Parshat Shemot

                          "Thank You Hashem- Appreciation"

Shabbat Starts: 4:13
Shabbat Ends:  5:16
       
       In this weeks parsha, Shemot, we learn how Batya, Pharaohs daughter stretches out her hand to save Moshe from the water. Batya went to bathe in the Nile River because she had Tzarat- skin disease. Batya saw a baby in the basket on the water and she stretched out her arm to save him however; she couldn't reach him so Hashem saw her trying and He sent an angel to help her reach the basket. Batya was the Mateh- the "stick" of G-d. What does that mean? We know Hashem runs the world! He can do anything in His power. However, Hashem put us in this world to emulate Him and perfect our ways. If we just sit and wait for Hashem to do a miracle for us without us putting any effort then we are not showing Hashem that we care enough. Instead of talking about doing a Mitzvah, get up and get into action. Talk is cheap. We learn that its best to believe in a person who talks less and does more because those are the type of people who are ready to change the world. We are all Hashems extension, we need to share our gift that Hashem gave us to Klal Yisrael. We need to try and try until we can't physically do it anymore than you say Hashem I did as much as a human being can now its up to You. Put up a sail and let Hashem do the rest. Show Hashem you are putting effort and He will help you with the rest.
Another lesson we learn from this Parsha, is Hakarat Hatov- Appreciation. Moshe Rabenu couldn't hit the water because the water didn't harm him when he was in the basket. Even to something that doesn't have feeling we need to appreciate how much more so do we need to appreciate someone who has feelings.

WORKSHOP: This Shabbat stop and think... and ask yourself:
1.  How can I help myself, my family, my community with the talents that Hashem has given me to use as an extension of Himself?
2. Who did I not show my appreciation to that deserves a big THANK YOU!?

Parsha Vayechi - We Each Play An Important Role

Shabbat Starts:4:11

Shabbat Ends: 5:13

Parsha in a nutshell: Yakov lives the final 17 years of his life in Egypt. Before his passing, he asks Yosef to promise him that he will bury his body in Israel. He blesses Joseph’s two sons, Menashe and Efraim, elevating them to the status of his own sons as progenitors of tribes within the nation of Israel.

Yaakov wants to reveal when Mashiach will come to his children, but didn't end up happening. Hashem didn't want that it should be revealed to us.

Jacob blesses his sons, assigning to each his role as a tribe: Yehudah will produce leaders, legislators and kings; priests will come from Levi, scholars from Isacchar, seafarers from Zevulun, schoolteachers from Shimon, soldiers from Gad, judges from Dan, olive-growers from Asher, and so on. Reuven is rebuked for “confusing his father’s marriage bed”; Shimon and Levi, for the massacre of Shechem and the plot against Joseph. Naftali is granted the swiftness of a deer, Benyamin the ferociousness of a wolf, and Joseph is blessed with beauty and fertility.

A large funeral procession consisting of Jacob’s descendants, Pharaoh’s ministers, the leading citizens of Egypt and the Egyptian cavalry accompanies Jacob on his final journey to the Holy Land, where he is buried in the Marat Ha'Machpelah Cave in Chevron.

Yosef, too, dies in Egypt, at the age of 110. He, too, instructs that his bones be taken out of Egypt and buried in the Holy Land, but this would come to pass only with the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt many years later. Before his passing, Joseph conveys to the Children of Israel the testament from which they will draw their hope and faith in the difficult years to come: “G‑d will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land to the land of which He swore to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov.

Yaakov blesses his children and assigned each one of his children to their role as a tribe. This shows us that we each play an important role in this world. Every action that we do has a tremendous effect on the Jewish nation. We might not see the effect however, we spiritually cause damage onto ourselves and the Jewish nation when we do a sin. Each and every one of us needs to look within themselves and see what their mission in life is. Ask yourself: What was the reason Hashem needed to create me that I can offer to the world? What do I have that I can change the world, that I can benefit others with? Take this Shabbat to connect to yourself as to what Hashem wants you to give to Bnei Yisrael.

By: Esther Shamayev

Asarah B'Tevet

On the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet, in the year 3336 from Creation (425 BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor Nebuchadnezzar aid siege to Jerusalem. Thirty months later—on 9 Tammuz 3338—the city walls were breached, and on 9 Av of that year the Holy Temple was destroyed. The Jewish people were exiled to Babylonia for 70 years.

The 10th of Tevet (this year, December 13, 2013) is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance. We refrain from food and drink from daybreak to nightfall, and add selichot and other special supplements to our prayers. More recently, 10 Tevet was chosen to also serve as a “general kaddish day” for the victims of the Holocaust, many of whose day of martyrdom is unknown. (Chabad.org)

What is the essence of a fast?

 The Ramchal says that " A person should be careful with his actions and with what path he takes. If you don't pay attention to what you are doing you are leaving your soul open to spiritual destruction. A person who doesn't examine his actions will most likely be killed". One of the ways of the yetzer hara is that he keeps you  busy to the point that you don't have time to think of what you are doing with your life. To better understand this, we can look at how Pharoh worked the men in Mitzrayim.  He wanted to work the men so hard that they had no time to plan against him. This is a tactic of the Yetzer Hara. A fast day is supposed to be a time where we stop and think, "Why are we fasting?" What did we lose that we need to regain? When a person doesn't eat, their body is lacking its physical nutrients  it needs for that day. So to, as we fast for our Beit Hamikdash, we have to try to understand what we are lacking in our own spiritual life that is preventing the Biet Hamikdash from being rebuilt. When a person is distracted with materialistic things he is depriving his neshema from realizing what he needs to work on spiritually. These modern day distractions are unlike the ones in the past where even with  washing machines and microwaves which help get errands done quicker, we are still finding ourselves distracted and deprived. Due to the fact that we have many television programs and all types of electronics that take up our time, it prevents us from realizing what is missing within us. Apple iPods, iPhones, iMac etc. all have the symbol of a bitten apple. This bitten apple is a symbol which I'm sure no one has ever noticed to be a symbol of the sin with Adam, Chava and the snake. This apple represents the modern day yetzer hara-technology and materialism which is a struggle very hard to overcome. Lets use this fast day as an oppurtunity to focus and stop depriving ourselves of the spiritual nutrients due to the"bitten apple". 

                By: Esther Shamayev
Have an easy and meaningful fast!

Parshat Vayigash- Risk Your Life!

"And Yehudah approached him..." The Torah narrates the dramatic climax of the episode with Yosef and his brothers. Yosef deliberately frames his youngest brother Binyomin, "catching him" with his "stolen" silver goblet. "The one who was found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you will go up to your father in peace."

We know from the previous parsha that Yehudah took full responsibility to bring Binyomin back from Egypt alive and well. It was up to Yehudah to appeal for his release from Yosef, who was disguised. "Please, my master, we only came down here to begin with to buy food...and my master asked us if we had a father or a brother...and you said to your servants 'bring him (your brother) down to me so that I may see him. And we said to my master 'the young man is not able to leave his father...' And you told us 'if you don't bring your brother you may not see me again.' And now how can I go back up to my father without the young man (Binyomin) with us? Their souls are very closely bound to one another." Yehudah then suggested that he remain as a slave in Binyomin's place, "lest I see the evil that will befall my father." At that point Yosef was no longer able to contain his emotions, so he sent everyone out besides his brothers, and he began to cry, and he said "I am Yosef " and he revealed himself to his brothers. 

Yosef had guards by him at all times so no one would harm him. Yosef sent out his guards before revealing to his brother "I am Yosef". Yosef risked his life by sending his guards out of the room in order not to embarrass his brothers even though what they did towards him was wrong. When a person embarrasses another he loses his share in the world to come. We must be very careful and sensitive to the words that we utter and the actions that we do to other person in order not to embarrass them even if they are wrong. We need to aspire to a certain level of Yosef Hatzadik and be sensitive to the feelings and embarrassment of our "brothers".

Shabbat Shalom

By:Esther Shamayev

"Theres A Light At The End Of Every Tunnel"

What was so special about the miracle of Chanukah that we remember it every year?

The uniqueness of the Chanukah miracle was that even though they were in a world filled with such darkness with the Greeks convincing the Jews intellectually by saying how G-d doesn't exist. No matter how hard the task was they were still searching for Hashem. They didn't give up until they found Him. So too, the Maccabees didn't give up searching for the sealed pure olive oil until they found it. They knew it was there even though it was hard for them to find a sealed jug of pure olive oil they didn't give up they knew that even though it's dark and they can't see Hashems kindness at the end of the day we will see it and understand why it had to happen in that specific way. 

The four exiles that the Jewish nation were in and are currently in is 

A) Bavel - tried to kill us spiritually- destroyed first temple

B) Persia- tried to kill us physically- final solution (Purim story)

C) Greek- tried to kill us intellectually - disproving our religion

D) Edom- Roman Empire - currently in the process of destroying us spiritually, physically and intellectually. The last exile we are in now is a monster.

On Chanukkah we play with a dreidel which symbolizes "Nes Gadol Haya Sham"- "a big miracle happened there." Nun stands for nefesh- soul- spiritually, Gimmel stands for Guf -body- physically, Hey stands for Hacol Hacollel and Shin stands for Sechel- intellect. On the dreidel there's one handle that spins it this is to symbolize that Hashem is orchestrating it all. Chanukkah is the story that we can see clearly how Hashem is helping us survive all three attacks. We sometimes feel so overwhelmed with darkness but at the end of the day we need to remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The miracle of the oil lasting for eight days was that they didn't give up on the search and 8 is a number which corresponds to above nature. Hashem is above nature only He can help us. So when you are feeling down and don't know what to do turn to Hashem our father and speak to Him and ask Him to help you see the light clearer. 

Chag Sameach =)

By: Esther Shamayev

Know Where You Stand- Parshat Miketz

                                                  

         In this weeks parsha, parshat Miketz Pharoh has two dreams and needed someone to interpret them. The wine steward recommended Yoseph to Paroh. Yoseph was immediately taken out of prison and he shaved and changed his clothes before he came to Pharoh. Yoseph didn't want to get cleaned up because before he was put into prison he was very into his looks and how his hair looked so for as a rectification- tikkun he didn't want to look beautiful like he did when he was about to sin. However, since he saw his father Yaakov it prevented him from doing the act thinking it is what Hashem wants of him to do. Even though that time Yoseph felt a state of confusion whether he was to be with Potiphars wife or not he didn't know what the correct move was to make until he saw his fathers face. Yaakov was all about Emet- truth so right away Yosef knew it was wrong and he ran the other direction. We can many things from this act that Yoseph did. No matter where a person finds himself he always needs to remember "Who am I?" When a person is giving himself that constant awareness he will make sure not fall spiritually. Yoseph then interprets Pharos dreams that the first seven years Egypt will be plentiful and the seven years after that there will be a famine. Pharoh was getting worried and didn't know who to appoint to make sure that there will be food for the following seven years when there will be a famine. So, Pharoh decided to make Yoseph viceroy over Egypt. Yosephs brothers come down to Egypt to bring back food for their families. When Yoseph saw his brothers he accussed them of being spies and the brothers understood why this was happening to them. Since they did not pay any attention to Yoseph when he was being sold so too, in return they werent getting the attention that they need. Instead of Yoseph giving them food for their families and assisting them with their needs he is trying to show them that he is their brother Yoseph that they sold into slavery. The brothers took the situation and searched their souls and looked within themselves for the cause of their misfortune. When a person is admitting their fault usually what happens is that they will admit that they were wrong but then justify themselves and say "but..." When a person does proper Teshuva his averot-sins turn into reward. We learn another tremendous lesson, we need to be very careful with the words that come out of our mouth and the actions that we do because if we somehow pained another Jew Hashem doesn't forget He will remind you of the pain you caused the other person- middah keneged midda- what goes around comes around.

Segulot For Chanukka

Special Segulot for Chanukah

1. It is a Segula to buy or prepare the most beautiful Menorah you have. This shows that you are thankful to HaShem for everything you have and for all the miracles that happen to you on a daily basis.

2. It is a Segula to light the candles of Chanukah with Olive Oil. As we learn this from Shlomo HaMelech, “Ki Ner Mitzvah v’Torah Ohr -- a candle represents a Mitzvah and the Torah is the light." Through performance of Mitzvot, we bring the Light of Torah to the world and illuminate the darkness around us. Therefore, lighting the Menorah is a precious Mitzvah and using olive oil is the best way to fulfill it, this gives us a zekhut(merit) for:

• Banim Tzadikim (Righteous Kids), who will be smart and great in the Torah

• Excellent memory for you and your family

• Great eyesight, will be able to see things with a clearer perception

3. It is a big Segula to light the candles of Chanukah in your house. Rabbi Nachman mi Breslev stated that when one lights the Menorah at home, it brings more blessing and light into the house. HaShem himself comes down and visits your home and provides you with all the blessings and miracles you want.

4. After you light the candles, it is a Segula to stay seated by the candles and to pray next to them for half-an-hour. This allows your Tefilot (prayers) to be answered much faster.

5. One must avoid speaking Lashon Hara (slander) while the Chanukah lights are on, because HaShem’s Shekhina and Kedushah dwells in your home while the candles are burning.

6. The fifth night of Chanukah is a Segula for miracles and to change the order of the world in a positive manner. The fifth night of Chanukah never falls out on Shabbat kodesh.

7. Segula for Single girls on Erev Shabbat of Chanukah:

• First have the father of the house light the Chanukiyah. The shamash of the Menorah symbolizes the mother, while the candles being lit symbolizes the children.

• After the Menorah has been lit, ladies usher in the peace and sanctity of Shabbat by lighting their candles as a symbol of "Shamor veZakhor" -- represents man and wife. This is the time to ask, pray to find your Zivug (soulmate) and build a proper Jewish home.

8. The eight day of Chanukah is called "Zot HaChanuka", a Segulah for Pri Beten, to get pregnant and give birth. When all the 8 candles of the Menorah are lit, you should recite Chapter 80 in Tehillim. This chapter mentions "look and impregnate this gefen(wine/grape)". Accordingly, when you pray you should mention "just like grapes are plentiful and come in bunches, HaShem should also make me fruitful, give me children like grapes." In addition, it is customary to add "just like my family and I had the zekhut to light all 8 candles of Chanukah, so too, I should be zoche (merit) to do the Brit Mila for my son on his eighth day." Ahhmen!

9. If you know of someone that needs to become more religious, on Erev Rosh Chodesh Tevet, December 2nd pray by the Chanukah candles that they should become more observant, find more meaning in life by growing on the path of Torah v'Mitzvot. Why specifically Rosh Chodesh Tevet? Because Avraham Avinu passed away on this day. Before he passed away, he saw that his son Yishmael was starting to become more religious. If Yishmael was able to become religious, then anyone can study Torah, observe Mitzvot  and live a beautiful, meaningful, sustainable Jewish life...  Rosh Chodesh Tevet is an auspicious time for Teshuva.

10. Giving Tzedaka before lighting the Menorah is a big Segula for getting your Tefillot (prayers) answered and having good parnassa (livelihood) . 

11. It is a Segula to read the following Chapters in Tehillim after lighting the candles on all 8 days of Chanukah in the following order:

• Chapter 90: Read the last Pasuk from this chapter. "Vayehi Noam HaShem …" Then go straight into reading Chapter 91

• Chapter 91: Segula for protection and salvation from any sicknesses or anything bad. Before the Jews went to fight the yevanim, they said this Perek and they were able to win.

How to say this Perek: 7 times out loud, 1 time quietly to yourself.

• Chapter 30: Segula to get rid of fears and anxiety

• Chapter 33

• Chapter 67: This Perek is in the shape of the Menora. Segulah for protection. Make sure you read it in the form and shape of the Menora

• Chapter 19

• Chapter 100

• Chapter 133

• Chapter 144

After you have recited all the above Perakim, its times to ask/pray for anything you want while the gates are wide open. It is important for each of us to ask for Mashiakh all throughout Chanukah.  משיח is hinted in the words: מדליקים שמונה ימי חנוכה 

Last but definitely not least; ask for a Miracle, a BiG miracle in the merit of Chanukah.  Ask for something that you think is impossible and that will be considered a miracle if it happens b'Ezrat HaShem! 

 

May we merit to see wondrous miracles this Chag and ultimately witness the most precious miracle of all: the arrival of Mashiakh Tzidkeinu and the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash  Bimhera Biyamenu, Amen.