The Lubavitcher Rebbe
11/15/13
Shabbath Shalom
The Lubavitcher Rebbe
of blessed memory...
11/7/13
Leah and Rachel
When Jacob said to Rachel, "Will you marry me?" she replied to him: "Yes, but father is a sharper, and you will not be able to hold your own against him."
"I am his equal in trickery," said Jacob.
Asked Rachel: "May the righteous indulge in trickery?"
Said Jacob: "Yes. 'With the pure be pure, and with the crooked be crafty' (II Samuel 22:27)."
So Jacob gave over to Rachel identifying signals [to protect themselves against Laban's deception]. But when Leah was being led into the bridal chamber, Rachel thought, "My sister will now be disgraced," and she entrusted her with these signals... Thus Jacob did not know that it was Leah he married until morning.
(Talmud; Rashi)
All that night, Leah was impersonating Rachel. When Jacob woke in the
morning and saw that she was Leah, he said to her: "Daughter of The
Deceiver! Why have you deceived me?" Said she to him: "And you, did you
not deceive your father, when he asked you, 'Are you my son Esau?'"source
10/18/13
Shabbath Shalom
Baal Shem Tov:Hear Israel, G-d Who transcends the rules of nature, is
our true life-force & strength. We are far more power than we
realize!
10/14/13
10/12/13
10/11/13
Shabbath Shalom
By the decree of Divine providence, a person wanders about in his travels, as the Cause of All Causes brings about the many circumstances and pretexts that bring a person to those places where the sparks that belong to his or her soul await their redemption.
(Rabbi Sholom DovBer of Lubavitch)
10/10/13
10/7/13
Chai...
image from http://because-i-got-chai.tumblr.com/myart
"Rely on nothing and no-one but G-d. This is true simplicity.Anything else means pursuing a complicated course of action."
Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef dies at 93
ברוך דיין האמת
Shas' spiritual leader dies in Jerusalem hospital after suffering major deterioration overnight; Hundreds of thousands expected to take part in funeral
source
source
10/4/13
Shabbath Shalom
For mankind to exist in harmony, we must listen to the voice that Noah heard after the flood.
We must accept that there is a set of absolute values set by the Creator of the world, values that we cannot play with to suit our convenience.
Values from beyond the subjective minds of men.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman.
We must accept that there is a set of absolute values set by the Creator of the world, values that we cannot play with to suit our convenience.
Values from beyond the subjective minds of men.
From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman.
10/2/13
Dalí and the Jews
The Surrealist Painter’s ‘Aliyah’ Series
At the thought of Salvador Dalí, many people envision the artist’s
famously eccentric face — his wide, cartoonish eyes and the wiry
mustache that seemed to defy gravity. Or perhaps his best-known canvas
springs to mind, that all-too-familiar scene of watches melting in a
barren landscape. According to a rising crop of scholars, however, there
is more to Dalí than his outlandish personality and surrealism. These
people wonder about the post-World War II Dalí — Dalí who wrote a
manifesto on “nuclear mysticism”; Dalí the Catholic, the optical
illusionist and, perhaps most surprisingly, the creator of Jewish art.
read more here
9/25/13
Singing Jews block police border
Boaz Albert of Yitzhar is continuing his battle against
administrative distancing orders. Albert, a farmer and married father of
six, has repeatedly returned to his home despite the fact that doing so could mean jail time.
He has continued to return home despite being violently arrested in August in an incident that made national headlines, and forced police to temporarily freeze their use of tasers.
Albert was handed an administrative order in August that forbids him to enter the Judea or Samaria (Shomron) regions, despite the fact that his home and business are both located in Samaria. Defense officials refused to tell Albert why he had been distanced from his home, saying the information is classified.
The Alberts attempted to fight previous distancing orders using legal means, but say they have despaired of getting justice through the courts. Instead, they have begun a campaign of nonviolent resistance.
Boaz Albert was ready for the Border Police when they came again Tuesday to take him from his home by force. He handcuffed himself to the floor of his home using a special device he created.
At the same time, youth from the area blocked police non-violently by holding a Sukkot celebration, complete with singing and dancing, in the Albert home. Other Yitzhar residents showed their support for Albert by blocking the entrance to the town.
Local activists issued an urgent call to supporters to come to Yitzhar to help them. A message from the Women in Green movement noted that it could take police "a good few hours" to open Albert's device, giving supporters time to gather to resist the arrest.
source
He has continued to return home despite being violently arrested in August in an incident that made national headlines, and forced police to temporarily freeze their use of tasers.
Albert was handed an administrative order in August that forbids him to enter the Judea or Samaria (Shomron) regions, despite the fact that his home and business are both located in Samaria. Defense officials refused to tell Albert why he had been distanced from his home, saying the information is classified.
The Alberts attempted to fight previous distancing orders using legal means, but say they have despaired of getting justice through the courts. Instead, they have begun a campaign of nonviolent resistance.
Boaz Albert was ready for the Border Police when they came again Tuesday to take him from his home by force. He handcuffed himself to the floor of his home using a special device he created.
At the same time, youth from the area blocked police non-violently by holding a Sukkot celebration, complete with singing and dancing, in the Albert home. Other Yitzhar residents showed their support for Albert by blocking the entrance to the town.
Local activists issued an urgent call to supporters to come to Yitzhar to help them. A message from the Women in Green movement noted that it could take police "a good few hours" to open Albert's device, giving supporters time to gather to resist the arrest.
source
9/23/13
Tefilat Geshem - The Prayer for Rain
(scanned material from ArtScroll Sukkot Machzor)
What is "Tefilat Geshem?"There are three items in the Jewish Liturgy which have been called "Prayers for Rain." Two of these are really more accurately described as:
- the annual introduction and perhaps, request of permission, to praise G-d as The Deliverer of life-giving moisture to all of Humanity, and to all of Nature. This is "Tefilat Geshem," translated, again, somewhat erroneously as "The Prayer for Rain" and
- the daily, for half a year, praise of Hashem as the Deliverer and Provider of wind and rain
The third item, the actual "Prayer for Rain," is not incorporated into the Shemoneh Esrei until early in December, keyed to the rainy season in Israel, but allowing sufficient time for Pilgrim visitors to Jerusalem to get home before the rain.
"Geshem" is recited by the Prayer-Leader, "Chazzan," responsively with the congregation, during the repetition of the Shemoneh Esray.
In the prayer, we are informed that the "angel" in charge of the distribution of rain is named "Af-Bri." This name alludes to the two ways in which rain can be delivered to the earth. "Af" means "Anger" and represents torrential, flood-provoking rainfall. "Bri" denotes "Health" and corresponds to the gentle rain which is beneficial to humanity and to the environment in general.
"Af-Bri is designated as the name of the angel of rain; to thicken and to form clouds, to empty them and to cause rain.
Water with which to crown the valley's vegetation may it not be withheld because of our unredeemed debt.
In the merit of the faithful Patriarchs protect the ones who pray for rain.
Chazzan bends his knees at Blessed'; bows at 'You; straightens up at 'HASHEM
Blessed are You, HASHEM, Shield of Abraham. (Cong. - Amen.)
You are eternally mighty, my Lord, the Resuscitator of the dead are You; abundantly able to save.
May He obligate [the Angel Af-Bri] to give us portions of the segregated rain , to soften the wasteland's face when it is dry as rock.
With water You symbolized Your might in Scripture, to soothe with its drops those in whom was blown a soul, to keep alive the ones who recall the strengths of the rain."
G-d is implored to provide healthful rain to us in the merit of our forefathers and other great leaders of Israel, in connection with whom water-related verses are cited:
"Our God and the God of our forefathers:
Remember the Patriarch [Abraham], who was drawn behind You like water. You blessed him like a tree replanted alongside streams of water. You shielded him, You rescued him from fire and from water. You tested him when he sowed upon all waters.
Cong.- For his sake, do not hold water back!
Remember the one [Isaac] born with the tidings of, 'Let some water be brought. ' You told his father to slaughter him - to spill his blood like, water. He too was scrupulous to pour his heart like water. He dug and discovered wells of water.
Cong.- For the sake of his righteousness, grant abundant water!
Remember the one [Jacob] who carried his staff
and crossed the Jordan's water.
He dedicated his heart and rolled a stone
off the mouth of a well of water,
as when he was wrestled by an angel composed of fire and water.
Therefore You pledged to remain with him through fire and water.
Cong. - For his sake, do not hold water back!
Remember the one [Moses] drawn forth in a bulrush basket from the water. They said, 'He drew water and provided the sheep with water.' At the time Your treasured people thirsted for water, he struck the rock and out came water.
Cong.- For the sake of his righteousness, grant abundant water!
Remember the appointee [Aaron] over the Temple, who made five immersions in the water. He went to cleanse his hands through sanctification with water. He called out and sprinkled [blood bringing] purity as with water. He remained apart from a people of waterlike impetuosity.
Cong. - For his sake, do not hold water back!
Remember the twelve tribes You caused
to cross through the split waters,
for whom You sweetened the water's bitter taste.
Their offspring whose blood was spilt for You like water.
Turn to us - for woes engulf our souls like water.
Cong. - For the sake of their righteousness, grant abundant water!
Chazzan:
For You are HASHEM, our God,
Who makes the wind blow and makes the rain descend.
Cong. then chazzan - For blessing and not for curse. (Cong. - Amen.)
Cong. then chazzan- For life and not for death.
(Cong. - Amen.)
Cong. then chazzan - For plenty and not for scarcity. (Cong. - Amen.)
Cong. then chazzan - For blessing and not for curse. (Cong. - Amen.)
Cong. then chazzan- For life and not for death.
(Cong. - Amen.)
Cong. then chazzan - For plenty and not for scarcity. (Cong. - Amen.)
9/21/13
9/18/13
chag sameach!!
Wishing everybody a very joyful Sukkot,
May Your home be blessed with happiness and joy.
Chag Sameach, Shabbat Shalom, and Happy Holiday to us all!
The four species -arba minim
The Four Species are four different kinds of plants that have
symbolic significance during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. In Leviticus
23:40, which comes directly after a discussion of Sukkot, the Torah
tells us: "On the first day you shall take the product of hadar trees,
branches of palm trees, boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook,
and you shall rejoice before Adonai your God seven days." From this
text emerged the Four Species: a citron, a palm branch, three myrtle
twigs and two willow branches.
During Sukkot the four species are brought together in the form of an etrog and the lulav. The etrog is a kind of citron, while the lulav is a composed of three myrtle twigs (hadassim), two willow twigs (aravot) and a palm frond (lulav). Because the palm frond is the largest of these plants, the myrtle and willow are wrapped around it.
The Four Species are waved together along with special blessings as part of the synagogue service during Sukkot. They can also be waved at home or near the sukkah. Traditionally the Four Species are not waved on Shabbat because doing so would violate the prohibition against carrying things during the sabbath.
During Sukkot the four species are brought together in the form of an etrog and the lulav. The etrog is a kind of citron, while the lulav is a composed of three myrtle twigs (hadassim), two willow twigs (aravot) and a palm frond (lulav). Because the palm frond is the largest of these plants, the myrtle and willow are wrapped around it.
The Four Species are waved together along with special blessings as part of the synagogue service during Sukkot. They can also be waved at home or near the sukkah. Traditionally the Four Species are not waved on Shabbat because doing so would violate the prohibition against carrying things during the sabbath.
Also Known As: The Four Kinds, Lulav and Etrog
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