The following items -Shavuos related thoughts - have been emailed to me by various readers of "Halacha For Today" and I felt that it would be worthwhile to share it with the rest of you.
Please print out a copy or two and take with you to Shul or share with your families at the Yom Tov table.
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>> The following inspiring thought was heard from Rav Efraim Wachsman shlita in a talk about preparation for Kabolas Hatorah:
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>> As we know, Hashem approached all the different nations offering His treasure, the Torah, and they rejected it for their various reasons.
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>> It's hard to understand why they rejected it if they knew good and well what an incredible treasure it was. Rav Wachsman explains a reason why they rejected it.
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>> When Hashem approached the nations, He asked the Sarim (angels ) in shomayim who correspond to each nation on earth if they wanted the Torah, and they said we want to Torah because we know what a treasure it is , but we want it "Yetzar Hara free"...we want it when it fits into our lifestyle and when it's convenient for us when we are in the mood and of course as long as we don't have to work hard for it.
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>> Then,says Rav Iitzel Peterberger Zatzal, Hashem went to Klal Yisroel and WE gave the famous and enthuisiastic response, "Na'aseh V'Nishmah" and our intention with those words were "Al Daas Kein v'al M'nas Kein" is how we
>> accepted the Torah...
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>> Al Daas, v'al minas that there IS a Yetzer Hora and
>> that we'll have to work hard to acquire torah and to fulfill the mitzvos!
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>> That's how WE accepted the Torah!
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>> And we felt the obligation to keep the Torah everywhere all the time, not only just when it's easy and convenient...
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>> B'Ezras Hashem we should all be able to tap into that intention again this year and be mechazek ourselves to hold on to that attitude throughout Shavuos and the whole year.
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>> QUESTION:
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>> Is it better to stay awake the night of Shavuos or to sleep as usual so you should be able to Daven the next morning more successfully?
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>> ANSWER BY HARAV AVIGDOR MILLER ZATZAL:
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>> And the answer is, Klal Yisroel has undertaken this Minhag in order to underscore the importance of Matan Torah. You know, the night before Matan Torah was the most exciting night our nation ever saw. The next day they're going to hear the voice of Hashem. It was such an unusual occasion in the history of world, it was impossible to sleep that night. What they were doing I can't tell you exactly, they weren't saying Tikun Shavuos, but they certainly were preparing themselves for that great appointment on the next day.
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>> And therefore in memorial of that great occasion it's a wonderful demonstration when the Klal Yisroel does it. Of course if somebody is not well then he has a right to go to sleep, otherwise certainly it's recommended that this wonderful and beautiful Minhag in memorial of that great event where they were preparing for Matan Torah should be continued by Kol Yisroel.
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>> To subscribe to the weekly "A moment with Rabbi Miller" emails, Click here.
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>> *************
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>> Why Cheese cake?
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>> When we received the Torah we were considered newborn. Newborns are nurtured by milk. Milk represents the chesed, kindness of Hashem. So on Shavuos we're meant to feel as special, sweet, and cute as a newborn baby. We are Hashem's baby.
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>> So... when you're eating your sweet cheese cake go back to that special feeling of childhood and realize that whatever you do is precious and beloved. Take the opportunity of eating your cheese cake and elevate it. Experience the sweetness of the cheese cake as a manifestation of Hashem's infinite love for us.
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>> We can get so caught up in this world and the happenings of everyday life that we forget to stop and realize that no matter how difficult our life is, we are Jews and we have the Torah. That may sound clique because we are used to hearing that because we're surrounded with a Torah lifestyle and do not know a different existence.
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>> However, there are very few Jews in the world. We number less than one percent of all humanity. Hashem didn't have to make you Jewish but He did. If you were personally hand picked to be part of His chosen nation then Hashem really loves you and believes in you.
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>> Put some effort into experiencing a sincere feeling of joy that we have the Torah and that we lead a life of meaning and truth.
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>> Try to say the words "Naseh Venishma" this Shavuos with a glimmer of the love and commitment your Neshama did while standing at Har Sinai amidst the thunder and lighting.
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>> Thank Hashem that we have the truth, the Torah, and that unlike ninety-nine percent of humanity, we live with true meaning.
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>> ******
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EVERY single Jew stood at Har Sinai 3,324 years ago.
EVERY single Jew.
Hashem gave the holy Torah to EVERY single Jew.
Hashem proclaimed His love for EVERY single Jew.
Every Jew is a child of Hashem
"בנים אתם לד' אלקיכם"
NO EXCEPTIONS.
We are celebrating the anniversary of that great and awesome day in history.
Let's show Hashem that we will emulate Him and start loving EVERY single Jew.
Yes, even the ones that don't dress as we do.
Yes, even the ones that don't think as we do.
Yes, even the ones that are not yet as close to Hashem as we think they should be.
Yes, even the ones that don't love us in return.
EVERY Jew is a child of Hashem.
EVERY single one.
Like One Man, with One Heart.
כאיש אחד בלב אחד
Perhaps if we all demonstrate our love for each other, we will finally merit seeing the glory of Hashem in a way that will make the revelation of 3,324 years ago pale in comparison.
Amen.
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Klal Yisroel at Har Sinai was given the ultimate ultimatum: either choose to accept the Torah or be crushed under the mountain. The gemara (Shabbos 88a) tells us that HaShem held the mountain over their head like a גיגית(barrel) to coerce the Jewish People into making the right choice. Rashi, on the gemara, explains that a גיגית is a large vat used to make beer.
Of all the comparisons to make, why was Har Sinai - such a sanctified place where HaShem revealed Himself to the entire nation - likened to a vat of beer? Seems rather odd at face value.
Rav Dovid Heber from the Star-K of Baltimore shares a beautiful understanding. What happens in a vat? Raw ingredients are entered, for example water, hops and barley; fermentation occurs, and the result is beer - a finished and completely different product than the original components.
A vat is a vehicle for transformation. That's the lesson for Torah. By learning Torah and performing mitzvos, we have the opportunity to change ourselves, to affect an outcome whereby the finished product is qualitatively different than the original. We have the ability to elevate ourselves to the highest levels, achieving the ultimate transformation personally, nationally and globally.
But, as we know, change isn't always easy. Frequently, in fact, it's rather challenging, especially at the beginning. "And now," HaShem said just prior to Matan Torah, "If you listen well to My voice and observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples, for all the world is Mine," (Shemos 19, 5). Rashi, on this verse, teaches that "now" means that circumstances will be pleasant going forward, but that at the start, things can be difficult.
Throughout life, we are faced with decisions to make necessary changes in our actions. These adjustments can seem overwhelming at first, especially when it comes to our behaviors with food. "I have to start a diet and lose all 50 pounds!" "I can't eat another piece of cheesecake for the rest of my life?!" "I can never get my kids to stop eating junk food!"
We can be paralyzed by the prospect of permanent change -and all the time and effort involved, or we can choose to focus on just making the first right step, and trust that HaShem will make the rest of the journey pleasant and rewarding. All beginnings are difficult. But they're only impossible if we don't take the first step.
Submitted by daily readers, E. & Z. G.; Taken from www.soveya.com
The following story was recounted by Chacham HaRav Ovadiah Yoseph Shlitah in a recent Shiur. He heard it from HaRav Ezra Attiyah Zatzal, Rosh Yeshiva Poret Yosef in Yerushalayim:
Rav Aharon, a G-d fearing man from Halab (Aleppo) Syria, held a daily in-depth learning schedule after Shacharis in Sefer Chok L'yisrael and afterwards would learn Shulchan Aruch in depth. After his late morning pas shacharis he would bench, leave home and head to his jewelry store in the city. Rav Aharon dealt with a wide range of gemstones and his fame spread as a very trustworthy honest businessman. His wife would point out that he was getting to the office awfully late every day and questioned him as to where his parnassah would come with his limited time at the office. He firmly believed that Hashem would make earning a livelihood easy in the merit of his Torah learning.
One day, as he was opening the office, an Arab from Chevron was sitting waiting by his office for him. When R' Aharon asked him what he was looking for, the arab replied: "please open your office and we'll talk there". After Rav Aharon opened, the Arab entered, took off his extensive head gear and slowly removed one stunning masterpiece of a jewel to hear R' Aharon's opinion on the piece. R' Aharon, inspected it and remarked of the piece's unique value, probably worth more than $100,000 (todays value: $700,000). Rav Aharon assured the arab that he'd inquire of the merchants to see if there was an interested buyer. The Arab replied: "Ok, I'll be in such-and-such an Inn" hoping that he'd hear back from the honest R' Aharon.
The next morning, after the R' Aharon completed his daily learning schedule, finished his breakfast and was on his way to the office, he noticed a commotion outside the hotel where the arab was staying. He inquired within and was told that an Arab from Palestine stayed in the hotel for 7 days, ate, drank, lodged, but never paid his due. Yesterday evening, he suddenly got a heart attack and died. The owner of the Inn filed a bill/lien at the police station against the arab and the Police were auctioning off his belongings in order to pay off the owner of the Inn.
R' Aharon waiting to see if Hashem would make him successful and stayed for the auctioning. When they announced the sale of the arab's head gear R' Aharon got up and bid 20, another bid shouted +15, R' Aharon: +18. Luckily there was no one else interested in the head gear. "Once, twice, SOLD [to R' Aharon]". R' Aharon paid, took the headgear to the office, opened it up and sure enough found the incredible gem. He eventually sold the gem, and made a huge sum of money from the sale.... Hashem takes care of those who trust in Him and study and keep His holy Torah.
Translated from the original Hebrew and submitted by daily reader, G.B.
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Wishing all my readers a fulfilling and uplifting Chag HaShavuos.
May we all merit receiving the Torah once again and be zoche to internalize the holy words and become more elevated Jews and become closer and closer to our Father in heaven.
Important Numbers
