a great site 4 kiruv....

http://www.simpletoremember.com/

The Rabbi and the Bible Critic

A certain rabbi once ran into a “freethinker” who considered himself quite a scholar. With hardly a word of introduction, the non-believer declared that he was learning Bible criticism and had spoken to many religious people who were unable to reply to the compelling questions he posed. The rabbi asked the academic what Rishonim he had learned. The academic was obviously taken aback and his halting reply showed that he had never studied rishonim at all. He defended himself with the statement, “Clearly, the Torah must be a work that is complete in and of itself, requiring no added exposition by the rabbis...” he began. “Anyone who thinks so has not learned it carefully,” replied the rabbi. “For example, the verse tells us, ‘and you shall slaughter of your cattle...as I have commanded you,’ yet nowhere in the rest of the Torah do we find instructions as to how we are meant to slaughter animals. Obviously, the accompanying instruction was transmitted orally—the oral Torah of the rabbis that you find superfluous.” The academic was flustered for only a moment before blurted out his ignorant response, “There is no such verse.” “Try parshas R’ei,” the rabbi replied. “And it’s not just there. Many mitzvos cannot possibly be fulfilled with only the written instructions. We are told to put ‘a sign’ on our arms and ‘a totafos’ between our eyes. What are these? How are we to manufacture the tzitzis that are to be placed on the corners of our garments? The list goes on and on and demonstrates clearly that the written Torah cannot be understood without the oral Torah.” “But why was there an oral Torah?” asked the academic. “Why not write it all down?” “Excellent question! The Maharal explains that the Torah is meant for every level, from small children to the deepest minds. It therefore has many levels of oral tradition imbedded into the text. In this manner the chumash relates to everyone since as one advances he learns what he can understand and not more. He also says that because there are so many details of the oral law it would be impossible to write everything down in any event. “From Rabbi Eliezer in Sanhedrin 68 we see an example of this great abundance of halachos. He said that although he had learned much from his teachers, what he absorbed can be compared to a dog lapping at the sea. He was discussing the many details of each and every law, which cannot possibly be recorded without countless books. Life is complex, so why assume G-d’s word is not?”

SDEROT, an extremely important cause... BE THE ONE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

For those of you that don't understand, I would just like to explain a bit about what I am campaigning for.
many of us are familiar with the community of Sderot and the catastrophe that has fallen upon the innocent and brave citizens within.
I am not here to ask for your generosity, be it in small or large change, to help this community build itself up again. The monies collected form this campaign will be used to build a safe dormitory building for these young boys who have dedicate themselves to us in more ways than we can possibly know.
These young men dedicated their lives on a day-to day basis to serve in the army of Israel, while simultaneously learning the Torah that our G-d has given us.

So I am asking you to press the link and donate whatever you see fit. Every penny counts!
Thank you in advance,
Tziona Rosenzveig

Please pass this email and spread the word to all you know!

http://www.rootfunding.com/index.php?option=com_campaign&Itemid=35&campaign_id=1113&view=campaign

Dear All,

South Africa is considering expelling the Israeli Ambassador from its country. It is possible that this could cause a diplomatic avalanche and many third world countries and perhaps others would also then follow suit, leaving Israel quite isolated. That Isolation could in turn create some severe difficulties for Israel. I believe that any sort of diplomatic isolation of Israel will be more dangerous than the 1975 U.N. Zionism is Racism Resolution was, because at that time the United States very clearly and openly had Israel’s back. That is sadly not Israel’s present reality. Hence anything we can do to help stem an international anti-Israel tide is significant. Below is a link from a South African website that is conducting a public opinion poll on whether South Africa should expel the Israeli Ambassador. As of today June 9th with 115,000 votes in its 51% yes to break off diplomatic relations and 49% no. Please vote, I do believe that the South African Government will be looking at this poll as a possible factor in their decision.

Here is the link to iafrica news ....
http://news.iafrica.com/features/2454580.htm

Please vote no and pass this on.

http://jcrcny.org/flotilla/statedeptpetition.html

PLEASE EVERYONE SIGN THE PETITION!!!!

Hein Ani!

The words ‘Hein Ani’ (behold I am), appear in the Torah four times. ‘Hein Ani Etz Yavesh’ (behold I am a dried tree); ‘Hein Ani Aral S’fasayim’ (behold I am of uncircumsized lips-speech impaired); ‘Hein Ani Nisharti Levadi’ (behold I am left alone); and ‘Hein Ani Kepicha La’el’.
The Chafetz Chaim recounts a story about a man who was going to court and wanted someone to speak for him. His close friends ignore him. A casual friend agrees to accompany him but will remain silent. As the day when he has to appear in court grows closer, he begins to sob that he has no one to help him. Suddenly, an acquaintance who was ignored, agrees to accompany and speak up for him.

There is a similar mashal we can use to drive the point home. We can compare the first friend to money, the second to family and the third, to mitzvos. Money won’t help you when you’re dead. Your family will come with you, but they won’t speak. A man will say, “nisharti levadi” (I’m all alone), and his mitzvos will come and say, “kepicha la’el” (Hashem will speak for you).

home coming.

after the most spiritual and rewarding year of my life, i am home. this is not my permanent home.. there is where my family is and i was raised and educated here. i was granted the zechus to study this year in the holiest city in the world yerushalaim at the finest in torah education, midreshet moriah. i was blessed to gain not only torah skills but life lessons while i did my time at midreshet. from the power of tefila, the Rav's message on not asking why but what can i do now and how can i fix this, all the way to something i learned towards the end of my time at midreshet. "in this world, there are no answers. in the next world, there are no questions." i owe my parents, rabbeim, teachers mentors and friends tremendous hacaras hatov for this year and all of the knowledge and skills i acquired while there. on a different note, as many of you know my grandfather was recently diagnosed with cancer and is in need of a refua. finding out such news so far a way is difficult for anyone but baruch hashem for my support system at midreshet i felt as though i was home with my family. today on the way back from the airport, my parents turned to me and said unfortunately our family has whitenessed another shock, my 15 year old cousin, grandson of this grandfather was just diagnosed with a cancer as well. i will do my best to continue using these skills as well as the many others. please daven for yehuda moshe yosef ben miriam as well as benzion klonamus chaim ben leah rachel.
please pass this on.
hashem should bless us all to see refua from choleh amecha and we should all be zoche to live and continue on the right derech until 120.
tizku l'mitzvos
ayelet

Chickens for Shabbos!

Imagine if each of us donates one chicken? we can feed so many Jews is Israel who need it! Its about $6 a chicken... (a little more than a coffee)

http://www.chickensforshabbos.com/

copy and paste that....

tizku limitzvot!

here is a link to the video- very worthwhile (copy and paste)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idgaSKrobR8&feature=player_embedded#!

Rav Avigdor Miller's Ten Steps to Greatness

1. Spend at least 30 seconds each day thinking about Olam Haba (the World to Come) and that we are in this world only as a preparation for the world to come.

2. Spend a few seconds each day in a private place and say to: "I love you Ha-Shem". You will be fulfilling a positive commandment from the Torah. This will kindle a fire in your heart and will have a powerful effect on your character. Your exteriority bestirs your interiority. Ha-Shem is listening. He loves you much more than you love him.

3. Every day do one act of kindness that no one knows about, in secrecy. Have intention beforehand that you are doing this in order to fulfil your program to greatness. The practice of doing acts of kindliness - Gemilut Hasadim - is one of the three most important functions in the world.

4. Encourage someone every day. "Hashem encourages the humble."

5. Spend one minute a day thinking about what happened yesterday. "Let us search out our ways and investigate." Everyone should have his mind on what he is doing - by reviewing yesterday's actions daily.

6. Make all your actions for the purpose of Heaven. Say once a day: "I am doing (this) in order to be more aware of Ha-Shem."

7. Be aware of the principle: "Man was created in the image of Ha-Shem." Every human face is a reflection of Ha-Shem. Your face is like a screen and your soul like a projector which projects on your face the glory of the human soul, which has in it the greatness of Ha-Shem. Once a day pick a face and think: "I am seeing the image of Ha-Shem." You will begin to understand the endless nobility of a face.

8. Once a day give a person a full smile. Just as Ha-Shem shines on us, we should smile on others. Smile because Ha-Shem wants you to, even though you really don't want to.

When you smile have intentions that you are doing it for the purpose of coming closer to Ha-Shem through the Ten Steps To Greatness.

9. "Ha-Shem clothes the naked." Clothing is a testament to the nobility of man. He is unique: man has free will, has a soul, and is made in the image of Ha-Shem. Even Angels are beneath man in greatness. To demonstrate the superiority of mankind, we must be clothed. Spend 30 seconds in the morning thinking about our garments: what a gift they are from Ha-Shem. Say "Malbish Arumin" (He clothes the naked) out loud.

10. Spend time each day thinking about the olden Jerusalem during the time of the Temple. Every day sit on the floor (before going to sleep), spend one second on the floor and mourn for the destruction of Jerusalem. Think "If I should forget you Jerusalem let my right arm forget."

Lightbulb

Rav Yitchak David Grossman:

If you paint a lightbulb black you would not be changing the purity of that light, even if you might be covering its external body.

So too with a neshama- no matter how irreligious or how "black" a neshama seems to be, this is only a covering. Underneath it all is still a yid with the same "energy" we were all created with, a direct energy from The Source.

vNothing Is Too Trifle For Hashem Yisborach!

The beauty of the Sefer Yetzira, is attributed directly to our Patriarch, Avraham Avinu. Although there is debate whether Avraham Avinu wrote it himself (Rav Tzadok Hakohen argues that the Sefer was written by Rebbi Akiva, based on the teachings of Avraham Avinu), everyone agrees that the secrets of the Torah contained therein are attributed to Avraham Avinu.

One of the chapters in this beautiful Sefer, deals with outlining 10 expressions/manifestations of Hashems’ ‘Hanhagos’ Kaviyachol. This is called the (chapter of) ‘Eser Sefiros’.

In this section, there is a pasuk that states ‘Tzipiyason K’mareh Habazak’ (dealing with the Angels of Hashem), which literally means that their vision, encompasses and shares the quality of flashes of “lightning bolts”. Although the actual meaning and depth of this pasuk is relegated to the secrets of the Torah (‘Sirei Torah), we can perhaps interpret it and apply it to ourselves on the following level:

The quality of a lighting bolt is that it is a ‘flash of light’ – it comes and goes in an instant. However, when it peaks, it serves to illuminate the darkness even for that moment in time.

From here we can learn a valuable lesson. Sometimes we are so consumed with the ideal and importance of achieving greatness in our spiritual growth, that we tend to overlook or unjustly minimize the beauty and greatness we can achieve by snatching the smaller ‘flashes of light’ (spirituality) within our grasp.

Moreover, we are sometimes overwhelmed by the seemingly insurmountable task of achieving greatness, that we don’t realize how much spiritual greatness can be achieved by simply capitalizing on any and all opportunities for spiritual growth, as small as they might seem to us.

If we cannot yet overcome our desire to speak Loshon Harah all of the time, let us at least try to hold back from saying that nasty word..just once..twice… This too is greatness.

This is akin to the bolt of lighting, the ‘flash of lighting’ which can illuminate the darkness, but for a second.

Like the Angels, our ‘Tzipiyah’ – our Vision, must be ‘K’mareh Habazak’ – it must include the intellectual capacity and understanding of the importance of capitalizing on any and every opportunity for spiritual accomplishment.

Nothing is too trifle for our Hashem Yisborach!

Ani Yehudi

Ani Yehudi

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass....."

This past Shabbos, I was at a very inspirational YACHAD shabbaton. It was the closing end of the year shabbaton with all three YACHAD divisions. People came from near and far, and most YACHAD member’s brought their families. There were many beautiful divrei Torah and speeches. One that really stuck out was one said by Dr. Jeff Lichtman, the director of YACHAD. He stated a quote that he once heard and liked very much. (It was something like this) “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, its about learning how to dance in the rain”. He was saying how it’s not good to sit and wait for a rough time to pass. Sometimes storms can take a while until they leave. But you never know, dancing in the rain can be fun too! In life we can’t just sit back when something comes in our way, rather in every situation we must take action and learn to see the best in it. We must learn to live life to the fullest. I met and saw some of the happiest people this passed Shabbos despite many different reasons why they could have chosen to “wait for the storm to pass”. These people taught me a lesson about how to choose how to have the happiest life. It’s about making every moment we have special. I always was a big fan of YACHAD but through this Shabbos and through talking to many parents I learned what a special organization they really are and how much they care for each individual person, and family in every way they can. May we all learn to live our lives to the fullest and let nothing stop us!

When the Enemy Approaches

by Reb Gutman Locks at Mystical Paths

When danger draws near, and the world is united against us, as we see it is today, do not despair. Despair weakens resolve.

Instead, strengthen yourself and all of our people by taking action. Every one of us must join in the battle. Wherever we are, we are all on the front line, and we all must do our best to protect the ones who are in the most danger.

You and I do not have tanks or planes, but we do have our own powerful weapons. When we do a mitzvah, any mitzvah, we strengthen the entire Jewish people. Now is a time when we must increase our mitzvahs. For the next week, take action to shield our soldiers from danger. For instance, if you are accustomed to giving one dollar a day to charity, for the next week, give two dollars a day. If you are having one Shabbos guest Friday night, invite another. Increase your learning and kindness, even if it is only a small amount, and even if it is just until this dangerous time passes. Every good deed you do will help to shield a Jew who is in danger, and this is even more true when you make an effort to increase your good deeds.

Early Shabbos

Making Early Shabbos, Does It Make Hashem Happy?

In the zemer Kol Mikadesh Shevi'i on Friday night, we sing HaMiacharim Latzais Min HaShabbos U'Mimaharim Lavo." The Michaber praises Am Yisroel's love and attachment to Shabbos demonstrated in out lingering before ending Shabbos, and rushing to greet it when it comes in. All the Meforshim ask, why is the order reversed, shouldn't it first say we greet Shabbos early on Friday, and end late on Motza'ei Shabbos? The Rinas Yaakov answers that when we draw out the Shabbos and end it well into the night it is a clear sign that we love Shabbos and do want to part ways with it. We want to remain in its warm embrace as long as we can, and we are not rushing out. But when we bring in Shabbos early it may indeed be because of a yearning for Shabbos and our desire to bring down its heavenly radiance even before its time. However it may also be because we are tired and do not want to have a very late meal during the long days of the summer. We may want to get to bed early rather than get to Shabbos. Therefore the Michaber proves Klal Yisroel's love for Shabbos first by speaking of our lengthening of an already long afternoon just to keep Shabbos with us. Only after proving our true intentions do we boast about making early Shabbos as a way of showing Kavod for the Shechina, and not our sleep time.

Know that you must judge all people favorably. This applies even to the worst of people. You must search until you find some little bit of good in them. In that good place inside them, they are not bad! If you can just find this little bit of good and judge them favorably, you really can elevate them and swing the scales of judgment in their favor. This way you can bring them back to God.
Rebbe Nachman, Likutey Moharan I:282

Parshat Shlach

I'm sorry I didn't have time to come up with my own dvar torah, but i found this one on revach.net and thought there was a great message!

"V'Avdi Kalev Eikev Hayisa Ruach Acheres Imo Vayimalei Acharai", my servant Kalev, because he possessed in him a different spirit, and followed Me fully (Shlach 14:24). Hashem says that Kalev will be rewarded. What about Yehoshua? Further what was this Ruach Acheres, a different spirit that the Torah speaks about?

The Shalal Rov brings from Rav Yehuda Kahana (brother of the Ketzos) the gemara (Brachos 34b) that says, "B'Makom SheBaalei Tshuva Omdim Afilu Tzaddikim Gemurim Ein Omdim Sham." Baalei Tshuva ascend to high levels that Tzaddikim cannot reach.

Moshe davened for Yehoshua and therefore Yehoshua was a tzaddik from the beginning of the mission until the end without wavering for a second. Kalev felt pangs within him drawing him towards the mistakes of the rest of the Meraglim. He fought them off relentlessly and broke away to shed tears on his own behalf before the Avos HaKedoshim in Chevron. He struggled against his Yetzer and emerged victorious. He was a true Baal Tshuva and for this earned a special place that Yehoshua could not reach.

The pasuk says that Kalev had a "Ruach Acheres" a spirit that was pushing him to go with the Meraglim. "Vayimalei Acharai", but nevertheless followed Hashem. Therefore Hashem promised him special schar.

-A lot of times we feel pressure from our friends, or peers to act a certain way and we know deep down that it's not the right thing to do, but nonetheless do it because everyone else is and we dont want to be the only ones not. When we daven in the morning we need to ask Hashem to help us with our daily struggles and to do the right thing, even if were the only ones doing it.

Have a good shabbos everyone!

Rabbi Wallerstein shiur ...intense in 42 min

http://www.torahanytime.com/scripts/media.php?file=media/Rabbi/Zecharia_Wallerstein/2010-06-02/Knowing_Yourself/Rabbi__Zecharia_Wallerstein__Knowing_Yourself__2010-06-02.wmv

Have a great holy shabb!

THE TRUE PATH TO SUCCESS

We read in this week's haftarah that the actions of the meraglim sent
by Yehoshua to spy on Yericho prior to Klal Yisrael's entry into Eretz
Yisrael differed sharply from those of the spies sent by Moshe.
The Midrash heaps unparalleled praise on Yehoshua's messengers: "No
one is as dear to Hashem as a shaliach mitzvah ( a messenger sent to
perform a mitzvah) who sacrifices himself to ensure that he is
successful in his mission, and no messengers sacrificed themseleves
for the success of their cause as much as the two spies sent by
Yehoshua ben Nun."
Chazal obviously established the reading of the story of the meraglim
sent by Yehoshua as the Haftarah of Parshas Shelach so that we should
take note of the contrast between the actions of the two sets of
spies, and learn to emulate the actions of the second set. What made
them so successful?
Perhaps we can attribute their success to the midrashic explanation
of a word used to describe the messengers as they were dispatched. The
navi tells us that Yehoshua sent the spies, "cheresh."
The Midrash explains that the spies disguised themselves in order to
enter and exit Yericho undetected. What disguise did they use? Either
they feigned deafness ( the word cheresh means "deaf" ), or they
dressed up as peddlers selling earthenware vessels ( a keli cheres is
an earthenware vessel.)
If a person wants to succeed as a shaliach mitzvah ,he has to learn
to emulate cheres, earthenware, and cheresh, a deaf person.
Earthenware objects acquire tumah in a distinctively different manner
from all other utensils. Most utensils acquire tumah by coming into
direct contact with a piece of food, a liquid, an object, or a person
who is tamei, no matter which part of the utensil touches the tumah.
If a metal pot came into contact with a corpse, for instance, the pot
becomes tamei, even if only the bottom of the pot touched the corpse.
Earthenware vessels cannot acquire tumah from the outside; only form
the inside. There is a stringency in halachos of earthenware as well,
however. All other utensils must come into direct contact with tumah
in order to become tamei. Earthenware vessels can become tamei even if
the tumah is merely suspended into the airspace within the walls of
the vessel. What is the rationale behind this difference?
The Kotzker Rebbe explains that in the times of Chazal, most utensils
had external value as well as internal value. Vessels and utensils
fashioned out of metal or wood had some kind of design to make them
attractive. Since the outer surface had value, the object could
acquire tumah on the outer surface.
Earthenware vessels were the "disposable dishes" of ancient times.
They were exclusively functional: the outsides of the vessels were
unsightly, but the inside was very useful. Since the only function of
earthenware was to cook or eat from vessel by placing something inside
it, it could only become tamei from the inside.
Sometimes we are sent to perform mitzvah, and the "externals" of the
mitzvah are not to our liking. When was the last time you were asked
to collect tzeddakah for a family in need? It is not the most
enjoyable task. We are proud individuals, and we feel uncomfortable
asking other people for money- even if it is not for ourselves.
In order to succeed as a shaliach mitzvah, one must be willing to
give up on the externals. We have to be willing to focus on the
function of the mitzvah, and look beyond the external comfort.
The other key to success in mitzvah observance is to act like a deaf
person.
All efforts on behalf of worthwhile causes will be met with
criticism: " You want to start a Yeshivah? Why do we need it? No one
is going to send their children to yeshivah here."
"Why do we need to build a new mikveh? We already have one"
"You want to open a new shul- forget it, it's never going to happen"
A proper shaliach mitzvah must be willing to be deaf to such
reactions, to ignore all the negative comments, and to forge ahead on
the path to success.
- Rabbi Yissocher Frand