al tishali oti

2012-01-23T04:09:00.000+02:00

As I get older, the path from "I'm so upset that...!" to "Hashem wanted it like that." gets shorter and shorter, and His love for me travels from my brain down to my heart, faster and faster.

...because G-d is Running the world...

2012-01-23T02:38:00.000+02:00

because G-d is Running the world
that's why I shall not freak out
because G-d is Running the world
that's why I shall be calm

because G-d is Running the world
that's why I will survive

...if He wants me to.

2012-01-22T04:44:00.001+02:00

Gosh it's so freakin annoying.

Freakin freakin annoying.

Annnnnnoyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyinnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggg!

And like a dumbo, I don't just lower my expectations.

Dumbo dumbo. And you pronounce the "b" in "dumbo", btw.

2012-01-19T21:45:00.001+02:00

Reb Shlomeh der Geler, a chossid of the Rebbe Rashab, worked as a builder's assistant, and he and the builder would discuss Chassiduswhile working. Once, while building a wall, they were so raptly engrossed in their chassidic discussion that Reb Shlomeh found himself unintentionally enclosed behind the wall! When they realized this, they had to break it down to take him out.

(סיפורים חסידיים ח"א ע' 201)

Kidney Donor Possibility

2012-01-19T04:49:00.004+02:00

718-780-3644

2012-01-18T21:04:00.000+02:00

"What is going on today?? The entire Crown Heights is calling because of the rabbi!!"

I nearly burst with pride.

A Wonderfully Epiphanic Conversation!

2012-01-16T06:33:00.000+02:00

Ahhhh! Dude! I'm allowed to say dude!! I'm me!!

I just realized that I'm a girl! I'm a girl and not a boy and I'm a girl and not a girl AND boy.

I'm ONE person, ONE half of a complete avodah, ONE path in serving Hashem.
Of course I can't do EVERYTHING. I'm only supposed to do what girls are supposed to do.
Omggggggg! It's a flabbergasting realization. I'm not imperfect by not doing those other fifty things. MY fifty things is my perfection!

This changes my perspective on EVERYTHING. I can't believe this. This is incredible.

THANK YOU REBBE FOR GIVING ME MY MASHPIA!!!
And thank you, Mashpia, for giving me the Rebbe!

Baruch Hashem!

Where Is G-d When It Hurts?

2012-01-13T14:38:00.000+02:00

Where Is G‑d When It Hurts?

By Yosef Y. Jacobson

“Tell me frankly, I appeal to you—answer me: Imagine that it is you yourself who are erecting the edifice of human destiny with the aim of making men happy in the end, of giving them peace and contentment at last, but that to do that it is absolutely necessary, and indeed quite inevitable, to torture to death only one tiny creature, the little girl who beat her breast with her little fist, and to found the edifice on her unavenged tears—would you consent to be the architect on those conditions? Tell me and do not lie!”

Ivan Karamazov, in The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Empathy

A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started her class by saying, “Everyone who thinks he’s stupid, stand up!”

After a few seconds, little Johnny stood up. The teacher was surprised, but realized this was an opportune moment to help a child.

“Do you think you’re stupid, Johnny?” she asked.

“No, ma’am,” Johnny replied, “but I hated to see you standing there all by yourself!”

Moses Asks for G‑d’s Name

This week’s Torah portion tells the tragic tale of a people suffering for decades under a cruel and brutal empire. Jewish male newborns are cast into the Nile; Jewish men and women are subjected to slave labor, beaten and tortured mercilessly. Jewish life has become valueless.

“A long time passed, and the Egyptian king died,” states the Bible. “The Jewish people groaned because of their subjugation, and they cried out.”1The Midrashic tradition explains this verse to mean that the Egyptian leader became afflicted with leprosy, comparable to death, and his physicians said to him that his only cure was to slaughter Hebrew children—150 in the morning and 150 in the evening—and bathe in their blood twice a day.2The pain of the Jewish people reached an unbearable mass.

It was at this point that “their outcry went up to G‑d; G‑d heard their moaning.”3 In the remote Sinai wilderness, G‑d persuades Moses to leave his isolated and introverted life as a shepherd, to enter the lion’s den and liberate his broken people from bondage.

In a uniquely powerful dialogue between Moses and the Almighty, Moses says to G‑d: “Behold, I will come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The G‑d of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they will say, ‘What is his name?’—What shall I say to them?”

“‘I Will Be As I Will Be!’ replies G‑d to Moses. ‘Tell the children of Israel, ‘I Will Be sent me to you.’”4

G‑d’s in Exile

This seems like a senseless reply. Moses asks G‑d for His name, and the response is: “I will be as I will be!” What is the meaning behind these curious words?

The great biblical commentator, Rashi,5 based on the Talmudic tradition,6fills in the missing words: “I will be [with you in your present distress, just] as I will be [with you in future exiles and persecutions].”

But this, too, leaves us wanting. Moses asked G‑d for a name, for a means of identification, which he can then communicate to the Jewish people. In response, G‑d presents a verb rather than a proper noun, an activity rather than a description.

A Strange Question

To appreciate G‑d’s response, we must first understand Moses’ question.

Moses says to G‑d: “Behold, I will come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The G‑d of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they will say, ‘What is his name?’—What shall I say to them?”

Maimonides, in his Guide For The Perplexed, raises a question.7 Why was Moses convinced that the Jewish people would want to know the name of the G‑d who sent him on the mission to liberate them from slavery? It would seem that by Moses demonstrating knowledge of G‑d’s name, he would somehow authenticate his claim as the divine messenger to redeem the Hebrews from Egypt. But why? If they had heard of G‑d’s name prior to Moses’ coming, it is easy to assume that Moses learned the name from the same source as they, and not necessarily from G‑d. If they had never heard the name before, why would the new name they learned from Moses persuade them to trust in him?

Moreover, Moses prefaces his question by saying, “Behold, I will come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The G‑d of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they will say, ‘What is his name?’” Moses will be discussing with them the G‑d of their fathers, a G‑d they learned about from their fathers. Did their fathers never share with them the name of this G‑d? How did their fathers speak about this G‑d or pray to Him without some sort of name and description?

The Question of Questions

When Moses says, “Behold, I will come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The G‑d of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they will say, ‘What is his name?’—What shall I say to them?”, he is not searching for G‑d’s ID tag or His title. Moses is addressing the heart-wrenching question of questions, one that will certainly be mouthed by the Hebrews to whom he is being sent.

“What is His name?” the Jewish slaves will cry to Moses. For more than eight decades8 we have been suffocating under the yoke of brutal tyranny. Thousands upon thousands of our children have been slaughtered so that Pharaoh can bathe daily in Jewish blood; infants have been robbed from the bosoms of their mothers and cast in the river; we have been beaten, humiliated, tortured, killed. The Egyptians turned our lives into a hellish nightmare and reduced our dignity to sub-humanness. Suddenly, the great and mighty G‑d of heaven and earth, who creates and governs the entire world, decided to feel our pain?

“What is His name?” the slaves will thunder. You, Moses, say that G‑d has “seen the suffering of His people in Egypt,”9 and has therefore sent you to redeem us. But where was He until now? What is the name, the character, of a G‑d who can sit in the heavens and remain apathetic as babies are torn from their mothers’ arms and cast into the Nile, and Pharaoh is bathing in the blood of Jewish children? Where was He for the 86 years we have been languishing under the slave-drivers’ whips being beaten to death? Is this the G‑d we ought to embrace and follow? Is this the G‑d we should trust? Is this a G‑d we ought now be grateful toward? A G‑d who is indifferent to the tears and groans of mankind?

The Response

Never in history did G‑d answer this question, the greatest of all questions and perhaps the strongest argument for atheism. The book of Job, dedicated to the question of why the innocent suffer, concludes with a revelation of G‑d to Job, telling him, in essence, that there is no way the human mind can create the logical constructs in which G‑d’s behavior can fit. The finite and the infinite just don’t meet.

G‑d does not give Moses the answer either. That is why at the end of this week’s Parshah,10 Moses confronts G‑d, speaking to Him harsh words: “My L‑rd! Why have you done evil to this people? Why have you sent me? From the time I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he did evil to this people, but You did not rescue Your people!”

What G‑d does tell Moses to communicate to the Jewish people is: “I Will Be As I Will Be!” As we recall, the Talmudic sages and Rashi explain this to mean, “I will be with you in your present distress, just as I will be with you in future exiles and persecutions.” What is the message behind these words?

I am a mystery, G‑d confesses. I am strange, infinitely strange. My script of history is quite unfathomable to the human mind and heart. Yet you ought to know one thing: I am not a detached G‑d, residing in the heavens and objectively governing the destiny of each human being the way I see fit. I am present with you in your anguish. I am in the groan of a beaten slave, the wail of a bereaved mother, the spilled blood of a murdered child. You are crying? I am weeping with you. You feel crushed? I am crushed with you. No matter how deep your darkness, I am deeper still. I do not orchestrate human suffering from some distant planet, removed from your existential distress. I am there with you, suffering with you, sobbing with you, praying for redemption together with you.11

Man may never comprehend G‑d’s “mind.” But let him not think, G‑d tells Moses, that G‑d, who understands the purpose of the pain, gives Himself the luxury of not feeling the intensity of the darkness. Every tear we shed becomes His tear. He may not wipe them away, but He makes them His.12

39 Comments

FOOTNOTES
1.	Exodus 2:23.
2.	Exodus Rabbah 1:24, quoted in Rashi on the above verse.
3.	Exodus 2:23–24.
4.	Exodus 3:13–14.
5.	Commentary to this verse.
6.	Talmud, Berachot 9b.
7.	Maimonides, Guide for the Perplexed 1:63. Maimonides himself, and many biblical commentators, offer various answers to this question.
8.	The subjugation of the Jewish people began prior to Moses’ birth (see Exodus chapters 1–2). Moses was 80 years old when he first approached Pharaoh (ibid. 7:7).
9.	Exodus 3:7.
10.	Ibid. 5:22–23.
11.	This truth was also communicated via the very location of this conversation between G‑d and Moses—from amidst a thornbush. “G‑d revealed Himself to Moses in a thornbush, and not some other tree, to emphasize that He is together with [Israel] in their affliction” (Rashi, Exodus 3:2). “Why from a thornbush? To teach us that there is no place devoid of the divine presence” (Exodus Rabbah 2:9). This idea is also expressed in Isaiah 63:9, and constitutes a major theme of the book of Psalms.
12.	This essay is based on an address by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Shabbat Parshat Shemot 5743 (Jan. 8, 1983), published in Likkutei Sichot, vol. 26, pp. 10–25. I wish to note that when the Rebbe gave this address, he sobbed bitterly. It was an unforgettably moving scene. Those present felt their hearts tear open from the Rebbe’s uncontrollable tears while describing the question of the Jews and the response of G‑d.

	By Yosef Y. Jacobson More articles... \|
	Rabbi Yosef Y Jacobson is editor of Algemeiner.com, a website of Jewish news and commentary in English and Yiddish. Rabbi Jacobson is also a popular and widely-sought speaker on Chassidic teaching and the author of the tape series "A Tale of Two Souls."

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by our content partner, Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.

The Five Words Babies Use (video)

2012-01-12T23:59:00.000+02:00

This is insanely cool! Thank you Mendy for teaching me about this!!

Hiskashrus, The Other Way

2012-01-12T02:33:00.000+02:00

Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz related: An askan had a yechidus and noticed the Rebbe looking very serious. He summoned the nerve to ask the Rebbe what was troubling him. The Rebbe told him that a recently married couple had come to him to ask permission to go on shlichus and he had told them they could go if their parents gave their consent. A few days later the couple returned with their parents’ permission and the Rebbe gave them his blessing.

The Rebbe’s face suddenly took on an even more serious cast, and he said, "The woman is an only daughter among five brothers, all of whom serve on shlichus around the world," and here the Rebbe enumerated where all the brothers were. "Now the parents are alone with all their children far away."

"Right now," said the Rebbe, "they are at the airport and are crying. Although they are tears of joy, they are still tears, and right now I am with them."

(Source)

When Even Writing Fails

2012-01-10T03:06:00.000+02:00

When I can't even be rejuvenated by writing, I know things are bad.
Well, not bad bad, but bad.
Epiphanic moment though--realizing that if I have no desire to write, forcing it won't bring self-satisfaction.

The Treadmill of My Life

2012-01-10T02:09:00.000+02:00

Because I'm walking on a treadmill that stretches miles; I keep returning to the same place.

Because I'm playing with those identical Russian dolls; one inside the other inside the other inside the other inside the other.

Because Chava is Chava is Chava is Chava is Chava.

Now, that's a good thing. I hate when I become Yvette. But perhaps Chavah would do me good. Chavah looks more circular though. More trapped. Blah.

Things I Think Would Get Me Outta This Crazed Circle:

1) Progress with "Mendel My Friend'l".

2) Getting licensed in Massage Therapy (more than my South American certificate).

3) Exercising and stretching a significant amount to heal my back, neck, shoulders and feet.

4) A challenge with a defined goal and personal gain.

2012-01-10T01:21:00.000+02:00

Sometimes, the only thing that can comfort me is hearing a young person sing about his or her close friend that passed on.

Why is that a comfort?? you wonder shocked and horrified.

Al tishali oti, I answer.
-
We are all the center of the universe.

Thus vs Hence

2012-01-09T16:55:00.001+02:00

"Thus" should be used when referencing the past; "Hence", when referencing the future.

It All Starts With The Stockings...

2012-01-01T08:26:00.000+02:00

And then next thing you know you're saying חת״ת with no חיות.

And then you only give 1/10 of your money to צדקה instead of 1/5.

And then you tie your right shoe before your left.

And say חת״ת from your iPhone.

And listen to Avraham Fried instead of ניגונים.

Oh yes, it all spirals downhill once you start with the stockings...

SingingWithEsther.com

2011-12-30T07:41:00.003+02:00

I can't believe it's finally here.

I've been dreaming of this day for ages. Well, this has been the first stage of my dream. The final stage is of holding Esther's CD in my hands. AHHHHHHHHH I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Esther, I wish you bucketloads of luck and only good easy fun incredible times!

Girls (only!), check out this phenomenal webpage where you can experience all your worlds, emotions, deeds and thoughts bridged into one encouraging uplifting journey of a song. And then another one. And another one. And another one.

With love, I present SingingWithEsther.com.

The Mekong (Wikipedia)

2011-12-30T05:20:00.000+02:00

The Mekong is a river that runs through China, Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, from the Tibetan Plateau. It is the world's 10th-longest river and the 7th-longest in Asia.

Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam established the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in 1995 to assist in the management and coordinated use of the Mekong's resources. In 1996 China and Burma became "dialogue partners" of the MRC and the six countries now work together within a cooperative framework.
The extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls in this river have made navigation difficult.

In English the river is called "the Mekong River", derived from "Mae Nam Khong", a term of both Thai and Lao origin. In the Lao-Thai toponymy, all great rivers are considered "mother rivers" signalled by the prefix "mae", meaning "mother", and "nam" for water. In the Mekong's case, Mae Nam Khong means Khong, Mother of Water. "Khong" is derived from the Sanskrit "ganga", meaning the Ganges.

The Mekong basin is one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. Only the Amazon boasts a higher level of biodiversity. Biota estimates for the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) include 20,000 plant species, 430 mammals, 1,200 birds, 800 reptiles and amphibians and an estimated 850 fish species. In 2009, 145 new species were described from the Mekong Region, comprising 29 fish species previously unknown to science, two new bird species, ten reptiles, five mammals, 96 plants and six new amphibians. The Mekong Region contains 16 WWF Global 200 ecoregions, the greatest concentration of ecoregions in mainland Asia.

No other river is home to so many species of very large fish. The biggest include the giant river carp (Probarbus jullieni), which can grow up to 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) and weigh 70 kilograms (150 lb), the Mekong Freshwater Stingray (Himantura chaophraya), which can have a wingspan of up to 4.3 metres (14 ft), the giant pangasius (Pangasius sanitwongsei), Siamese giant carp (Catlocarpio siamensis) and the endemic Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas), all three of which can grow up to about 3 metres (9 ft 10 in) in length and weigh 300 kilograms (660 lb). All of these are in serious decline, both because of dams and flood control and overfishing

Balls of light are observable from time to time rising from the water's surface in the stretch of the river near Vientiane or Nong Khai. These are sometimes referred to as Naga fireballs.

My Apologies, Blog

2011-12-30T01:53:00.000+02:00

I keep landing up at Facebook. Hey, sometimes I need more immediate expression. But quick fixes don't always work. And now I just deleted my status when I realized that every Tom, Dick and Harry can read my soul. I don't always know when it's my soul.
Travel is.

B"H, I've traveled through approximately 14% of the world's undisputed countries. Not bad.

My Journeys in Life

2011-12-30T00:32:00.000+02:00

Many journeys have I taken in my young life.

New York to Toronto was a 12 hour bus ride and the train from Mumbai to Varanasi was 30 hours long, yet my longest journeys have been in my heart and taken me across incredibly challenging borders in only 60 seconds.

Meet Darkness:

2011-12-29T23:58:00.000+02:00

Ultimately, Darkness will meet her end. Our choice lies only in the form of her demise:

If we meet nothing but success at every stage of our mission, Darkness will helplessly surrender, delivering to our hand all the sparks of G‑dliness that she has so jealously held.

When we fail, however, we have taken upon ourselves to wrestle Darkness face-to-face to her utter annihilation. She will not surrender, but no trace will be left of her. She herself will be transformed to light.

And there is no greater light than Darkness herself transformed to light.

Packing Up My Life Here..

2011-12-25T11:15:00.001+02:00

I won't lie; it is a bit emotional to be packing up my life from here.
The place I thought I'd spend a year; and now I'm leaving less than 4 months later.
True, I am planning on returning in a month; but it's only for 2 weeks, and it might not even happen in the end.
Also, I don't know what I'm doing afterward; packing up my life from this place also symbolizes stepping into the very unknown.
The thought normally thrills, not scares, me; I wonder why it's different now.
Perhaps because I thought I was finally finally settling down; and now I'm packing up again.

I'm not sad or regretful or upset. It's just emotional. It's life.

2011-12-23T11:10:00.001+02:00

At Macy's.

Employee: "Hi, I'm Philip if you need any assistance."
Chava'le: "And who are you if I don't need any assistance?"

If Joseph Could Forgive

2011-12-22T10:58:00.002+02:00

If Joseph, Yosef Hatzadik, could forgive his brothers that wanted to kill him (after openly hating him) and then ended up selling him to passing Arabs, I could forgive the people in my life, as well. Small small things we're talking about. No comparison. Yet, he did it so graciously. Learn, I must.

Also, that is mad cool, picture the scene of Yosef second in command, sitting on this throne, falsely swearing on Pharoah's life, prophesying with his magical goblet, his brothers completely clueless..

It's All Good. It's All G-d.

2011-12-12T08:35:00.002+02:00

Shalom and Shavuah Tov!

When man says, “I CAN’T” or “WE CAN’T” God says, “I AM” meaning that He is able to do ANYTHING! Nothing is impossible with God! Remember this as you face the week ahead.

In the service of the G-d of Israel,
Shalom,

Naomi family

India

Don't have faith, but...

2011-12-09T10:55:00.001+02:00

...trust.

Trust, Not Faith

People ask, “How can I have confidence in G‑d? Confidence that He will take care of me, that everything will work out for the best? Perhaps I don’t deserve the best. Perhaps I’ve already messed up so bad He no longer cares about me?”

These people have trust in G‑d all mixed up.

Trust is not faith. Faith is something you may or may not have. But trust is something you do. Hard.

Trust is when you are dragged by the currents of a mighty river and you cling with all your might to a rock you trust will not move. Trust is when, in times of trouble, you cleave so unshakably to the heavens that you pull them down to earth.

Trust is a mighty and heroic bonding of love. And, as with all love, it is reflected in the heart of the beloved. You bond with the Eternal Rock above, and the Above bonds with you. Then you are a fit vessel for all kinds of good.

Trust changes who you are. It changes your whole world. And it is available to anybody, at any moment, no matter who they were the moment before.

Snowboarding in Morocco

2011-12-06T09:21:00.002+02:00

Better do it quickly before it's too late..!!

"Duchsin" (New Song)

2011-12-06T08:18:00.000+02:00

Lipa's new song, "Duchsin", is thought to be phenomenal. It's really short but it's so scholarly that you don't even realize. It's a bit awkward in the beginning but then it gets really catchy. People are considering flying across the country just to hear it live. Seems a bit extreme to me. I'd say go online a bit, check it out, and then see if it's worth it. But nu, who am I? Not a Duchsin connoisseur, apparently.

Yalla, "Duchsin, duchsin..."...

2011-12-04T10:53:00.002+02:00

Deep Love	Kislev 2, 5772 · November 28, 2011
Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson	Print this Page

You cannot reach deeper within another than you reach in your own self.
If you love yourself for your achievements, your current assets, the way you do things and handle the world -- and despise yourself for failure in the same -- it follows that your relationship with another will also be transient and superficial.
To achieve deep and lasting love of another person, you need to first experience the depth within yourself -- an inner core that doesn't change with time or events. If it is the true essence, it is an essence shared by the other person as well, and deep love becomes unavoidable.

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תמונה מהודו שלא תצא לכם מהראש...

2011-12-02T20:03:00.000+02:00

שלום חוה

באמת אין צורך להגדיר את האבסורד. עולם הפוך.
לאחר השניות הראשונות בהן לא הפסקתי לצחוק...

(באם אינך רואה התמונה לחץ למעלה: הצג תמונות)

ראיתי לנגד עיני את פתגם הבעל שם טוב:
"מכל דבר שיהודי רואה ושומע עליו ללמוד דרך בעבודת ה'".

המצב הנכון והבריא הוא: שהחלק הגשמי-הבהמי שבתוכנו ישרת את החלק האלוקי - הרוחני.
נאכל, נשתה, נרוויח כסף אפילו נטייל מידי פעם על מנת שנהיה בריאים ופנויים למלא את תפקידנו הרוחני בעולם.
למרבה הצער, רובנו מוצאים את עצמנו לעיתים במצב האבסורדי
בו החלק הרוחני-האלוקי משועבד לחלק הבהמי והגשמי.
אנחנו יכולים לעבור ימים שלמים ואפילו חיים שלמים במרדף אחר
עוד טיול עוד כסף עוד בית עוד רכב עוד ריהוט חדש, עוד מסעדה עוד ועוד ועוד
אז איך יוצאים מזה?

בפרשה, יעקב אבינו - בחיר האבות יורד לחרן -"חרון אף של מקום" -
מרכז של עבודת אלילים, מידות רעות ושאר דברים שליליים.
זה לא היה רק אילוץ בעקבות בריחתו מעשו שאיים להורגו,
הייתה בירידה הזו כוונה ותכלית. לרדת הכי נמוך שאפשר
ודווקא לשם להביא קדושה ואלוקות.
בדרך, נעצר יעקב בבית אל וזוכה להתגלות אלוקית
שהיא בעצם נתינת כח למשימה שהוטלה עליו.
ושם : "ויקח מאבני המקום וישם מראשותיו וישכב במקום ההוא"
הוא מקיף את ראשו בחומה של אבנים. (ומה לגבי שאר אברי הגוף? הם אינם זקוקים להגנה?(
בשיחה לפרשה מסביר הרבי כי יעקב לא חשש מחיות של ממש.
הוא חשש מאיומים רוחניים בהמיים ואפילו חייתים שיכולים
להסית אותו מהמטרה לשמה הוא יורד לחרן.
ולכן יעקב מקיף רק את ראשו ובכך מסמל את נחישות-דעתו להשאיר את הראש לעצמו.
ורק מעמדה כזו הוא יכול לרדת נמוך ובו בזמן לשמור על הררכיה ברורה.
המקום הנמוך הזה ישרת את האינטרס האלוקי ולא הפוך.

נכון, צריך להתפרנס, צריך להכין אוכל טוב, צריך לרהט בית נעים ומסודר, צריך להשתדרג בציוד טכנולגי חדש,
אך חייבים לשמור על הראש למעלה. לדעת שכל זה הוא רק כדי לשרת את הראש - את התכלית והמטרה האלוקית בעולם.
התמונה ההזויה הזו לא יכולה בשום אופן לשקף אותנו.
וצריך להכניס את זה טוב טוב לראש!

אבל בסוף בסוף... שזה עכשיו ממש.
יעקב רואה בחלומו, מלאכים של מעלה יורדים ומלאכים של מטה עולים -חיבור גשמיות ורוחניות...
הוא גם שוכב לישון - ובכך משווה את הרגל והראש.

סיומה של עבודה זו יהיה בגאולה האמיתית והשלמה, כבר כתבנו את זה פעם.
אז יתגלה כבוד ה' בעולם הגשמי - "וראו כל בשר יחדיו" - הבשר הגשמי יראה - "כי פי ה' דיבר".

שבת שלום שמחה וגאולה

משפחת בית חבד פושקר
--
בית חב"ד פושקר - הבית שלך מחוץ לבית...
יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד
מס' טלפון ישראלי בהודו: (עלות שיחה בישראל)
שימי 0579459963
זלדה 0579467113
(מס' טלפון בישראל: 0527707405)

תרומה לבית חב"ד פושקר
בנק לאומי סניף 985 מ"ח 01868662 ע"ש שמשון גולדשטיין בית חב"ד פושקר. תודה:

Lonely Planet's "The Travel Book"

2011-12-01T22:03:00.001+02:00

‘This is a stunning book. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, it’s a classic coffee table book, best perused on a rainy afternoon with a cup of coffee in one hand and your passport in the other, just in case you get the urge to flee the country.’ Digital Camera Magazine

Buy it here :)

Happy Birthday Moshe Holtzberg!

2011-11-29T23:49:00.002+02:00

Moshe Holtzberg, the only member of the Holtzberg family in Mumbai to have survived the murderous terror attack on the city’s Chabad House three years ago, celebrated his fifth - until 120 in good health -birthday on Monday.

Today, Moshe is a happy and relaxed child. However, he still says “good morning” and “goodnight” to the pictures of his parents, the late shluchim Rabbi Gavriel Noach and Rivka Holtzberg, every day.

“He’s a clever, contented child, who goes to school happily,” said his nanny Sandra Samuel, who rescued him from the Chabad House in Mumbai and still lives with him in his grandparents’ home. “Every night, before he goes to sleep, he kisses the picture of his parents.”

(SOURCE & PHOTO: COL.ORG.IL)

2011-11-29T21:09:00.000+02:00

I walk in and notice two Egged drivers sitting and chatting over coffee and then I remember that blue button-down shirts and sunglasses doesn't mean Egged in America.

Mr Vietnam

2011-11-29T11:13:00.000+02:00

Hi, Mr Vietnam.

Quite pleased we met tonight

Not just I, but you, as well

If I can read a map alright

Your emotional generosity

underhanded, gratefully pocketed

Torn, I think you noticed

My endeavors at un-hearted

Your cute honesty, refreshing

soaked by my spongy soul

fresh humour and simplicity

a delight

this

money slash drama slash dancing hole.

Oh! Your flickering light

grew brighter with each stroke

and self and peace and unity

in places often broke

To wait six months or eight

or maybe just days, few

there's no dot in your name

because I'm not done with you

Mr Vietnam

The 6th Level of Creation

2011-11-28T09:35:00.000+02:00

1) דומם

2) צומח

3) חי

4) מדבר

5) יהודי

6) יהודי שאיבד 5 מתוך 8 ילדים

;( ;(

The Sung Unhero

2011-11-25T21:21:00.002+02:00

This is one of my favourite Daily Doses. I just love it. It's so encouraging, so wonderful, so real and true.

The Sung Unhero

Your most heroic acts are those of which you may not even be aware.
Like the time you could have gotten even with the guy in the next cubicle, and nobody would have known. And you really wanted to. But you didn’t, just because it’s not right.
You may not have been impressed—you may even have been disappointed with yourself. But the angels burst into song, as all your world rose up a niche. It may have been the most elevating act of a lifetime.
Heroic acts are wonderful, but that could be just your nature. When you break out of your nature, you enter the realm of the G‑dly.

Rabbi Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag ("RABASH")

2011-11-24T09:41:00.001+02:00

You can read about him here.

(Mum, take a deep breath. Or as CE would say, "calm down. don't get stressed." x10)

2011-11-24T05:35:00.001+02:00

IDF to 'Kidnap' Soldiers Once a Month

Amid fears that terrorists are planning to kidnap soldiers, the IDF will stage soldiers' kidnappings once a month.

By Elad Benari

First Publish: 11/23/2011, 9:11 AM

IDF Soldiers

Flash 90

A month after abducted soldier Gilad Shalit was released and amid fears that terrorists are planning further kidnappings, the IDF is planning to increase the frequency of itsexercises and stage the kidnapping of a soldier once a month.
According to a report on the IDF website on Tuesday, the monthly “kidnapping exercises” will begin next month, and the military is also considering distributing tear gas to male soldiers so they can resist a kidnapping attempt. Presently, only female soldiers are given tear gas.
The decision was made in a recent special session chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff. It was made in light of increased warnings about terrorists’ intentions to kidnap soldiers and due to explicit threats to that effect by terrorist organizations.
“There are quite a few warnings about it, and after the release of Gilad Shalit, the various terrorist organizations announced that they will increase their attempts to kidnap a soldier,” Brigadier-General Meir Ohana, Commander of the Military Police Corps, told the IDF website.
In addition, the report said, the IDF is also planning to increase the punishment for soldiers caught hitchhiking, which is prohibited.
Last week, the Israeli army held a wide-scale exercise which included a mock reportof kidnapping at an army checkpoint in the Jordan Valley. The “victim” was kidnapped and taken to Shechem, in northern Samaria.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas joined Hamas last month in stating that kidnapping and holding Shalit as hostage for more than five years was “successful" because it brought about the release of the first batch of 1,027 terrorists to be freed by Israel. Nearly 500 were released in the first stage of the agreement, and the others are to be set freed next month.

Flight Distances From England

2011-11-22T11:29:00.001+02:00

From Manchester, England to:
England (UK)
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to London Heathrow, England (UK): 1 hours
Best time to travel: May - October

USA (New York)
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to New York, USA (New York): 8 hours
Best time to travel: All year round (but hot in July & August)

Argentina
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Buenos Aires, Argentina: 16 hours
Best time to travel: September - November, March - May

Australia
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Sydney, Australia: 24 hours
Best time to travel: July - December

Austria
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Vienna, Austria: 2 hours
Best time to travel: November – April

Bahamas
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Nassau, Bahamas: 11 hours
Best time to travel: November – April

Barbados (Caribbean)
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Christ Church, Barbados (Caribbean): 11 hours
Best time to travel: November – April

Belgium
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Brussels, Belgium: 1.5 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Brasil
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Sao Paulo, Brasil: 14 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Canada
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Toronto, Canada: 8 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

China
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Beijing, China: 12 hours
Best time to travel: April - October (but wet in July & August)

Cyprus
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Paphos, Cyprus: 5 hours
Best time to travel: All year round

Egypt
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Cairo, Egypt: 6 hours
Best time to travel: October - May

Fiji
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Nadi, Fiji: 24 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Finland
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Lapland, Finland: 6 hours
Best time to travel: May - November

France
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Paris, France: 1.5 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Germany
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Berlin, Germany: 3 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Greece
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Athens, Greece: 4 hours
Best time to travel: April - October

Hungary
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Budapest, Hungary: 3.5 hours
Best time to travel: May - October

India
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Delhi, India: 11 hours
Best time to travel: November - March

Indonesia
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Jakarta, Indonesia: 17 hours
Best time to travel: June - September

Ireland
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Dublin, Ireland: 1 hours
Best time to travel: June - September

Italy
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Rome, Italy: 4 hours
Best time to travel: April - October

Japan
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Tokyo, Japan: 14 hours
Best time to travel: April - May, October - November

Kenya
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Nairobi, Kenya: 11 hours
Best time to travel: August - March

Malta
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Luqa, Malta: 4 hours
Best time to travel: All year round

Mauritius
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Plaisance, Mauritius: 15 hours
Best time to travel: May - November

Mexico
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Cancun, Mexico: 11 hours
Best time to travel: November - June

Netherlands
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Amsterdam, Netherlands: 1.5 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Poland
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Warsaw, Poland: 4 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Portugal
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Lisbon, Portugal: 4 hours
Best time to travel: March - October

Russia
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Moscow, Russia: 6 hours
Best time to travel: May - August

Scotland (UK)
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Edinburgh, Scotland (UK): 1 hours
Best time to travel: June - September

Seychelles
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Mahé, Seychelles: 13 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Singapore
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Singapore, Singapore: 14 hours
Best time to travel: All year round (but wet in November & December)

South Africa
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Johannesburg, South Africa: 13 hours
Best time to travel: September - May

Spain
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Madrid, Spain: 3 hours
Best time to travel: April - October

Sweden
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Stockholm, Sweden: 2 hours
Best time to travel: June - September

Switzerland
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Zurich, Switzerland: 2 hours
Best time to travel: May - September

Thailand
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Bangkok, Thailand: 13 hours
Best time to travel: November - April

Turkey
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Istanbul, Turkey: 4 hours
Best time to travel: April - September

UAE
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Dubai, UAE: 7 hours
Best time to travel: December - March

USA (Hawaii)
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Honolulu, USA (Hawaii): 19 hours
Best time to travel: February - November

USA (Nevada)
Flight time from Manchester, England (UK) to Las Vegas, USA (Nevada): 13 hours
Best time to travel: All year round

2011-11-21T05:44:00.001+02:00

!התמונה שהכי תזכיר לכם את הודו! ובחיוך גדול

2011-11-21T05:39:00.001+02:00

שלום חוה

חיפשת תמונה שמאפיינת את הודו...

כן, כן, אין ספק שהם מדהימים אותנו - בני המערב.

היכולת הכימעט טבעית של ההודים,

להסתפק במרחב אישי מינמלי ולהכיל בעליצות עוד כמה...

והתמונה הזו לוקחת אותי היישר לסיפור הפתיחה בפרשת השבוע:

אברהם אבינו, מכניס האורחים האגדי,

מציע גסטהאוז באמצע המדבר, ארבע פתחים שיהיה קל לחברה להיכנס,

אוכל טוב ממש: בקר, יין, חמאה קינוחים ומה לא? וכשהציעו לו תשלום, הוא אפילו לא אמר : 'as you like'

זה היה חינם! לגמרי!

לגמרי?

המדרש מספר שכל אורח בתום הסעודה נתבקש על ידי אברהם לברך על המזון ולהודות לה'.

מסתבר, שחלק מהאורחים לא אהבו את ה'כפיה דתית' הזו.והתעקשו שתודתם נתונה לאברהם.

או אז שלף אברהם חשבונית מכובדת ואמר:

אם כך אני דורש תשלום מלא. בתוספת מס עבור מסעדה שפועלת הרחק ממקום יישוב .

האמת שאת רוב האורחים החשבונית הרתיעה והם העדיפו להודות בחצי פה ובלבד שיתפטרו מהמקום.

אבל באמת לא מובן?

למה אברהם אבינו צריך לכפות את אמונה בבורא עולם על ציבור שלא מעוניין?

למה בכלל להניח תפילין ליהודי על שפת האגם בפושקר, כשהוא שעושה זאת רק 'כטובה בשבילך'?

למה לסחוב יהודי מ'אואזיס' להשלים מנין בזמן שהוא בכלל לא בקטע ?

התשובה הפשוטה היא :כולנו בקטע!

זה לא מקרה שעשרות אלפי ישראלים מסתובבים בתקווה שהודו תציע בפניהם חוויה מיסטית.

לכל יהודי נשמה אלוקית שרוצה להתחבר לבורא ולעשות את רצונו.

וכשעושים פעולה אפילו לא מתוך הזדהות מלאה, זה כבר גורם

לניצוץ האלוקי שבנו להתקדם שלב אחד קדימה בדרכו לחיבור עם הבורא.

ההפתעה הגדולה תתרחש ממש בקרוב,

כשמשיח יגיע ואז לא רק הנשמה תאותת על כמיהתה לבורא

אלא אפילו הגוף הגשמי החומרי ירצה בו.

"וראו כל בשר כי פי ה' דיבר"

לי, אין כבר סבלנות לחכות

בטח גם לכם..

ובנתיים, שבת שלום שמחה וגאולה

משפחת בית חב"ד פושקר

בית חב"ד פושקר - הבית שלך מחוץ לבית...

יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד

מס' טלפון ישראלי בהודו: (עלות שיחה בישראל)

שימי 0579459963

זלדה 0579467113

(מס' טלפון בישראל: 0527707405)

תרומה לבית חב"ד פושקר

בנק לאומי סניף 985 מ"ח 01868662 ע"ש שמשון גולדשטיין בית חב"ד פושקר. תודה

Address:

Rabbi Shimshon Goldshtein

Chabad House

Bagwati Guesthouse

Near Ajmer Bus Stand

Pushkar 305022

INDIA

"kayak.com" back on the radar

2011-11-21T05:26:00.001+02:00

how utterly phenomenal
i am alive
i can move
i can go
i can leave
i've missed my home, the sky.

2011-11-21T03:23:00.001+02:00

"A person who is not astute at deceiving is called תָּם, innocent."

-from today's chitas

4:30am is still not 6am...

2011-11-18T14:30:00.001+02:00

So, off to bed I go... responsibly :D

Ahhh, Caracas...!

2011-11-18T13:38:00.001+02:00

Whatever You Do, Goes Back To You

2011-11-18T13:22:00.001+02:00

How you treat others is how G-d treats you.

How you forgive them is how He forgives you.

How you see them is how He sees you.

When you show empathy for the plight of another human being, G-d takes empathy in your plight.

When others slight you and you ignore the call to vengeance that burns inside, G-d erases all memory of your failures toward Him.

When you see the image of G-d in another human being, then the image of G-d becomes revealed within you.

-----Daily Dose of Wisdom by Tzvi Freeman, based on the Rebbe's teachings

"Ella dijo 'Rebbe'!!!"

2011-11-18T11:03:00.001+02:00

Off topic, but I think of this sometimes.

I used to put on Morah Chana Brod's cds in Yiddish for my class who spoke only Spanish, just so their neshamas can hear niggunim..and Samuel would call out excitedly "Ella dijo 'Rebbe'!!!" ("She said 'Rebbe'!!!).
It was such nachas. Such such nachas.
B"H! :)

I'm Gulping!

2011-11-18T10:55:00.001+02:00

I'm a thirsty man, gulping.
Gulping, gulping, gulping.
I'm writing.

I'm Back To My Blog :)

2011-11-18T09:51:00.001+02:00

So instead of writing, I'm spending my time reading travel blogs n stuff. Dunked a buncha coffee down my throat to have energy to revisit emotions n times long gone in order to give birth to the ideas and thoughts hanging out in my brain for months or years, but instead I'm clicking link after link on NomadicMatt's pages, and making buddies with the sky scanner sites of the web.
But it's okay that I'm not writing.
Because I am reading the magic of my soul.
I am back in my little corner of the world, away from Facebook (which has stolen my writing), texting (which steals my attention) and everything else.
I am back to my blog, my interests, my privacy, my connection with the nomads and with the people who don't "know" me.

I'm alive, blessed be He.

Air-Hitchhiking

2011-11-18T08:09:00.001+02:00

"The old aphorism that one does not marry for money, but rather mingles with the rich and marries for love has useful applications when it comes to cadging rides on private jets." (full article)

2011-11-18T07:45:00.001+02:00

"The thumb has been created for travel." (Mion D. Liyte)

2011-11-17T07:12:00.001+02:00

Imagine being able to say "עֶבֶד אַבְרָהָם אָנֹכִי"...!

Then again, I can say I'm a shlucha of the Rebbe. And shlucho shel odom, k'moso. So, hmmm..

Rule in Dikduk

2011-11-17T07:09:00.001+02:00

"...every “beth,” “lammed,” and “hey,” that serve as a prefix and are vowelized with a “pattach” refer to something specific, already mentioned elsewhere, or of [some object] where it is clear and obvious about what one is speaking."

-From today's chitas.

The Fallen Sword of the Sultan ( a story )

2011-11-17T06:12:00.001+02:00

chayei sarah..chevron...bittersweet...home...israel...yalla, a story.

The Fallen Sword of the Sultan

In the early 1640s, the sultan of the Ottoman Empire made a journey from his seat of government in far-off Turkey to places of importance in his domains.

He made his way to the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron. He entered, adorned in his traditional ruling garb, including the golden sword, studded with diamonds and precious stones, which hung at his side. The Sultan wandered from room to room, finally entering the huge hall named after the Patriarch Yitzchak.

The center of attraction in the Yitzchak Hall is a small circular hole in the floor, near the wall shared with the smaller Avraham Hall. The hole is perhaps the most sacred spot in the entire illustrious structure above the burial caves of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs, for it leads down into the caves themselves. Pilgrims from all over the world journey for weeks and months just to have the opportunity to stand by this small, dark, circular opening, leading into the cave, which according to tradition was excavated by Adam, the first man.

The Sultan leaned over the revered aperture, peering down into it. As he bent over, his precious sword fell from his side, down into the cavity in the ground. Hearing the clang of metal hitting the ground, the sultan realized that his sword lay in the caves underneath. The sultan called the officer of the guard and ordered him to lower a soldier through the hole into the caves below, to retrieve his sword.

Quick to respond to the sultan’s order, the officer selected a soldier nearby. Another soldier wrapped a rope around his waist and lowered the soldier into the underground cavern. No sooner had they done so when, without warning, piercing screams penetrated from inside the hole below. Quickly they pulled up the soldier, but he was dead. The sultan ordered that another soldier be lowered into the caves. So it was, and his fate was precisely as his predecessor’s.

The sultan continued to send soldiers into the caves, until it became apparent that all who enter the caves do not exit alive. The sultan turned to his hosts and exclaimed, “Who will return to me my sword?” The Arabs, looking at one another, answered without hesitating. “Why not send down a Jew? If he dies, none of us would care, and if not, you will have your precious saber back.” So the Jews were ordered, on pain of death, to supply a volunteer to be lowered into the caves to return the sultan’s sword to him.

The Jews of Hebron had heard what happened to the sultan’s soldiers. How could they send one of their own to his death? They prayed and fasted, hoping to avert the decree. Realizing that they had no choice, they looked at one another. Who would dare to enter the sacred caves of the Patriarchs?

The elderly rabbi of the community, the Kabbalist and sage Rabbi Avraham Azulai, author of Chesed L’Avraham, solved the dilemma. “I will enter the holy caves. Have no fear.” And so it was. After praying and pleading before the G‑d of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, Rabbi Avraham Azulai immersed himself in the mikvah and dressed in white garments, the traditional dress of the dead. He set forth to the Cave of Machpelah.

With a rope tied around his waist, Rabbi Azulai was lowered into the cave. When his feet hit the ground, Rabbi Azulai looked around him and found, standing by his side, three bearded men. “We are your forefathers,” they told him, “Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.” Rabbi Azulai was dumbfounded. Finally he said to them, “Why should I leave here and go back above? I am elderly, and here I have found my forefathers. I desire only to stay here with you.”

The Patriarchs insisted, “You must return the sword to the sultan. If not, the entire Jewish community of Hebron is liable to be wiped out. But have no fear. In another seven days you will return here, to be with us.”

So the saintly rabbi returned to the Yitzchak Hall, above the cave of the Patriarchs, and with him was the sultan’s sword. The sultan was pleased. Upon seeing their beloved rabbi return alive, the Jews of Hebron declared the day a holiday. Rabbi Avraham Azulai spent the next week with his students, teaching them all the esoteric teachings ofTorah. Day and night he learned with them, instructing them, imparting to them all that he knew.

Seven days after being lowered into the Cave of Machpelah, Rabbi Avraham Azulai returned his soul to his Maker, dying peacefully in his home. He was brought to rest in the ancient Jewish cemetery in Hebron, overlooking the final resting place of his beloved forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.

Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from hebron.co.il

Rabbi Avraham Azulai (1570–1643) authored the well-known Kabbalistic work Chesed L’Avraham. He is the ancestor of one of the most famous Sephardic sages, Chida (Rabbi Chaim Yosef DavidAzulai, 1724–1806)..

2011-11-14T09:32:00.001+02:00

Crayon Crisis

By Diane M. Miller
Life is about using the whole box of crayons.
~RuPaul

The telephone rang. It was my sister. She said, "Just thought I'd let you know I used your crayon story again." My sister is the media specialist in an elementary school. Every now and then, she will tell my story to the students who visit her library.

Forty-odd years ago, I sat in my first-grade classroom. The classroom's PA crackled to life, summoning me to the principal's office. The PRINCIPAL'S office! As I walked to the office, my six-year-old little life flashed before my eyes. What did I do?
I was a shy kid. I did my best to blend into the background. I hated to be noticed or singled out. For me, being called to the principal's office was my worst nightmare come to life. My black and white saddle shoes scuffed the floor as I walked ever so slowly to the office.
"Diane, the principal is not ready for you yet. Please have a seat," said the school secretary.
I climbed up onto the leather sofa and sunk as low as I could into the cushion. I was praying that the cushion would swallow me whole.
The intercom buzzed on the secretary's desk. "You can go in now," she smiled.
I pushed open the heavy oak door. It was worse than I thought. Seated in front of the principal's desk were my parents. The real reason why they were there, I wouldn't learn until years later.
My father walked straight over to me. He held a stack of my drawings. "Why do you only use a black crayon when you draw?" he asked.
I couldn't speak. All I could do was shrug my boney shoulders.
"Show me your desk," said my father.
We returned to my classroom. It was recess time so all my classmates were out on the playground. I nervously pointed to my wooden desk.
My father pulled out my crayon box. He dumped the contents into his hand. A single nub of a crayon rested in his palm -- it was black.
Puzzled, my father asked, "Where are the rest of your crayons?"
I quietly explained that I'd given all the other crayons to friends. I'd been sharing like my parents had taught me.
My father let out a deep controlled breath, "You were sharing."
I nodded my head. I looked at my father, then at the principal -- both their faces were red. The principal mumbled that I could join the rest of my classmates for recess. I waved goodbye to my parents. My mother waved back, but I couldn't get my father's attention; he was too busy glaring at the principal.
I learned years later that my father's face was red due to anger and the principal's was red due to embarrassment. The principal, on seeing all my artwork done in black crayon, assumed that I had deep emotional issues. To him my crayon choice reflected my "dark and depressed nature." He had called my parents in to discuss "my problem" and to suggest some type of psychological counseling.
I was too afraid to admit that I only had one crayon. I was too timid to ask for my "shared" crayons back. Because I didn't stand up for myself, others assumed the worst.
That night, my father talked to me about "sharing and giving," and how the two are different. He also gave me a brand new box of crayons. He tapped the box and said, "These crayons are for you and you alone. I don't want you sharing or giving these crayons to anyone else, understand?"
I clutched the new box and said, "Yes, Daddy."

Today my sister tells her students, "Don't be afraid to ask a question. Don't be afraid to speak up. If you don't -- I just might make the wrong assumption. And that's not a good thing. Let me tell a story about my sister, when she was around your age. It revolves around an assumption and a black crayon...."

Reprinted by permission of Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC (c) 2010. In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written consent. All rights reserved.

2011-11-13T08:48:00.000+02:00

The days are getting shorter but not His Light, His Love and His Grace so fear not. Let us not forget this, this Shabbat with us!

Shabbat Shalom Everyone!

In the service of the Gd of Israel,
Shalom,

Naomi

India

I felt so free...

2011-11-10T09:52:00.002+02:00

I felt so free, unshackled, liberated.
Could conquer anything, even NY or LA.
I felt in touch with myself once more.
I felt I could write, could explore, could see the world again.

I felt sure, my head held high, wind blowing my hair.
I felt confident, released, light and light.

But now, words of doubt, I hear from around.
And I fear being chained, being placed under heavy stones.
But maybe I should take the doubt only as it is--not as denouncement, but only as doubt.
It IS sudden and strange, we all agree on this.
It's definitely weird, shocking and amiss.

Too, I'm tired and tired brings despair.
I ought to revisit my Vulnerable piece, maybe repost it here.

Goodnight.
Hashem loves me like a father that loves his only son born to him in his old age.
And even a bit more ;)

A Thirsty Man's Poison

2011-11-09T09:14:00.001+02:00

What a relief!
To find out that the poison was actually chocolate cake...

---
Side note: Unshackled, the world looks approachable, once more.

Refining One's Middos

2011-11-09T09:10:00.000+02:00

Once, during a farbrengen, the Razah said that the only way to correct one's middos is to use one's mind - just as one can safely walk across a narrow beam lying in a pool of mud, by using one's head to keep balance.

The Rebbe Rashab commented, "Why does controlling one's middoswith the mind resemble walking across a narrow beam? Because safety is only insured when the head is keeping balance, preventing themiddos from making one fall.

"This approach requires constant watchfulness of the mind so that themiddos that have not yet been corrected will not return to their natural, wild ways. True correction of middos requires transforming the middosthemselves, by using the mind together with avoda of the heart."

The Frierdiker Rebbe noted: The chassidim of earlier times were more devoted, and they corrected their middos on an entirely different level, both in quality and quantity. In those days they were able walk with slippers and white socks and their socks would remain clean, for they knew how to sidestep the mud. Nowadays, we go across with boots and even our clothes get dirty.

(סה"ש ת"ש ע' 39)

Emailed from lmaanyishmeu.com

2011-11-09T09:01:00.001+02:00

חבד פושקר chabadpushkar@chabadpushkar.com to me

ב"ה

שיעור תניא בבית חבד השבוע. מתגעגעים?

2011-11-02T00:08:00.003+02:00

"so yesterday the world map came off our wall in our house and my fathers like "how will we be able to figure out where chavala is now"?"

ahhh!! awesomeness in its fullest form! thank you israel, you are goodness!

2011-11-01T09:22:00.003+02:00

For every power for good in your soul, writes Tzvi Freeman, a counter-force crouches within to oppose it.

There is only one place that stands beyond assault, as it also stands beyond reason or need. It is the simple power to choose good and not bad, and it is the place where the soul meets G‑d and there they are one.

In that place, where that resolute decision is made, the counterforce dissolves and dissipates. Indeed, it was created from that place, with the purpose of returning you to there.

And you have returned.

He states unequivocally that I've returned.

Hmmm.

When Everything I Do Is Wrong

2011-11-01T07:12:00.000+02:00

When everything I do, is wrong. When everything I say, is wrong.
When everything I try, is wrong. When everything I am, is wrong.

When quiet words of disappointment scream louder than a slamming door.
When little words of sarcasm echo in my heart and soul.

When every effort's met with FAIL, and every wind threatens my sail.
When every space becomes my nail and no one thinks to come and bail.

When time and time again I fall, and no one cares to hear my call.
When every day just makes me small, and every turn brings one more wall.

How can I walk the path with calm? How can I diffuse my inner bomb?
How can I paste and feel a smile? How can I tolerate this guile?

Maybe I'll just run away. Or maybe in my bed I'll stay.
Maybe I'll go find a way, that I'll never face another day.

When everything I do, is wrong. When everything I say, is wrong.
When everything I try, is wrong. When everything I am, is wrong.

2011-10-28T07:18:00.002+02:00

On Rosh Chodesh Elul, at six in the evening, the telephone rang at the home of Rabbi Chaggai Halevi, Rabbi of the Ramah shul in Givatayim [and also Chabad shliach in the Diamond Exchange in Ramat Gan].

Eli, the owner of the Hapitzutziah kiosk, was on the line. He wanted to invite the Rabbi to a special ceremony at the shul on Friday before the beginning of Shabbos. The ceremony was in honor of the closure of the kiosk from the beginning of Shabbos until the end. Rabbi Halevi was surprised and delighted by this news. This doesn’t happen every day and Rabbi Halevi could not hide his pleasure. He praised his friend the kiosk owner, saying, “May Hashem bless you with His great generosity.”

“You should know that I got the courage to do this because when you and your children walk to shul on Shabbos, you always wish me a gentle ‘Good Shabbos,’ the warmth and sweetness of which penetrates and warms my heart,” said Eli. “And I really couldn’t stand in its way. You have never spoken to me about keeping Shabbos, and that’s what got me.” (from shmais; israeli newspaper)

Signatures on the Miluimnikim Declaration

2011-10-25T00:38:00.002+02:00

Wow. You gotta read the list of people who signed the declaration (see post below) that if they are ever captured by terrorists, G-d forbid, they do not want to terrorists let out of jail in return for their release. Look how many people signed already! And the comments..! The comments blow my mind away. Sai the self-sacrifice and sai the love for their fellows Jews.
Who is like Your nation of Israel??

Miluimnikim declare refusal to be freed in exchange for terrorists.

2011-10-24T10:44:00.005+02:00

By Chana Ya'ar for IsraelNN.com
An IDF reservists' group called "My Israel" is calling on soldiers to sign a petition not to participate in future terrorist swaps that would free murderers with blood on their hands.
The move comes following therelease of 477 terrorists, includingmany fulfilling exactly such criteria, as part of a prisoner exchange deal to free kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, held hostage for more than five years by the Hamas terrorist rulers of Gaza. Shalit was freed last week in the first phase of the two-part exchange, which will eventually free 1,027 Palestinian Authority inmates of Israeli prisoners, including many murderers serving multiple life sentences who immediately vowed upon their release to renew their terrorist careers as soon as possible.
The petition, which can be found on the group's website, urges the government not to ever agree to a prisoner swap that frees terrorists with blood on their hands.
Signatories on the petition agree not to participate in such a swap if they are ever, G-d forbid, captured or kidnapped in future action.
"We demand [the government] not release murderers, also at the price of our own personal lives," clarified the reservists.
My Israel chairperson Ayelet Shaked and David Tzviel, who initiated the petition, said the campaign is intended to facilitate the efforts of decision makers who might in future be faced with the need to negotiate for the release of Israeli soldiers in captivity.
"When soldiers and reservists say they are ready to bear on their shoulders the burden of [defending the nation], even the terrible suffering [if] captured by the enemy, to save Israel from the terrible danger posed to the country due to the release of terrorists -- the State of Israel can't avoid expressing a firm, resolute and clear stance against the terrorist organizations in this matter," said the two.
The petition may be signed, and names of other participants may be seen at the organization's website, by clicking here.

2011-10-24T10:07:00.001+02:00

my bravado gone

i sink in despair, what shame

i call to the hills

Perpetual Struggle

2011-10-24T09:30:00.001+02:00

And I'm sitting here debating whether I should continue my struggle or move on. Challenge myself or let myself flourish. The struggle is tearing me apart as is the debate.

I get my Daily Dose. I just KNOW it's gonna hit the spot. G-d keeps doing that to me.
I read it.
It hit the spot.
I'll stay.

Perpetual Struggle	Tishrei 26, 5772 · October 24, 2011
Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

Some think life is all about doing good and keeping away from evil. To them, struggle has no purpose of its own -- to have struggled is to have failed. Success, they imagine, is a sweet candy with no trace of bitterness.
They are wrong, very wrong. Struggle is an opportunity to reach the ultimate, when darkness itself becomes light. In the midst of struggle, an inner light is awakened. Light profound enough to overwhelm the darkness, encasing it and winning it over.
But if darkness never fights back, how will it ever be conquered?

Gilad is Home.

2011-10-23T10:29:00.000+02:00

Dear Friend,

I felt a tear forming as I watched a clip of a young man in army fatigues jump into salute to his commander in chief, when in truth it is us, each and every one - from the prime minister down, who are saluting him, young Gilad.

Like me, I’m sure you also felt an urge to reach into the computer screen and hug the shy and unassuming hero who suffered in misery so that we could live in security.

And together with that, reading the Prime Minister’s letter to the family of the victims of the terrorists being freed – and hearing the haunting promises and calls in Gaza of “the next Gilad” G-d save us, I feel the pain and hurt of the past, and the palpable worry for the future, of a nation still very wounded.

Is our joy complete? No. The practical implications of the price paid (but please G-d should not have to be paid further) is palpable.

Yet, words like “worth” “value” and “proportionate” just seem out of place in the discussions around possibly bringing a young boy home to his mother and father, but these are the tragic realities in the life of Israel today.

It seems obvious though, that despite the conflict of feelings and emotion, everyone, yes everyone from the close-knit members of the Shalit family (and aren’t we all a part of their family today), to the cynical journalists in Europe, to the murderous bloodsuckers in the Middle East - everyone realized something profound about the Jewish People today; that we are one.

If there is just one thread missing in the global tapestry of our people, we are incomplete. Whether right or wrong, fair or unjust, there is no one that will deny that there is nothing more valuable and precious to the Jewish people, than the brother or sister next to them.

In the late 1940’s two young rabbis were sent by The Rebbe, of righteous memory, to visit Jewish people across the metro Chicago area.

On their return they gave the Rebbe a report of their many visits and shared an incident where they were challenged by one of their hosts, for their reason of coming to visit. When they had told him that they weren’t coming to collect money he asked “then what for?”

“Do you know what a Sofer is?” the rabbi asked the middle aged traditional but secular Chicago businessman. “Of course, the person who writes Torahs” he answered.

“So,” the rabbi explained “a Torah that is missing even one letter is incomplete and must be repaired. And to ensure that all of the letters are complete, there were Sofers who would travel around from village to village and check the Torahs to repair and protect every last letter of the Torah.

The Jewish People are compared to a Torah and when even one letter is missing, when even one soul strays from the community, the entire nation is fractured. We were sent by the Rebbe to travel around and visit our fellow people, and repair each “letter” and their connection to the Torah.”

On return to New York they shared the jist of the exchange with the Rebbe who seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the analogy.

“Whereas the Parchment and Ink of Torah are two distinct and possibly separated entities” the Rebbe explained, “the unity of the Jewish People is more accurately comparable to the words engraved on the Tablets. There the stone and the words are one and the same.

The only obstacle is if and when the engraved letter becomes filled with dust. And that is your job to go around and “brush the dust” concealing the beauty of every soul, so that then they can shine once again.”

For over five years, the holy letter of our beloved Gilad ben Aviva was concealed by the dust and grime of a heartless terrorist regime. With thanks to the Almighty G-d, the five years of accumulated dust was swept away, and the radiant pale face of this beautiful “letter in the Torah” will shine once again.

* * *

Faith and hope is what kept Gilad going all these years in isolated captivity. "I always believed there's a chance to be released," he said on Egyptian TV. His body was captured in Gaza but his soul was free, in his own country. "I missed my parents, meet people, get out," he said. He managed to keep his sanity because of the belief that one day his body will also be where his soul has always been.

Clearly nervous and shaking, he voiced no anger. There was no call for revenge or declaration of war. His composure after his five-year ordeal personified the beauty of the Jewish people.

Despite much suffering, Jews never became captive to the hate of their enemies. Regardless of what they endured, they never allowed it to compromise their goodness. Gilad Shalit captured that personality; the enduring battle for peace and compassion. “For all its ways are pleasant and all its paths peaceful."

At the Simchat Torah dancing tomorrow evening (Thursday) all of us will certainly be taking a special moment to dance with the Torah and to celebrate with Gilad reunited with his family and the reunited unity of the Jewish People.

But we – all of us, need you there. We need your letter. Otherwise we’re still not complete…

Please G-d may this window of hope open the gates of mercy and may the merit of Gilad ben Aviva open the way for the ultimate redemption of the Jewish people reunited with the coming of Mashiach and eternal peace in our Holy Land.

Wishing you a Chag Sameach, a truly Happy Holiday and Shabbat Shalom!

Shaul & Esther

Taglit Pics

2011-09-07T07:00:00.000+03:00

Just put em up now, over here for a more chronological accuracy.

2011-08-17T16:03:00.001+03:00

Consolations! It's not a girl!

2011-08-13T23:16:00.001+03:00

Consolations, fellow mourners. It's not a girl.

A new death has been brought into this world.

Wishing the dear family happiness and revealed blessings.

ברוך דיין האמת

2011-08-11T10:02:00.002+03:00

A comfort, it used to be.

But now I wonder, why be satisfied with Justice when Kindness could step in as well??

Tisha B'Av in Eretz Yisroel

2011-08-10T02:40:00.001+03:00

"Israeli law forbids the opening of restaurants, clubs and theaters on Tisha B'Av."

See, that's why I love and live here.

Incredible Sites in Eretz HaKodesh

2011-08-04T06:49:00.003+03:00

Border with Jordan

Har Chermon

Jews Crossed Into Israel

Metula

Reuven, Gad, 1/2 Menashe

Thanks Birthright & Miriam!

A Message from Leiby Kletzky’s Parents

2011-07-27T16:19:00.000+03:00

Rabbi Nachman and Itta Kletzky, the parents of eight-year-old Leiby Kletzky z"l who was brutally murdered, released a special statement to the Jewish community on Friday, just after they got up from shiva (the traditional seven-day mourning period observed in Judaism).

Arutz Sheva brings you the statement in its entirety:

The traditional seven intense days of mourning ("shiva") for our beloved Leiby are complete, but the ache in our hearts will remain forever.

We thank G-d for the nearly nine beautiful years that He entrusted us with Leiby's pure soul. We are certain that Leiby is now looking down from heaven and blessing us all.

We would like to once again thank all our friends and neighbors; all the selfless volunteers from near and far; local, city, state, and federal agencies; and all our fellow New Yorkers and beyond who assisted us physically, emotionally, and spiritually—as well as all of G-d's children around the world who held our dear Leiby in their thoughts and prayers.

We pray that none of you should ever have to live through what we did. But if any tragedy is to ever befall any of you, G-d forbid, you should be blessed with a community and public as supportive as ours. We feel that through Leiby we've become family with you all.

Many of you have asked us what you can do now in Leiby's memory, and how you can help us find comfort. Looking back at Leiby's all-too-short years among us, here are a few ideas:

Acts of unity and lovingkindness. Let us perpetuate the feeling of collective responsibility and love expressed during the search for Leiby. An additional act of kindness toward your neighbor, or to those less fortunate than you, can go a long, long way toward perfecting our world. Putting a couple of coins into a charity box daily is one way of tangibly expressing that lovingkindness.

Gratitude. Leiby deeply cherished his siddur, his prayerbook, and praying to G-d meant the world to him. He was known by his teachers for his concentration in prayer, always being the last to finish. In Leiby's memory, when you wake up each morning take a few moments to pray and reflect and thank G-d for giving us life ("Modeh Ani" in the prayerbook).

Light. Every Friday evening our family sits down together for Shabbat dinner to the light of the Shabbat candles. A candle shines for each of our children—and Leiby's candle will always be included. On Friday evening, please give a few coins to charity and light the candles before sunset with our beloved Leiby in mind.

Memorial fund. Together with Rabbi Binyamin Eisenberger, we have established a memorial fund to help people in dire need (www.leibykletzkymemorialfund.com), to channel the lovingkindness shown to us and our dear Leiby toward many, many others in need. We welcome your participation.

From the deepest place in our hearts, we thank you all for your help, your support and your prayers. May Leiby's soul live on as a blessing inside each and every one of you.

Sincerely,

Nachman and Itta Kletzky

Africa

2011-07-18T22:16:00.001+03:00

There are 55 countries in Africa.

Strength for the Week:

2011-07-18T01:50:00.000+03:00

Shavuah Tov to All!

With the strength and rest gained during Shabbat may we be like a tag team wrestler fresh and ready to fight who has just been tagged by Shabbat to take on the opponent called “Week” that is in the ring and may we fly off the top ropes and lay Week down for the count!

Shavuah Tov everyone!

The Bostonian Bochur: The Power of Merkos Shlichus

2011-07-18T01:28:00.001+03:00

<br><br><br>alb

2011-07-13T14:26:00.001+03:00

But really, the minute "body" is mentioned, it's only all over for people who only have a body.
We-with a soul-do not expire with the destruction of the body.
The body housed the soul in order for the soul to achieve what it was sent down to this world to accomplish.
When the soul finishes its work, it can gladly return to Heaven, content to snuggle near G-d, unencumbered by an earthly body.

May the Almighty comfort Leiby's family and friends amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

....and may we immediately welcome the day when no tears of sadness or mourning will ever appear...

Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-07-13T14:18:00.001+03:00

The minute "body" is mentioned, it's all over.

-wracked with sobs-

עך טי זיעמליאק

2011-07-12T21:12:00.001+03:00

"Who Knows One" in Russian

Woohoo! Finally found it b"h!!

Verbalize Comforting Mourner (The Rebbe's Advice)

2011-07-12T20:56:00.000+03:00

In memory of Rabbi Gavriel & Rebbetzin Rivkah Holtzberg HYD - Shluchim to Mumbai, India

The Tzemach Tzedek, after his rebbitzin passed on, refused to be comforted, and engrossed himself in mourning. One of his relatives approached him and quoted the teaching of the sages that even with one's wife, when she passes on, it comes from G-d, and it is Torah. As soon as the Tzemach Tzedek heard this, he said you have revived me, and began to feel good.

Why was it necessary for this relative to tell the Tzemach Tzedek this, did he not know the teaching of the sages? He surely did. However, there is a difference between knowing something in thought and hearing it in words, although the idea is identical. A person who just had a loss is considered a captive to sadness; it is impossible for him to remove himself from his captivity, because one who is captured cannot get out of his own jail. He needs someone else to help him leave jail. This applies to the greatest person, including a Rebbe; he needs a relative to come, and verbalize comfort alleviating him from his sadness.

Igros Kodesh volume 22, P. 279-280

Rebbe! My heart is breaking!

2011-07-11T04:10:00.003+03:00

I see people, regular people walking by.
Many, most, are touching the chair as they pass.
They are leaning over..exchanging looks..breathing the same air!

I guess they're not so regular, after all....

2011-07-05T03:32:00.000+03:00

אופק = horizon

Example: איך נעלמת לנו מהאופק

Over 3,200 on Global Achdus Conference call for Sholom Rubashkin

2011-07-05T02:41:00.001+03:00

Tonight, Monday June 27 at 9:30pm EST, will be the second of an unprecedented Global Achdus Teleconference Call in the merit of Sholom Rubashkin. Over 3,200 callers joined last week's class delivered by Rabbi Paysach Krohn.

To join the thousands of Jews participating in this live class, call the Chazak Hotline at 718-258-2008.

Sholom currently awaits a decision from the 8th Circuit Court of Appeal regarding his appeal. On June 27th the court denied Sholom's request for bail pending appeal.

Rabbi Ephraim E. Shapiro, noted speaker and Rav from North Miami Beach, will deliver tonight's 20 minute class about Achdus and Ahavas Yisroel. The call will be hosted by Getzel Rubashkin, son of Sholom Rubashkin.

This project is hosted by the Chazak Hotline of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation.

Whether one can participate or not, all are asked to continue to daven for Sholom Mordechai Halevi Ben Rivka and to give a tax-deductible contribution to:

Klal Yisrael Fund
53 Olympia Lane
Monsey, NY 10952
or at www.sholomacrossamerica.com

I'm at a farbrengen of the Rebbe.

2011-07-04T05:07:00.000+03:00

OH. MY. G-D.

I'm watching a video of the Rebbe's Yud Beis Tammuz Farbrengen of 1985 and I'm shaking. For the first time, I'm watching the audience and I'm putting myself in their heads, their minds, their hearts.

People are watching the Rebbe talk, listening to the words, the Chassidus, the lessons, the G-dliness..
They nod, they watch, they focus, they lean in BUT OMG DO THEY REALIZE THAT THEY ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF G-D?! FORGET G-DLINESS, THIS IS HASHEM SPEAKING THROUGH THE THROAT, THE VOICE, OF THE REBBE!
I'm shaking!! I can't believe people could be in the same room and not be on the floor in a faint. How are people not swaying with awe and emotion.
It's like there are people, and then there is the Rebbe who is higher, smarter, wiser, more righteous than everyone else, hence it is the Rebbe speaking, not someone else.
DON'T THEY GET IT!? THE REBBE IS NOT IN OUR CATEGORY!!
It's not us and the Rebbe, separated by a Bima.
It's THE REBBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and then us. If even that close.
We're worlds apart. The Rebbe! Our Rebbe! My Rebbe...
I'm crying. I wish I could be by a farbrengen of the Rebbe.
I wish we could all be with the Rebbe at a real farbrengen. And the Rebbe smiling, proud of us, giving us lechaim, outlining how we can achieve higher and higher, not just how to get ourselves out of this muck and mire.
I wish we could be so close to the Rebbe in real life, and not from my living room with a laptop....

Mezuzah (short story)

2011-07-03T20:18:00.002+03:00

The Parthian king, Artiban, once sent a priceless jewel to Rabbi Yehudah HaNassi, the compiler of the Mishna and one of the wealthiest Jews at the time. The king made it obvious that he expected something of equal value in return. The Rabbi's return gift to the king was a Mezuzah. The king's reply was: "I sent you something priceless and you sent me something that can be bought for a paltry sum!?" The Rabbi answered: "You sent me something that I must hire a guard to watch, and I sent you something that will watch over you!" (Talmud Yerushalmi, Peah 1:1)

Why We Need The Written Torah:

2011-07-03T19:37:00.000+03:00

Why Not Just Go By the Book?

By Tzvi Freeman

Question:

Many—if not most—of the customs and traditions that comprise “Judaism” are not mentioned anywhere in the Bible. Why can’t we just follow what’s written there? Really, isn’t it heresy to add on to G‑d’s word?

Response:

You can go ahead and just follow your own literal understanding of the Five Books of Moses, but it may make life a little uncomfortable. For one thing, a lot of people will have to be stoned to death—for such matters as breaking Shabbat, adultery, etc. And an awful lot of teeth and eyes are going to go missing, too. Please let me know just where you’re planning to sacrifice all the sheep necessary to atone for other sins. Also, better find a kohen who will take all your tithes. Then come all the laws of impurity, which—if you want to follow “what’s written there”—may make marriage quite a feat nowadays. And you’ll have to sit in your house all day every Shabbat—in the dark and cold.
Or you could follow the traditional reading of the Torah, one that explains “an eye for an eye” as monetary compensation, and renders a sentence of capital punishment close to impossible—and a lot more humane when it does have to be carried out. Sheep offerings apply only in times when there is a Holy Temple; in the meantime, other means of atonement are available. The laws of ritual impurity as they apply today will be quite manageable, even enhance your marriage. And you could sit in a warm house, or take a walk in the park on Shabbat. All with the knowledge that this is what the text really means, and always meant. After all, do you really think G‑d meant for you to lead an impossible life?
Perhaps that’s why the Torah itself instructed us to take any difficult case that arises to the wise men of our times, and to “not turn from the words they tell you to the right or to the left."1 We don’t just read the book and decide what it means, each man for himself; we follow a tradition of received interpretation. When it comes to extending that interpretation yet further, G‑d Himself authorized those wise men to do that job. That way, the entire structure grows organically, with integrity to its original meaning. And that way, there’s one Torah for all the people.

Text and context

But then you’ll probably have a bigger question: Who says we got the interpretation right? And anyways, how could human beings, no matter how wise, have the right to interpret G‑d’s Torah?
Well, that would be a problem if we accept the Joe Smith version of the Five Books of Moses. That’s the version in which Moses goes up the mountain, finds five books, brings them back down and tells the people, “Look here what I found! We better keep what’s written in these five books, or else!”
In other words, if we believed the text has no context other than that G‑d said to do it, then we would be stuck with just what the text says, and that’s it. But the truth is, there is no text without context. Context is to text what water is to fish, roads are to cars and the internet is to web browsers: the text is still text without context, but it’s totally meaningless and irrelevant. Context is the breath of life. Because context is what tells you the purpose of the text, how to read it and what to do with it.
Political parodies, such as Gulliver’s Travels and Animal Farm, are good examples of books that take on new meaning when you know their context. A personal diary or a biography written for family members might be another example. The insider reads a totally different story than an outsider who just snuck a peek.
So let’s take a look at the context behind the Five Books of Moses. Fortunately for us, unlike Jonathan Swift and George Orwell, Moses himself references much of the context within the text itself. He even provides some hints as to how the book was written. At the end of forty years of wandering, just before entering the land, Moses tells the people, “Listen, I’m not coming in there with you. But G‑d told me to to write all this down and hand it over to you as a testimony, so you’ll keep everything I’ve taught you over these forty years. Here it is. Learn it as you learn a song. Teach it to your children, so that they will teach it to their children. Because everything you will need until the end of days is in it.” That’s basically the content of the book of Deuteronomy, known in Jewish circles as Mishneh Torah—“the repetition of the Torah.”

Real-life story

Stories that were likely written in earlier scrolls as well. Of course, when they had heard those stories, there had been much elaboration. That’s the way scrolls were read back then: you read a verse and then explained, elaborated and expanded the panorama, then read a little more and explained again. So, of course, Moses understood they would do the same thing.2 They get to the stories of their great-great-grandparents, Abraham and Sarah. Someone says, “Hey, it’s missing the story of how Abraham smashed the idols in his father’s house!” Someone else says, “Look, how big a scroll do you want him to write? He wrote the most crucial points and those things we might forget. But that story? Nobody will forget that story, never.”
So when they read that part of the scroll to their children, they added in that story. And of course, no one ever forgot.
Eventually, they arrive at the story about themselves. Imagine that: they get to see all that they had experienced from a different perspective, the way G‑d and Moses saw it happen. They read about the plagues, reading out loud (all reading was out loud until modern times) and excitedly adding in their own memories and emotions, so that the story would be deeply embedded in their children’s minds, hearts and souls. Often, they were able to see how Moses alluded to a missing detail with a nuance of the text or an extra word.
And then, to the dos and don’ts: all the laws that Moses had taught the entire community over forty years. The issues they had been debating with one another, that the elders had spent years working out. Until now, whenever an issue was unclear, or its application ambiguous, they had gone to Moses himself for clarification. Thousands of such cases had been resolved in this way. Joshua, Eleazar, Ithamar, Phinehas, Caleb and many other elders had likely recorded the decisions on those cases, and taught them to their students in turn.
Moses writes, “Keep the Shabbat holy.” He doesn’t need to tell them what is Shabbat, when is Shabbat, how it’s kept. Everyone knows that. They will teach it to their children when they read the text. And anyways, everyone will grow up doing it. “Keep the Shabbat” (and why) is just about all that needs to be said.
The same with “they shall be for totafot between your eyes.” Everyone knows what those are, just as they know what is to be written on the doorposts of their homes and how to make strings on the corners of their garments. There will always be Jews doing those things. For the next thousand years or so, not much more need be set in writing. And again, these students of Moses are amazed to find how the details themselves are all subtly alluded to in the nuances of the text.
But look at this: When it comes to laws of the priests and the temple, a wealth of detail lies before them. How many sheep, what age sheep, where, who, when, how. These are things, it appears, that may be corrupted. The priests could turn around one day and say, “That’s the way it’s supposed to be done. What do you people know?” It makes sense, therefore, that here Moses’ scroll goes into the gritty details. So, too, does the degree of detail on laws to do with the land, such as tithes, the sabbatical year and the jubilee year. Although they must have discussed these with Moses at length, they haven’t yet had a chance to yet put them into practice.
There is no doubt that these five books must have been extremely fascinating (and revered) as soon as they were available. Imagine now, in the midst of all this excitement, that some literate smart-aleck walks over the hill and turns up in the Jewish encampment on the east bank of the Jordan. He asks to look at this scroll and proceeds to give his interpretation. “You guys have got it all wrong,” he declares. “There’s nothing in here about Abraham meeting Nimrod. Totafot are not leather boxes. And it says clearly that you can’t leave your home on Shabbat.”
If the people would have the patience, they would simply retort, “Listen, mister, are you a grandchild of Abraham? Were you there when G‑d spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai? Did you ever meet Moses and speak with him?”
Perhaps that is why we call it not Torahism, but Judaism—as in Jew-daism. Because it is not an ideology defined by a book on a mountaintop, but by a book within the Jewish people. In fact, there is a Jewish sect called Karaites—kara meaning “text”—who reject the entire concept of received tradition. But that is not how the vast majority of our sages over the ages have understood us. They did not see us as “the people of the book,” as the Koran describes us—a people defined within the neat framework of a book—but rather the other way around: a people whose very existence defines the meaning of the book. For the book has meaning only within the context of our people, our experiences as a people, and the way that our people have unfolded and applied that which we have received.

The un-book

Really, the root of the error is to believe that the Torah is a book. The Torah is G‑dly wisdom. Moses, the greatest of all prophets, tapped into that wisdom directly. The book is one form of its manifestation—it’s what we call “the written Torah.” In it, Moses managed to encode the entirety of that wisdom, even that which he himself did not fully grasp, somewhat as the double helix of a strand of DNA encodes all the features of an entire organism.
Yet before it was written, the Torah already existed in our world as a lesson from Moses to the people (especially the elders) and their discussion with him. That’s what we call “the oral Torah,” which, contrary to popular misconception, preceded the written Torah. You could say, then, quite literally, that the fullest manifestation of that G‑dly wisdom we call Torah is not how it is written in a book, but how it exists in the minds of the people that received it. And since the Torah is a way of life for all seasons, the Torah includes all the discussions and innovations that have organically emerged from it through the medium of those people over the past 3,300 years.
After all, a G‑dly wisdom must be given by a G‑d who is above time and foresees all. He gave us His Torah through Moses like a gardener plants a seed or a forester a sapling; yet unlike those, knowing all that would sprout and grow over the long life of that tree. “They are the shoot of My planting,” He says, “the craft of My hands in which I take pride.” Like a gardener, He plants the seed. Like a craftsman, He forms the final product, step by step.
Until, by the time Moses finally leads us into the Promised Land, the entire Torah is unfolded in full blossom, through the struggle of the people who received it, guarded it and cherished it. For if the context is earth and the text is the seed, then the Jewish people are a fertile field, the scroll of the Torah a virile seed, and the Torah itself is the planting, the growth and the fruits of a mature tree of life.

For more on the chronology and method of Moses’ writing, see How and When Was the Torah Written?

FOOTNOTES
1.	Deuteronomy 17:11.
2.	We still have several examples of such running commentaries, known as targumim, that were originally recited orally between verses. Some, such as Targum Onkelos, stay fairly close to presenting just the text in a different language (Aramaic) with only minor embellishments. Others, such as Targum Yonatan ben Uziel, often richly supplement the narrative. Although these were set in writing much later, they demonstrate that such was the modality of reading a text in ancient times—to embellish the text as you read out loud.

Emunas Tzadikim

2011-07-03T19:18:00.000+03:00

One Motzoei Shabbos before havdala, the Baal Shem Tov instructed his talmidim to purchase candles to light up the beis medrash. Though there was no way they could have possibly had money on them, the talmidim put their hands in their pockets to take out money, and hurried to buy candles. Such was their faith in the Baal Shem Tov.

(תו"מ חל"ו ע' 56)

It's Hard to Tell Which Pain is Worse

2011-07-03T07:19:00.001+03:00

FROM: My Personal Battle with RSD
--
Every day I have a fight with pain. Every night I have a fight with pain. On a 24 hour basis I am physically and mentally fighting excruciating pain, in my legs, in my back, in my shoulder and arms. I am stuck in a wheelchair that is hard for me to push. I can’t very much move, and getting up for simple things like going to use the restroom have become immense challenges for me. RSD had put my life on hold.

But around me, around me the world keeps spinning.

My friends are all taking finals to get their BAs, there are those that are starting to learn towards their masters, some even towards there PHDs.

There are friends that are traveling and seeing the world.

But I am sitting here in my chair and 2:56 in the morning. The whole house is asleep and I am using all my energy not to focus on the pain.

My friends lives haven't stopped, but somehow they still find a way to take a break and come visit me. To see how I am doing, and to support me.

My life is on hold. If I have no doctors appointment, am not hospitalized, and am not having a procedure done, I am sitting on my ass. Doing nothing. With all the time in the world praying for things to focus on.

My friends put their lives on a short pause to come and support me.

I fight a constant battle of jealousy and guilt. I want the life my friends have, more than anything. I know I can’t have it right now and might not have it ever. But I hope that if the tables were turned I would be as goodhearted as my friends have been who support me and as I said, "pause" their lives to come and support me.

So what happens when one of those friends needs my support? What if my friends need me there for them the same way I need friends here for me the way I do now? What if that friend needs me even more than I need my friends now.

One of my best friends recently suffered a terrible loss. He lost his little sister. I couldn't be at the funeral. I wanted to but couldn't. All day long I was miserable because I wasn't there for him. I felt selfish. He is the one who lost someone. But me, I was sad because I could not comfort him. I want desperately to visit him, but an ambulance trip will cost me 1,047 $.

He understands I can’t come. He doesn't want me to spend money to come visit because he lives far. He also knows that the long trip is physically very hard and painful for me. But I hear in his voice, deep in his voice, that he wants me there.

So what hurts the worst? The physical pain? Just after the RSD diagnoses I thought that was the hardest it would be. But than there is the pain of feeling like being a burden on your family. And that pain is close to unbearable. Then there is the pain of realizing you have lost all your dreams, your independence, your social life, and not to mention the ability to put your legs around your head (yes I was really that flexible). All those things, they hurt. They hurt so much you want to wake up from this nightmare or go to sleep and not wake up at all.

But until yesterday I had never felt this pain. The pain of realizing you have lost the ability to help others, the ability to help your friends when they need you the most.

And here I lay at 3:13 now in the morning, talking about MY pain when my best friend lost his little sister, his only sibling.

So what pain is worse?

Everyone suffers. Some more than others, some less. Some suffer physically, some emotionally, some even both. But everyone suffers. Everyone feels pain.

So how do we cope with it. Many people in pain try to help others, hoping that it will relieve them of their own pain.

I am afraid that maybe that's why I want to go to my friend. Maybe somewhere deep down I think it will make my pain go away all though consciously I know it wont. But then I stop and think of his pain, his loss. A pain like that, I wouldn't trade for RSD any day of the week. So even if I do go, if I find a way to have an ambulance take me, what then...?

As beauty is in the eye of the beholder, a person's suffering is also only able to be understood by the sufferer, even if he or she is not able to clearly express in words the pain they are enduring.

I guess I will never know for sure which pain is worse but I think maybe on some level it doesn't matter. Living with RSD has shown me how much I depend on the love of my friends and family; because of that, despite my jealous rages, I cannot fathom the loss of a sister as my friend is coping with now. I hope that somehow I can be a comfort to my dear friend now, even if I seem to be trapped in my own grief.

Sabbath Blessing :)

2011-07-03T06:55:00.002+03:00

"I hope this Sabbath rest gave you a new spirit, a twinkle in your eye, a bounce in your step and the fire of Torah in your bones to enable you to commune with the Creator and take on whatever may come in the week ahead."

2011-07-02T00:00:00.002+03:00

Sivan 29, 5771 · July 1, 2011

Today's Mitzvah

A daily digest of Maimonides’ classic work "Sefer Hamitzvot"

Listen Online | MP3 Download

Negative Commandment 353
Provocative Behavior

"No man shall come near to any of his relatives, to uncover [their] nakedness"—Leviticus 18:6.
It is forbidden to derive pleasure from any of the women whom the Torah forbids us from marrying, by kissing, embracing and the like. For such behavior leads to actualizing the forbidden relationship.

Full text of this Mitzvah »

recalcitrant

2011-07-01T05:51:00.000+03:00

–adjective

resisting authority or control; not obedient or compliant; refractory.

hard to deal with, manage, or operate.

"Monumental Decision” [slice of Israel's history]

2011-06-30T03:37:00.000+03:00

1948. The new nation Israel was fighting for her life. Resources low, Arab armies at all sides, Prime Minister David Ben Gurion was forced to take strategic action.
The Avner Institute presents the riveting narrative by Rabbi Menachem Porush, obm, late chairman of Agudath Yisrael, who discusses with the Rebbe the impossible military situation facing the Prime Minister, the spiritual considerations guiding him, and the miracle that followed

Rabbi Porush Relates:

Often, I had opportunities to discuss various topics with the founder of the modern State of Israel, Prime Minister Ben Gurion. Having fought the many battles and survived the countless political deadlocks that had been necessary for the nascent nation to emerge, Ben Gurion was a fascinating person to speak to, his perspective of historical events unlike any other. During one of those conversations, I asked him:

"Which would you say was the most difficult moment for you as a leader and politician, throughout your entire career?"

“When we announced the establishment of the state of Israel, in the midst of chaotic battles waged on several fronts, we did not have the most vital of military equipment, guns,"

Ben Gurion answered, after considering the various possibilities. "After endless agony, we were finally able to obtain a miniscule cache of guns, procured from a reluctant Russia. Incapable of supplying all the troops with proper artillery, we would have to make a tortuous choice which of our valiant comrades, all contributing their entire energies to a venerable cause, should receive the goods.

“Each commander, many of them close friends of mine, vying for his men, had his own reasoning why it was imperative that the guns be directed to them. My friends from the Galilee, locked in battle over strategic enemy positions, while outnumbered and understaffed, came to me and cried, 'While you sit here in safety, our best young men are falling, lacking the most basic weapons. Give us guns, so we can protect this land, or all will be lost.'

"From Central Command in Tel Aviv, endeavoring to withhold hostile forces from completely overrunning the heart of the country, came the besieged Hagana leaders, who demanded, 'We must have more equipment; the majority of our civilian population are under incessant fire, and without stocking our depleted stockpiles, we will be compelled to surrender.'

"Harassed and fatigued, the generals from the Negev arrived next, pleading for every morsel of warfare they could receive, 'If you don't supply us with adequate arms, we will be powerless against the armies invading the South, putting at risk all of the inhabitants of the land.'

"Finally, following these groups, a contingency appeared, representing the gallant but beleaguered soldiers defending the ancient capital, Jerusalem. Heads drooping on their tattered uniforms and shoulders slouching under the heavy weight of battle, they lifted their weary eyes and simply said, 'You must replenish our empty storehouses if we are to continue guarding our holy city. Although there may not be many Jews in the city, it is crucial to the future of the nation that it remain in our hands; for Jerusalem is the essential spirit and central organism of our people, and Israel having lost Jerusalem would be like a body without a head.'

"I was faced with a moral quandary, and this was the toughest decision in my life; how can one make such a choice? Who is to decide which region is more vital and which people best deserve to live? His anguish inconceivable, a leader is forced to make such a judgment of one man over another. In the end, unable to reach a logical compromise, I allowed my emotional instincts to override strategic concerns; the argument about Jerusalem's centrality in Jewish religion and history prevailed, and I handed over the weapons to those guarding the city."

Concluding this tale before the Rebbe, who had listened attentively to every detail, I observed how deeply moved, and even pleasantly shocked he seemed; apparently, finding it hard to believe Ben Gurion had behaved that way. Still coming to terms with the story and visibly impressed, he asked me with great feeling to repeat the entire incident.

At the end of the second time the Rebbe said:

"This is a tremendous achievement, an incredible merit. I marvel how Ben Gurion acquired the great merit to make such a monumental decision."

App to send alerts for car crash victim

2011-06-30T02:25:00.002+03:00

SOooooooooo cool!!
Excerpt from Israel21c's MayDay sends alerts for car crash victims:

Given that Apple's iPhone remains the hottest and fastest-growing mobile device around, Pariente began to delve into its specs. "I quickly realized that Apple had built this amazing piece of hardware with built-in GPS and very high-precision accelerometers," Pariente says. Those accelerometers can judge how fast something - like a car - is traveling, and if there is a sudden change in speed.
The math is a little complicated. "A typical car accident is measured by an impact of 5G for more than 50 milliseconds," Pariente explains. By comparison, the earth exerts a gravitational pull of 1G, while a fighter pilot can travel at speeds generating 7G of force.
Once Pariente knew he could measure when an accident had occurred, it was relatively simple to create an app that would send a message to a pre-determined email address or generate up to 50 SMS (short message service) messages to loved ones informing them there had been a collision. The app - known as MayDay - went live on February 22, after six months of development and is now available on the Apple app store.
Works anywhere in the world
Activated with a big on/off button, MayDay doesn't send its message until 60 seconds pass, giving the driver plenty of time to turn it off if it's been triggered in error. It makes quite a ruckus, flashing and generating a warning tone that makes it hard to ignore.
Another safety precaution: if the vehicle is going under 30 miles an hour, it won't work. That can be adjusted in case a user wants the app to trigger during, say, a fall while walking or biking. Pariente developed this feature after a man who requires a defibrillator contacted him and explained that he really enjoys walking on the beach but, since he never knows when he may have some sort of disruptive heart incident, he always needs to take along a chaperone. MayDay has given the man a new sense of freedom, Pariente says proudly.
Despite its life-saving potential, Pariente developed MayDay as a hobby, and it shows: Only 260 copies of the app have been downloaded, all of them a "light" version that costs $1.99 and sends emails but not SMS's.
Pariente considers SMS the killer feature, no pun intended. The pro version of MayDay, which costs $4.99, just went live in mid-May and includes 50 prepaid SMS's.
The app works anywhere in the world. "You can be traveling in Thailand and if you're in an accident, your friends will know it," Pariente says. Surprisingly, the country with the third most downloads is Saudi Arabia. "Apparently they don't know it's an Israeli-made app."

Thank You, G-d...For Me

2011-06-29T07:38:00.001+03:00

Thank You, G-d, for making me kind, caring, sensitive and thoughtful.
Thank You for making me patient.
Thank You for giving me a listening ear, a feeling heart, a discerning eye.
Things that are natural but not common, it seems.
Thank You for making me, Me.

And thank You, G-d, for giving me the wisdom and the strength to learn from those that are not.
To learn not to get bogged down, not to spend the night crying or sleeping in my car, and to learn that it's not their fault--they simply weren't created with the characteristics that You gave to me.

And finally, thank You for giving me my mother who helped me realize that. Again.

Jean Skirts

2011-06-29T04:53:00.000+03:00

Disclaimer: The following statement does not necessarily reflect the views of the blog's author.

Jean skirts are prohst.

Moshe and the Rock (Parshas Chukas)

2011-06-29T02:24:00.000+03:00

"Now listen, you rebels," said Moses (and Aaron) some thousands of years ago to the Jews in the desert, "can we draw water for you from this rock?"

That's number one. Outta this world.

Number two is what a shock to be told just like that you can't enter the Land, the Land you lived for, pretty much. On second thought, he must've known that when he was up in Heaven, being taught the entire Torah. Oh my G-d, then he could've prevented this by realizing he ought to listen to His word and speak, not strike. Hmmm. Interesting. Better go see what them Chassidic Masters have to say...

IDF’s Cyber-Commander Prepares Internet Assault

2011-06-29T00:50:00.000+03:00

by Gil Ronen

"Computers and keyboards are the weapons, Facebook and Twitter are the battlefields. It is there that we fight, each and every day." The fighting words come from First Lieutenant Sasha Dratwa, 25, who heads IDF’s elite “new media” unit. Dratwa, who replaced Lt. Aliza Landes, ws interviewed by Jonatan Urich in the IDF’s website.

Dratwa was born in Belgium and immigrated to Israel at the age of 18 after completing high school. He served in the Nahal Brigade and in a technological unit. After his discharge, Dratwa studied interactive communications at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya. During Operation Cast Lead, Dratwa found himself running the first civilian war room in Israel's history, conducting a real-time public relations campaign to disseminate justifications for the IDF's activities.

Dratwa explained that new media work in the IDF is based on the understanding of tools that bypass the traditional media, with high-quality and available content, and openness to web surfers from around the world, including the existence of a genuine, honest dialogue with them.

"The tools are infinite," Dratwa told the IDF Website. "The question is not whether we should be there but how we should be there. I came to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit mainly to make noise. I want the world to see the reality of the IDF, through channels on which it is not used to getting that. We are going to surprise visitors from around the world who will be able to browse their personal computer and see an IDF that is different from what they view on their television screens in their family room."

Dratwa came in with a long list of precise tasks that he wants to adopt and implement immediately.

"We need to use tablets and smart phones in order to immediately reach the general public," Dratwa said. "We don't have time for a long chain of approvals, we have to strike while the iron is hot - to be determined, fast and focused."

Dratwa said that he intends to show, already in the coming months, the IDF's face "as the world has never seen it before." As part of this, he is already promoting new media work in French and Arabic, along with strengthening and improving work in English. And what next? Twitter in Arabic and the massive entry of the IDF into new media work in fluent Hebrew – because the Israeli population apparently also needs to be strengthened.

Dratwa is not alone and these ideas don't only remain on paper. He heads a group of troops consisting mostly of soldiers doing their regular service, who come from all over the world with a rich professional background in the internet and new media.

"Every one of my soldiers understands the meaning of the work, the range of opportunities facing us and the importance of demonstrating our justness," Dratwa said. "We are fighting in the field of delegitimization, which is no less significant than armored or artillery battles."

"Justifying the IDF's activities and Israel's public relations efforts are significant challenges that are at the top of the IDF's priorities," Dratwa said. "We are receiving a significant investment of means and resources, as well as personnel, but also mainly the determination and dedication of the soldiers.”
Comment on this story

World Police and Fire Games 2011

2011-06-27T08:41:00.003+03:00

It's scheduled to take place in New York from August 26-September 5.

Could you imagine that I'm scheduled to land in JFK on September 1???

This is incredible, Hashem.
I really really appreciate this one.
Thanks for expressing Your love so openly.
;)