Gutt Shabbos

This week's Torah portion contains 20 commandments and one of them is offering the Paschal Lamb.
 
Before the Jews left Egypt, every household had to sacrifice a lamb or goat and eat its meat before midnight. Only then were they able to leave. This commandment was done every Passover till the destruction of the second Temple some 2,000 years ago and will be renewed when Moshiach builds the Third Temple.
 
But at first glance this makes no sense. What does slaughtering and eating sheep have to do with Judaism or with leaving Egypt?
 
Even more, why did G-d have to take the Jews from Egypt at all? After He destroyed the country with ten plagues why not just let the Jews take over!! Wouldn't that have been better? Then THEY would be the bosses instead of the evil Egyptians!
 
To understand this here are two stories: (Shmuot V'Sipurim Rav R.N. HaCohen Cahn Vol. 3 pg 241)
 
Judaism defies all standards. The Jewish 'race' has no defining physical features, Jewish 'nationality' doesn't depend on place of birth or residence and a Jew is Jewish although he doesn't believe in the religion.
 
 But at the same time their standards are very high; Chassidic Judaism teaches that every Jew is obligated to try, and has the potential to succeed, to improve the entire world through G-d's commandments.
 
And one of the most outstanding examples of this teaching was the third Rebbe (leader) of the 'Chabad' Chassidim called Rabbi Menachem Mendel (nicknamed the Tzemach Tzedik 1789 - 1866).
 
He brought all of his followers to the highest levels of self fulfillment and many of them had followers of their own. Especially his sons.
 
For instance, once he sent two of his six sons; Rav Zalman and Rav Shmuel to speak to government officials in Petersburg to and to nullify decrees that were threatening Judaism.  The work was demanding, dangerous and difficult and miraculously they succeeded. But before they left they were approached by two respectable looking Jews and invited to preside over the wedding ceremony of their children.
 
Usually the Rabbis would not have agreed; their time was precious and there was no shortage of capable Rabbis in Petersburg but strangely they agreed. That very evening Rabbi Zalman the older of the two, readily wrote the marriage certificate, made the blessings and he and his brother even participated briefly in the festivities. 
 
The families were overjoyed that such prestigious Rabbis attended the wedding of their children and couldn't thank them enough.
 
In fact, early the next morning they brought the newlyweds to the Rabbis' hotel room and requested that they bless the couple again…. And they even brought along some cakes, drinks and one of the musicians of the wedding band, a violinist, to make things merry.
 
The violinist played a merry tune, the food was arranged on a table and Rav Zalman and his brother blessed the couple. But then Rav Zalman pointed to the violinist, and when he stopped playing, praised him for his music in a way that implied he would like to make a request.
 
The father of the groom understood the Rebbe's hint and immediately jumped in. "Perhaps the Rabbi like to hear a particular melody? The violinist knows many Jewish melodies!"
Rab Zalman answered, "Ahh! Nu! Good, Can he play Kol Nidre?" (The first and opening prayer of 'Yom Kippur'; The Day of Atonement, sung in synagogues across the world).
 
"Of course, I can. I'm also a Jew!" the violinist answered with a smile and a nod at the family members. Then he closed his eyes and began to play the familiar melody, his body swaying with great feeling at every phrase of music.    
 
Rab Zalman lowered his head between his hands on the table before him in great rapture and as the last notes faded away in the silence he raised his head and said, quietly almost intimately, "Once more."
 
The violinist nodded, lifted his bow and the beautiful tones again filled the room as Rav Zalman returned his head to his hands as though in another world.
 
When the music finished he straightened up, smiled again, looked deamily at the musician and said, "Once again".
 
The violinist understood. The Rabbi probably wanted to hear the tune three times as it is always repeated on the evening of Yom Kippur.  So he put all his energy into this third and final time.
 
Truly it was magic; more melodic and with more feeling then the first two. But as he finished, lowered his bow and began to take the violin from his shoulder Rab Zalman lifted his head and said, "Again!"
 
The family looked at each other in bewilderment, almost ashamedly.  If it was anyone else they would think he was mad, but it was the honorable Rabbi. Probably he really loves this song. Or perhaps it's the performance. In any case they hoped four times would be enough. 
 
But when he finished playing Rav Zalman commanded him to play again a fifth time, then a sixth! And a seventh!!!
 
Suddenly the violinist, stopped. He stood there and began trembling as though he remembered something terrible that shook his entire being. He lowered the violin, looked at the Rebbe with horror and tears in his eyes and tears streamed down his cheeks for several speechless moments. He wavered as though he was about to fall to his knees and finally the words came out,
 
"Rebbe help me!!! How can I repair my soul!!?"  
 
Rab Zalman motioned for the violinist to wait, bade the other visitors Mazal Tov and after they left spoke to him for several minutes alone.
 
Later the violinist told them what had happened.
 
Some twenty years ago he and his friends began drinking, playing cards and playing music the day before Yom Kippur and enjoyed themselves so much that they continued on well into the night… after the Holiday had begun and the Cantor had sung …….. Kol Nidre. 
 
Before that evening he had been an observant, albeit not enthusiastic, Jew but it was that party that began his 'descent' and estrangement from Judaism.
 
"Somehow the Rabbi sensed this and that is why he wanted him to play that melody over and over again until it brought him back to his Jewish senses".
 
The second story took place some one hundred years later.  In the city of Nevel, Russia. There was a large community and a large Torah Academy (Yeshiva) of Chabad Chassidim. One of the outstanding in the Academy was a Rabbi by the name of Gershon Ber who was also in charge of the personal conduct and attitude of the pupils.
 
One pupil there, who we will call Moshe, began to be lax in his Torah observance and everyone noticed it. But Rabbi Gerson Ber never mentioned this to him. He would only chastise him for not paying attention in the Tanya (Chassidic Philosophy) class.
 
Day after day Moshe became more brazen and callous to G-d's commandments but his Rabbi only reproved him on this one particular class.
 
Until eventually Moshe left Judaism altogether, changed his religion and was on his way to becoming an important figure in the government. 
 
Then, one day, years after he left the Yeshiva, he met Rabbi Gerson Ber in the street and mockingly said to him.
 
"Nu! Rabbi! See what came of your reproofs. Nothing!! In fact I don't see why you wasted your time telling me about such a small thing as listening in class when I was doing the biggest sins in the book…. Even the biggest! See? I changed my religion!!"
 
"I'll tell you." Rabbi Gershon Ber replied seriously.
 
"When you die you will go to hell for purification. First they will punish you a few years for leaving Judaism. Then after you have returned to being a Jew they will punish you for transgressing the commandments until you will return to be an observant Jew. Then after that they will punish you for not listening in class. It was that punishment that I wanted to spare you."
 
Moshe listened and the words hit home. It wasn't long before he left town, moved far away where no one knew him and returned to the religion of his fathers.
 
This answers our questions. The essence of Judaism is to know that the creation is infinitely close to Creator but is our job to make it even closer.
 
And the word 'to come close' ("Korov") is almost the same as 'to sacrifice' ('HaKriv').
 
We can only be TRULY close to G-d world by making sacrifices to the Creator in THIS physical!  
 
The first time this happened was when the Jews sacrificed the Paschal Lamb; the first Sacrifice/Coming Close of the creation to the Creator.
 
As in both our stories; the violinist and Moshe both realized how close G-d is to them and sacrificed from themselves to come even closer.
 
The reason it was a lamb was because the lamb was one of the main gods of Egypt; the Jews needed great bravery to take it into their houses and risk the wrath of their 'masters'; just as Rav Gerson Ber risked the wrath of the apostate Moshe.
 
And so today; leaving Egypt, reversing nature (even our own nature) and ignoring the negativity around us often requires unusual bravery…. And humility.   
 
That's the reason G-d didn't want the Jews to stay in Egypt; He didn't want a nation of leaders. Rather G-d wants a nation of servants; servants that aren't interested in pleasing the world (Egypt) but rather interested in pleasing the CREATOR of the world.
 
This is the true secret to transforming the world to a good, blessed and meaningful place. And just as the Jews left physical Egypt by means of Moses so will we leave all our personal and spiritual limitations (Egypt) by means of....

Moshiach NOW!
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton
RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Gut Shabbos

This Shabbos Is Shbbos Mevorchim Chodesh Shvat, please see to say your Tehilim.

This week we go a step deeper into Jewish faith; we begin to read about the Ten Plagues.
Here we learn that not only does G-d exist and cares about His creation…. HE actually gets personally involved in the world and does big miracles.
At first glance these are totally not understood; First of all, why did G-d have to send plagues at all? If their purpose was to free the Jews from slavery then couldn't G-d just have flown them out?
And if the plagues were to punish the Egyptians then one of them surely would have sufficed, why ten? And if they were intended to show G-d's power then ten aren't enough!
And why did they begin with blood, frogs and lice?
To understand this here is a story. (Bamachaneh weekly #66, Chukat 5768)
Chabad Chassidim are Jews that love to do favors, especially spiritual ones, for people, especially Jews; for instance, putting Tefillin (Phylacteries) on those that don't usually do it.
But sometimes it gets them into trouble, like it did to Yosef Yitzchak, an 18 year old student in the Chabad Torah Academy in Sefad, Israel.
Early one Friday morning he jumped on a bus for a quick visit to his parents in Ramat Gan in the center of Israel three hours away. He spent a few hours there, kissed them good bye, bade them a good Shabbat and returned to the bus terminal for the return trip.
But there were so many Jews without head coverings in the terminal… a little voice inside him told him he had to put Tefillin on at least one.
He found a table somewhere, put down his backpack, took out his Tefillin, asked the first man who passed by if he wanted to put them on and to his pleasant surprise. the man smiled, agreed, approached the table and rolled up his sleeve. In a flash Yosef had the Tefillin on him but before he was finished someone else approached, then another until there was a small waiting line.
Yosef Yitzchak forgot about time. 'This is great!!' He told himself and he kept doing what he had to. G-d will help!!'
Of course many wanted to hear a word about the weekly Torah portion or just to talk for a minute, but the first time there was a lull he took a look at his watch. GEVALT!!! Th..Three hours had passed! He quickly wrapped up the Tefillin, put them in his bag and ran to the stop to see the last bus pull away! He had to get back to the Yeshiva!
So he took the next bus going in that direction got off after an hour and began to hitchhike. After only a few minutes he got a ride. It wasn't all the way there but at least he was making progress. "Ahh! What good luck!!" he told himself.
But the next ride didn't come so quickly and the next was that did come wasn't exactly going where he wanted. He got in but he realized he'd have to get off on the way. After another hour he realized that he had to get out… in just a few minutes it would begin to get dark, Shabbat was approaching!! (Religious Jews don't drive or ride on Shabbat). "Please let me out!!" He said quietly.
The driver thought he was crazy, they were in the middle of nowhere! But he had no choice. He let him off at the entrance of the first Kibbutz they passed and sped away.
Yosef Yitzchak had been in a Kibbutz before and all of them have pretty much the same layout so he knew where to go; to the dining room.
It dawned on him that he'd even heard of this place (The name wasn't given in the story). It was a 'Shomer HaTzair' kibbutz, [years ago such places had pictures of Stalin on the wall entitled 'A luminary to the world' (Shemesh l'amim)], once known for their atheism.
But Yosef Yitzchak was optimistic; if he was here might as well make the most of it!
He entered the dining room just as everyone was in the middle of their meal and suddenly there was silence; all eyes were on him. He put down his backpack, smiled, waved hello and said "Good Shabbat everyone!"
A few men approached him, shook hands and he briefly and quietly explained to them what happened. They graciously invited him stay to eat whatever he could according to his beliefs and explained that all the rooms were full but they could give him a small room off the kitchen with a mattress and bedding.
Yosef changed clothes in a side room, prayed the evening Shabbat prayer in his pleasant melodic voice and sat down to eat.
For many of the Kibbutz people it was their first personal contact with a religious Jew and Yosef's simple, positive character and pleasant demeanor had a positive effect on them. In the course of that Shabbat they heard words of Torah, Chassidic stories and a lot about the Lubavitcher Rebbe and Moshiach.
Finally, that Saturday night, after the end of Shabbat a shy young woman, perhaps in her mid twenties, approached him, thanked him for coming and asked him exactly why he decided to come.
When he explained what had happened; how he had missed his bus and how it really wasn't his conscious decision her eyes filled with tears and when he finished she began weeping.
When she calmed down she dried her eyes and explained. A few years ago she had become interested in Judaism but because there was no one to really help her and it was a sort of taboo subject in the Kibbutz she just kept it to herself. But it bothered her so greatly that there was no one to teach her that she prayed to G-d for help.
Then, a few weeks later she had something to do in Tel Aviv and while there she saw a poster with a large picture of the Lubavitcher Rebbe advertising a certain telephone number where it was possible to get advice from his books of letters.
So she did it; when she got home she wrote a letter to the Rebbe, called the number and, without telling them the contents of the letter, asked them to open a book for her.
They read to her over the phone, 'The Rebbe acknowledges receiving your letter and promises to send one of his emissaries to answer your questions and to help you.'
Then, just a week later Yosef Yitzchak arrived! It was obvious to her that this was no accident; he was sent directly by the Rebbe …. That was the only explanation.
It wasn't long before a Rabbi began visiting the Kibbutz regularly and not only the young woman but many more of its members strengthened their connection to G-d's Torah and its commandments.
This answers our questions. Many things happen in life that we take for granted but, in fact are really miracles and part of a large picture. If we would just put our minds to it we would see that they were.
The perfect example of this was the ten plagues.
Despite Moses' warnings and the damage of the plagues the Egyptians kept convincing themselves that these were merely natural events and refused to release the Jews! Indeed, even after the tenth and final plague they pursued the Jews to bring them back! And according to the Midrash most of the Jews didn't want to leave either!
(Unfortunately, so it is today. In the last 2 years the Arabs have shot over 5,000 explosive missiles into the city of Sderot and almost no one has been injured! But nevertheless the Israeli government refuses both to recognize this as a the hand of G-d or to learn any positive lesson from it.)
But a lot of Jews left Egypt. And they did so because they took a positive, G-dly lesson from each plague.
As did Yosef Yitzchak in our story.
He began by being warm, positive and alive… corresponding to the 'plague' of blood.

Next he threw himself into doing what G-d wants him to, just as the Frogs threw themselves into furnaces (7:28) because it was G-d's will.
Then he made himself small and paid attention to small details of Judaism corresponding to the third plague of lice.
In other words the plagues came to teach Egyptians and Jews as well, that every 'bad' or 'natural' event is in reality a positive, G-dly message in life.

And this is the message that Moshiach will drive home.
The prophet says, "Just as when you left Egypt so G-d will do miracles." (Micah 7:15). If we treat life like Yosef Yitzchak in our story we will soon see the total revelation of the Creator as it was over 3,300 years ago.
We just have to do all we can to bring....
Moshiach NOW!
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton
RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Chief Rabbi Confirms Gaza Mircale

Tevet 24, 5769, 20 January 09 09:38

by Hillel Fendel

(IsraelNN.com) Former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, recovering from a life-threatening disease, prayed several times at the Tomb of the Biblical Matriarch Rachel before the recent war in Gaza. Informed that an "old woman" saved IDF soldiers' lives in Gaza, he said, "Did she mention that I sent her?"

The story was first told by Rabbi Lazer Brody, a rabbi in Ashdod who "devotes his time to spreading faith around the globe via Breslov Israel and the Emuna Outreach organization" that he founded. Rabbi Brody told Israel National News that he receives many phone calls in the framework of his work – including a particularly noteworthy one about two weeks ago. "The caller, an Israeli man, was clearly knowledgeable about how IDF infantry troops operate," the rabbi and former IDF special-unit veteran said, "and this is what he told me:"

'My son is in the Givati Brigade, and his unit's job is to clean out areas around Gaza City. Outside one house, a woman dressed in black appeared and started yelling at them in Arabic, 'Ruchu min hon – Get out of here! It's dangerous!' The troops thought she might be trying to protect her family, but they didn't want to take chances; the company commander called the regiment commander, and they went on to their next target. There, too, the same woman appeared and gave the same warning. The soldiers thought she probably came somehow through the tunnel network that Hamas had set up between houses, and one of the soldiers even yelled at her… Then they went to a third house – and the same woman appeared again. This time, all the soldiers froze.

'The soldiers then hooked up with a Golani Engineering force whose job it was to blow up houses that were found to be booby-trapped. My son's unit asked them to check these three houses – and they found that all three of the houses that the woman had warned them away from had been booby-trapped."

The story did not receive high-level confirmation, though it made the ranks of the rumor mills - and many dismissed it as just that. Then, on Monday night of this week, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the Chief Rabbi of Tzfat and son of former Chief Rabbi of Israel Mordechai Eliyahu, was teaching students in Machon Meir in Jerusalem about the sublime level of soldiers fighting on behalf of Israel. In this connection, he said:

"There are soldiers who have been telling that in some places where they went in, there was a woman who told them not to enter certain buildings because they were booby-trapped, and that she said her name was Rachel... I asked a certain Yeshiva dean about this story, and he told me that it wasn't a 'made-up story,' but that he actually knew one of the soldiers involved, and he told me his name.

Click here to hear Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu telling the story in Hebrew

"Then the Yeshiva dean asked me if it was in any way connected with the fact that my father, Rabbi [Mordechai] Eliyahu, had left the hospital before the war and went to pray not once, not twice, but three times at Rachel's Tomb, and went nowhere else to pray? I told him I didn't know, but that I would ask.

"In truth, I was a little bit afraid to ask him, because he usually dismisses these kinds of stories… But I decided to go, and I asked him, 'Do you remember that you told us one time about Rabbi Shalom Mutzafi, of blessed memory, during World War II, when the Germans seemed about to enter the Holy Land, and he prayed at Kever Rachel against the decree, and he said that he actually saw Rachel praying. [My father] said yes, he remembers.

"So I told him about this story that I had heard, and I asked him, 'Should we believe it? Is it truth?' And he said, 'Yes, it's true.' I asked him to explain, and he said - in these words: 'I told her: Rachel, a war is on! Don't withhold your voice from crying [based on Jeremiah 31,14-16]! Go before G-d, and pray for the soldiers, who are sacrificing themselves for the Nation of Israel, that they should strike - and not be stricken.'

"I told him, "Well, you should know that she really did that." So he asked, "Did she mention that I sent her?"

"Everyone should then make his own calculation," Rabbi Eliyahu the son then continued. "If this is the great level of the soldiers, and if this is the great power of prayer, then how can anyone say anything against them?..."

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Vaera

Listen to this week's shiur of Parshas Vaera.

Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

Wednesday Night Shiur - Shemos

Listen to this week's shiur of Parshas Shemos.

Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

Good Shabbos

Our Basketball team hosted another Yeshiva's team, and they put on quite a show. Now they are back at the Seforim pictures and story coming soon. This coming Monday Martin King day there are no busses, This week we begin the second book of the Pentateuch; the book of Exodus (Shmot) where we are introduced to three concepts found only in Judaism: Exile, Redemption and most important....Moses.
Other religions or nations may make similar claims but never in history has an entire nation been enslaved or freed or had a leader even vaguely similar to Moses.
Moses brought millions from slavery, provided their sustenance and protection for 40 years in the desert, brought them revelation of the Creator at Mount Sinai and every letter he spoke was exactly the word of G-d.
But at first glance this is not understood.
It is known that the Torah is eternal and every word and idea is vital and relevant. But here seems to be an exception.
Today there is no slavery: Jews are free, living wherever and however they want with no apparent need for redemption and certainly not for a Moses.
So what do these ideas mean to us today?
To understand this, here is a story about the first Rebbe of the Chabad Chassidim, Rebbe Shneur Zalman. (Otzar Sipuri Chabad vol. 15 pg. 59) (Who passed away on 24th of Teves, which will be next week, 196 years ago)
One of the greatest humans that ever lived was Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi; the first Rebbe of the Chabad Chassidim. He was expert in all sciences, had memorized all the books of Judaism including the Kaballa and was a known healer and miracle worker.
One day a desperate looking man came knocking at the Rebbe's door and was granted an audience. He had to wait for a day or two but finally entered and poured out his aching heart. He had no children. He and his wife had been to the greatest experts but nothing worked and now he needed the Rebbe's blessing.
The Rebbe put his head down on his hands that were on the desk before him and after a minute looked up and said 'If you are willing to have a son that is blind I can help you.'
The man closed his eyes, thought for only seconds and agreed.
Sure enough shortly thereafter his wife became pregnant and that very year was born a beautiful, intelligent, healthy child but… as the Rebbe had warned… completely blind.
Of course he returned to the Rebbe to thank him but several years later he returned again with a worried look on his face.
"I know that I agreed to have a son that couldn't see but, Rebbe, after all, if you could do such a great miracle as convince G-d to give us a child with a soul and an entire, complicated body surely you can convince the Almighty to just give him two eyes."
The Rebbe reminded him that this was the condition and that nothing could be done but the poor fellow insisted. He very politely but stubbornly insisted that the Rebbe could, should and must do another miracle.
The Rebbe refused repeatedly but after the fellow broke down weeping the Rebbe changed his tone and said, "Take your son, go to the city of Metz, look for a road that descends steeply, count seven houses and knock on the door and ask the owner if you can lodge at his house. If he agrees then put your bags down and start wandering the town. Spend as much time as possible wandering the streets till you find someone to help you."
The next day the man packed his and his son's bags and set off for the distant city of Metz. After a journey of several days they arrived, found the house they were looking for, got permission from the owner to stay there and, after putting their suitcases down, began wandering.
One morning as they were about to leave and asked them to sit down for a chat. "I don't mind you staying by my house," he said "Thank G-d, as you see I have plenty of room (the owner was obviously a wealthy man and his house was very large) but tell me, exactly what are you doing here? You've been here for more than a week and people tell me that you just wander the streets. Perhaps I can help?"
The visitor poured out his heart and told him why the Rebbe, Shneur Zalman, sent him.
"All the way to Metz?" The owner said. "Why that's a journey of several days. How could he know what is in Metz? And what could there be here in Metz for you?"
They sat in silence for several minutes, shrugging their shoulders and turning up the palms of their hands in bewilderment.
Finally the owner said. "Listen, I have an idea. My wife and I took an orphan girl into our home that was a distant relative of ours. We brought her up gave her an education and everything. There is also a Yeshiva (Torah Academy) in Metz and every day they would send a boy to eat by us (In those days there were no lunch rooms and pupils would be distributed to private homes for meals). Well it so happened, this was years ago, that the gentile that worked guarding my orchards decided to quit and I offered this boy to take his place, for pay of course.
"Anyway, he took the offer but insisted that he not sleep in our house but rather we make him a small hut where he could live and guard at the same time. So the point of the story is that once, in fact it was the first night he worked here, my wife woke up in the middle of the night and saw fire burning inside his hut. But when I ran out to see what it was, the fire disappeared. And so it happened for several nights until I decided that this young fellow must have special powers. But neither I nor my wife ever mentioned it to anyone
"It wasn't long before we decided to ask him if he was interested in marrying and if so if he would consider our orphan girl. He agreed on the condition that she would agree and that they would not live near us but rather in a concealed place in the woods and that he would bake bread and she would sell it in the market.
"She agreed to all this. They married and moved and since then they seem to be living a happy quiet life. But I'm sure that if you find their house and ask for a blessing you will get it. Probably this is the reason the Rebbe sent you here. And probably he told you to wander around because if the young man saw me escorting you he would certainly not want me to know of his powers. Now I'll tell you where he lives."

The Chassid took his son, found the place, knocked on the door and a young Jewish man that showed no sign of being anything but average answered and invited them in.
As soon as they entered the Chassid looked the young man in the eyes and said, half beseeching half commanding, "The Rebbe of Chabad, Rebbe Shneur Zalman, sent me. I want a blessing for my blind son."
The young man looked with wide, unbelieving eyes and exclaimed almost in anger, "What, you mean to tell me that even here he was able to find me!? Is there no place I can hide from him!?"
Sure enough, the 'young man' was on of the "36 Hidden Tzadikim" found in every generation and somehow the Rebbe knew. He blessed the boy, gave his father advice on how to cure him and in just a short time he was able to see like a normal person.
This explains our questions.
Exile and Exodus are very relevant today; just as the boy in our story was physically blind so today many of us are 'blind' to the Creator. We are plagued by loneliness, fear and depression; totally unaware that really we are never alone; G-d creates, provides for and protects us constantly.
This is called 'exile' (G'ola). Our bodies are free but our souls are trapped in an intangible, meaningless present between an uncertain future and a dead past.
That is why we need Moses. Indeed, the Zohar teaches that in every generation there must be a Moses; a potential Moshiach (Messiah) like the Rebbe in our story, who will bring mankind to its senses and free us from our 'blindness'.
This is called Redemption or 'Geola'.
The last Chabad Rebbe pointed out that this Geula is much closer than we think; it just requires ADDING one letter (Alef) to G'ola.
In other words; one more good deed, word or even thought can transform the entire world.
Hard to believe, but this is how Judaism began, what it is based on and what has been keeping it not just alive but vital for over 3,000 years. Miracles!
And just as G-d took us from Egypt with great miracles for SURE if we listen to the Moses of our generation, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, we will see them again!
Moshiach NOW!
Rabbi Tuvia Boltonplease see to make arrangements as on Sunday.

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Good Shabbos

Parents: For Sunday schedule please be in touch on Motzoey Shabbos. Feel free to download weekly Torah class at www.shiur.us

 

This week's Torah portion tells us of the blessings that Yaakov gave to his sons shortly before he passed away.
 
At first glance this is not understood. What exactly are blessings… aren't they just good wishes?  And what do we care about blessings given some 3,500 years ago? Even more, Yaakov's sons eventually became the 12 tribes and today we don't even know where they are or even if these still exist!
 
To understand this here is a story (The Storyteller Vol. 3 Pg 177)
 
The city of Nikolsberg, Moravia (now Czechoslovakia) was famous for its long chain of great Rabbis reaching back almost a thousand years. Among them were the famous Maharal of Prague and the Tosfos Yom Tov but perhaps the last in the line was the great Tzadik Rebbe Shmuel Shmelka; pupil of the Chassidic master the Magid of Meseritz (successor of the Baal Shem Tov) some 250 years ago.
 
Rabbi Shmelka was truly fitting for the post; he was a great Talmudic and Legal genius, his advice was impeccable and his brotherly love was seemingly without limit. Many were the nights that his eyes saw no sleep because he was involved in the problems of others and he was very proficient in the mysteries of Kabala.
 
But despite his flawless character and selfless nature he was once the center of a controversy that only miracles were able to quell.
 
One of the richer Jews in Nikolsberg, who we will call Groisman was sued by one of its poorer members. The details were not passed down so it's not clear what the suit was about nor the amount involved but what we do know is that Rabbi Shmelka, after hearing all the arguments and seeing the evidence, decided in favor of the poor man.
 
Groisman was boiling mad; not only had been found guilty and lost money he had been humiliated publicly by a nobody! He declared war! After all, he told himself, he didn't become the wealthiest man in town by surrendering!
 
He was clever about it. First he began quietly complaining and, because he was rich, people began to listen. At first it was only his family and friends but slowly the circle began to widen. Friends spoke to their friends and their friends to their friends until within a few months the town became a cauldron of discontent.
 
Gradually Groisman's claims became clear; 'The Rabbi, he whispered to a ready audience, is one of the Chassidim who consult the Kaballa and other mystical books for their decisions.  Who knows when he would claim that some angel or spirit told him to change the Torah! Indeed, this is probably the reason he found me guilty. Maybe tomorrow he'll make up a new religion! 
 
The tone of things became increasingly sinister until one day placards appeared on the street announcing a meeting in the great Synagogue to discuss 'pressing issues'.
 
That night some one thousand men were packed into the huge auditorium and the voices began to be more angry until they finally took a vote and decided to oust the Rabbi!  Groisman had succeeded!
 
Suddenly the voice of the old Shamash (sextant) of the Synagogue rang out from somewhere. "Wait! WAIT!! I want to talk!"
 
Everyone looked up to see the old fellow standing at the podium in the middle of the Synagogue open hands raised for silence.
 
He must have been over eighty years old and his high pitched voice rang clearly over the crowd until everyone's curiosity was aroused.  "Wait!! I want to talk!" He kept repeating until there was silence.
 
As far as anyone remembered he had never raised his voice or spoken more than a few quiet sentences in all the years he had been in the Synagogue. What could he want now?  He cleared his throat and spoke.
 
"I want to say something important." He looked around to see that everyone was listening and continued. "Two things that I saw that I swore I would never tell… but I think it's important."
 
The room was still.
 
"It was about ten years ago, just after we chose our Reb Shmelka. Well, I was making my rounds early in the morning before sunrise, ringing my bell and knocking on windows to wake everyone up for the Morning Prayer. When I got to the Rabbi's house I saw the light was on in his window so I looked in. There he was sitting and learning Talmud with some wild-looking long-haired Jew with a leather girdle around his waist."
 
I figured it must be some traveler or something, really I thought it might be one of the '36 hidden Holy Men (Tzadikim) that I read about somewhere but I kept quiet.
"But when I saw him again there the next morning, standing before the Rabbi and listening to his learning I decided I'd ask. Later that day I caught the Rabbi alone in Synagogue after the prayers and asked him who the man was and the Rabbi was very surprised. 
 
"'What, you saw him?' he asked a few times. Until he finally said, 'Well if you saw him then I'll tell you. That was Elijah the prophet (who lived some 2,700 years ago and appears regularly to the righteous) but best not to talk about it.'
 
The Shamash cleared his voice and continued. "Then a few days later I saw him again but this time it was really frightening.
 
"It was late at night and the Rabbi was standing at the door holding a candle holder with two very bright candles escorting some people from his house. When they got to the door I saw them. One was the same Elijah the Prophet but the other…. Well I couldn't believe my eyes but it was a real king with royal garments and a crown …. and even carrying a royal scepter! I was petrified with fear and awe. 
 
"The Rabbi escorted his guests out the door for a few more steps until they disappeared then he returned to his house to continue his Torah study.
 
"Well, I don't know what made me do it but I waited a few minutes, said a prayer, approached the Rabbi's door and knocked. He had been so friendly to me the time before I figured he would tell me who that king was.
 
"So I went in and told him that I just happened to be passing and saw what I saw and I asked my question.
 
"The Rabbi looked at me for a while, told me to sit down and explained.
 
"He said that a few weeks ago in a certain town in Poland a tragedy occurred.  There, there lived a simple Jewish artisan who was obsessed with hatred for idols and idolatry. He made his living by making small dolls and toys and the third of the Ten Commandments "You shall not make for yourselves any carved idol or any image' literally burned in his heart. In fact he spoke of it non-stop.
 
"One night he went crazy. He ran into town and began smashing every statue he saw including the ones in front of the Church until he was caught by a crowd and beaten and killed for his crime. It was with greatest difficulty that the Jewish community there was able to convince the gentiles that he acted alone but the whole thing was so traumatic on the elders of the community that they refused to provide for his widow from the widow's fund.
 
"They argued that because the poor fellow knew very well that he would be killed for his actions he was responsible for throwing his life and his money away and she should be paid from the communal charity like all the other paupers, which meant a lot less money. 
 
"Anyway she complained to the Rabbis of her town and when they couldn't decide what to do, they brought the case to our Rabbi.
 
"That was yesterday in the day. Last night the Rabbi was sitting and pouring through books for a solution when the two visitors I mentioned visited him.
 
"And that king was none other than Menasha, the idolatrous son of King Hezkiahu (see Kings 2:21:19)!
 
"He said that since his death, over two thousand years ago, he had been reincarnated time and time again to atone for his blasphemous sins (among which was erecting an idol in the Holy Temple!) but his soul found no rest until it became incarnated in this Jewish artisan.
 
That explains his unexplainable hatred of idols; it was the result of Menasha's tormented soul seeking repentance. 
 
"And that's why he came to Rav Shmelka; to explain to him that the artisan was neither crazy nor suicidal, rather he was sacrificing his life to destroy idolatry and sanctify G-d's name; the only thing that would purify Menasha's soul.  Reb Shmelka didn't tell me what he would decide but he did ask me to keep the matter quiet but I couldn't. 
 
Now, my friends and brothers." The Shamash concluded. "I felt I had to tell you this so you should know what a holy Rabbi we have. I beg you not to be angry with him and I hope he won't be angry with me for telling." Then turning to Mr. Groisman he said, "Surely if he decided against you it was for the benefit of everyone involved including you…or at least your soul."
 
The group dispersed and the impeachment was canceled.
 
This explains our questions. 
 
Just as the sins of King Menasha had a spiritual effect long after his life ended so the blessings of Jacob exist to this very day because blessings are much more than just good wishes. Rather they are eternal, spiritual bundles of goodness that can change the physical world for the better.
 
But not everyone can bless; Only someone who really has love and affection for the one being blessed.
 
More than anything else Yaakov truly desired Moshiach and the future redemption (see Rashi on Gen.33:14) and his blessings were designed to hasten its arrival (see Rashi 47:28). Then he would again be united with his children in the Holy Land.
 
Just as Menasha, perhaps the worst sinner of all time, found comfort and forgiveness so will all Jewish souls; the blessings of Jacob will take full effect.  That is why Yaakov blessed his sons; because in the future when Moshiach will gather all the Jews to the holy land it will be revealed that every Jew is holy, the tribes will again be reinstated and Yaakov's blessings will really come true.
 
But now it's all up to us; we just have to do all we can to make it all real and bring..
Moshiach NOW!
Rabbi Tuvia Bolton
RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach

Wednesday Night Shiur - Vayechi

Listen to this week's shiur of Parshas Vayechi.

Hear all shiurim at www.shiur.us.

I'm a Jew and I'm proud... album 2

Released time winter Camp hosted by U.L.Y.O.P.
Boruch Hashem once again United Lubavitcher Yeshiva of Ocean Parkway hosted the winter camp run by Released Time program under the auspices of N.C.F.J.E. The children were taken daily on afternoon trips, which was preceded by a morning program here in Yeshiva. The children were treated to nourishing hot breakfast, and lunches, and learning, and arts & Crafts programs. The halls of the Yeshiva echoed the famous "I'm a Jew and I'm proud", and "Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe." There were Torah contests and quizzes as well. All in toll the children were inspired and educated in our Jewish Heritage with the utmost talent.

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach
Photography by: www.ulyop.blogspot.com

I'm a Jew and I'm proud... album 1

Released time winter Camp hosted by U.L.Y.O.P.

Boruch Hashem once again United Lubavitcher Yeshiva of Ocean Parkway hosted the winter camp run by Released Time program under the auspices of N.C.F.J.E. The children were taken daily on afternoon trips, which was preceded by a morning program here in Yeshiva. The children were treated to nourishing hot breakfast, and lunches, and learning, and arts & Crafts programs. The halls of the Yeshiva echoed the famous "I'm a Jew and I'm proud", and "Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe." There were Torah contests and quizzes as well. All in toll the children were inspired and educated in our Jewish Heritage with the utmost talent.

RYYH
ULYOP
In a Rush to bring Moshiach
Photography by: www.ulyop.blogspot.com