malachim me'mitzvos sheásah

12/10/12

a little bit of music...

The Yeshiva Boys Choir - "Those Were The Nights (of Chanukah)"

12/7/12

CHAG CHANNUKAH SAMEACH

Wishing you all a joyfull and intense Channukah

When two people join together in a pure and faithful love only to do good for the other, not concerned with their own needs but only focusing on the needs of the other, they are able to draw down on themselves a similar effluence from on high. G-d, in a certain sense, turns from all of His other concerns and focuses on doing good for them. But, when one of them thinks about him- or herself, even if truly fond of the other, the Almighty does not pay attention to them in that kind of special way. Therefore, the Alsheich teaches that when a person enters some kind of difficulty, there is a great advantage if he connects with someone else, or even a few people, in a loving and selfless way, pushing for their good. In this way, this person will also succeed and overcome his or her own problems.
This is what happened in the Torah portion. Yosef knew this secret. When he found himself in the dire straits of an Egyptian prison he looked for a "soul mate" who would push for his benefit. In that environment of lowly people, he chose the best that was available: a king's minister whose pride was broken under the threat of death. Yosef started by helping him and interpreting his dream for his good, and he expected a similar behavior in return. This is why he asked him to please remember him to Pharaoh. But the steward did not remember Yosef because he was only concerned with himself. And this is what the verse means. (40:23): "And the wine steward did not remember Yosef, and he forgot him." Why repeat the idea of forgetting? Because the second forgetting is referring to Yosef's. When the steward forgot Yosef, Yosef also forgot the steward, since there was no longer any benefit to be drawn down for both of them by seeking his welfare.
This power of drawing down a higher good through selfless acts on behalf of the other is what the Jews experienced during Chanukah. The few cared for the many and fought on their behalf. And because of this unity, they merited to draw down the highest miracles. May G-d Almighty help us remember the secret.

source

Vayeshev

This week’s Parshah tells the dramatic story of how Joseph, as an extremely handsome young man, attracted the imagination of his master’s wife. She desperately tries to engage him in a relationship, yet he steadfastly refuses her.

Then came the fateful day “when he entered the house to do his work, and none of the household staff was inside. She grabbed him by his cloak and pleaded, ‘Lie with me.’ He ran away from her, leaving his cloak in her hand, and he fled outside.”1

Humiliated and furious, she used the cloak as evidence that it was he who attempted to violate her. Her husband, Potiphar, had Joseph sent to prison, where he spent the next twelve years of his life until, through an astonishing turn of events, he was appointed viceroy of Egypt.

The question is: why was this episode recorded in detail in the Torah? The objective of these Torah chapters is to relate the story of how the first Jewish family ended up in Egypt. Thus, we read about Joseph’s sale as a slave to Egypt, his prison sentence and his encounter there with the king’s ministers. This ultimately leads to his release from prison and designation as viceroy of the country in a critical time of famine, which in turn causes his father and entire family to relocate to Egypt.

Why did the Torah find it necessary to relate the story of Joseph’s ugly struggle with his master’s wife? Why is it important to for us to know the detailed episode that caused his imprisonment?

Miracle!

A light into the nations

Channukah took place during the Hellenistic oppression called Golus Yavan. Golus Yavan is referred to as the "exile of darkness" because it took away the light of Torah. We call things that are negative - darkness. Evil is darkness. Chanuka expresses the victory of light over darkness. Which strategy is most successful for getting rid of darkness i.e. combatting evil - to burn away and destroy it or to create a greater light so that the darkness just vanishes? Both methods are valid. The nature of the dispute between Beis Hillel and Beis Shammai is - do we favour the burning or the illuminating aspect of a flame? What is supposed to be the main thrust of a Jew ( which we learn from what happened on Chanuka)? Beis Shammai learns that when we fight the negative corrupting aspect of the prevalent pagan world-culture e.g. through prayer, then we are steadily wiping out the influence on us. Thus, we should light the chanukia starting with 8 and reducing the number of candles each night - symbolising the destruction of evil in the world. On the other hand, Beis Hillel says we must raise ourselves spiritually and become the embodiment of morality in the world in order to battle against immorality. For this reason,(we pasken like Beis Hillel) we increase the number of candles each night to remind us to increase the light of Torah knowledge and understanding in the world, and we banish the darkness of evil by becoming "a light unto the nations". Chag Channukah Samaech!
(apapted from Rabbi Mendel Weinbach)
source

הסוד על מבצע עמוד ענן

the miracle of light

Sufganiot!!!

In those days, at this time.

What is the miracle of Hanukkah really about?
One days' worth of olive oil lasting for 8 days, was indeed, miraculous.... but there is so much more to this holiday than meets the eye. Hanukkah is the miraculous story of the Jewish People, and as you will see -the story never ended. It lives today in our times, through the miracle of the State of Israel, and the modern day Maccabees who stand alongside her. Watch this short and powerful video from Jerusalem, for illuminating
insights and fascinating perspectives into the holiday of Hanukkah

Channukah is comimng...

built, Israel, built

Maale Adunim E1

We should join the area of E1 to Jerusalem without concern, despite the world pressuring us….
When the world talks about a freeze in Jerusalem, I ask a freeze of what?
The billions that we invest in the eastern side of the city? Stop building for Arabs, or Christians or Jews? Or, G-d forbid, somebody means that when an entrepreneur comes to me I must ask him what religion he is part of, in order to build in Jerusalem.
It is delusional,It is also against the law in the USA. I am not familiar with another city in the world who’s regulator is the president of the USA.."

Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkay