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



26 Oct 2016

Jerusalem discovery

Oldest Hebrew mention of Jerusalem found on rare papyrus from 7th century BCE

Trump advisor: Anti-Semitism? Look at the left, not the right

What's in a name?

Only in Israel! Israeli Cop Helps a Man Bench Lulav on the Highway

תופעה: הסגולה לזיווג של רבי יעקב אדלשטיין

The pasuk (2:20) tells us that Adam gave names to all the creatures. Chazal tell us that this was a great Chochma on his part. Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz asks, why was this such a great accomplishment?

He answers that for each animal, Adam linked, with his deep insight, each animal's characteristics to its parallel in the heavenly court. Just like there is an "Ari" and "Shor" in the Merkava, he was able to spot the traits of a lion and ox and understand the connection.

However when it came to his own name, he did not link it to something heavenly. He called himself Adam as in Adama, the lowly earth. This showed Adam's great modesty. He wanted to remind himself of his lowly makeup and always remain humble.

However, says Rav Yehonoson Eibushitz, the name Adam is in fact a very exalted name. Adam is from the word, "Adameh L'Elyon", I am compared to the elevated. A person is created B'Tzelem Elokim and is compared to Hashem Himself, and not just the Merkava. Furthermore he adds, that the comparison to Adama, the earth, is also very distinguished. Just like the earth never disintegrates and remains forever, similarly a person's neshama, his Chelek Elokai MiMa'al is also Nitzchi, eternal.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Bereishis-Rav-Yehonoson-Eibushitz-The-Name-Adam/2881

25 Oct 2016

Vesamachta Bechayecha

Mistaking the cause of Middle East turmoil

Traveling on a bus from Yerushalayim to Petach Tikva during Chol Hamoed, I was captivated by two children chattering incessantly and keeping their father quite occupied during the length of the trip. I surmised that the young boys were about three and four years old. After a while they began to sing a holiday song of "Vesamachta Bechagecha' to be joyous during the Sukkot holiday. However, either the boys messed up one of the words or I didn't hear them properly because I thought they were singing, "Vesamachta Bechayecha' - Be happy with your life. I thanked Hashem for sending me the message I needed to hear. - Out of the mouths of babes....

Anti-Semitic Graffiti Leaves University of Virginia Students ‘Horrified’

12 Oct 2016

Limited pleasure

"Vayishman Yishurun Vayivat" (Haazinu 32:15). In every instance when Hashem bestows goodness on us we rebel. In this world says Rav Shimshon Pincus every drop of good you do for another person carries with it the risk that they will bite the hand that feeds them. This is especially true with Chesed that Hashem gives to Bnei Yisroel. The reason for this he explains, is that we don't actually see the goodness flowing directly from Hashem. It comes through natural means leaving us feeling independent from Hashem.

Therefore in this world, the pleasures we receive from Hashem are carefully measured. Wealth, health, and happiness only comes in limited amounts, and in fits and spurts, even to the most well off man on earth. However in the next world where these dangers do not exist, as the only thing that exists is Hashem, Hashem opens up the taps to unlimited pleasures.

There is only only one pleasure in this world that Hashem gives a person an opportunity to indulge in unlimited amounts. There is no danger whatsoever of rebellion do to excess. This pleasure clearly comes straight from Hashem so overdosing does not carry any risks of backlash whatsoever. It is the only thing in this world we can gorge ourselves with without any downside. What is it? Torah! Enjoy! http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/life-lessons/Parshas-Haazinu-Rav-Shimshon-Pincus-Indulging-in-Unlimited-Pleasures/5247

New granddaughter for murdered Rabbi Litman

10 Oct 2016

Covered with dough

London's Ultra Orthodox Jews run daily gauntlet of anti-Semitic abuse <

Jewish economist shares Nobel Prize

There is a minhag to eat Kreplach, meat covered with dough, on Erev Yom Kippur. The Minhag Yisroel Torah brings from the Geulas Yisroel that the reason is because Erev Yom Kippur is a Yom Tov, but it is a hidden Yom Tov as we are allowed to do Milacha on this day. Therefore we eat meat which is a Mitzva to eat on Yom Tov. However we hide it inside the dough, as our Yom Tov is concealed in a day of Milacha.
 This also explains why we eat Kreplach on Hashana Rabba and Purim which are also Yamim Tovim although work is permitted on those days.
He also brings from the Zera Kodesh that meat symbolizes Din and the dough represents Rachamim. We take the din of Yom Kippur and we wrap it in a layer of Rachamim to ask Hashem that even if we are given a harsh judgement it should be coated in mercy.
http://revach.net/hanhagos/minhagim/Why-Kreplach-On-Erev-Yom-Kippur/4098

Traffic court

High Court should deal with traffic violations not Jewish law, says Sephardi chief rabbi

Economic Accounting of the Soul

9 Oct 2016

Pure justice

The Pasuk says (32:4) "HaTzur Tamim Pa'aloi Ki Chol Dirachav Mishpat, Kel Emuna V'Ein Avel; Hashem action are flawless, for all His ways are just, Hashem is faithful without any injustice." Injustice? We talk about how righteous Hashem is, it seems strange to mention that Hashem in not "unjust".
Rav Shach says from the Vilna Gaon that it is impossible for humans to take into account all surrounding circumstances and dispense perfect justice. For example, when someone commits a crime that requires the death sentence, has the court also determined if his children deserve to be orphans or not? What about the person who he says hello to every morning, has the court figured out if they can compensate that person for the loss they are inflicting on them.
When Hashem dispenses judgement, He has accounted for everything from the most glaring consequences to the most minute nuance. This is truly a tribute that we humans can marvel at. Hashem's justice system is pure justice, without the slightest trace of injustice.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Haazinu-Rav-Shach-Now-That-Is-Justice/2837

הרב יצחק פנגר מספר: למה באמת חזרתי בתשובה

A cure, a message

Mivtzoim Was Cure For Illness

A Timeless Message

Reflecting on the Yom Kippur War

Hong Kong’s Jewish community set to celebrate Yom Kippur

1 Oct 2016

Welcome to Ben Gurion airport, Palestine

With moments left to the plane's descent to Ben Gurion airport, I waxed nostalgic to the days when everyone on the plane would experience a tangible excitement upon arriving in the Holy Land as people clapped when the plane's wheels hit the runway amidst the welcoming strains of "Heveinu Shalom Aleichem."
I wondered what welcome I would receive this time as the plane made its way towards the arrival gate. Seconds later I heard the distinctive sounds of my cell phone alerting me to a new message. Imagine my surprise when I received a welcome message from my cell phone provider. Although, for me it was a message that caught be by surprise.
"Welcome in Palestine," read the message. I asked my seatmate to snap a picture and decided to post the photo on my blog, for your perusal.