with this prophetic dream?
The
commentators explain that Jacob was disappointed because he had missed
an extraordinary opportunity. Had he known that he stood on hallowed
ground, had he known he was actually standing in the presence of the
Almighty, he would have concentrated on having an even more intense
prophetic encounter with Him. But he had been completely oblivious to
his surroundings. Indeed, he had gone to sleep!
He
could have risen to incredible spiritual levels. He could have attained
the most profound prophetic insights. He could have penetrated the
deepest secrets of the universe. But he went to sleep. He did have a
phenomenal prophetic vision in his dream, but that was where it stopped.
So much potential unfulfilled. Such a great opportunity lost. It is
little wonder that Jacob awoke disappointed.
A young man came to study in the academy of a great sage. He listened to the sage expound his thoughts and was
amazed at their profound wisdom. He bent over the revered texts and
pored over every single words in awe. A feeling of humility swept
through his soul.
"Oh, what a nothing I am," he muttered under his breath. "What a miserable ignorant nothing."
The sage overheard his words and called him closer.
"Young man," he said, "why do you consider yourself a nothing?"
"Because I am weak, a salve to my physical needs and desires." "I see. And why did you come here?"
"To learn from you."
"If
you wish to stay here and be successful," said the sage, "then you
cannot consider yourself a nothing. After all, if you are truly nothing,
how can you possibly retain wisdom? No, my young friend. Humility is a
very good trait, but know your own worth. Know the sublimity of your
soul and give it what it deserves."
In
our own lives, we sometimes fall asleep on hallowed ground. Driven down
by the pressures of everyday life, we can easily fall into the trap of
deprecating our own worth.
We
consider our shortcomings and our failures, and we tell ourselves we
have no business setting our sights very high. But this is a serious
mistake.
Never
sell yourself short. You are hallowed ground. You possess a holy soul
that is a spark of the divine. You are endowed with incredible spiritual
treasures and resources. You have a kind nature and a generous spirit.
Most
important of all, you are a descendant of the patriarchs, a custodian
of the holy Torah here on this world. Your potential is incalculable.
You have it within your grasp to reach for the sublime. Don't fall
asleep on the job. Don't wake up disappointed after it is too late. Open
your eyes and experience the exhilaration of fulfillment.
Submitted by daily reader; Taken from Rabbi Naftali Reich at www.Torah.org
Important Numbers
