Friday, December 7, 2012

DEVELOPING EMPATHY


Parshas Vayaishev

This week’s parsha, Vayaishev, begins discussing the brother’s hatred toward Yoseph. Yoseph’s brothers thought that he was attempting to be Yaakov’s only succeeding son, as Yitzkak succeeded Yishmael and as Yaakov succeeded Aisev (because Yoseph would tell Yaakov when his brother’s transgressed the Torah, making them deserving of capital punishment—their transgressions are arguable however, seeing that the Torah was not yet officially given).

Now, Yaakov’s son’s thought that Yoseph was a pretender to the throne. They thought he spoke lashon hara and needed to be put to death. We have to remember, these men were tzaddkim- righteous men- and they thought they were doing a mitzvah by plotting against Yoseph. Their intentions were leshaim shemayim- for the name of Hashem. However, they were extremely quick to judge the legitimacy of Yoseph’s behavior. Rather, than judging him favorable, they made the worst possible judgment about him, a judgment that caused the brothers to sell him to the Egyptians!

This should shed some light onto all of us. In life, we tend to make quick judgments about people, whether they are righteous or not. We may hear lashon hara- gossip- spoken about other people, and be too quick to assume the worst. Moreover, our evil inclination is so excited to hear something negative about someone, reaffirming that we are better. Even if the rumors are true, that never gives us the right to judge.

No matter where we stand religiously, we must all take a stand to correct our behavior and not let the truth be distorted by our envious evil inclination.

What is the truth you may ask? The truth is that we are all created in the image of G-d. We all have a G-dly soul that desires to be good and do good. We must always take into consideration that a person behaves the way he does for a reason—he is a product of his environment and he is letting that be a determining factor of his behavior.

Next time, before you are quick to judge someone’s inappropriate behavior, etc., keep in mind that his G-dly soul wants better, he just has not developed that part of himself; however, he does in fact have a G-dly light that shines within him, he just needs the light to be turned on.

How can this light be turned on you ask? Be the one to ignite the spark! Instead of assuming the worst, try to be more empathetic  For example, it’s early and you have not had your coffee yet, and the barista at the coffee shop is being rude to you, in your tired irritable mood, you immediately make a judgment about the him being a terrible person. Rather than assuming the worst, try to put yourself in that person’s shoes (as much as you possibly can) and realize, hey, it’s early and he is probably tired and irritable too.

You can also take a moment and think rationally before you let your evil inclination make irrational conclusions, ‘I have had a bad day before and acted even crazier, and I am not a terrible person (I hope you all hold yourselves in high esteem).’ Rather, you can ask the barista how he is doing (you will be surprised by how effective a small gesture of kindness will go). Yes, I know, this is a basic example, but once you adopt this mentality in as many situations as possible, your outlook on life will change, and you will be a spark that kindles souls. Your developed empathy will protrude onto others and you will truly make a difference in the lives of others, but most importantly in yourself. Developing your empathy is key for seeing a G-dly soul in all people.



Bitachon is the Best way to go



The parsha continues discussing the selling of Yoseph as a slave in Egypt. Yoseph ends up working for the Pharaoh, Potifar. While he was enslaved to him, Potifar’s wife, Zulaicha, was advised by an astrologer that her descendents would come from Yoseph’s lineage. Thinking that she was the person to create this lineage, she started to seduce Yoseph (the astrology was correct; however, it was her daughter that was meant to marry Yoseph, not her).

When Yoseph refused her, seeing that it would be an adulterous act, Zulaicha told her husband that Yoseph had in fact been the instigator. Of course, the issue was settled and Potifar eventually found out the truth about Yoseph’s innocence; nonetheless, he needed to spare him and his wife the embarrassment.

While serving his ten year sentence in jail, Yoseph met Potifar’s butler and baker, who were jailed because Potifar found a pebble in his bread and a fly in his wine.

One morning, the butler and baker awoke and desperately needed their dreams  interpreted. After listening to their dreams, Yoseph predicted that the butler would be saved, and the baker would be killed. When Yoseph’s predictions came true (Hashem always makes the pronouncements of a tzaddick come true) Yoseph told the butler to tell the Pharoah that he was innocent and to release him from the dungeon.

The butler was dedicated to fulfill Yoseph’s word; however, everyday, the butler would somehow forget. In actuality, Hashem had sent an angel to prevent that from happening. Hashem was upset that Yoseph put his trust in the butler to save him and not in Hashem to save.  Hashem was trying to make a point to Yoseph that government officials are forgetful and disinterested in helping you, but it is Hashem who will save you.

In life, we too forget to look to Hashem to be saved. We lose sight of Hashem being the ruler of the world. We let the craziness of our lives get the best of us and forget that everything that happens has been destined by Him for us. Any harm, any luck any happiness, any sadness that befalls us is all from Hashem. People who have wronged us, who have brought us joy, etc., are all merrily agents sent to us by Him to fulfill His Divine will. We need to develop our bitachon-trust in Hashem- and realize that we do not have control of what happens to us. Rather, we must know that Hashem is in control of all that happens to us. He is the only one who can redeem us from any misfortune we endure. Similarly, He is the only one who has bestowed His kindness upon us and given us all the amazing lives we live. We must develop our bitachon and realize that all the affairs of the world are manipulated by Hashem alone, and He is the only one who can alter our fate.

Developing your bitachon exercises:
1.      Internalize this: We have been sent on a journey and the only thing we can control is our thoughts, actions, and speech.
2.       We do not have control over how other people treat us, but we do have control over how we treat them.
3.       We don’t have control over what other people say to us, but we have control over how we react.                                                                                       Hashem sends us all these tests to develop our character traits—next time someone says or does something mean/disrespectful, rather than fighting evil with evil, fight it with kindness!

Friday, November 23, 2012

ISRAELI DILEMMA-- or our personal dilemma?


Could it be that the pain and suffering that the Jews in Israel are facing are because of our sins?
Could it be that each time we curse, fight, speak negatively about one another give Hamas the power to launch another rocket? Each curse adds on another rocket.
 Can we stop this catastrophe?
Yes we can! 
 How?
By changing ourselves!
 How can I change myself? I feel perfectly fine!
Take a mitzvah upon yourselves and be obsessed with and do not let anything stand in your way to do this special mitzvah.
Please take a moment to realize where our brothers and sisters are heading into.
We as the Jewish nation have the capability to change a decree! We have the power to create positive change! Tweeking ourselves even moderately are the first steps to create lasting change!
As Chanukah approaches, we need to ask ourselves, are we going to stand for our nation, or are we going to stand for laziness and just live our lives like we don’t care? 
Like Mattiyahu said, “Mi LaHashem Elay,” “Whoever is for Hashem come join me!”
If we are for Hashem we need to do whatever it takes to save the Jewish nation!

Shabbot Shalom--Esther Shameyev

Parshat Vayaitzay -- pushing ourselves up the ladder

 
This week’s parsha, Vayaitzay, discusses the famous dream prophetic dream Yaakov had of the ladder.

On Yaakov’s journey, fleeing from Aisev, then studying in a yeshiva for fourteen years, Yaakov was now on his way to find a wife. His journey continued to Charan. When he arrived to Charan, he realized that he had passed Mount Moriah, the place his father and grandfather had stopped to pray to Hashem. Distressed that he did not stop and pray, he decided to go all the way back to pray! What dedication!

This was of course Hashem’s plan in the works, He wanted Yaakov to go back to Mount Moriah, because of the kedusha-holiness-at Mount Moriah, Yaakov was able to have intense prophecy.

When Yaakov went to sleep, Hashem revealed Himself to him in a dream. The purpose of the dream was to strengthen Yaakov, he was being chased by Aisev (because Yaakov had stolen Aisev’s birthright blessing) and was robbed by his nephew, I imagine his morale was lower than usual. The dream was meant to show Yaakov that despite the hardships he was currently facing, Hashem was there to guide him now and in the future.

Details of the dream:

A ladder extended from the earth to the Heavens, and an angel was climbing up and down it. The angel climbed seventy rungs and then fell (foreshadowing the seventy years the Jews would be exiled in Babylonia). Yaakov knew that after seventy years of exile, the Jewish people would be liberated by Hashem.

The next angel climbed fifty-two rungs, the fell, foreshadowing the Median exile of fifty-two years.

The third angel climbed up a hundred and twenty steps and fell, foreshadowing the length of the Greek exile.

Finally, the last angel, of Edom, our current exile, the angel continued higher and higher up the ladder, appearing to ascent even into the Heavens! Yaakov thought this last exile would persist forever; however, Hashem assured him that it WOULD in fact end.

In life, we too are climbing up an endless ladder, trying to make it to the top. At times we may feel that we will never get there, but rather we will crumble to the bottom. As we persevere to the top, facing much strife, wanting to give up many times, we must always continue to find Hashem’s guiding voice in the back of our heads, telling us, we WILL in fact make it to the top! The effort must be continuous, despite the many setbacks we may face. When the day finally comes, when we taste the glory awaiting us at the top of the ladder, we will know with certainty that all the fighting and struggling served its rightful purpose and we became better people and better Jews because of it.

Shabbot Shalom! May Hashem bless us all with the courage and grace to keep persevering to the top, where we can actualize our fullest potential in this world!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Parshat Toldot-- --FINDING THE PERFECT BALANCE

            
 In this weeks parsha it speaks about how Rivka was pregnant with twins; when she passed the yeshiva of Shem ve’ever one child would kick, desiring to come out. When she would pass a place of idol worshipping her other child would kick so hard to come out. She then went to a prophet and he said that she will have two nations. They both will go in their own separate ways. 
            Rivka gave birth first to Eisav and then Yaakov. Eisav was into physicality, hunting, killing, and acting immorally; while Yaakov was full of spirituality and learning Torah. We learn that Yitzchak favored Eisav more when Rivka favored Yaakov more. How can it be that Yitzchak would love a Rasha like Eisav? Yitzchak knew he wasn’t a Tzaddik but he knew that Eisav had the potential to be great through by channeling his physicality.
            We learn a very important lesson from this parsha. Hashem put us in a world of physicality, which He wants us to enjoy. However, we have to find a compromise between these two worlds-- the physical and spiritual worlds. We don’t want to over indulge in the physical like Eisav and not end up reaching our spiritual potential. We need to incorporate the spirituality Yaakov had. 
We need to have that right balance, especially in the world today.  Ways to integrate our physical world to a spiritual plain-- balancing the physicality with spirituality:
1.     If you have an iPod, iPhone or iPad download an app that can bring you closer to Hashem and Judaism. Search for Torah and look what will come up.
2.     If you are addicted in watching television, minimize your time you spend watching it. If you watch television for 5 hours a day (I really hope you don't!) cut it down to 2 ½ hours.
3.     If you are afraid to tap into your spiritual side. Don’t be. All you need to do is talk to your Creator, your G-d, your King and most of all, your Father.
*There are many other ways to balance but these are the few I hope can help you become more in tuned to Spirituality.
SHABBBOT SHALOM!!
Esther Shamayev

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Accepting the good with the bad

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Parshas Chayai Sarah

This week’s parsha, Chayai Sara, begins with Sara’s death. After Avraham returned from Mount Moriah, excited to tell Sara the amazing news, that Yitzkak was not sacrificed and he was saved by Hashem, Avraham instead found out that Sara had died.

Depsite Avraham’s loss, he did not complain to Hashem once! Rather, he went out to buy a plot for Sara.

To me, this is the most remarkable character trait seen in Avraham! Despite the fact that he almost lost his son, now, he actually lost his wife, still, he did not complain! His bitachon- truth in Hashem- was so strong! Avraham was able to see that everything that happens in life is G-d’s will.

Moreover, what happened to Sara in Avraham’s absence?

When the Satan failed to achieve victory over Avraham and Yitzkak during their journey to Mount Moriah (the Satan was attempting to get them to rebel against Hashem), the Satan decided to trick Sara.

He asked her, “Where is Yitzkak?”

Sara responded, “He went with his father to learn the laws of sacrifices.”

The Satan responded, “That is not true! Yitzkak is the sacrifice!”

When Sara heard this, she went to the three giants who lived at that time and requested that they look into the distance as far as they could to see if what the Satan said was true. Low and behold, the giants said they saw Avraham on Mount Moriah holding a knife over Yitzkak. When Sara heard this, she screamed six times and her soul left her body (now, on Rosh Hashanah we blow the shofar six times—the six uninterrupted tekiyos) .

How could is be that Sara and Avraham, who dedicated their lives to Hashem befall such tragic events? Their sole purpose of their lives was serving Hashem, so how could this happen to them? Unfortunately, we cannot understand how Hashem thinks and why He does what He does, in His infinite wisdom.

 However, the Midrash teaches us that when the Angel of Death came to take Sara, he could not take her, because her mind was constantly dwelling on the shechina—Hashem’s divine presence. Her entire life was about being conscious of Hashem’s existence. For the one moment that she diverted her thoughts, when she though Yitzkak was being sacrificed, the Angel of Death took her soul.

Of course Sara Emanu was on a higher spiritual plain than we can understand, she was a prophetess and spoke directly to Hashem. Nonetheless, we should look at her as an example and strive to emulate her.  All the 127 years she lived were righteous. Everything Hashem had bestowed upon her, good or bad, she accepted with happiness. Her entire being was in the service of Hashem! This should shed light onto us, just as Sara Emanu always meditated on G-d’s glory, how much more should we! For a split moment that Sara was distracted, her life was taken! How many times a day do we forget Hashem?! How many times a day do we stray from following Hashem’s ways because we get lazy or feel uninspired?
           
Our relationship to Hashem should be eternal, just as He is. We should not only praise Hashem for the goodness He bestows upon us, but rather, everything He does is for the ultimate good! We must strive to accept the good with the bad, because it is all from Hashem. Once we develop constant G-d consciousness, we will be able to see Hashem’s hand in our lives everyday, whether goodness prevails or tragedy strikes.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Parshat Lech Lecha

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In this week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, Avraham is commanded to leave his home and travel to an unknown destination. Hashem said, ‘Lech lecha- Go to yourself.” Hashem is telling Avraham to leave all that he knows behind and enter the unknown. He is testing Avraham yet again (this is Avraham’s third of ten tests). In actuality, what Hashem is telling Avraham when He says, ‘lech lecha- go to yourself’- Hashem is telling Avraham to find himself. Hashem wanted Avraham to leave everything he had known and reestablish himself in the world. Because he had developed and reached such a high level it was time for him embark upon a new journey and implement all that he has learned.

Similarly, in our own lives, Hashem too tells us, ‘lech lecha,’ explore yourself and take leaps towards new discovery. Throughout our lives, as we develop more spiritually and religiously, our growth tends to get impeded upon our inability to take that ‘leap of faith.’ Rather than implementing a life more connected to Hashem, we get scared and sometimes let that fright take us in the opposite direction! What we can learn from Avraham is to have the utmost trust- bitachon- in Hashem, and know that these struggles are tests from Hashem. Hashem wants to see how far we are willing to go for Him, and how far we are willing to go for ourselves

Moreover, this should push in the direction of self discovery. This parsha should push us to contemplate who we are. What is our potential is this world? What steps can we take towards developing that potential? These were all questions Avraham undoubtedly asked himself and these too are questions we should constantly be asking ourselves! May Hashem give us all the clarity to uncover our inner most essence and what our potential in this world is!

Don't let embarssment get the best of you!

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This week’s parsha is Parshat Lech Lecha. We know that Sarah Emeynu wasn’t able to conceive children. Sarah wanted to make her husband, Avraham happy by giving him the most incredible gift on earth, a child. So, she decided that she would give her Egyptian maidservant, Hagar, to marry her husband, so that way he could have a child with her. Rashi says, Sarah made that choice so that she could benefit from Hagar by raising the child in the way of Hashem. She then told Avraham and he listened to Sarah and he married Hagar.
Hagar immediately got pregnant and started to look at Sarah in a less respectful way. Hagar felt that Sarah was superficial and just looked spiritual on the outside, since she couldn’t get pregnant right away like Hagar. Everyday Hagar would humiliate Sarah. However, Sarah Emeynu didn’t respond back to her, she kept silent. After a while, she decided to get rid of Hagar and remarry Avraham.
The Targum Yonatan says, that Sarah Emeynu came to Avraham Avinu and said; ‘look how much I sacrificed for you. Hashem said Lech Lecha; you should leave not me. I gave my maidservant Hagar to you and now she is embarrassing me to no end. I was violated twice, by AviMelech and the Plishtim.’ She continued, ‘with all the pain and suffering that I have undergone, I am certain that Hashem broke the judgment against me of not having children.’ Avraham agreed and remarried Sarah.
We learn an incredible lesson from Sarah Emeynu. She knew that she had a bad decree set for her; however, she knew how to change the bad decree. The tool to change your fate is to accept all the embarrassment and suffering people bring upon and not respond back, but rather to swallow your words. Let the embarrassment be an atonement for your sins.
The Gemara compares those who accept the embarrassment, to the light of the stars that shine forever. “The embarrassment of sin atones for sin.” - Rabbi Eli Mansour
Next time someone embarrasses you, don’t say anything back because it’s your lucky day, your bad decree will be erased! That’s exactly what happened with our mother Sarah. She knew she had to go through atonement in order to erase the decree. There after, she was pregnant!
Shabbat Shalom!
By: Esther Shamayev

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Parshas Noach - POISONOUS INDEPENDENCE


This week’s parsha, Noach, begins discussing the crimes of the generation before the flood. Although mankind no longer lived in Gan Eden, their lifestyle was extremely comfortable. The people lived enjoyable lives, with uninterrupted serenity. Children were born on the same day they were conceived. A newborn even had the ability to walk and speak immediately. The people lived extremely long lives; only after they sinned did Hashem shorten life to one hundred and twenty years. People from the generation before the flood had enormous physical strength, they were able to uproot trees and lions and panthers were harmless to them. This generation did not know what suffering was! Because the seasons never changed and the weather was always enjoyable, the perople only needed to sow the land every forty years.

The generation before the flood was living the dream! They had everything they needed and didn’t think they needed to follow G-d’s authority. They were knowingly guilty of idol worship, bloodshed, and immorality (three of the six commandments Hashem gave over to Adam). They said,
           
            “For what purpose do we need still need Him? We do not even require His help to obtain water, since we need no rain. We get abundant supply of water from different sources; we have the streams and wells of the earth!” Hashem answered them, “Is it with the very goodness that I bestowed upon you that you rebel against Me?! I shall punish you with the same substance, rain   water, and therefore, (6:17), ‘I will bring the flood of water.’

The generation before the flood completely turned from Hashem. They were prosperous and gained their independence from Him through witchcraft. They worshiped idols, they murdered, and they were sexual immoral (Many men took two wives, one for childbearing and one for pleasure. Men exchanged wives. They arranged marriage contracts between man and beasts.) This generation had been taught the laws Adam was given, yet they still chose to sin. Moreover, Hashem in His great mercy, was going to spare this generation, had they repented; however, their additional sin of robbery was inexcusable.

Does this sound familiar? WE live in that very same world! A world where people think they are completely independent from Hashem (worshiping themselves and their accomplishments, rather than recognizing that their success is from Hashem) and where people knowingly ignore Hashem’s commandments! 

Today we live in the most affluent society known to mankind, where we are independent thinkers, too advanced to believe in G-d. Ironically, we are enslaved by this corrupting ideology! Our society has been corrupted by material abundance, which has caused immense pandemonium! Our society worships materialism, we have become desensitized by bloodshed, and people are more promiscuous than ever! Rather than learning from the mistakes made in history, we repeat them!

The only way to achieve true harmony and avoid any future destruction is through living according to Hashem’s dictates. The Torah is not just a book of restrictions, as many people like to argue, but rather, the wisdom of the Torah teaches us how to be freed from being dependent on this materialistic and corrupting society, as the generation before the flood and our current generation are ruled by. 

Moreover, the Torah teaches us how to rule over the physical dimension that our society is poisoned by (Judaism teaches to take the physical and material world and elevate it to get closer to Hashem, examples include: using your wealth to help the needy, saying prayers before eating, getting married according to the Torah standards--sexuality challenged properly, etc.). 

Moreover, by recognizing that we are completely dependent on Hashem for everything we have, and not dependent on our material desires, we will develop a heighten appreciation for all the kindness He bestows upon us. Parshas Noach teaches us just that! Don't let the allure of independence poison you to forget your true dependence on Hashem!

Torah for your table! MIKVAH YOURSELF!


            As we have seen from this week’s parsha that G-d commanded Noach to build an ark because the generation of Noach angered Hashem and broke all commandments given to Adam. They lived a life full of immorality and a life full of emptiness. This caused Hashem to bring a flood upon the world and to destroy them from earth. (6:13). Hashem needed the world to be purified from all the sins that the generation of Noach committed, just like a Mikvah. The water filled the earth with the same measurement of a kosher mikvah, 40 se’ah. Hashem gave the generation of Noach 120 years to do Teshuva- repent. 120 years passed. Nobody repented. The only people spared were Noach and his family.  The clean animals were also spared (the animals that didn't commit bestiality).
         This parsha comes to teach us many things. The first thing is that we can see is how our society breaks all of Hashem's Commandments, all day, every day. We live in a world full of tumah- impurity. Our job is to find the holiness and avoid the things that are against Torah and Hashem. This is very serious; we must do teshuva before we are redeemed from our current exile. We have to be strong and overcome the battles that society brings forth to us.  The world we live in today is very similar to the time of Noach. To help purify the world again we need to mikvah ourselves (mikva-ritual purifying bath). We need to look within ourselves and find ways to create meaningful change, only then can we purify ourselves from all the sins that we do. In the merit that Mashiach should come speedily, take upon yourselves one thing that you want to fix about yourself.
Examples: Try to speak positively. Try to smile to others.  Try not to raise your voice. Try not to get angry. Try to keep Shabbat.  Try to keep Shomer Negiah. Etc.
If you really want to be saved from the potential flood on your neshama that society brings, then act now and start to change!
Shabbat Shalom
By: Esther Shamayev
        

Friday, October 12, 2012

Parshas Bereshit


WHERE ARE YOU?
 
This week’s parsha continues discussing the consequences of Adam’s punishment. When Adam heard Hashem calling out to him, after he sinned, Adam hid. The sin caused Adam to tremble when he heard Hashem’s voice, whereas before the sin, he could bear Hashem’s voice without fear. Hashem called out, “Ayeka—Where are you?”  Hashem, who obviously knew where Adam was asked him this question to get Adam to confess his guilt and repent. How is it that Adam hid from Hashem? Didn’t he know that Hashem, the all-knowing creator of existence, would know exactly where he was? Despite this awareness, Adam still hid because he felt such shame for his sin and now the shechina- Hashem’s divine presence- had departed from Gan Eden.

Nevertheless, Hashem persisted in questioning Adam, hoping he would confess his sin and do teshuva. However, instead of confessing, Adam blamed Chava for sinning, he said, “Did I sin as long as I was single? It was the woman You brought to me who seduced me and made me violate your command!” Hashem was displeased with Adam’s lack of remorse and how ungrateful he was for the wife He had given him.

Hashem then turned to Chava and asked her what she had done, hoping to get her to admit her sin and repent. However, she responded, “Master of the Universe, it was the snake who persuaded me to sin!”

Obviously, Hashem was displeased with their answers. Instead of taking responsibility for what they had done and asking Him for forgiveness, they just tried to shift the blame; therefore, they were eternally punished.

This infamous Garden of Eden story should shed light into our own lives. Throughout life, we too do many things that Hashem would not approve of, and that even we wouldn’t approve of. In order to avoid embarrassment and shame, we think of every excuse under the sun as to why we did what we did. When we are faced with these challenges, we must remember that Hashem is calling out to us saying, “Ayeka—Where are you?”  In other words, where is your higher self? Rather than getting defensive about past mishaps, we must take full responsibility for our sins, but recognize that that is exactly what Hashem wants from us. Once we take complete ownership for our sins, only then can we find the strength within to repent and avoid making the same mistake again. Let us learn from Adam and Chava rather than continuously repeating the mistakes of history. We have the formula to create change; it is up to us to take responsibility when Hashem asks us, ‘Ayeka,’ only then can we looking introspectively within and allow real change to be made.

Punishment


For sinning and shifting the blame, rather than taking ownership of their behavior, Adam and Chava were punished with the following:

Chava’s punishment:
1.     Discomfort of menstruation
2.     Discomfort from first relations
3.     Raising children will involve much self- sacrifice and hardship
4.     Pregnancies will cause much discomfort
5.     Labor pains
6.     Her husband will dominate her, but she will constantly seek him out
7.     Her desires will be in her heart
8.     She will be confined to the home and will not be able to appear in public without her hair covered
9.     She will not be accepted as a witness in the Bait Din- court
10. Death

To rectify for Chava’s sin, Hashem gave women the following mitzvot to follow:
1.     A woman is commanded to light candles before Shabbot. Since Chava extinguished the light of the world, when she had caused Adam to sin, when a woman lights Shabbot candles, she rekindles the lost light.
2.     A woman is commanded to take a piece of challah from her dough, to rectify Chava defiling the challah of the world—Adam.
3.     A woman is commanded to observe the laws of niddah- impurity laws- to rectify Chava’s sin of causing Adam’s blood to be spilled.
Adam’s punishment:
1.     Man’s strength will be diminished
2.     His height will be decreased
3.     He will become impure, as a zav- is a state of ritual impurity arising from abnormal seminal discharge
4.     He will become impure through wasting seed
5.     He will become impure through martial relations
6.     When he sows the harvest, he will harvest thorns
7.     He will eat grass, like the beasts
8.     Earning a livelihood will cause man mental sorrow
9.     Man will have to work for a livelihood with the sweat of his brow
10. Death

Unfortunately, man and woman have been plagued with these punishments until the days of machiach; however, by taking steps towards rectifying Adam and Chava’s sin through the fulfillment of the mitzvot, we will speedily bring back the sweet blissful days of Gan Eden.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Parshas Zot Haberacha

 
The final pasha of the Torah, Parshas Zot Haberacha, begins with Moshe blessing the Jewish people before he dies. The entire book of Devarim deals with reproof, where in last week’s parsha Bnai Israel received their final reproof from Moshe, in the prophetic song, Ha’azinu (it described the punishment Bnai Yisrael would endure if they transgressed the Torah).

Now, as the Torah makes its complete conclusion, Moshe ends with blessing the Jews. Moshe bestows a blessing to each tribe of Yaakov, and then he concludes with the praises of Hashem and the Jewish people. Hashem praises were meant to encourage Bnai Yisrael that Hashem will be with them indefinitely, even after Moshe’s death. Moshe’s final blessing was that the Jewish nation would ultimately be rewarded with the delights of the World to Come.

As we conclude the cycle of the parshot, may we all look at the previous year and come to the conclusion that despite our year of self-reproof and self-rebuke, may we look to start this year with our right foot forward.  May we look at the past year and all our accomplishment and shortcomings and remember that despite the struggles, we will ultimately be blessed by Hashem.  May Hashem bless each and every one of us with a year of goodness, happiness, joy, tranquility, and the strength to connect with more of Hashem’s mitzvot and His essence!

Questions to ponder?

After blessing Bnai Israel, Moshe ascends up the mountain…the last eight verses in the Torah conclude with, “ And Moshe, the servant of Hashem, died there in the land of Moav…” Wait! Who exactly wrote these verses if Moshe was the one who ascended up the mountain (back to the spiritual world). Who completed the Torah?! 

Rabbi Hirsch offers the following commentary:
As Hashem dictated the Torah, Moshe repeated it and then wrote it down; however, since the last eight verses were so painful, Moshe wrote them down in his tears and later, Yehoshua filled in the ink.  Additionally, another commentary states that Hashem dictated the letters of last eight verses in mixed combinations to hide their secret meaning, and later Yehoshua was given the proper order.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Parshas Ha’azinu

The power of song!

This week’s parsha, Ha’azinu, begins discussing the contents of the fourth prophetic song, Ha’azinu. The song poetically depicts the future of the Jewish people until the end of days. The song goes into detail about what will happen if they transgress their covenant with Hashem.  Each of the nine songs had sadness that followed; however, the tenth song, which is the greatest, will be sung at our redemption, marking the end of our suffering and exile!

Order of songs composed by:
1.      Adam, who recited the first song in Gan Adan (he composed Mizmor shir leyom Shabbot, a song to praise the greatness of Shabbot).
2.      Moshe and Bnai Israel, composed a song at the Red Sea.
3.      Bnai Israel, composed a song at the Well of Miriam (Parshas Chukas).
4.      Moshe, taught Bnai Israel the song of Ha’azinu on the day of his passing.
5.      Yehoshua, sang a song when he fought the Emorites in Givon, when the sun miraculously stopped, so that Bnai Israel could continue fighting.
6.      Devorah and Barak, composed a song when Hashem delivered their enemy to their hand.
7.      Chana, sang a song after giving birth to Shmuel (she was childless for many years, so she praised Hashem with a prophetic song).
8.      King David, composed a song at the end of his life, in order to thank Hashem for saving him from his enemies.
9.      King Shlomo, composed Shir Hashirim.
10.  The Jewish people will sing this final song when we are redeemed from our present exile.

RAIN RAIN DON’T GO AWAY! Dvar Torah in under a minute!

The parsha continues with Moshe comparing the Torah to rain. Just as rain is a life giving force, the Torah too is vital for our survival.  Just as rain descends from above, we too received the Torah from above. Rain enables plants to grow; however, the rain does not create the seed or plant, similarly, the Torah allows the seed in one’s heart to grow and to develop to its full potential. Once a person dedicates his heart and mind to the Torah, only then will his studies be fruitful!

Why G-d? WHY?!

In the course of this prophetic song, Ha’azinu, Moshe predicts the harsh punishments the Jews would incur if they abandoned the Torah. Despite the punishments that the Jews would incur if they transgressed, Moshe defended Hashem’s ways as being absolute just (Hashem only punishes people justly and never out of anger).  Hashem is a just G-d who will ultimately reward the righteous and punish the wicked.

 Unfortunately, too many times we see righteous people suffer and we question why and how is God being just? We cannot come to understand Hashem’s infinite wisdom and see how that suffering can be good; however, what we can do is accept the suffering. By recognizing that the suffering we endure is temporary, and an extremely relative experience, we can lift some burden off our shoulders. Moreover, many times the suffering we experience in this world is atoning for any sins we have committed; thereby, we will not suffer in the World to Come, where the delights of that world are incomparable to this world.  What seems fortunate now, may be an impediment to a person in this world, and conversely, what seems unfortunate now, may not be so in the World to come, (also that misfortune can build a person into someone remarkable, allowing him to fully benefit in the future world).

The moral of the story is that we should not look at our physical existence as absolute. If G-d forbid a person is struck with misfortune, he should accept the fact that, this is what Hashem wants, and everything He does is for the best. This attitude can only be acquired from studying Torah, because the Torah teaches us how to develop our bitachon- faith- in Hashem, all allowing us to recognize His handiwork in every aspect of our lives.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Parshas Vayelech




This week’s parsha begins with Hashem revealing to Moshe that his last day on earth had arrived. Although Hashem had Heavenly decreed that Moshe’s death was imminent, Moshe nonetheless pleaded to Hashem to prolong his life.

Although Moshe’s pleads were heard, Hashem told him that there was nothing more He could do, nonetheless he kept praying to Hashem. Although his prayers were not answered according to his wishes, Moshe did not lose hope that Hashem would change the Heavenly decree and he persisted in prayer. Hashem comforted Moshe and let him know that he would be taken care of by Hashem, as He cares for us all, as a father cares endlessly for his children.

This should shed some light to us as we approach Yom Kippur. Although we may beg and plead with Hashem to grant us with what we think is good for us, ultimately, Hashem, our Father, knows what’s best. This should not push us from praying with all our hearts, but rather this should get us to contemplate what in fact we are praying for. With a heightened awareness in our teffilah, we can focus on what our neshamah truly wants from this New Year, a year filled with spiritual development and success! May we all be blessed with the discipline and commitment to achieve such great heights!

Quotes that matter


“In all matters, save this one, there is hope. A person can hope to become rich, or strong, wise, or powerful, but no man can hope to be saved from death and live forever” (Yeshayahu 22:13).

This Midrash is teaching us that rather than having the non-Jewish perspective about life, to “eat, drink, for tomorrow we will die,” our sages caution to tell us that because our time on earth is so limited, we should spend that limited time chasing worthy pursuits. By recognizing how precious our lives are, we can look to make the most of every minute.

Another year has flown by; Yom Kippur is on the rise, time is ticking away. Have you spend it wisely or foolishly? We should be inspired to take these next few days and contemplate how we can spend our time more wisely this year.

Some things to ponder: How can I make more time for learning and fulfilling the Divine Will?
How can I spend more quality time with family and friends/make more time for chesed?
What steps can I take to develop my middot more?
How can I intensify my meditation on Hashem’s infinite Oneness?

By focusing our energies on these worthy pursuits, we are without question becoming better people. Developing these areas of the self will prepare us for the world to come, where we will enjoy all the mitzvot and all the learning we accomplished.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Parsha Nitzavim

 
In last week’s parsha, Moshe warned the Jewish people of all the curses and affliction they would endure, if they transgressed the Torah; however, he reminded them that despite the curses and affliction they would face, the suffering would ultimately benefit them (hardships develop people) and they would still survive despite the suffering. This is truly a remarkable quality the Jewish people have developed. When the Jews suffer, they look at their suffering as an opportunity to grow, to learn, and to understand what message Hashem is trying to get through to them, thus they strengthen their relationship with Him; however, throughout history we have seen that when the gentiles suffer, they deny God.

Moreover, this week’s parsha, Nitzavim, continues with Moshe speaking to Bnai Israel telling them that they need to make a new covenant with Hashem as they enter the land of Israel.

The parsha continues with Moshe telling the people, “This day resembles the day of the giving of the Torah. God is entering with you a new covenant, to which He binds you with an oath.”

The Jewish people already received the Torah at Mount Sinai and made a covenant with Hashem, why is Hashem making a new covenant with them upon their arrival in Israel? Living isolated in the desert for forty years allowed the Jews to become completely dependent upon Hashem, which could have coerced them to keep His Torah so full heartedly. However, now that the Jewish people were about to enter the fully abundant land of Israel, there was a danger that they would start becoming lax about their observance of the mitzvot. Therefore, Hashem wanted the Jewish people to reinstate their covenant with Him, to signify the important of observing His Torah no matter what the circumstances.

Does this not sound familiar to you? We are fortunate enough to live in a land where all our needs are met. Who ever thought such a day would come, where we have an abundance of food, water, supplies, etc. Unfortunately, we have been plagued with becoming too lax in our Torah observance because we have become more self-reliant than any generation before us. With Rosh Hashanah buzzing around the corner, this should be a time for us all to reinstate our covenant with Hashem.

As we approach Rosh Hashanah, and work on reinstating our relationship with Hashem, we should ask ourselves the following:
‘Am I happy with where I am spiritually, religiously, and psychologically?’
‘What accomplishments have I made since last year?’
‘What areas can I work on this year?’

This Shabbot we end the year, and on Sunday we will embark upon a new journey, a year where we can fill in any gaps that need filling, rekindle our bond to Hashem, develop our internal consciousness, and see clearly where our shortcomings were this past year and how we can develop those shortcomings into our newfound strengths.

May we end this year on a positive note, understanding that all the growth, we did or didn’t make, developed us into the person we are today. We should applaud ourselves on the personal growth we did make but also take notice to all the areas that we still need to develop. So let us jump up in excitement for the new year where we can reinstate our covenant with the holy One above! Shabbot Shalom and Shana Tova!

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Parsha Ki Savo- Fruitful Endeavors

This week’s parsha, Ki Savo, begins its discussion with bikurim- the mitzvah to bring the first fruits to the Bait Hamikdash. The seven species are: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates.

By bringing our first fruit to the temple, we are confirming our belief that Hashem is our G-d who bestowed His kindness upon us so that we could earn a livelihood and continuously be sustained. Additionally, the mitzvah of bikurim teaches us to express the utmost gratitude to Hashem for giving us a land that is fertile. For the kindness Hashem has bestowed upon us, giving us fruitful produce, we reserve the first ripe fruit for Him.

Moreover, anyone who has planted a garden, vineyard, etc., knows the amount of work, dedication, and patience he needs to yield results. Even more so, there is no guarantee that his garden will grow! The blessing that comes down to one’s garden, etc., is truly a gift from G-d.

If only today we could express the same joy over the fruit we eat! We have lost this sensitivity to appreciate all that Hashem has given us. Rather than focusing on the fruit we do have, and expressing gratitude over it, we seem to obsess over the fruit we don’t have. With the high holy days approaching, we should all pay additional attention to every piece of fruit Hashem has blessed us with! By taking the time to appreciate the small joys in life, we can attain true happiness. To implement this ideology on the most basic level next time you bite into apple, allow your mind to ponder the years of development that the tree needed to make before it gave birth to this tree fruit. With this heightened state of awareness, you will truly feel the utmost appreciation for even the simplest of snacks.

Moreover, Judaism teaches that the secret to a happy life is finding holiness in the physical world. The mitzvah of bikurim truly gives us insight on how to develop our happiness within, taking the physical world (fruit) and elevating it (giving our fruit to Hashem). May we all find the strength within to develop this heightened gratitude!

Sweetness of Hardship

Once the Jewish people arrived in Jerusalem with their fruit in hand (they dried the fruit to prevent it from rotting) they placed their fruit on the alter and the offerer recited the chapter of bikurim (Devarim 26:5-10). By giving over the bikurim, Bnai Israel was reminded of the kindness of Hashem (who provided fruitful trees). The essence of this chapter discusses Hashem’s kindness to the Jewish people. By reading this portion of the Torah, the offerer recognizes all the kindness that Hashem had bestowed upon him.

Additionally, the text of bikurim recalls many of the hardships the Jewish people faced, allowing them to truly appreciate their good fortune. In life, we seem to only appreciate our good fortune when we are mindful of the misfortunes of the past.

The parsha discusses how Yakov survived in Lavan’s house, despite Lavan trying to destroy him. Also, it speaks of the affliction the Jewish people faced in Egypt. Then it speaks of how the Jewish people were saved, after all their affliction.

Moreover, this idea is essential to our own lives. Although we may face hardship and struggle with many different things, the affliction we face is there to build our character. Rather than disconnecting with Hashem about the undesirable circumstances in our lives, we should look at how we can use that circumstance as an opportunity to grow and develop ourselves. Through persistent effort, the day will come when we will have good fortune, and when we finally get a taste of the sweetness, we will appreciate it that much more so.

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, we should remind ourselves of the sweet honey we dip our apples into. The sweetness of the honey symbolizes the sweetness of the good fortune we will all be blessed to experience, G-d willing. However, this sweet fortune does not come without a price, we must toil and delve in the hardship, where we truly develop our middot-character traits, only then can we enjoy the sweetness of the honey. May we all be blessed with the persistence and motivation to stay inspired despite any hardships we may face.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Machiach, Machiach!

Parshas Ki Teitzei continues discussing how when mashiach arrives, Israel will expand to become the entire world. We are currently in the period awaiting the mashiach. The way to bring mashiach is through the act of cheesed- doing kindness without any expectation to receive anything back!  Just like a parent/child relationship, the parents endlessly give to the child without expecting anything in return, we too should learn to develop this middah with all the people we encounter. We are ALL Hashem’s children. He does so much for us that the least we can do is help His children, our very own brothers and sisters. Take a few minutes each day and see how you can change the world, community or even your own home. Essentially, through extra acts of kindness, we are speedily bringing the machiach and the expansion of Eretz Israel!
Shabbat shalom
-Esther Shamayev

Ki Teitzei- Marrying for the RIGHT reasons

This week’s parsha, Ki Teitzei, begins its discussion with the laws considering the Yefat Toar- laws concerning a captive gentile woman whom a  Jewish solider wants to marry.

Even in times of war, the Torah demands that Jewish men conduct themselves in the utmost proper manner, the highest level of kedusha- holiness- is expected from a Jewish solider.

However, the Torah creates an exception for a Jewish man to take a gentile captive as his wife for a number of reasons. If gentile women were forbidden to Jewish men, naturally the yatzar hara- evil inclination- would desire the women even more so, we always want what we can’t have; hence the Torah finds a way to appease the yatzar hara in order to prevent a person from committing additional sins. Although the Torah permits this union, there are many laws attached to it, in order to prevent a Jewish man from undergoing this type of marriage.

Even though the men in the army had the status of tzaddikim, the excitement of battle was known to bring them spiritually off balance. Even though man might have been momentarily hypnotized by his passion, the laws of Yesat Toar were meant for him to reconsider his true intentions behind marrying her.

The Jewish solider is permitted to marry the gentile woman under the following conditions:

1.      In order to make sure that the Jewish man is marrying this gentile with pure motivations, she must be stripped of her external beauty: she must shave her head (hair beautifies a woman), she must grown out her nails (so that they look unkempt and ugly),  she must trade in her elegant clothing for clothes of mourning.
2.       She is also must undergo a process of purification for one month, in order for her to adjust to her new environment, and to dissociate herself from idol worship. During this period she is also making preparations to convert; however, if she refuses to convert, she must be sent away—the Torah forbids enslaving her.
Moreover, the Torah creates these prohibitions in order to portray that this type of marriage is not recommended. Additionally, these laws emphasize that people should not base marriage on only external factors, allowing their passion overcome their neshama’s pure desires. However, when a person marries to sanctify Hashem’s name, he will have children who are Torah scholars.

In our society, we too are faced with the dilemma of marrying for impure intentions. When looking for a person to marry, we focus on their status, job, money, education, physical attributes, family history, etc., rather than looking at their inner attributes, we are blinded by the fleeting external components, then we wonder why divorce rates are so high! People are unfortunately overcome by their passion and marry the wrong people for all the wrong reasons. The prescription to finding the right person however is finding a person who has a pure heart with even purer intentions. A person who wants to continuously develop themselves, their middot, and their connection with Hashem all the days of their lives, is a what we should be looking for!

We should all look at the laws pertaining to the Yefat Toas to remind us not to let our evil inclination rule over us.  May we all be blessed with the clarity to know we are dating/marrying a person who also has the purest of intentions to developing a marriage and family leshaim shemayim!