Dear women and girls! We need you to help us in prayers! The situation in Eretz Yisrael is very difficult. We are suffering terrible losses, many orphans and widows from different diseases. My husband, The Rabbi, was asked what could be the reason for all these tragedies.The Rabbi opened a Gemara and said it's because of foul language.And how can we correct ourselves? Only by watching what we say. I read an article written by Rabbi Segal from Manchester who writes:"Never did I see a person who learned 2 Halachot of Shemirat Halashon every day and didn't see salvation from above, whether in children, in shidduch, good health, parnasa or bringing up the children.He had promised that whoever will learn the Chafetz Hayim, he will be his defender in Heaven."And we witnessed miracles that happened to people who took upon themselves two Halachot every day and saw Yeshuot.
While I was reading the article a woman walked in crying and said she has a number of aging daughters that are still not married.I showed her the article and immediately she said she will learn two Halachot of Shemirat Halashon every day.Within three days one daughter got engaged. Two months later her second daughter and ba"h this woman saw many Yeshuot.Like her, hundreds of girls who took upon themselves the Shemirat Halashon got married.
A different story is about a woman who came to us about a year ago with great sorrow saying that she'd been married for 20 years and she didn't have children.I advised her to learn two Halchot every day and B"H she conceived and now has a month old baby boy.
And another story:A few weeks ago a woman came to me, broken and crying, and said that her mother is in the hospitalwith a growing tumor.She asked what she could take upon herself to help. Again, I advised that the entire family learn two Halachot of Shemirat Halashon every day. Two days later she returned and asked of me to tell her story and the miracle that happened.She said that the entire family gathered and decided to learn two Halachot daily and two days later they received a phone call from the hospital saying to come and pick up the mother, the tumor is gone and she is in good health.
I hear many miracles such as these.And now, we should all take upon ourselves, bli neder, to learn two Halachot of Shemirat Halashon every day and pray with great kavana. A prayer that comes from the heart through a holy mouth is immediately accepted by Boreh-Olam and prevents many troubles and tragedies and brings Yeshua to the world.In the future, each one of us will be shown how many wonderful doings, how many people we saved.And thanks to you, my dear righteous women and girls, we will have the Zechut to bring Mashiah Tzidkeinu soon in our days.Yehi Ratzon that Hashem will fulfill all ofyour wishes for the best, B. Kanyevsky
For Zikui Harabim, Each one who receives this letter should try to make at least 50 copies and spread them for your own success, and you shall be blessed by Hashem, amen. Whoever exceeds that amount will be blessed directly from the mouth of Hashem.

Taken from Shirat Devorah

by Rabbi Pinchus Feldman

This Shabbat we bless the new month. As this year is a leap year, there are two months of Adar, the first being Adar I and the second Adar II. Adar is associated with an increase in joy. The Talmud explains that during the month of Adar, Jewish "mazal" (colloquially translated as fortune) is very potent. The mazal (or source of influence) of a Jew refers to the higher levels of his soul, which are connected to the essence of G-d at all times. In Adar, we have the opportunity to draw down an abundance of holy energy through good deeds that are imbued with joy.

Interestingly, our Sages taught that "Israel has no mazal" ("ein mazal l'Yisrael"), meaning that Jews are above being influenced by the stars and planets, which are known as "mazalot." By changing the vowels under the Hebrew letters slightly, "ein mazal l'Yisrael" can be read "Ayin - the Infinite - is the mazal of Israel." The Jewish people receive their influence from G-d from a transcendent level, the transmission of which is particularly powerful in the month of Adar.

The name Adar has several meanings, one of which is cloak or mantel. This is a reference to G-d's compassion For His people, the Jews. The purpose of a garment is to provide us with warmth. In Adar (and Adar II in a leap year), when the holiday of Purim occurs, we experience the warmth and comfort of G-d. A garment also conceals the body of the person who wears it. Similarly, the miracle of Purim was "dressed" in a series of natural events.

The word Adar is a combination of the Hebrew letter "alef" and the word "dar" meaning "G-d dwells." (Just as alef is the initial letter in the alphabet, so too is G-d the "first.") G-d created the earth in order to have a dwelling place in the physical world. Through the study of Torah and the performance of mitzvot, we create an abode for Almighty G-d.

May the positive influence of Adar be expressed in the advent of the true and complete Redemption with Moshiach in the immediate future.

Growing Each Day

21 Shevat

One nation shall be mightier than the other (Genesis 25:23).

These words were part of God's explanation to Rebecca, when she asked why her pregnancy was so difficult. God told her that the two children she carried, Jacob and Esau, were struggling within her, and prophesied that this struggle would be an eternal one. At some points in history, Jacob would triumph; at other times, Esau would triumph.

The Tanya (Chapter 9) states that this struggle is not only between the Jewish nation and its adversaries, but that it also exists within each individual. Within each person are a Jacob and an Esau - a Divine soul which strives for sanctity and an animal soul which strives for physical gratifications. Like wrestlers, one may have the superiority at one time, and the other at others.

I strongly disagree with the author of those books which assert that people can attain inner peace and be free of struggle in life. Those who do not attain this desired tranquility therefore feel deprived. They may try many ways - even alcohol or drugs - to attain this assumed freedom from internal strife and tension.

The truth, however, is that inner peace is not even supposed to occur during our earthly existence. Our lives are an eternal struggle between opposing forces. Like opponents in a boxing match, we may get only a brief respite between rounds, only to come out fighting again.

Today I shall ...
...

try to realize that my mission in life is to make certain that the force of good within me gains mastery over that of evil, and that this struggle will continue throughout my life.

See more books by Rabbi Abraham Twerski at Artscroll.com

Tu' bshvat-the seven species of Israel

taken from shirat Devorah....

15th of Shevat is designated as "the new year for trees". On Tu b'Shevat it is customary to eat different fruits, including some listed below, known as the seven species of Israel.

"It is a land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs and pomegranates - a land of olives and honey-dates." [Devarim 8:8}

Wheat has many therapeutic properties. It strengthens the body, improves digestion, increases blood volume, and improves circulation. It is an effective treatment for dissolving kidney stones and promotes lactation.

Bread cleanses and purifies the blood and raises body tempeature. Wheat bread strengthens the brain and sharpens mental acuity (Horayos). Our Sages tell us that "bread is the food of the heart" [Midrash Rabba 48]

Grains are in many ways superior to all other forms of vegetation. Grain is nourishing and filling, the mainstay of the human diet. The Hebrew words dagan (grain) and zan (nourishment) have the same gematria - 57. This is the origin of the time-honored custom of reciting Psalm 23 ("G-d is my Shepherd, I shall not want") before making the blessing hamotzi on bread. In Kabbalistic tradition, reciting this psalm daily is helpful for a good livelihood. It consists of 57 words, the numerical equivalent of dagan and zan. In other words, G-d is my shepherd, and I shall not want: it is He alone who provides grain and nourishment for all mankind.

Barley is mentioned in the Torah more than thirty times. It is the first of the winter grains to ripen and was used for the Omer offering brought in the Temple on Pesach. It's Hebrew name "seora" is similar to "se'ar" (hair), probably referring to its hair-like spikes.

Barley tea helps dissolve stones in the kidneys. It soothes the nerves, counteracts dizziness, and relieves the suffering of diabetics. Gargling with barley tea relieves infections of the mouth, throat and tonsils. Applied externally, it is good for open, infected wounds. Barley baths relieve swelling and rashes.

The Talmud warns that barley may cause intestinal worms. Also, because it is difficult to digest, barley should be avoided by those with gastrointestinal problems.

Fig (Te'enah)

Rich in minerals, especially iron. Current research has shown that the food value of figs is three times greater than that of bread. Figs are also high in calories.

Our ancestors found figs to be of great medicinal value. The Bible mentions dried whole figs as a cure for boils. Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra writes that "fresh or dried figs stimulate blood circulation, and thus preserve life". Our Sages said that "one gripped with a powerful hunger should be given figs to eat" because they increase the flow of blood and are rejuvenating.

Both figs and fig leaves have therapeutic properties. Ripe figs help open wounds form scabs. Figs are helpful for digestive problems. They serve as a mild laxative and are especially helpful for infections of the stomach, intestines and urinary tract. Figs are excellent for heart patients. They stimulate and refresh the body, cleanse the blood and improve circulation, give good colour to the skin, and stimulate the appetite. Fresh or dried, they are wonderful for physical debility, exhaustion and anaemia.

Date-honey (devash)

The Talmud provides a wealth of information about the cultivation, nutritional value, and halachos surrounding dates. For example, in Kesubos we find that "dates are warming, laxative, filling and strengthening". In addition, "dates eliminate depression, anxiety, intestinal disorders, and haemorrhoids".

Extremely rich in minerals and vitamins, dates help treat anaemia and general debility. They regulate the digestive tract, work wonders for heart conditions and male infertility.

Our sages tells us [Berachos 57a] that when one sees dates (tamar) in a dream, it is a sign that his sins have been eliminated (tamu).

Pomegranate (Rimmon)

Mentioned in the Song of Songs six times, and many times elsewhere in the Torah. It is likely that the famous six pointed Star of David was inspired by the "crown" of the pomegranate. When its spikes are flattened, they form the familiar star. According to a Kabbalistic interpretation, the six points of the star are composed of two superimposed triangles.

Grapes (Anavim)

Generous daily consumption of grapes and controlled intake of wine are helpful for a multitude of problems such as infections of the throat, stomach and intestines, pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases including clogging of the cardiac arteries and angina, high blood pressure, kidney stones and infections, hepatitis, gastrointestinal diseases and hypersensitive stomach, digestive problems and lack of appetite, and chronic colds.

Wine has an astringent effect which promotes the elimination of toxins, germs, mucus, and fatty deposits on the walls of the arteries. It relieves abdominal swelling and gas, and the pain of migraines. Wine stimulates the flow of blood through the tissues and is excellent for elderly people who lack natural body heat. Wine improves eyesight and strengthens the memory. Raisins appear to be beneficial for all the internal organs especially the lungs. Eating grapes and chewing the seeds stimulates blood circulation and prevents clogging of the arteries.

Olive (Zayit)

Our Sages had a tradition that fresh olives cause forgetfulness, while olive oil strengthens and sharpens the memory. Massages with olive oil have been used to treat joint pains and arthritis. Children's coughs were successfully treated with olive oil and honey.

Assaf the Physician, who lived in Babylon between the eighth and ninth centuries, wrote that "olive oil soothes intestinal pains, aids the digestive process, alleviates disorders of the mouth and teeth, and is beneficial for illnesses of the head. It increases hair growth and strengthens the hair, so that it will not tear out easily." Applied to the scalp, it strengthens hair roots.

Olives are very rich in iron and vitamin A. Both olives and olive oil possess numerous healing properties. Olives stimulate and increase the appetite and olive oil lowers cholesterol levels.

The olive tree will not accept a graft from another tree, and all its shoots are its own.

Tfila L'Chaim.mp3 10929K Play Download

rav noach weinberg z"l

this past week was the yartzeit of rav noach weinberg z"l, founder of aish. rav gavriel friedman gave an incredible shiur in his memory. there was a story about the chofetz chaim, in this instance, he was being framed and in defense of this gadol, there were many stories told. if someone was caught stealing from the chofetz chaim, the chofetz chaim himself would say to the thief please take that as a "gift" in order for the thief not to be "over geneva". the point of this vort is not to determine whether the story is true or not it just proves the chofetz chaim's greatness.
what does this have to do with rav weinberg and his yartzeit? rav weinberg was known to say, "find me 10 men and ill change the world..." what this would entail is to take on all the responsibilities of the world! unfortunately, people often say "id like to BUT..." they never can live up to this. someone approached the rabbi saying this expectation or comment could be detrimental to peoples self esteem, so he stopped mentioning this. it doesn't matter if this story is true or not but it proves his greatness.
another question involving rav weinberg, "do you do what you teach?" ....words to live by...."the words coming from one who does are greater then of one who doesn't."
pirkei avos asks if we learn from ourselves....
someone asked rav weinberg's rosh yeshiva if it was true that rav weinberg only slept 2 hours a night for 15 years..? to which he responded, no! just for 10! rav weinberg did this for divekus and did whatever he could for the ratzon of hashem.
at first, rav weinberg lived and learned the rambam...."moderation!" the rosh yeshiva asked rav weinberg why he only came on time and not early to davening, why he didn't learn more the the allotted time he did...rav weinberg followed the rambam's measurements of learning, eating, and sleeping. when rav weinberg got up the sefer talmud torah, he switched his derech, he did less to acquire greater torah knowledge.
rav noach weinberg believed everything he learned and every time he learned something new, he instituted it into his life! there were no "buts" if you know something is true, you are obligated to institute it...
rav noach personified truth!!!
he literally got up in the morning like a lion and roared, "yisgaber k'ari.."
in pirkei avos it says, "az k'namer, v'kal knesher, ratz k'tzvi, gibor k'ari, l'asos ritzono avinu shebashamaim..."
....all for the will of our father in the heaven!
be bold, swift, and strong like those animals are for the will of hashem!
make it a part of your essence, do just do LIVE IT.
there is another mishna in pirkei avos, kol kavono tiheyu l'shem shamaim.." ALL of our actions/focus' have to be done for the sake of hashem...
it is our responsibility to live up to our obligations and fix ourselves in this world to live truth...
"b'shvili nivra haolam..." the world was created for me...
always remember! "divarim h'yotzim min halev, nichnasim min halev..." everything that leaves from the heart also enters from the heart...
EMES
EMES
EMES
we must live a life of truth!
pirkei avos is the best life guidance book, another mishna says...." aseh ritzono k'rotzoncha k'day l'asos k'rotzoncha k'ritzono.." his will like your will so that your will is like his will....

rabeinu yona says, "the answer not to give is the answer..."

hashem will sustain you to get the ratzon/will of hashem done...

a closing point, rav weinberg was asked, "is there anything you're willing to die for?...to which he responded, first it is to find the truth, then live for it. the challenge isn't dying the challenge is living...."

rav noach weinberg was a man of emes and has changed and continues to change this lives of many of am yisrael...lets do our best to live up to this emes, be the best ovdai hashem and honor the memory of rav noach weinberg z"l...

a message to keep in mind.

as many of us return from eretz yisrael from vacation to reality, many of us have gone back to our seminaries, the home where our spring board for growth began. no matter where we are, we should remember this to ensure we realize our growth and change in a positive light. we are "a work in progress" growing and aiming to be the best ovdai hashem possible! "you return to a place not to see how much it has changed, but to see how much you have changed..."

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach Checks Out the Candy

One day in the car after delivering his shiur in Yeshivas Kol Torah, Rav Shlomo Zalman asked the driver to pull over in front of a kiosk where he went out to buy a candy bar to cheer up a child whom he was on his way to visit in the hospital. After buying the candy, on the way back to the car, Rav Shlomo Zalman started to examine the candy bar and turn it over from side to side. The person accompanying Rav Shlomo Zalman assured him that he has no need to worry since he knew that this candy bar had a very good Hechsher. "I wasn't looking at the Hechsher", said Rav Shlomo Zalman. "I was checking if the candy was good!" (Aleihu Lo Yibol YD 143)

EXCELLENT STORY

http://www.aish.com/sp/so/My_New_Hero.html

If everyone can have the name Asher dov ben Reuven Efraim in mind for an iylo nishmas, a boy many of us knew or heard of who sadly suddenly passed away last night.

Please say tehilim for Ester bas Michal- a 26 year old young woman I know who has two baby girls and is fighting cancer.

A Beggar With Nerve

Taken from Revach.net

This morning by Shacharis, Shmoneh Esrei took me a bit longer than usual. While I was still davening and the Shaliach Tzibur was saying Chazaras HaShatz, a person barged in to Shul to collect tzedaka. He was making a lot of noise with his change and his gruff pitch to each Mispalel. Then, as I was still clearly still davening Shmoneh Esrei, he got to me. Despite that my eyes were closed and I was shuckling, he jingled his change in my face and started mumbling about giving him Tzedaka. He didn't go away that fast. I was very tempted to open my eyes to see who he was so I could know to who never give, ever again.
Then the hypocrisy struck me. Here I was standing before Hashem asking him to help me. My Shmoneh Esrei took longer than usual. Why? Because while davening I came up with an idea to boost sales of my struggling business. So there I was standing before Hashem the King of all Kings and the owner of all riches, asking for a donation among other things, yet at the same time I was completely ignoring him because I was thinking I had my own way to make money without his help.
If I was angry at the collector could you imagine how Hashem felt about me? I hope Hashem closed His eyes and didn't get a glimpse of me the big Michutzaf, in order to make sure He never gives me a donation ever again. Maybe Hashem sent this fellow since He knew I wasn't davening anyway. Maybe He was telling me that giving small change to a person in need will yield a better return than my brilliant ideas that were hatched while I am supposed to be asking the real source of all good ideas and parnassa for His help.
The Rosh in Orchos Chaim says we need to ask Hashem forgiveness for asking for forgiveness in Slach Lanu without kavana. By the same token we should probably ask Hashem for forgiveness for dreaming about our parnassa instead of concentrating on Bareich Aleinu. And maybe we should also have a little more pity for the person lowering himself to ask us for help, no matter when or where, even if we are not in a position to give him that moment.

KOL YISROEL AREIVIM ZEH LAZEH- DAVEN FOR YOUR BROTHER!

Jonathan Pollard, who did teshuva while serving his time in jail is now very very ill and needs our tefillos :

Yehonatan ben Malka

"Jonathan Pollard is a brilliant man. His mind is clear, he is focused and he knows exactly what he wants. His love of Jews is infinite and his love of the Land of Israel is second to none. He is deeply religious and is connected to our Father in Heaven as no man I have ever seen. Jonathan knows about all the people who have double-crossed him and all the promises that have been broken. Yet, despite all this he remains totally sane and optimistic about the future. Most men would have cracked long ago but not Jonathan. No sir!!! He is happy, emotionally strong, confident and psychologically fit. His truth and faith in G-d is unquestionable and my personal "Yirat Shamayim" (awe of Heaven) is pale when compared to his." - Shmuel Sackett

HASHEM, Not Doctors, Calls the Shots!

Counteracting A Negative Medical Prognosis

From Kindness: Making a Difference in People's Lives: Formulas, stories, and insights
By Zelig Pliskin
Printed with Permission of Shaar Press
I heard these stories from my students:

I was told that I had only a few days left to live. That was over forty years ago.

Several doctors told me that we would be unable to have children. Fortunately they were wrong.

My doctor told me that I had only one chance in five hundred of overcoming my illness. I think he was being generous by giving me one chance. I used hope and laughter and spent the rest of my life encouraging others to believe in their ability to recover just as I did.

Doctors are humans. And all humans make errors. Those who feel they never make errors are guilty of an extreme error. Doctors save lives and heal. But they are fallible. Doctors have a mandate to heal, not to give up. Many doctors respect this mandate. Some don't. They can mean well and in their minds don't want to give false hopes. But a pessimistic prognosis can create discouragement. It is incumbent upon doctors to qualify a negative prognosis. They do have a responsibility to tell someone that a situation is serious and proper medical treatment is warranted. But it is crucial for them to be aware of instances when people did recover even though it might have appeared to be unlikely. The greater a doctor's knowledge of exceptions to the standard, the greater his ability to soften a dire pronouncement.

Hearing and reading about stories of people who have recovered from life-threatening illnesses will supply you with ammunition to fight depressing medical statements. We need to live in reality. But it is a major error to prematurely feel that all hope is lost when there is a valid basis for that hope.

Medical miracles do happen. People who were not given a chance for recovery have recovered. Even those who do not fully recover often live many more fruitful years than an original prognosis predicted.

Recovery and healing can happen with serious medical conditions. All the more so with psychological and psychiatric disorders. Being told, "Your problem is deep-seated and you'll never live a happy life," can create a self-fulfilling prophecy that can greatly hinder someone's ability to regain emotional health. Give hope and encouragement when someone has been told, "Nothing can be done."

"Nothing can be done," really means, "At the present with my limited knowledge and abilities I don't know what I can do to help." It doesn't mean that no one else can help. And it doesn't mean that this very person won't be able to help in the future. And it doesn't mean that there won't be spontaneous remission.

A helpful sentence is, "You never know."

• "You never know. Perhaps the situation is better than you think."
• "You never know. You might recover and heal."
• "You never know all the good you can still experience."
• "You never know how spiritually elevated you can become by coping with this situation."

SHLOMO KATZ LIVE THIS MOTZAI SHABBOS IN ISRAEL

“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

-Christopher Reeve

watch this clip to see a true Jewish hero

click here