Parsha Kedoshim - What is Holy? How Do We Become Holy?

 

Sweet & Good Music - Bob Dylan's The Times Are-A-Changin' (Acapella Moshiach Edition)

Rabbi Glatstein: Kedoshim and Shabbat

Shabbos Is Your Bride, Treat Her Well & Your Rich Shver Will Take Care of You

 

 Kedoshim: 15 Incredible Opportunities in Davening to Love the Jewish People

What is this?

 Can anyone explain what this means? 

Are the Iranian Muslims asking for peace? 

Is this for Trump?

what is this?

THANK YOU HASHEM: “Proud to be a Member of this Nation”

 

Father Of Shamed Bochur: “”I Thank Hashem I Belong To This Nation”

“What began as an ugly incident of a public shaming video posted on social media turned in less than 24 hours into an extraordinary display of achdus and chessed by Am Yisrael, with a fundraising campaign that covered the chasunah costs for two needy families.” https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2539417/father-of-shamed-bochur-i-thank-hashem-i-belong-to-this-nation.html

Treason…….

 Downfall begins within:

TREASON: Two Israeli Air Force Technicians Charged With Spying For Iran, Sharing Fighter Jet Details

https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/2539389/treason-two-israeli-air-force-technicians-charged-with-spying-for-iran-sharing-fighter-jet-details.html

Rabbi Weissman: Mocking God…….

 

"Mocking God": The Erev Rav State of Sodom

You cannot love Hashem and support those who wage war against Him. Period

This week’s Torah class contains a simple, but powerful prophetic message from Yirmiya Chapter 11: our covenant with Hashem is not voluntary. It doesn’t matter if we were not given a proper education. It doesn’t matter what other people around us are doing or not doing. Keeping our end of the covenant is optional — we have free choice to that extent — but the covenant itself it not voluntary. If we do whatever we feel like doing, individually or collectively, there will be heavy consequences.

There’s much more in the class, and it ties into everything that follows in this article. I strongly encourage you to listen to the class and share it. It is embedded above and on Rumble here.

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This notice was going around:

*Important information before going on any forest walks or hikes nearby:*

*Due to Risk of Missile Debris: Forests Near Beit Shemesh to Close on Yom HaAtzmaut*

Due to concerns over unexploded missile fragments and other hazards, KKL has decided to close several forests until safety inspections are completed.

Police are deployed in the area and are working with relevant authorities to prevent entry into dangerous zones, until the risk is removed and the sites can safely reopen to the public.

Forests to be closed in the Beit Shemesh area: Canada Park and Eshtaol Forest. 🌳

*

Their dedication to keeping us safe knows no bounds. They could have grounded the IDF on October 7 for even longer, but chose not to, because they care.

Once again, of course, they are cancelling Lag Ba’Omer at Meron:

Just cancel it permanently instead of doing it every year separately. It’s inevitable. We get it. Close the Kotel, Kever Rachel, and all the shuls and yeshivos. Wage war on us out in the open like real men, instead of wearing masks, deploying all manner of subterfuge, and pretending you’re just trying to protect us.

Meanwhile, the same “Jewish State” is proudly promoting this:

Of course we need more events like the Nova festival with a Buddhist statue on October 7, only bigger and even more provocative than ever. What could possibly go wrong? 

Hashem loves us, no matter what . . . right? 

Hashem is like Santa Clause, only He will protect us and give us all the presents even if we’re naughty, od yoter tov, v’od yoter tov . . . right?

Here is an uncomfortable truth:

Goyim are not obligated to condemn “antisemitism”. But Jews are obligated to condemn THIS.

Here’s a reaction from The Christian Post, the likes of which you won’t see from any “Orthodox” Jewish institutions or cheerleaders for Israel™ who pretend to be religious Jews:

“Why here? They are mocking God,” said Father Michael Lillie, a priest at Nativity of Christ Orthodox Church in Youngstown, Ohio.

Libertarian commentator Josie Glabach echoed Lillie, writing, “From the ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah, we’re reminded once again why Pride is a deadly sin. This is a mockery of God.”

“This is going on despite war restrictions?” asked conservative influencer Jack Posobiec, who is Roman Catholic.

“Can anyone very carefully explain to me why American Christians owe anything to this?” asked BlazeTV host Auron MacIntyre.

“We are living in the End Times,” said evangelist Sean Feucht, along with a sick emoji.

Everything the Erev Rav do is a chillul Hashem. This is by design. They spiritually degrade the Jewish people from within, making them physically vulnerable as well, all while deliberately fueling hatred against the Jewish people around the world, while pretending to fight it, and profiting every step of the way. 

You cannot love Hashem and support those who wage war against Him. Period.

Stop waving their pagan flag, stop dying for them, stop standing with these accursed monsters pretending to represent Judaism and the Jewish people.

As Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l, said so eloquently, if you love Hashem, you must be outraged and oppose them:

At some point a Jew has to decide whether he stands with this Amalekite entity pretending to be a Jewish state — unconditionally! — or whether he stands with Hashem and the Torah — unequivocally! It’s one or the other. You cannot have it both ways. And there are grave consequences for making the wrong choice.

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Then there’s the Prime Phony, desecrating tefillin AND soldiers turned Molech sacrifices for the sake of propaganda:

https://www.gov.il/en/pages/spoke-tefillin210426

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wearing the Tefillin of IDF Golani Brigade Fighter First Sgt. Sean Carmeli, who fell in Operation Protective Edge.

The perfect pose, no? Every time he does a “mitzvah” it’s performance art, with a camera crew and a production team.

If this doesn’t make your skin crawl, there is something deeply wrong with you as a Jew.

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Here’s a very important video. It’s worth listening to every word and internalizing the implications. There has never been accountability for these atrocities, and the mechanisms for continuing these atrocities remain in place, stronger than ever. Hence, any logical person must assume that these atrocities have continued unabated, while the perpetrators pretend to be sorry for what happened “a long time ago”.

It’s no wonder neither the United States nor the fake-Jewish state brought Mengele to justice, depsite knowing full well where he was for decades. 

Professional courtesy..

:

שקועים ממש: דברי קודשו של מנהיג הדור מרן רבי דוב לנדו שהרעישו את אשדוד וסחפו את עולם התורה!

 

במעמד הכביר של "ריתחא דאורייתא" בבית הכנסת "חניכי הישיבות" באשדוד, בראשות הגאון הגדול רבי ישראל בונים שרייבר שליט"א, נרשם רגע מרגש ומרומם במיוחד. הקהל הרב, הממלא את היכל התורה, צופה בדבקות במסר המיוחד ששיגר מנהיג הדור למעמד. בסרטון הדרמטי נשמע קולו של מרן שליט"א כשהוא מציב שאלה עמוקה, וחותם בדברי הדרכה וברכה חוצבי להבות: הוא קורא לכולנו להיות "שקועים בלימוד, שקועים ממש", ומבטיח כי כוחה של התורה ועמלה יביאו לביטול כל הגזירות הקשות כעפרא דארעא. זהו רגע של התעלות והתחזקות, המשלב את יגיעת התורה של התלמידים עם ברכתו של גדול הדור, בתפילה לגאולה שלמה במהרה בימינו. תמליל דברי רבינו: במרכז מעמד האדיר ריתחא דאורייתא שנערך בבית הכנסת חניכי הישיבות באשדוד שבראשות הגאון הגדול רבי ישראל בונים בן חיה רויזא שרייבר שליט"א, הוקרן דברים ששיגר מנהיג הדור רבינו מרן שליט"א למעמד. רבינו שיגר שאלה, וסיים בהדרכה וברכה: ה' יעזור ונזכה ללמוד תורה, ללמוד תורה כולנו, וכל הגזירות הרעות יתבטלו כעפרא דארעא וילמדו התלמידים אצל רבותיהם בעיון היטב, ויבינו מה שמסבירים להם והעיקר שיהיו שקועים בלימוד, שקועים ממש, מי ששקוע בלימוד ממילא כל המעלות של הלימוד אצלו גדולות. ה' יעזור לכולנו שנהיה כולנו שקועים בלימוד, וכל הגזירות הרעות יתבטלו במהרה ויהיה הכל ברווחה והצלחה, ונקווה במהרה לגאולת עולמים במהרה בימינו אמן

Kedoshim: 15 Incredible Opportunities in Davening to Love the Jewish People

 

💣חוזה המדינה שחבר לנצרות! רה"י הרב עמית חושף את הפרצוף האמיתי של המדינה והציונות, נמסר ה' אייר תשפ"ו The Torah World Must Pass Judgment on the Zionist National Entity

 

The Torah World Must Pass Judgment on the Zionist National Entity

זעקת האמת: חשיפת שורשי המדינה והציונות ברגע של גילוי סוער ומטלטל, מעמיד ראש הישיבה הגאון רבי יהודה עמית שליט"א מראה נוקבת אל מול פניה של המדינה. בנאום שנשא ביום ה' באייר תשפ"ו, הוא יוצא למסע בשבילי ההיסטוריה והמחשבה כדי לחשוף את "פרצוף האמיתי" של התנועה הציונית. עיקרי הדברים: בירור נוקב: בחינה מעמיקה של היסודות עליהם הוקמה המדינה אל מול ערכי הנצח של התורה. הסרת הלוט: ניתוח המניעים והשאיפות של מנהיגי התנועה לדורותיהם, והשפעתם על דמותו של העם היהודי בזמן הזה. הקול התורני הצרוף: הצגת העמדה הבלתי מתפשרת של עולם הישיבות והיהדות הנאמנה מול המציאות המשתנה. "אין לנו אלא דברי התורה הזאת, וכל ניסיון להמיר את זהותנו בזהות אחרת – נידון לכישלון רוחני." זהו אינו עוד שיעור, אלא קריאת התעוררות לכל מי שמבקש להבין את עומק הקונפליקט המלווה את חיינו בארץ הקודש, מפי אחד מגדולי התורה המנחילים את השקפת עולם התורה בבהירות ובאומץ. קרדיט תיעוד: ישיבת קרית מלאכי

🔥אל תאמר שאינך יכול, תגיד שאתה לא רוצה: המגיד הרב יוטקובסקי והגר"נ לנדמן נושאים דברים ב'בר בי רב'

 

מחזה מרהיב עין ומרטיט לבבות נגלה בבית הכנסת המרכזי בחולון, כאשר המונים מתושבי העיר, אברכים ובני תורה, נהרו בהתרגשות לערב "בר בי רב" שכולו התעלות ורוממות. האווירה בהיכל הייתה מחשמלת, כזו שניתן לחוש בה את הציפייה הטהורה לדבר השם ואת החיבור העז למסורת הדורות. מעמד של כבוד התורה שיאו של האירוע נרשם עם כניסתו של מרן פוסק הדור, הגאון רבי יצחק זילברשטיין שליט"א. רטט של קדושה עבר בקהל למראה זיו פניו של עמוד ההוראה, שהטריח את עצמו להגיע ולחזק את הקהילה בדרכו הייחודית והמופלאה. קול התורה וההנהגה לפני המעמד המרכזי של השו"ת המרתק, זכו הנוכחים לשמוע דברי התעוררות וחיזוק מפי גדולי התורה: הגאון רבי אליעזר יוטקובסקי שליט"א: יו"ר "אנחנו וצאצאינו", שהלהיב את הלבבות בחשיבות העברת לפיד התורה לדורות הבאים בשמחה ובחיוניות. המרא דאתרא, הגאון רבי נטע לנדמן שליט"א: רב בית הכנסת המרכזי, שקיבל את פני האורחים ואת הקהל הגדול במילים חמות, תוך דגש על עוצמתה של אחדות הקהילה סביב לומדי התורה. "אשרי עין ראתה כל אלה" – המעמד כולו היה מפגן של עוצמה רוחנית, המוכיח כי אש התורה יוקדת בלבבות ומאחדת את כל חלקי העם סביב חכמי המסורת וההלכה. קרדיט תיעוד: בקודש פנימה

Eliezer Meir Saidel: Tazria–Metzorah (JP)

Tazria-Metzorah

The world that we currently live in is becoming increasingly muddled, specifically the Western world. Concepts that have been the fabric of society for millennia have recently been tampered with and distorted beyond all recognition. One of these concepts is gender.

The beginning of our parsha details the halachot relating to a mother who gives birth to a male child or a female child. In this shiur we are going to attempt to restore some clarity to a subject that has been crystal clear to humanity since the dawn of time, until recent decades. We are going to discuss the Torah view on gender in the clearest possible way, without any ambiguity or apologetics, in an attempt to restore balance and sanity to an upside-down world.

HaKadosh Baruch Hu created a “bi-polar” world. I am of course not referring to the mental disorder that bears the same name, but rather to the fundamental foundation of Creation, that the world is built on the principle of opposing poles – male and female.

The English terms male/female do not sufficiently express the essence of these two poles. A more meaningful English expression of these poles is male/activity/provider vs. female/receiver/nurture. The “male” pole is typified by activity, the purpose of which is the creation of energy in order to provide. The “female” pole is typified by receiving this energy, nurturing it and exponentially upgrading it.

This is how our world began. On the first day of Creation created the first two poles, Heaven and Earth. The role of the Heaven/sky is energetic activity to form clouds and rain to provide to the earth. The earth receives the rain, nurtures it and uses it as a catalyst to produce something exponentially more valuable than water itself.

Also on the first day, HaKadosh Baruch Hu created another two opposite poles – light and dark. Light is energy and activity (waves/particles). Darkness receives light, nurtures it and then itself becomes illuminated.

On the second day HaKadosh Baruch Hu separated the waters into two opposing poles, the upper waters and the lower waters. The upper waters contain the spiritual energy to provide to the lower waters, which receive and nurture them to produce something exponentially more valuable than the lower waters themselves, salt used with Korbanot and the water libation on Sukkot in the Beit HaMikdash.

On the third day HaKadosh Baruch Hu separated our planet into two opposing “poles”, water and land. The water provides the energy to the land which receives it (via irrigation/rain), nurtures it and gives rise to something exponentially more valuable – plants.

On the fourth day HaKadosh Baruch Hu created two luminaries in the Heavens, two opposing poles – the sun and the moon. The sun is the energy/activity that provides light. The moon is the receiver of that light, it nurtures and reflects that light to provide something exponentially more valuable, the lunar cycle upon which life is based.

On the fifth day HaKadosh Baruch Hu created the fish and birds, each with their opposing poles – male and female. It does not state it specifically here in the first chapter of Breishit, but later when Noach gathered the creatures to the ark it does (Breishit 5:19).

On the sixth day HaKadosh Baruch Hu created all remaining creatures aside from fish and birds – crawling/flying creatures (insects, arachnids, reptiles, etc.), mammals, and humans, all of which are divided into male and female poles. It is a scientific fact that there are no known hermaphroditic species among mammals, birds, insects, arachnids and reptiles.

When HaKadosh Baruch Hu created humans the pasuk says that HaKadosh Baruch Hu created humans in His image, male and female (Breishit 1:27). What does this mean? 

The image of G-d encompasses two opposing poles – male and female. What the “image of G-d – male and female” is referring to is the aspect of G-d that reflects these two opposing poles. HaKadosh Baruch Hu is “All,” “Everything.” He is both the Creator (male) and Creation (female). 

HaKadosh Baruch Hu reflects the pole of Creator – activity/energy in originally creating the world – in the six days of Breishit and also the continual renewal of creating the world – every millisecond of every day. HaKadosh Baruch Hu also reflects the pole of Creation – presence/being. 

HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s Presence, resides in His Creation, is present in Creation, in every component of Creation, every molecule and atom. Being present is not an activity/energy, it is a passive sense of simply “being.”

HaKadosh Baruch Hu therefore encompasses both poles (amongst His infinite other attributes) – Activity/Provider (of everything) and also Presence/Nurture/Receiver (He receives our prayers). Obviously HaKadosh Baruch Hu is neither male nor female, nor does the fact that we refer to G-d in the masculine (He, His, etc.) indicate that G-d has gender chas vechalila. 

G-d has no physical form and is infinite. The reason that we refer to HaKadosh Baruch Hu in the masculine is simply indicative of the way we view our relationship with Him. In the context of our relationship with HaKadosh Baruch Hu – He is the Provider and we are the receiver.

Why have two opposing poles? Why is the Creation based on this fundamental property? The reason is because without them there is no growth, only stagnation. The tension between the two opposing poles creates movement and growth/life.

The Torah and Creation are based on this principle – hypothesis, antithesis, symbiosis and finally – synthesis. The tension between the two poles (hypothesis/antithesis) creates interaction between them, an intermingling of the poles (symbiosis), resulting in the creation of something new (synthesis).

This is the structure of the Mishna/Gemara. Someone proposes a hypothesis, another/others provide a counter antithesis. This creates interaction (symbiosis) between them (each arguing and bringing proofs for their “pole”) and the result is something new – a halachic ruling (synthesis).

This is the way procreation works. Sexual tension between the male and female gives rise to interaction between the two, resulting in new life.

HaKadosh Baruch Hu created Creation so that there should be growth, new life. Clear delineation between gender is essential for this purpose and any attempt to blur the boundaries between them, will ultimately lead to stagnation and extinction.

Parshat HaShavua Trivia Question: What is the shortest chapter in the Torah?Answer to Last Shiur’s Trivia Question: What were the names of the two cousins who helped drag Nadav and Avihu’s bodies out of the Mishkan? Mishael and Eltzafan (Vayikra 10:4).

🔥🔥🔥סערת התורה בשיאה: המנהיג מרן רבי דב לנדו בלהט התורה עם גדולי התורה וקהל האלפים ברמת שלמה

 

 

 מעמד אדיר של כבודה של תורה: הלהט, הדמעות והנחמה האוויר בשכונת רמת שלמה עמד מלכת, טעון בחשמל של קדושה וציפייה. אלפי עמלי תורה, פניהם יוקדות באש של "ריתחא דאורייתא", גדשו כל סנטימטר פנוי בבית הכנסת המרכזי. המבואות היו עמוסים לעייפה, אך שקט מופתי השתרר ברגע שבו הופיע מנהיג הדור, מרן ראש הישיבה הגאון רבי דב לנדו שליט"א.

 סערת התורה בשיאה המחזה היה בלתי נשכח: על הבמה המרכזית, מוקף בגדולי התורה ורבני השכונה, ישב מרן שליט"א ושקע עמוק ב"עומקא דשמעתתא". הדיון לא היה רק שיח למדני, אלא התפרצות של אהבת תורה. קולותיהם של הלומדים התערבבו אלו באלו, פלפול ועוד פלפול, קושיות ותירוצים שהרעידו את כתלי בית המדרש. היה זה רגע שבו השכינה שרתה על הקהל, וכל העם ראו בחוש את ה"קולות" – קול התורה המנצח הכל.

 דברי הכוונה מלב אוהב לאחר ששככה סערת הדיון התורני, השתרר דומם דק. מנהיג הדור נשא את משאו העניק הדרכה והכוונה לקהל האלפים, תוך שהוא נוסך בהם כוחות של התעלות ודבקות במטרה. רגע של התייחדות עם הכאב אז, בשיאו של המעמד, השתנתה האווירה. מרן שליט"א התייחס בלב שבור ובדברים היוצאים מן הלב לאסון הנורא שהכה בקהילה ובכל בית ישראל – פטירתם הטראגית של האחים לבית משפחת שפיגל ז"ל.

 ישכר דב ז"ל ואברהם ישעיהו ז"ל: שני בני עלייה שנקטפו בדמי ימיהם. הזעקה: קולו של המנהיג ביטא את תחושת היתמות והכאב של הקהילה כולה. הנחמה: בדבריו חיזק את המשפחה ואת המתפללים.

Reb Sones on Profound Betrayal of Torah Values

 An Apology to Noachides Worldwide: The Official Israeli Response to the IDF Soldier in Lebanon Was a Profound Betrayal of Torah Values

'Saddened and shocked': Israel’s groveling apology to Christian idolatry betrayed Noachides, Torah values — and Jewish Sovereignty — on the eve of Yom Hazikaron

“Saddened and Shocked” — Israel’s groveling apology for an IDF soldier who destroyed a Jesus idol in Lebanon represents a profound betrayal of Torah values and Jewish sovereignty.

On the eve of Yom Hazikaron, a soldier acted in the spirit of Abraham our forefather — yet the State chose to replace the statue.

To Noachides worldwide who have sacrificed so much to reject idolatry: We apologize. That’s not what we’re about.

Torah, Rambam, and Rabbi Tovia Singer are clear: this is avodah zarah.

Reward the soldier and elevate him within the IDF Rabbinate.

Full op-ed here 👇

https://jewishhome.news/an-apology-to-noachides-worldwide-the-official-israeli-response-to-the-idf-soldier-in-lebanon-was-a-profound-betrayal-of-torah-values/

#TorahTruth #Noachide #AmYisraelChai

Why IRAN Won’t Back Down Right Now

 

 

 Tensions are rising fast between Iran and the West - here’s what’s really happening right now. 

 Check Out This Awesome Channel As Well ‪@IsraelMyChannel‬

Rabbi Winston: Acharei – Kedoshim

 NO ONE OTHER than the Ramban seems to have the question, which is, why command the Jewish People to be holy in the middle of Sefer Vayikra when it should have been the introduction to the sefer itself? The entire book is about being holy, so the mitzvah should have either introduced the sefer or concluded it. Putting it in the middle of the sefer seems “nisht ahin nisht aher” (neither here nor there).

The Ramban famously answers that the mitzvah is where it is to head off a mistaken assumption that a Jew only has to avoid that which is forbidden, as per the previous parshios. But as long as the food or act is not forbidden by the Torah, you can do whatever you want, what the Ramban calls being a “menuval b’reshus HaTorah,” disgusting with the permission of the Torah. “Be holy” says what came before was to make you “kosher.” What follows now is to make you holy.

Really? A person would actually think like that after scrupulously fulfilling all the laws of kashrus and impurity? Not usually, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen unconsciously, as the following story shows:

Rebi Elazar bar Rebi Shimon came from Migdal Gedor and his teacher’s house and was riding on a donkey along the riverbank. He was very happy, and his head was swollen with pride because he had studied much Torah. He came across a very ugly person who said: “Greetings to you, my rebi.” 

Rebi Elazar did not return his greeting. Instead, Rebi Elazar said to him: “Worthless person, how ugly is that man. Are all the people of your city as ugly as you?” 

The man said to him: “I do not know, but you should go and tell the Craftsman who made me how ugly the vessel is You made!”

When Rebi Elazar realized that he had sinned, he got off his donkey and prostrated himself before him and said to the man: “I have sinned against you…forgive me.” (Ta’anis 20a)

Among the things we learn from this story, one of them is how crafty the yetzer hara can be. It doesn’t just kick a person when they’re down. It can also trip them when they’re up. The yetzer hara is not particular about how it fools a person, just as long as the method works. 

This is why G–D was compelled to warn the Jewish People entering Eretz Yisroel for the first time about becoming overconfident from their success on the land. He wasn’t talking about Jews abandoning Torah and mitzvos because of their success, though that would eventually happen. He was talking about Jews who kept Torah and still found a way to become desensitized to the ultimate goals of Torah…because of their success.

Because the word “b’reshus” can also mean “jurisdiction” of something, Rebi Elazar bar Rebi Shimon had been completely absorbed in the world of Torah at the time he erred and, in a sense, sinned right under its nose, so-to-speak. Rebi Akiva’s students whom we mourn during this part of the sefirah died because of the lack of respect they showed one another while learning. Countless times I have seen drivers commit offenses against others while rushing to do a mitzvah, like making dovening on time. The examples of the same thing are plenty. 

That’s why we learn Pirkei Avos specifically between Pesach and Shavuos on our way to Kabbalas HaTorah. The contents are the soul of the matter, but the vessel that contains them is hugely important because it can spoil the contents, as Rebi Yehoshua ben Chananyah told the daughter of the caesar. A gold container is more beautiful than a ceramic one, but it will ruin the wine inside of it whereas the ceramic container will preserve it. 

Pirkei Avos doesn’t work on the “wine” instead. The counting of the omer does that. It works on the keli, the “vessel” for the soul by emphasizing the need for middos refinement, enhancement of our character traits. That is what the Ramban is telling us…that we can’t assume that we’re all rectified because we obey what we can and can’t do. We have to go a big step beyond so that we won’t make the mistake that so many have made throughout history, becoming a menuval b’reshus HaTorah without even knowing it. 

 *   *   *

Speaking of personal rectification, I will be teaching SHA’AR HAGILGULIM b”H over six weeks starting on April 27. To register, go to: https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/NYK2EB26DQ9XG. More information: https://www.shaarnunproductions.org/Sha-ar-HaGilgulim-Course.html.

Have a great Shabbos,

Pinchas Winston

Rabbi Wein: Achrei Mot - Kedoshim 5778/2018

 WEEKLY PARSHA FROM THE DESTINY ARCHIVES
Achrei Mot - Kedoshim 5778/2018

The book of Vayikra contains most of the mitzvoth/commandments that appear in the Torah itself. Because of this, it contains relatively little narrative. Nevertheless, the number and quality of the commandments themselves demand our study and appreciation. The Torah apparently could have sufficed by itself by just saying “be a good person.” In fact, this was the slogan of many Jews and even of Jewish institutions and organizations in the past who claimed that none of the ritual commandments were necessary if one just remained “a good person.”  

Of course, there was no unanimous opinion as to how to define who was a good person. The definitions varied from generation to generation and culture to culture. The henchmen of Joseph Stalin and perhaps even those of Adolf Hitler somehow justified every evil behavior in the belief that they were accomplishing some ultimate good that transcended the bothersome details of murder and genocide. The capacity of human beings to continually redefine good to fit any political agenda or current fad is truly limitless. So, if it were not for the specific commandments of the Torah that have a defined, ultimate good for the Jewish people and for civilization generally over millennia, we would be at a loss to find any moral footing for our lives and behavior.

 

The Torah has always been the trees and the forest at one and the same time. It is the minute detail and a general pattern of behavior that represents the traditional view as to what makes up a good person.  As is often the case, many humans double down on the details and minutia of rules to the exclusion of seeing the general pattern of behavior into which they must fit. And, on the other hand, we find those that only see the general moral pattern and ignore the detailed instructions that give meaning and substance in daily life to this general moral pattern.

 

When we purchase a sophisticated piece of machinery we find that it always comes with detailed and sometimes very complicated instructions as to how this device is to be assembled, connected and installed. One may completely understand how the device works and what its ultimate benefit will be, but if one does not follow the instructions for installation, even as to its smallest detail, this device cannot be installed and will not work.

 

Without the detailed commandments, the general pattern of morality outlined in the Torah simply would never come into being. Jewish history attests to this.  It would be unthinkable that the Torah would command us to be a Holy nation dedicated to the service of God and human beings without telling us how this was to be achieved. It would not have shipped that necessary device to us without including instructions for its use in our everyday lives. This I believe this is the primary message of the Torah reading of this week.

 

Shabbat shalom

Rabbi Berel Wein

Reb Neuberger: Acharei - Kedoshim

 IS IT REAL?

 

 

A few weeks ago I discussed the Ships of Kittim. The question concerned whether the current world military and political situation is in accord with navua and the words of Chazal.

 

And then, during Yom Tov, one of our granddaughters said something so brilliant that it practically knocked me off my seat. What did she say?

 

“Maybe President Trump is ‘Magog.’”

 

Why? I asked.

 

“His motto is ‘Magog’ … Make America Great Again!”

 

My friends, this is not silly; this is serious; it has the ring of truth to my ears because, in today’s world, we are seeing navua unfold before our eyes.

 

There are many words in the World of Torah with double meanings which reflect the truth of contemporary events. Here are some examples: the word “rasha;” the word “chamas;” the word “aza” (which describes the process by which the “tziporen” ingredient of the ketores is refined). There is a certain  possuk  in  Tehillim which has a double-meaning-word which is so powerful that I cannot mention it publicly. (If you meet me, I will tell you privately.)

 

During the Yomim Tovim, I was privileged to hear divrai Torah from the charismatic Rabbi Fully Eisenberger, the kiruv genius who presides over the Jewish Resources Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Rabbi Fully was speaking about the reality of the events which the Torah discusses. For example, he is frequently asked: “Rabbi, do you really believe that the sea split? …. Do you really believe that events described in the Torah really happened? … Do you really believe that events predicted for the future will really happen?”

 

Rabbi Fully gave a beautiful moshul: imagine we are having a conversation one hundred and fifty years ago and I tell you that one day your children’s children will be able to fly to Eretz Yisroel. They will enter a metal tube with wings. It will fly 40,000 feet above sea level and you will land ten hours later in the Holy Land.

 

“What! Are you crazy?”

 

Speaking of airliners, Rabbi Fully gave another moshul. We are on a plane above the Atlantic Ocean. Suddenly, there is terrible turbulence. Those who are placidly sipping their cool drinks suddenly fear for their lives. “Help! Are they sure that all the screws holding the wings on the plane were screwed on tight?” Then they grab their Tehillim and vow to quadruple their contribution to Rabbi Meir Baal ha Nes! Meanwhile, in the seat behind them, a man with a long beard is calmly saying Tehillim as he has been for hours with not a trace of panic.

 

Which one are we? Are we the scaredy-cat or the baal emunah? Do we really believe that we are in Hashem’s hands? That is the question as the world trembles and quakes around us. “They do not know nor do they understand. They walk in darkness. All foundations of the earth collapse.” (Tehillim 82)

 

Recently, in Manhattan, my wife and I found ourselves in the midst of a raucous demonstration with crowds of threatening people around us. If the police had not been prepared and had not blocked off cross streets, things could have gone way out of control. Wherever one turns, the world seems on the brink of chaos.

 

My friends, if any of us looks back over his life, one can see the Hand of Hashem in every event. You know my story. I grew up in a world of assimilated Jews who loudly proclaimed their “emancipation” from the derech of their grandparents. How my wife and I escaped from this torture chamber is a story of one miracle after another. I am sorry to say that my childhood friends have mostly led ruined and bitter lives.

 

Today we stand in the middle of Sefiras Ha Omer, midway between the depth of Mitzraim and the celestial height of Har Sinai. If we contemplate where we once stood, then we can believe that Hashem makes miracles for us every moment.

 

In my book, From Central Park to Sinai, I speak about how I used to climb high mountains in Wyoming. I would constantly be amazed how, after only a few minutes of climbing, the world below me would suddenly seem so far away. Hashem can elevate us in one second to dizzying heights!

 

We are all on that shaky airplane. Our hearts are pounding as we grab for the Sefer Tehillim. “Ana Hashem Hoshiah na … Hashem please save us now!”

 

My friends, we do not have to fear! Everything which our neviim and Chazal predicted is coming to pass. We can believe that “ata vachartanu … Hashem chose us from among all the nations.” They hate us because they know we are holy. All we need do is dive into the sea of Torah like Nachshon Ben Aminadav.

 

Yes! We will see Moshiach!

 

Yes! We will see the Bais Hamikdosh!

 

Yes! We will see a world of peace and justice!

 

Yes! We will sit “each man under his vine and fig tree and none will make [us] afraid.” (Micah 4:4) May we see it soon in our days!

 

Street Demonstration

GLOSSARY

Baal emunah: someone who has confidence in G-d

Bais Hamikdosh: Holy Temple

Chazal: rabbis of the Mishna and Gemara

Divrai Torah: words of Torah

Kiruv: return to the Torah

Magog: one of the participants in the Final War of History

Moshul: parable

Navua: prophesy

Tehillim: Psalms

Yomim Tovim: Jewish holidays (specifically referring here to Passover)