Shabbath Shalom!

We came to the land where you did send us, and indeed it flows with milk and honey... (13:26)

Such is the way of defamers: they start off by saying something good, and conclude by saying evil.

Rabbi Yochanan said in the name of Rabbi Meir: Any piece of slander which has not some truth in the beginning, will not endure in the end.

(Midrash Rabbah; Talmud)

our Jewish little place: parashah Shelach 2

our Jewish little place: parashah Shelach 2: The final portion of the sedra is the third passage of the Sh'ma - the portion of Tzitzit. It contains the mitzva to put Tzitzit

Shelach. Garnements of the soul

Our sedra ends with one of the great commands of Judaism—tzitzit, the fringes we wear on the corners of our garments as a perennial reminder of our identity as Jews and our obligation to keep the Torah’s commands:
G‑d spoke to Moses, telling him to speak to the Israelites and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments for all generations. Let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe: look at it and recall all the commandments of the L‑rd and observe them, so that you do not stray after your heart and eyes which in the past have led you to immorality. You will thus remember and keep all My commandments, and be holy to your G‑d.
So central is this command that it became the third paragraph of the Shema, the supreme declaration of Jewish faith. I once heard the following commentary from my teacher, Rabbi Dr. Nahum Rabinovitch.
He began by pointing out some of the strange features of the command. On the one hand, the sages said that the command of tzitzit is equal to all the other commands together, as it is said: “Look at it and recall all the commandments of the L‑rd and observe them.” It is thus of fundamental significance.
On the other hand, it is not absolutely obligatory. It is possible to avoid the command of fringes altogether by never wearing a garment of four or more corners. Maimonides rules: “Even though one is not obligated to acquire a [four-cornered] robe and wrap oneself in it in order to [fulfil the command of] tzitzit, it is not fitting for a pious individual to exempt himself from this command.”1 It is important and praiseworthy, but not categorical. It is conditional: if you have such a garment, then you must put fringes on it. Why so? Surely it should be obligatory, in the way that tefillin (phylacteries) are.
There is another unusual phenomenon. In the course of time, the custom has evolved to fulfil the command in two quite different ways: the first, in the form of a tallit (robe, shawl) which is worn over our other clothes, specifically while we pray; the second in the form of an undergarment, worn beneath our outer clothing throughout the day.
Not only do we keep the one command in two different ways, we also make different blessings over the two forms. Over the tallit, we say: “Blessed are You . . . who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to wrap ourselves in a fringed garment.” Over the undergarment, we say, “. . . who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the precept of the fringed garment.” Why is one command split into two in this way?
He gave this answer: there are two kinds of clothing. There are the clothes we wear to project an image. A king, a judge, a soldier, all wear clothing that conceals the individual and instead proclaims a role, an office, a rank. As such, clothes, especially uniforms, can be misleading. A king dressed as a beggar will not (or would not, before television) be recognized as royalty. A beggar dressed as a king may find himself honored. A policeman dressed as a policeman carries with him a certain authority, an aura of power, even though he may feel nervous and insecure. Clothes disguise. They are like a mask. They hide the person beneath. Such are the clothes we wear in public when we want to create a certain impression.

Baby Adelle Released To A Rehab Facility.

Baruch HaShem…Baby Adelle Released To A Rehab Facility.

Three-year-old Adelle Biton of the Samarian (Shomron) Jewish community of Yakir, who was critically wounded in an arab rock attack, two-and-a-half months ago near the western Samarian city of Ariel, was released from Schneider Children’s Hospital in Petach Tikva on Sunday. Her life is no longer in danger. She is, however, only partially conscious.
Accompanied by her family, Adelle was transferred to the pediatric and youth unit of the Beit Levinstein rehabilitation facility in Ra’anana, northeast of Tel Aviv.
May Hashem grant her a speedy recovery so she can return home to her family!
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Tie your own tzitzit

The Muqata: History of Israel: The Legend of Summer Snow

The Muqata: History of Israel: The Legend of Summer Snow: Had it ever snowed in Israel in the summer?   Two people have reported snow in the month of Sivan (late May-early June), though in both ...

10 photos of jewish women

From the series 10 Photos Of Jewish Women Being Awesome  from Popchassid
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The pomegranate and the magen David

“Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee my love.”
(Song of Songs 7:12)

Young Pomegranate Fruit resembles the Star of David -  Photo by Josephine Levin ©  2012

When the beautiful blossoms fall off the pomegranate bush, the bud that will become the pomegranate fruit looks exactly like a Magen David, and this Pomegranate Star is believed to have been the origin of the Star of David.

In Jerusalem the pomegranate Punica granatum called rimon in Hebrew  usually blossoms late May or early June. The pomegranate is one of the 7 species of the land of Israel.

G-d commanded that the priests in the  holyTemple in Jerusalem , bet hamikdash, should have pomegranates around the hem of their robes:

“And beneath upon the hem of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about: A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about.”(Exodus 28:33-34)
SOURCE

IDF Chief of Staff Prays at Tomb of Rachel, Bethlehem

Shabbath Shalom

"Your main weapon is prayer. You may have to fight many battles, both with the Evil Urge and with many things that prevent you from serving G-d. With prayer you conquer them all"

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

palestinian hole in security fence, but...

An Israeli security official said security forces are altering their previous “silk gloves” approach to rioters such as a group of Palestinians who entered Jerusalem on Friday without passing through a security checkpoint. The Palestinians used hammers to make a hole in the security barrier between Jerusalem and Abu Dis.

The Palestinian fence breach and protest was held as part of events related to the recently held annual Nakba (“catastrophe”) Day, a day on which Arabs mourn the establishment of the state of Israel.

The security fence was put up by Israel as a way of protecting its citizens from attacks by Palestinians from Palestinian-Authority-controlled cities in Judea and Samaria. But despite the presence of the fence, Yehuda Dana, security chief for the Beit El region, told Israel National News that Palestinians are continually “throwing rocks into the community, causing injuries.”

According to the Palestinian protesters, Israeli Border Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at them after they entered through the hole in the fence, and there were several injuries. Dana said such Palestinian rioters were often previously handled with “silk gloves,” but that “their brazenness has crossed the line.”

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Rachel's tomb : Knesset discusses security measures at holy site

The Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee discussed the security situation at Rachel’s Tomb near Bethlehem in Monday. It appears that a roof may be built over the compound, to protect the worshipers inside from incessant Arab attacks.

The IDF told Knesset Members that about 200 firebombs and 90 improvised explosive devices(IEDs) have been thrown at the compound since November’s Pillar of Defense military operation in Gaza. That means an average of almost two bombs a day.

The military said that the very tall walls that have been constructed around the compound – nine meters high, or almost 30 feet – have not sufficed to provide security.

Committee Chairman Avigdor Lieberman instructed the military to examine plans that were drawn up a long time ago, to add a roof over the compound, in order to provide security for the worshipers inside. Themilitary is to go back to the committee and report on its findings in a month’s time.

MK Orit Struk said after the discussion, “I am pleased with the results of the discussion and I hope that we will have the privilege of seeing Rachel’s Tomb turn from a bunker into a proper place of worship. I thank the IDF and the Border Police for the efforts they have been making in order make the place secure.”

Coalition Chairman MK Yariv Levin called the instruction to reexamine security arrangements “important” and predicted that it would lead to the protection of worshipers and of security personnel.

Arutz Sheva

Behaalotecha

And at times it was, that the cloud abode from evening until morning... then they journeyed (9:21)

 

The Sanctuary was a formidable structure, consisting of hundreds of foundation sockets, wall sections, pillars, tapestries and furnishings; a work crew of several thousand Levites assembled the Sanctuary at each camp and dismantled and transported it when the Divine command would come to move on. Yet the "Tent of Meeting" was erected at every encampment--even if only for a single day!

This teaches us that each and every one of our "stations" in life is significant unto itself. A person may find him or herself in a certain place or in a certain situation for a very brief period, and it may seem to him that he is merely "on the way" to some other place. Yet there is always something in that place or situation to be sanctified--something that can serve as a "Tent of Meeting" between Heaven and earth.

(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)

Shabbath Shalom

This battle between body and soul is constant. There is hardly a situation in life in which the two do not have diametrically different preferences. We are faced with constant turmoil. It is peace from this turmoil to which the Priestly blessing refers.

Rabbi Shaul Rosenblatt

David Ha'Ivri: I'm on the "Temple Mount Blacklist"

Jewish girl gets in the face of Nakba Day protesters

CHAG SHAVUOT SAMEACH!

Shavuot: Today You Become a Nation

Underage Underwriters - Shavuot Video

the five names of Shavuot

Chag Shavuot” - The Feast (or Holiday) of Weeks 
“Z’man Matan Torateinu” - The Time of the Giving of Our Torah 
“Chag HaBikkurim” - The Holiday of the First Fruits 
“Atzeret” - The Holiday of “Being Held Back, or Restrained, Close to Hashem, in the Temple” 
“Chag HaKatzir” - The Holiday of the Cutting of the Crop 
“Chag Shavuot” - The Feast of Weeks

Ruth - mother of Royalty

1.16. And Ruth said, Do not entreat me to leave you, or to keep from following you; for wherever you go, I will go; and where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your G-d my G-d;

1.17. Where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried; the Lord do so to me, and more also, if even death parts me from you.

By Rabbanith Ruth Menashe
What is it in the story of Ruth that is so intriguing and appealing? Why is it that when we read Meghillath Ruth our emotions and admiration arise?
Ruth was of royal lineage, the daughter of the king of Moab. Later on, the daughter of this distinguished father found herself gathering wheat from the fields together with the poor people of the generation. She later on gave birth to the grandfather of Kind David. In life, we go through ups and down, better times and worse times. The extreme contrasts in Ruth’s life are rather exceptional. She went from the very top – being a princess – all the way down to becoming penniless, then back to royalty. It is interesting to note that soon after Ruth’s genuine and emotional decision to leave her home, birthplace and family behind her, in order to embrace the Jewish religion, she finds herself hungry, gleaning sheaves of wheat in the fields.

Shabbath Shalom

G-d created man and his spiritual light shone from the highest to the lowest worlds. But Adam sinned and his two sons, as well. Abraham connected the world to the sefira of chesed on the Right. Isaac connected the world with the sefira of gevura and Jacob connected the world to the center.

When Jacob's descendants received the Torah at Mount Sinai and erected the Tabernacle, the world was finally established, and all the worlds, physical and spiritual, were completed and in harmony again.

From the teachings of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; translation and commentary by Shmuel-Simcha Treister, based on Metok MiDevash

Chodesh Tov!

Chodesh Sivan
The Month of Sivan
"In the third month after the Exodus of the Jewish People from Egypt, on that very day, they came to the Desert of Sinai" (Shemot 19:1)
"Sivan" is the Babylonian name of this month, as are all of the "official" names of the months in the Hebrew Calendar. In the Bible, the month is referred to as "the Third Month," with reference to Nisan, the First Month.
Chodesh Sivan - In Relation to Other Months of the Year
1 Nisan
2 Iyar (29 days)
3 Sivan (30 days)
4 Tammuz (29 days)
5 Av
6 Elul
7 Tishrei
8 Cheshvan
9 Kislev
10 Tevet
11 Shevat
12 Adar

Prayer for the children

This is a tefilah, a special prayer,  composed for parents to say for the benefit of their children.

The most auspicious time - the time Heaven is most open to this prayer - is said to be erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan.  For this year, 2013, that means Thursday, May 9.

The Sh’lah wrote, “for that is the month when G-d gave us the Torah, and when the Jewish people began to be called His Children. On that day, fathers and mothers should give charity to the poor and repent. They should even fast, if they are able to.”

Religious schools throughout Israel hand out this prayer to all students to bring home to their parents this week. 

You can download the prayer kindly for free download and copyright by Artscroll/Mesorah Publications.)

FULL ENGLISH-HEBREW DOWNLOAD (PDF) here.

Bemidbar

Rebbe Michil of Zlotshuv once said about himself to the Maggid of Kuznitz, that every thought that came into his mind about serving G-d, he completed it. How often in a day do we think about really changing some negative trait; how wonderful it would be to get a good class going on some Torah topic; or how an important cause could use some monetary help or voluntary work. But then in the next thought we think about how we must wash the car, or about an urgent need to call the dentist, or even how great it would be if we could buy a new home, and the first thought we had, about our spiritual life, is whisked away, completely forgotten-or if we are lucky, remembered sometime later but unfortunately only marginally as important to us as it was when it came up the first time. Is it actually possible in our world of conflicts to fulfill every reasonable spiritual thought?

The Maggid of Kuznitz thought so, and based his proof on a verse from this week's Torah portion. In Bamidbar 2:2 it speaks about the arrangement of the tribes around the Tabernacle. It says, "Every man on his flag, with the signs of his father's house". He uses an analogy that when a craftsman or artist thinks about his creation, most certainly he decides to finish it in the most beautiful way. Nevertheless, since he is flesh and blood, when it actually comes to completion, it is rarely possible to bring out his full dream into reality, that the final action will be exactly what he first had in mind. But our Creator does not have this same limitation. In fact, it is one of the most subtle and beautiful truths about G-d, that the final creation which is our reality is what G-d first had in mind.

The verse is telling us that each person, as a descendent of the original tribes of Israel, has the power to bring to fruition our positive aspirations. This ability is part of the commandment to be like G-d. Just as G-d completes each of His thoughts in its entirety, so each of us-at least in those thoughts connected to serving G-d-can also achieve this. "Every man on his flag" refers to completing some intended action, the flag signifying completion. "With the signs of his father's house" is a hint that it was completed according to a person's initial thoughts. 'Father' in Kabbala is a reference to a person's preliminary thought, since a father is the source from where the first seed comes in creating offspring. 'Father' serves as an analogy for a person's thought process and how it is later 'born' into action. This teaches us that just as the first thought of serving G-d rose up in a person's mind, so he or she will come to complete it. May the Almighty give all of us the strength and determination to bring our aspirations into reality. 

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Yom Yerushalayim sameach

28 Iyyar 5773
Day 43 of the Omer
THE HOLY CITY

a lttle bit of music 2...

אם אשכחך- החזן הראשי לצה"ל ומקהלת הרבנות הצבאית

a little bit of music...

Matisyahu - Jerusalem (Out Of Darkness Comes Light)

Yom Yerushalayim

If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. Let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, if I remember thee not; if I set not Jerusalem above my chiefest joy!

our Jewish little place: Shavuot floral frame

our Jewish little place: Shavuot floral frame: Wooden decoreted floral frame to decorate the home for Shavuot

Shavua Tov

Shabbath Shalom

A common misconception is that teshuvah is simply an antidote to sin, and thus applies only to sinners and lowly people. In truth, teshuvah is the soul's return to and restoration of its original purity, and applies to every soul that has descended into the human state.

– Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi

Tikkun Olam

A son hugs his father's body at his funeral...

Evyatar Borovsky's son hugs his father's body at his funeral.

Evyatar Borovsky, HY"D, was murdered after encountering an Arab terrorist at Tapu'ah Junction in the Shomron , not to far south from his home in Yitzhar

The murderer of this Jew, killed him for one reason, and one reason alone. He was Jewish.
The murderer of this Jew made his wife a widow, and his five children orphans.
However the murderer of this Jew is not the only was responsible for the murder of this Jew...
This Jew has a name. This Jew's name is Evyatar Borovsky.
DO NOT FORGET THIS JEW'S NAME TOO