בס׳ד

"Where does it say that you have a contract with G-d to have an easy life?"

the Lubavitcher Rebbe



"Failure is not the enemy of success; it is its prerequisite."

Rabbi Nosson Scherman



24 Feb 2012

Expensive stones

Rabbi Frand has a Torah thought on the Parsha titled Materials Listed In Descending Order Until They Mention The Expensive Stones. Click here to read about a woman's special donation.

Money matters

Ladaat net has an article about an honest bus driver who found a bag with 25000$ inside at the end of his shift. He returned it to the offices of the Egged bus station. The person who had lost the bag thanked him profusely.

A Bartlett, Tennessee man found thousands of dollars inside an item he bought on eBay.
James Labrecque sold an old safe on eBay for $122.93.
“I made a mistake, you know, that's what it boils down to,” said Labrecque. “And it cost me dearly.”
Continue reading: http://www.crownheights.info/index.php?itemid=41816

23 Feb 2012

The murder of Jewish children

As two journalists lost their lives in Syria and shelling in Homs continues, which country is singled out at the U.N. briefing yesterday for actions that are deplorable?

The Secretary-General will also be meeting Nabil Elaraby, the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, to discuss developments in Syria and the way forward, including the appointment of a special envoy to handle the crisis.

...In a statement, Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that Wednesday’s announcement by Israel to approve a large number of new units deep inside the occupied Palestinian territory in the settlement of Shilo and retroactively legitimize hundreds in a nearby outpost is deplorable and moves us further away from the goal of a two-State solution.

http://www.un.org/News/ossg/hilites.shtml

Click here to read The silence of the West
Op-ed: Fogel massacre anniversary reminds us that world tolerates murder of Jewish children.

Four years ago on the Hebrew calendar, the Merkaz Harav massacre took place when eight students of the yeshiva were killed, among them Avraham David Moses.
Click here to see what the families requested on the occaasion of the second yahrzeit.

I wrote to the mother of Avraham Moses that I would be thinking of her son today and committed to donate money to tzedakah today leilui nishmato. If you would like to write an email, contact me at devorah@live.co.uk and I would be glad to forward it to her.

Mishenichnas Adar

Click here to read one version of a story about an unruly passenger.

Click here to read a second version of the same event.



I received the following email and signed up, as I have done the past couple of years.

As Adar enters us, may the simcha be increased worldwide. Mishenichnas Adar MARBIM Besimcha!!!!!!!!!!

SAY TEHILLIM WITH KLAL ISRAEL THIS PURIM!!!
WE WILL ASSIGN YOU YOUR ASSIGNED PERAKIIM ACCORDING TO YOM.

YOM RISHON (SUNDAY) {PEREK 1 - 29}
YOM SHENI (MONDAY) {PEREK 30 - 50}
YOM SHELISHI (TUESDAY) {PEREK 51 - 72}
YOM REVE'E (WEDNESDAY) {PEREK 73 - 89}
YOM CHAMISHI (THURSDAY) {PEREK 90 - 106}
YOM SHISHI (FRIDAY) {PEREK 107 - 119}
YOM SHABBAT (SATURDAY) {PEREK 120 - 150}

SO FOR EVERY SEVEN PEOPLE, THE TEHILLIM WILL BE COMPLETED ONCE!!!

YOU HAVE THE WHOLE PURIM TO SAY YOUR ASSIGNED PERAKIM (WEDNESDAY NIGHT, MARCH 7 UNTIL THURSDAY MARCH 8, 2012)

WE WILL BE SAYING TEHILLIM FOR
SHIDUCHIM
AND FOR
COUPLES TO BE BLESSED WITH CHILDREN!!!

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING PLEASE EMAIL:
tehillim4ever@gmail.com
AND PUT 'PURIM' IN THE SUBJECT LINE

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FREINDS. PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO PARTICIPATE...
EVERY TEFILLA COUNTS, HASHEM HEARS EVERY PRAYER...
HOPE TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU SOON :)

(LAST DAY TO REQUEST TEHILLIM IS SUNDAY MARCH 4 -- NO EXCEPTIONS!)

PURIM SAMEACH!!!

--
Tizku Lemitzvot!

22 Feb 2012

Generous donations

Hashem commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to build a Mishkan and take generous donations from Bnei Yisroel. Moshe was perplexed, if all the Heavens and the earth are not large enough for Hashem, how can a Mishkan of thirty amos be Hashem's dwelling?

Rav Naftoli Tzvi of Ropshitz explains that the donations were only accepted from those who "Yidvenu Libo" gave it with a generous heart. This meant that when the person brought his limited pieces of gold or silver, his heart yearned to give even more. To express his infinite love of Hashem he wanted to give Hashem all the gold and silver in the world and then some. Unlike the wallet, the mind has no limit.

"V'Asu Li Mikdash V'Shachanti BiSocham", build me a Mishkan and I will dwell among them (Truma 25:8). The Ropshitzer explains that Hashem indeed did not put his Shechina solely into a small physical structure. When Bnei Yisroel built the Mikdash with their infinite love, Hashem rested His infinite Shechina in this infinite love. This is why the pasuk says "V'Shachanti BiSocham", I will dwell in them, in the heart of each and every person that shows boundless love. http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Truma-Rav-Naftoli-Tzvi-of-Ropshitz-The-Only-House-Big-Enough-For-Hashem/5204

Inside and out

The following is a devar Torah by Rabbi Dr Raymond Apple.
The portion of T’rumah details the layout and appurtenances of every part of the Tabernacle. One of the most famous verses is Ex. 25:11, which says, mi-bayit umichutz tz’appennu – “you shall overlay the ark with gold, both inside and out”.

The Talmud (Yoma 72b) applies this verse to the human being, and says that these words define a talmid chacham. He must be a golden-class, superior person both inside and out. If his greatness is all on the outside whilst on the inside he is a fallible, problematical personality, he is no talmid chacham. We have to judge someone by how he (or she) is, as an overall human being.

We can extend the Talmudic comment and say that someone who is high-quality in the street shows only part of himself. The other side is what he is like inside his own house. A person who is a tzaddik in his public life but a mean, nasty, tyrannical husband and father at home is no tzaddik. Instead he is a misken, a poor unfortunate who deserves to be pitied, not to be admired. http://www.oztorah.com/2012/02/inside-out-trumah/

The last paragraph reminds me of what my friend's daughter told her mother. The young woman trained as a beautician and she is invited to people's houses to give manicures, etc. She told her mother that she received a surprising education about people. The ones who are so friendly on the street treat her miserably inside their houses. The ones that seem a bit standoffish when she meets them in public are the ones who offer her a drink and treat her royally in their homes. Don't worry, she didn't say any names because she is very discreet about her clients and it wouldn't be right in terms of speaking lashon hora.

21 Feb 2012

Different stages of life

FiveTownsJewish has a dating forum where a panel was asked whether a young man must go out on a second date. Click here for the answers from various panel members.

Emuna Braverman discusses "The kids are out of the house. Now what?"

Aish has a moving article titled "Cremating my mother was the worst decision I ever made. How could I make it up to her?"

Coming for us

David Goldman has an article at PJMedia titled Memo to Jews: After They Come for the Catholic Church, They Will Come For Us.

Mark Silverberg has an op-ed titled The Tyranny of Deceit at IsraelNationalNews.

20 Feb 2012

Misspelled words

I got a good laugh out of a Daily News article about spelling errors.

Joe Biden's camp might be overly-reliant on spell-check.

The White House recently announced that the Vice President would be attending campaign events in "Road Island."

The glaring misspelling of the Ocean State showed up in a widely-distributed press release detailing Biden's upcoming travel plans.

...In a press release touting an upcoming trip to Bemidgi, Minn., Santorum’s team mispelled the town’s name four times as “Bimidji.”
Read full article: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/oops-joe-biden-heading-road-island-typo-press-release-white-house-article-1.1025666

Here is a comment posted at the end of the article.

"The word Misspelled is Misspelled LOL...Santorums team mispelled the towns name four times"

Click here to read 100 Most Often Misspelled Words in English.

Kosher cool

As with all the teachings of the Torah the signs of a Kosher animal can be understood on many different levels. The ten kosher animals listed in the Torah all have both split hooves and chew their cud. What all these animals have in common is that they all graze for food and are not predators.
http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/554,88510/What-is-the-significance-that-a-kosher-animal-has-split-hooves-and-chews-its-cud.html

De Standaard had an article this week about kosher food being popular, cool and hip. You can read the article here and translate it to English, if need be.

JoodsActueel identifies a few inaccuracies in the article.

*The author of the article probably confused "Kleinblatt bakery" with "Heimische" bakery.

*She refers to the rabbit with plums on her plate which isn't possible because rabbit isn't kosher.

*She quotes the restaurant owner, "we eat no meat from animals that have split hooves" – when, in fact, the animals must have split hooves .

So, for those wishing to learn about kosher, don't use the article as the basis of Jewish dietary laws.

Incidentally, a friend of mine sent me a link to a website called kosherscoop.com. A quick perusal left me with the feeling that I must try out some of the recipes in the near future.

19 Feb 2012

Giving from the heart

A couple of years ago, Rabbi Wein wrote a devar Torah about this week's parsha which begins as follows:

"The Torah in this week's parsha dwells upon the giving of one's wealth, assets, time and talents for an altruistic public cause - in this case the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle of Israel."

Further, he relates an anecdote about the subject of giving from the heart.

"As someone who has been engaged in Torah and Jewish fundraising for many decades, I can testify that when the emotion is present in the heart of the giver, the check is correspondingly larger. While I was in America recently I met a Jew from Israel who was collecting money to help a destitute family cope with a very serious medical issue. While in Los Angeles, he was robbed at gunpoint and the few thousand dollars that he had collected was stolen from him.

Later, when I met him in a different American city, he told me that people were more generous to him after they knew what had happened, even though the purpose of his collection had not changed. I told him that it was the emotion of the unfairness of his loss that now touched the hearts of people and that naturally their donations increased."

It was particulary distressing to read an article in the YeshivaWorld today about the Antwerp community which stated, "Chadrei Chareidim reports that in addition, on motzei Shabbos, email warnings were sent to members of the local kehila that of late, a group of Ukrainians disguised as chareidim visited home and when doors are opened, that empty out the homes."

Particularly when this week's parsha stresses the act of giving, it is unfortunate that people will now be afraid to open their doors and give tzedakah, a foundation of our faith. Hopefully, a solution can be found.

European Jewish News

Click here to read First ever 120-member European Jewish Parliament inaugurated in Brussels, event hailed as 'great day for Jews in Europe.'
Click here to read Dutch University cancels conference with Islamic scholar for his anti-Semitic remarks.
Click here to read Orthodox Jew cleared of failing to carry ID, because it was Saturday.
H/T VIN
Click here to read French university cancels writer's conference due to anti-Israel protest.

18 Feb 2012

Jamie Glazov and the gang

At the 5'47 mark of the video below, Nonie Darwish is asked if she hated Jews. Listen to the video below to hear her answer.

14 Feb 2012

Ascending to the heavens

The YeshivaWorld has an update on hospitalized Rabbonim Shlita.

Ladaat Net reports about a woman from Beit Shemesh whose father died two weeks ago. He appeared to her in a dream on Saturday night and asked her to explain the many prayers that are emanating from "olam hazeh." (this world)
"We feel that the heavens are full of prayers," said her father.
She explained, "All the prayers are for Maran Rav Elyashiv as the nation of Israel has united in prayer for his recovery."
His father replied: "Now it all makes sense", and disappeared from the dream.

In the morning when the woman awoke, she remembered her dream and excitedly related to her family how prayers are felt not only in this world but in "Olam Haba" (the next world), as well.

Spiritually attuned

In his latest post, Rabbi Lazer Brody discusses spiritual awareness.

The more a person activates the soul, the more he or she develops spiritual awareness. The more one attains spiritual awareness, the more one's divine soul develops and thrives. The more a soul thrives, the more intimate a person's relationship with God. The closer one gets to God, the more one achieves inner peace and overcomes emotional ailments.

Menachem Posner writes a moving tribute to Menachem Mendel Oberlander, a young man who succumbed to cancer at the age of 20. Click here to read an emotional article about someone who was spiritually attuned.

13 Feb 2012

Flaunting versus flouting

Sher Zieve has penned an article about the President and the Constitution.
She writes, "As I have written over and over again for years, if Obama is allowed to get away with flaunting the Constitution and its essential Bill of Rights, it's as if our founding document no longer exists and Obama may now make up any law he wants to install."

Someone posted the following comment.

Well stated, but isn't the word you want in your second paragraph "flouting" rather than "flaunting"?

I found this at the grammarist.

Flaunt means to exhibit or parade (something) in an ostentatious manner. The definition of flout is to show contempt for or to scorn. These verbs are often confused due to their similarity in sound, but they share no meanings.

So, I agree that the correct word should have been "flouting."

Additionally, Ms. Zieve begins the article with the following words.

"With regards to government intervention into religion..."

Anyone agree with me that "with regard" is better than "with regards?"

If Ms. Zieve did err in her use of a certain word, we must remember that "to err is human."

Speaking of humans, here is a Torah thought from this week's parsha.

The pasuk says (Mishpatim 22:30), "V'Anshei Kodesh Tihiyun Li", you should be holy people to me. The Kotzker commented that the Kedusha should be with human tactics. What did he mean?

The Sfas Emes explains that the Kotzker meant we should not try to act like Malachim removed from all our human-ess. Hashem has many Malachim in Shamayim and does not need more.

He created man for humans to undergo the human experience and still remain pure and holy. Hashem wants us to act normal and do normal things and all at the same time reach a high level of kedusha without sullying ourselves along the way. That is the point of the creation of man.
http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/life-lessons/Parshas-Mishpatim-Kotzker-Rebbe-Holy-Humans/5198

The ultra-Orthodox

In its Feb. 12 edition, the Washington Post carries an article about suburban Montgomery County putting plans on hold for a sister-city agreement with Beit Shemesh in Israel because of several incidents there involving attacks by ultra-Orthodox fanatical extremists on Israeli women ("Montgomery delays Israeli sister-city pact - News reports of ultra-Orthodox violence worry activists, county" by Victor Zapana, page C1)
Continue reading Wash. Post resorts to guilt by association to tar an Israeli religious community by Leo Rennert: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2012/02/wash_post_resorts_to_guilt_by_association_to_tar_an_israeli_religious_community.html#ixzz1mEypi4xy

12 Feb 2012

And these are the ordinances

The Bible often begins its sentences with “and”: “and the Lord spoke to Moses”, “and if you hearken intently”, “and you shall love the Lord your God”, “and you shall love your neighbour as yourself”. Of all the many “ands”, hardly any attracts as much commentary as the “and” which commences this week’s sidra: “And these are the ordinances which you shall place before them” (Ex. 21:1).

The sages explain that this “and” links the civil law code which follows, with the Ten Commandments which were read last Shabbat. Just as the Ten Commandments emanated from Sinai, they added, so was the civil code. The Ten Commandments establish principles; the civil code translates them into day-to-day detail. The one text tells us not to steal, the other sets out what is to happen if a person does steal.

A society cannot live by principles alone; it needs a pattern of practical applications of principle. That is why it is a mistake to dismiss the detailed rules of halachah as pettifogging and uninspiring. W.H. Lecky says in his History of European Morals (1877 ed., vol. 1, page 292), “Simply to tell men what is virtue, and to extol its beauty, is insufficient. Something more must be done… if the characters are to be moulded, and the inveterate vices eradicated”. For Judaism, the “something more” is halachah.
http://www.oztorah.com/2007/05/and-mishpatim/

I thought of the above devar Torah by Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple when I read an article at American Thinker whose opening paragraph begins with a reference to the Ten Commandments and Jewish law.
Ever since Moses received the Ten Commandments, the history of the Jewish people has been interwoven with law. An additional 613 commandments in the Torah were explicated in the Talmud, collected in the 16th-century Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Aruch) and interpreted and enforced over the centuries by rabbinical courts.
Read Litigating for Israel by Jerold S. Auerbach at: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/litigating_for_israel.html#ixzz1mCLOdnTm

The estate sale

Click here to read A Strange Estate Transaction, a heartwarming story about a family that turns up for an estate sale and gets more than they bargained for.

11 Feb 2012

Anti-Israel

Charles Johnson has written an article titled The Real Occupation: Occupy Has Always Hated the Jews.

Joel Pollak has already written on the divestment campaign going on at Occupy Oakland, but it is worth remembering that Kalle Lasn and Micah White, the two founders of the Occupy movement, have always hated the Jews and their state.
Continue reading: http://bigpeace.com/cjohnson/2012/02/11/the-real-occupation-occupy-has-always-hated-the-jews/#more-195624

Hamas “will never recognise Israel,” Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniya said Saturday in a speech in Iran that is likely to complicate Palestinian efforts to form a unity government in the teeth of opposition from the Jewish state.
Read full article: http://bigpeace.com/stzu/2012/02/11/hamas-will-never-recognisde-israel-gaza-premier-says/#more-195716

10 Feb 2012

The First Commandment

Rick Moran has an article titled Air Force office removes 'God' from logo.

This week we read the Torah portion of Yitro, which contains the Ten Commandments. The first commandment is about Hashem.
Below is an email I received today - author unknown.
Click here for an article titled Aseres HaDibros - 10 Commandments In Krias Shema.

A Conversation With Hashem...
Me (in a tizzy) : Hashem, can I ask you something?

HASHEM: Sure.

Me: Promise you won't get mad?

HASHEM: I promise.

Me (frustrated): Why did you let so much stuff happen to me today?

HASHEM: What do you mean?

Me: Well I woke up late,

HASHEM: Yes

Me: My car took forever to start,

HASHEM: Okay....

Me (growling): At lunch, they made my sandwich wrong and I had to wait

HASHEM: Hmmmm..

Me: On the way home, my phone went dead, just as I picked up a call

HASHEM: All right

Me (loudly): And to top it all off, when I got home, I just wanted to soak my feet in my foot massager and relax, but it wouldn't work. Nothing went right today! Why did you do that?

HASHEM: Well let me see..... the death angel was at your bed this morning and I had to send one of the other angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that.

Me (humbled): Oh...

HASHEM: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that might have hit you if you were on the road

Me (ashamed): ............

HASHEM: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick and I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work

Me (embarrassed): Oh.....

HASHEM: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give a false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered

Me (softly): I see Hashem

HASHEM: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that was going to throw out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.

Me: I'm sorry Hashem.

HASHEM: Don't be sorry, just learn to trust me.........in all things, the good and the bad

Me: I WILL trust you Hashem

HASHEM: And don't doubt that my plan for your day is always better than your plan

Me: I won't Hashem. And let me just tell you Hashem, thank you for everything today.


HASHEM: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your Hashem and I love looking after my children.

The Ten Commandments

Two articles at The Blaze caught my eye this evening.
The La Canada Unified school board in California voted unanimously — 5-0 — to fire a high school math teacher accused of calling a student “Jew boy.”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/california-high-school-math-teacher-to-be-fired-for-calling-student-jew-boy/

Atheists now have their sights set on Newland, North Carolina, where the secular Freedom From Religion Foundation has sent a letter demanding that the town remove a Ten Commandments plaque from a government office building. In a letter sent to town manager Brenda Pittman, the group said that a local individual saw the display, was offended and would like it taken down.
Read full article: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/atheists-demand-nc-town-remove-ten-commandments-from-town-hall/

It is interesting how, as we read the Ten Commandments in this week's Torah portion, those same commandments are making the news. As atheists try to diminish their display, I find it only fitting to post a devar Torah I saw on Revach regarding the Ten Commandments.

The Ibn Ezra asks how can the Torah command a human not to "want" something his friend has. The Bais HaLevi wonders what the question is, since with a little Yiras Shamayim no one would desire his friends property. The Chinuch also says that a person is expected to control his desires.

Rav Moshe Shternbuch (Taam VaDaas) says that according to the Chinuch both the first of the Aseres HaDibros, believing in Hashem and last, Lo Sachmod, both are mitzvos of the heart. The aseres dibros are linked one to the other. It all starts with Emunah. Once you believe that Hashem controls the world and every detail of your life, at the end you can come to the level where you won't even desire your friend's lot. Without Emunah you cannot get anywhere. With it you can go far beyond what an ordinary human can achieve.
http://revach.net/article.php?id=5191

9 Feb 2012

Spectacular photos

Click here for incredible pictures taken at the wedding of the youngest daughter of the Toldos Aharon Rebbe with the grandson of Rabbi Yisroel Chaim Menashe Friedman, Satmar Dayan in Williamsburg. In honor of the bride and groom, a reenactment of the Simchat Beit Hashoeva was performed. Guests must have been treated to a spectacuar evening, judging from the pictures.

Speaking about pictures, click here for photos of a gaping hole in a classroom of the Belz Talmud Torah in Bnei Brak which may have been caused by works being performed nearby. Thankfully, the damage occurred in the evening when the school was empty. Another reminder of "Hinei lo Yanum velo Yishan, Shomer Yisrael."

8 Feb 2012

Of the day

Michelle Malkin found the tweet of the day regarding the 9th circuit panel ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

Tweet of the day: @arizonashane “Given the opportunity, the 9th Circus would strike down the Constitution as unconstitutional.

The anecdote of the day is what I heard from a friend earlier this afternoon. A woman flew from Israel to my neighborhood to raise money for her worthwhile organization. My friend told me that she invited the woman to her house for a buffet lunch. She told me that she had wanted to take the woman to a restaurant but the woman wouldn't hear of it.
"If I eat at a restaurant, people will see me and start to talk. She comes here to collect money but she is spending it on eating out at restaurants?"

Not a great forecast of the day.
The worst February cold spell Europe has seen in decades may last until the end of the month, leading meteorologists said, raising the prospect of further deaths and an extended spike in European spot gas prices.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/02/08/uk-europe-weather-idUKTRE81719T20120208?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

And here's a video for the day.

The earth of Israel

The United States was the first to put a man on the moon -- but apparently its space agency is unable to figure out where the capital of Israel is on Earth.

According to NASA's Remote Sensing Tutorial, the capital of Israel is Tel Aviv.
Read full article: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/152486

7 Feb 2012

The Purim costumes

Jeffrey Goldberg has written an article titled The Most Consequential News From the Middle East Today. The following is the opening paragraph of the article.

The most important news out of the Middle East is not the Hamas-PA Agreement 4.0 (or 5.0 or 6.0, who can remember?). For various reasons, it doesn't seem likely to work (you can read Robert Danin here on some of the difficulties). Nor is it the "very productive meeting" Russia's foreign minister held in Damascus with the blood-soakwd Assad regime. Nor is it even news that the World International Zionist Organization is apparently promoting pornographic Purim costumes (hey, I aggregate -- you decide). It is, instead, this announcement from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, that Saudi Arabia will not allow the price of oil to rise about $100 a barrel:
http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2012/02/the-most-consequential-news-from-the-middle-east-today/252713/

Mr. Goldberg links to an article in the JPost about WIZO.

Calling a series of overtly sexy Purim costumes that appear in a recently distributed catalogue for children “scandalous,” World International Zionist Organization (WIZO) chairwoman Gila Oshrat urged parents on Monday to boycott companies that sell such outfits.
http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=256777

I fail to understand how Mr. Goldberg comes to the conclusion that WIZO is promoting the costumes. But hey, if it makes for better news, why be concerned with the veracity of what was written? Maybe he is just getting into the spirit of Purim - venahafoch hu. And speaking about venafoch hu, here is a story about a man who, over time, changed his opinion. Perhaps the Atlantic can use an editor. I was surprised that a new word has been added to the English language. I always thought it was blood-soaked, not blood-soakwd.

Serious but stable

INN reports that "officials at Sha'arei Tzedek Medical Center in Jerusalem described the condition Rabbi Shalom Yoseph Elyashiv as "very serious but stable," Tuesday morning."

The Yeshiva World has an article with a video of young men and boys saying Tehilim at the kotel for the 101-year-old Rabbi. Watching the video, one can not helpbut be impressed by the unity of the people gathering together and the respect the younger generation has for the centenarian posek hador.

Yeranen Yaakov writes, that Rav Amar said, "Kelal Yisrael needs him, and he protects the entire generation. I call on all those praying to accept upon themselves to say Chapter 102 of Tehilim for his complete recovery."
Read full post with some great advice: http://yeranenyaakov.blogspot.com/

Click here for Tehilim 102.

6 Feb 2012

Looking at the whole picture

Please continue to pray for Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, Yosef Shalom ben Chaya Musha, whose condition is critical.

"One shall not covet your fellow's wife, his manservant, his maidservant, his ox, his donkey nor all that belongs to your fellow man" (v'chol asher l'rei-echa). One may ask, after the Torah spells out that the prohibition of coveting applies to a neighbor's wife, and male servants and female servants, his oxen, his cows, his donkeys -- what is the summation "and all that belongs to your fellow-man," really adding?

The Meforshim explain, "It is coming to teach us how to prevent jealousy towards a friend." One might look at a neighbor's wife and see how wonderful she is. One might look at his house and see how well he lives. One can look at his job and his children and think, "This guy really has it made!"

The Torah is telling us to consider, "Kol asher l'rei-echa -- Look at the whole picture." Everyone has his or her own 'Pekeleh' of problems in life. No one's life is perfect. As apparent as it may seem that this person has it 'made', we do not know the whole story. We can never know for certain. It is always necessary to take into account, "Kol asher l'rei-echa," --all that is doing with your neighbor.

Many times, when we learn about, "all that is doing with our neighbor," we will not want to trade places.
http://revach.net/tefila/article.php?id=1727

Prayers needed

רבי יוסף שלום בן חיה מושא לרפואה שלמה
Please daven for Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, Yosef Shalom ben Chaya Musha.
Read more here.

WND
has a disturbing article titled Ayatollah: Kill all Jews, annihilate Israel.

5 Feb 2012

Outrageous times two

The alleged terrorist mastermind behind the July 7 London bombings is reported to have been freed from a Syrian jail by President Bashar Assad's regime.
Abu Musab al-Suri had been held in Syria for six years after being captured by the CIA in 2005 and transported to the country of his birth under its controversial extraordinary rendition programme.
...Al-Suri, who had a £3 million US State Department bounty on his head, was reportedly captured in Pakistan in November 2005 and handed to the CIA.
...In a move that has never been officially confirmed, the Americans then reportedly turned him over to Syria...
Read article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/9061400/Syria-releases-the-77-mastermind.html

Stephen Schwartz has penned an article titled Harvard's Middle East Outreach Center: Propaganda for Teachers.

Harvard also runs a Center for Middle East Studies (CMES), which includes an Outreach Center directed by one Paul Beran.
...It is clear that Harvard CMES and its director, Paul Beran, are committed to the adoption of a one-sided, anti-Israel, and pro-Arab introduction to Middle East issues for American schoolchildren.
Read more: http://www.americanthinker.com/2012/02/harvards_middle_east_outreach_center_propaganda_for_teachers.html#ixzz1lXaxEu3z

Super Bowl XLVI

IT APPEARS the Giants don’t think they even need to play Sunday.

The official team website accidentally posted an image Saturday announcing that the Giants had won Super Bowl XLVI — more than 24 hours before the game against the New England Patriots kicks off.
Read full article: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/big-blue-wins-team-website-article-1.1017141

Speaking of the Super Bowl, this morning I received an email with the subject line "If Aish.com had a Super Bowl Ad." The would be ad appears below and here is a link to how to achieve unity.

4 Feb 2012

An unusual apology

A Northwood High School junior and his father are seeking an apology from the teenager’s principal for being required to produce a letter from their rabbi for permission to wear a yarmulke to school.
Read full article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/maryland-schools-insider/post/montgomery-student-needed-a-rabbis-note-to-wear-yarmulke-to-school/2012/02/03/gIQAg4YKnQ_blog.html

A number of sites had a reminder to say Parshat Hamann this past Tuesday as a segulah for parnossah.
Chadrei Chareidim has a story about a man who asked to be called up to the Torah this Shabbat for the aliya of Parshat Hamann. Exactly a year ago, he was called for an aliya for Parshat Hamann. He was having financial difficulties and asked the person reading the Torah portion of shishi to start a few verses ealier so that Parshat Hamann could be read in its entirety, as it begins at the end of chamishi.
He posted a notice in his shul that he asks for the kahal's forgiveness, if he made a "tircha detziburah" by having them rehear some of the verses, thus stealing a few minutes of their time.
May his wish for blessings for parnossah be fulfilled.

May Rebbetzin Elisheva Kahaneman, Elisheva bat Ahuva Liba, have a refuah sheleimah.