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Archive for the ‘Hadracha’ Category

Remember the now famous story of the kidnapped Israeli soldier, Nachson Wachsman. Do you remember how Klal Yisroel stormed the gates of heaven to plead for his salvation from the hands of those bloodthirsty terrorists?

Ultimately, however, Hashem decreed otherwise and the terrorists who kidnapped him, killed him in a most brutal and public way.

I will never forget how disillusioned I was afterwards. Here the Jewish people prayed in unison as one and yet, God seemingly didn’t hear our prayers.

However, Nachshon’s mother Esther had her own thoughts to share and in her very public display of faith, she explained how Hashem did indeed hear all of our prayers, but he simply said no.

She went on to state that although a parent always listens to the cries and pleas of a child, the parent in knowing what is inherently best for that child will sometimes answer in manner that is contrary to what the child desires. This too is a response and stemming from a place filled with as much love, compassion and empathy for the child. She thanked Hashem for the time that she did have with her child and for the gift that was Nachshon.

I well remember how this explanation resonated within me and served to soothe my broken spirit.

I once saw a slogan that stated “Before you ask God for that which you are lacking, thank him for what you have”.

In light of the above, it can be said that to thank Hashem for what we don’t have is as important as thanking him for what we have. After all, it is Hashem who decrees what our lot shall be and in his infinite wisdom, he knows what is best for us.

The Rosh Yeshiva in Passaic, NJ, Rav Meir Stern once told me that the words “thank you” is similar to the words “think you”.

When someone does us a good turn, we are often in a position where we cannot specifically repay that person in kind. Therefore, to show our gratitude, we express our thanks or “thinks” as it were, to indicate to that person, that with our mind, spirit and heart, we recognize the good they have done for us and are appreciative for it.

Expressing our gratitude for all that Hashem bestows upon us, or withholds from us, is then a catalyst for personal growth.

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We read in the parsha a few weeks ago, how Hashem cursed the snake for his indiscretion by providing him with food to eat via the dust of the earth for all of his days. The question here is obvious and I believe one which is posed by the holy Sfas Emes of Gur.

 Is this a curse!?

What kind of curse is it for the snake to have been guaranteed easy sustenance for all of his life?!

Indeed, the snake doesn’t have to toil for his food and literally has an abundance of it wherever he goes!

The answer which the Sfas Emes gives is beautiful and compelling. He says the following:

Because Hashem loves us, he desires more than anything to have a relationship with us. He wants to hear from us. He wants us to talk to him – constantly. He wants us to beseech him for that which we are lacking and then he will provide us with our needs.

The reason he withholds things from us in the first place, is so that we will (hopefully) reach out to him – and in so doing, will foster and cultivate a relationship with him.

It is this connection and this relationship that he desires more than anything and there is no greater show of love and no greater merit and blessing than to be given the opportunity to cleave to our creator!

Conversely, the snake was cursed with an unlimited supply of food to eat, because God wanted nothing to do with the snake anymore! Hashem was saying, here – take all that you need and don’t bother me for all of your days because I don’t desire a relationship with you!

There is no greater curse than to be made so self sufficient that one has no need to reach out to his creator and by the design of his creator! For this setup actually defeats the purpose of one’s very creation!

I previously wrote how Rav Shimshon Pincus once asked why Hashem doesn’t provide us with a lump sum in response to our Tefilos for Parnassa. He asked why it is that we must keep coming back to Hashem for more and more…again and again…

Why can’t Hashem allow us to simply win the lottery and we will be thankful to him just the same, asked Rav Shimshon?

The answer he gave was the same as the answer of the Sfas Emes above.

Hashem wants us to always be connected to him. He therefore sets it up this way to encourage us to keep coming back to him like a child to a father, for that which we are lacking.

This is a blessing for us, not a curse!

If Hashem gave us so much ‘up front’, it would diminish our responsibility to cultivate that relationship that he desires so much and that would be a curse not a blessing!

Beautiful words…I only wish I’d be able to internalize them…..…..

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I previously blogged (here) with an insight from Rav Shimshon Pincus to distinguish between Tefilah and Bakasha – Prayer & Supplication.

Rav Shimshon Z’L would often say that we spend so much of our time in Prayer and it is therefore imperative that we develop an appreciation for the “Art” of proper prayer. “We Daven anyway” – he would say…so it is just a good idea to work on our Tefilah.

He often mentioned that one of the reasons we find it so hard to daven, is because when we “roll out of bed” in the morning and into Shul, we estimate the power of our Prayer with the way we actually feel when we begin to Daven! We think to ourselves, how much does Hashem actually approve of this Tefilah!? I’m tired, I’m restless, my concentration is weak and my eyes are dry…surely this particular Tefilah cannot carry that much weight in the heavenly spheres!

This is a big mistake!

Our Tefilos are infused with the dynamite of its creators (our forefathers, Avraham, Yitzhok and Yaakov, introduced Shachris, Mincha and Ma’ariv respectively and the Anshei Knesses Hagdolah created our precious Siddur) and when we pray, we are literally invoking their power to carry our Tefilos to the Kisei Hakavod!

Moreover, when a Jewish woman reads from a Sefer Tehilim, she needs to know that even if her eyes are dry at that particular moment..and even if she cannot find the ability to cry, the fact is, David Hamelech himself is reading her words and infusing her prayers with his koach!

 - As Chazzal teach us – the lips of the one who created the Sefer is moving in his grave when we repeat his teachings!

There is no such thing as a “dry” prayer!

Maybe we think it’s dry…..but that’s only because we mistakenly believe that we are using our own energies to bring the prayer to its proper place. However, when we understand that our prayers are charged with the special power of its creators, we realize that we can reach the heavenly throne by climbing on their shoulders when we pray.

Another aspect to understand, is that when we start working on the quality of our prayers, the tears will come…it will happen, it just takes getting used to…

Then there is Bakasha – Supplication.

Supplication means begging from Hashem – constantly – and asking him to help you and guide you in all that you do.

Unlike Tefiloh which has set times of the day, Bakasha means reaching out to Hashem whenever, wherever and forever!

Rav Shimshon would say that where he lived in Ofakim, it was like a “jungle” outside with no less that “1000 cars” that his children would have to pass each morning on their way to Cheder!

He once said the following:

“Do you know that each one of those cars is like a wild beast, like a lion in its capacity to cause harm chas v’shalom to our children”!…and what about the spiritual beasts that our children encounter on their way to school!!…filthy billboards..newspapers…bad friends.. etc!!

Parents need to be constantly reaching out to Hashem in Prayer and supplication to watch over the physical and spiritual welfare of their children!

<Heard from Harav Shmishon Pincus Z’L>

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We find ourselves in the month of Elul….the month of coming closer to Hashem Yisborach!

The problem is, we have been ‘coasting’ along to this point and we therefore find that it is so difficult for us to rip ourselves away from our status quo in order to better ourselves! We wonder to ourselves, where do we start?! We must realize during these precious moments that the goal is not to change our deeds, but to change ourselves. We need to make a slight deviation in our approach to spirituality.

Specifically in the area of Tefiloh, I would instruct people on the importance of showing Hashem our love towards him by making an effort to come just a few minutes early to daven during this month.

Did you ever notice people who are sometimes in a rush to leave shul early before the end of the davening? Why is that? Where are they running? The answer is, they are running away! You see, a Shul is a living thing..it is a living house of Prayer. There is a law in Physics which states that a living entity will always reject a foreign body/intrusion. This is why a Shul spits certain people out..quite literally! Those who are in a mad dash to exit Shul early, almost feel as if they don’t belong..and they truly don’t belong!

To feel the gravitational pull and the beauty and inviting warmth that the sanctuary of a Shul has to offer, one must work on his approach to Prayer. One must strive to relish the opportunity to commune with his creator,  3 times daily!!!

This is my advice to you people who feel ‘stuck’ in a rut and wish to break through! Work on creating an inner change during this month. It’s not simply a question of correcting specific deeds…those things are all important, no doubt. We certainly need to do more Mitzvos and speak less Lashon Harah. However, the crucial focus should be on effecting a lasting change in our own inner being. So how do we do that? By taking a part of ourselves where we were previously lax (coming late to Shul and leaving Shul early) and sacrificing that former bit of ourselves on the alter of spiritual growth, by uprooting bad habits and moving in the oppossite direction (coming early to shul and staying until the end) to illustrate our love for Borei Olam!

<Heard From Harav Shimshon Pincus>

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This upcoming 12th day in Chodesh Nissan, marks the 10th Yarzheit of Hagaon Hagadol Harav Shimshon Pincus Zatzal

Harav Shimshon Dovid Pincus ZL

There was a fire burning perpetually within the heart of HaRav Shimshon Pincus zt’l. It was a restless fire, constantly moving and flickering in an array of hues; now bursting into huge upward reaching leaps; now sending out showers of sparks to ignite similar fires within other hearts. What fed this fire? It was no fuel that originates in this world. It was fed from within, by a soul whose sustenance flowed along a direct conduit from Heaven. This spiritual fuel flowed and flowed, freely, generously and bountifully, until the night of the twelfth of Nisan ten years ago, when the conduit and the fire suddenly merged into one, becoming a tower of flame joining Heaven and earth, that carried the souls of HaRav Pincus, his Rebbetzin, and their daughter a’h, to their yearned for destination.

Harav Pincus Lectures on MP3

In honor of Rav Pincus’ Yahrtzeit, the organization, Shalheves (where Rav Pincus lectured over a sixteen year period), has put together a pre-recorded MP3 player, loaded with 125 English lectures and 15 Yiddish Lectures from this towering giant.

They are asking $180 dollars for this package, which will literally allow you to plug into a life transforming inspiration and elevation from the convenience of your pocket!

I do not work for Shalheves and have not been asked by them to promote their offer on this website.

I am simply advertising this, as a person who has tremendous ongoing Hakaras Hatov to Harav Shimshon Pincus z’l (and to Shalheves) whose Shiurim have changed my life and continue to inspire me and my family.

I have no doubt that once you tap into the wellsprings of timeless wisdom from Rav Shimshon z’l, it will change your life as well.

We are all on the move constantly, as we struggle to earn an honest living etc. All of us utilize one form of transportation or another during the course of our week. Listening to shiurim on an MP3 player, while you work or travel, is so easy and convenient and the rewards cannot be measured.

Call Shalheves at 718-633-3005 and CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Harav Pincus Zatzal - "Yehi Zichro Baruch"!

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Sometimes we feel down and out, or we feel like we need something desperately. We need a Refuah for a close family member who is sick, we need $10,000 to pay an important outstanding debt, lest we create a Chilul Hashem..etc. etc.

During these times, we find a deep desire to reach out to Hashem in our Tefilos. We appeal to Hashem with extra Kavana as we sway back and forth during Shemona Esrei with our eyes shut tight in concentration.

The question is, are we davening with the proper concentration and focus? How do we make a request from Hashem Yisborach?

If we take a closer look at the typical way that many of us ask something from Hashem, we find a huge problem with the way we channel our Tefilos in this regard.

Many of us have the misconception that to beseech Hashem with special Kavana for that which we are lacking, is to literally beg him to “please, please, please, heal my family memeber who is so sick”!! or “please, please, please send me the Paranasah I so very need”!! This type of begging is a misguided approach to Tefiloh.

Say for example, you go to a rich man for a handout and you say to him..”please, please, give me $10k to pay my bill!” The man takes out $18 and sends you on your way. So you beg him some more and you say, “please, please, you have no idea how much I need this money”.. So the rich man might say, of course I have an idea, but I’m not the only rich guy in this town, go ask some of the others to help you as well.

 Now suppose you say to this rich man, “I have gone to everyone else and nobody but you can help me…and besides, you are such a great Philanthropist, with such a big heart for everyone, surely you can help me in my time of need!

All of a sudden, you have now brought this man into your struggle in a most personal way. You have invoked his personal goodness and you have appealed to him as the only possible source of your salvation. This type of approach is an entirely different way to ask for that which you need and is certain to be more effective.

The same is true with the way that we approach Hakadosh Baruch Hu in Prayer.

To simply ask and plead and cajole the Ribbono Shel Olam for that which we are missing, is insufficient and incomplete.

We must first recognize the goodness of Hashem and we should tell him that we understand that he is the source of all blessing and that he wants to provide for all of our needs. Then we must appeal to him as the sole source of our salvation, by recognizing in our prayer that nobody else but he, is in a position to help us.

This approach in Tefiloh, brings Hakadosh Baruch Hu into our struggles in a most personal way and in fact validates our appreciation for Hashems’ singular goodness and position to help us. This approach is certain to be effective in effecting Rachamei Shamayim and G-d’s salvation!

This is the way that Chana prayed for a child, when she looked around her and pleaded to Hashem saying as follows: “Hakadosh Baruch Hu, I know that you are the source of all blessings and the father of all children! Just take a look around and see all of the beautiful children in this World who were born to their parents as a result of your goodness! These are all YOUR children!! Do you not therefore have but one child of these – your children, for me! Please Hashem heed my tefilos and bless me that I too shall bear a child!”

Ultimately, through these very special Tefilos, Chana merited to bring a child into the world who would light up the World with his holiness and purity – our own Shmuel Hanavi!

<Heard from Harav Shimshon Pincus Z”L>

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“Thank You”.

Yes indeed, “Thank You”.

These Parshos reiterate and enumerate the building of the Mishkan and the manufacturing of the Bigdei Kehunah.

In Parshas Pekudei, when Bnai Yisroel completed the building of the Mishkan and Bigdei Kehunah, the Posuk tells us: “Va’Yi’re Moshe Es Kol Ha’melochoh Ve’Heenai Osuh Oy’soh Ka’Asher Tzee’voh Hashem Keyn Osuh, Va’Yevoreich Osum Moshe. (39, 43).

Rashi on  Va’Yevoreich Osum Moshe says:  Omar Lo’Hem: Yehi Rotzon She’Tishreh Schechinah Be’Ma’aseh Ye’deichem.

Asks Rav Shimshon Pincus, ZT”L, what reason was there for Moshe Rabbeinu to bless Bnai Yisroel for completing the building of the Mishkan? After all, they were commanded to carry out the Tzeevui Hashem; for them to have not done so would have been a grave Aveirah resulting in severe punishment.

Further, says Rav Pincus, we see in Parshas Shemini, after Moshe and Ahron completed the cycle with the Avodas Hakorbonos to inaugurate the Mishkan, the Posuk tells us that they again blessed Bnei Yisroel with the very same Brocho: “Va’Yovoh Moshe Ve’Aharon El Ohel Moed Va’Yeitzu Va’Yevorchu Es Ho’ohm”.  And says Rashi, the Brocho was the same: “Yehi Rotzon She’Tishreh Schechinah Be’Ma’aseh Ye’deychem”.

Why did Bnei Yisroel merit to receive this Brocho twice? Once after they had completed their own hishtadlus in building the Mishkan, and second,- after Moshe and Aharon followed up by completing their own Avodas Ha’Mishkan?  What connection did Moshe and Aharaon’s own Shimush Hamishkan have to do with Bnai Yisroel?

Says Rav Pincus, indeed all of this is intertwined and connected; Moshe and Ahahron’s Avodas Hamishkan would not have been possible without the foundational work done by Bnai Yisroel.

We therefore learn a most valuable lesson in Hakoras Hatov from this: In the same way we show Hakoras Hatov to Hashem by making a Brocho before and a Brocho after-for all the Chasodim He does for us; so too are we required to show Hakoras Hatov to those of our friends, family, and work colleagues that do us a favor by saying “Thank You” twice: Once before the favor is done and then after the favor has been completed. Chazal tells us that failure to acknowledge the good done for us by our friends, family, and acquaintences will ultimately lead to deny and ignore the good Hashem does for us.

Showing Hakoras Hatov before and after receiving a Chesed is the foundation of Yahadus and brings Sholom (Peace), Satisfaction, and Happiness.

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A popular Ad/Commercial playing nowadays in the secular media is from a well-known Bank that touts the benefits of owning their credit card and all of the wonderful products and services you can purchase with it; their hook tag line is the question, “What’s in Your Wallet”.  It’s certainly a catchy phrase designed to increase a consumer’s conspicuous consumption; but lest the Madison Avenue advertising company responsible for this campaign preen for kudos, be it known that this weeks Parsha was first to pose and answer this question from the perspective of  Torah Hadracha and Hashkafa.

Bnai Yisroel were commanded to give a Ma’chatzis Ha’Shekel for the purpose of carrying out their Census.

The Posuk tells us:Zeh Yitnu Kol Hoh’Oveir Al Hapekudim Ma’chatzis Ha’Shekel Be’Shekel Hakodesh…Lo’seis Es Terumas Hashem Le’Chapear Al Nafshoseichem“.

Harav Shimshon Pincus, ZT”L poses three questions on this Posuk:

1.  What is the Torah’s message that this small amount of a half shekel had and has the power to atone and save one’s Nefesh and to prolong life and the quality of it?

2.  Why does the Torah describe the Macahtzis Ha’Shekel as “Shekel Hakodesh”?

3. Why does Hashem emphasize  a specificity in the coin type of Machatsis Ha’Shekel with “Zeh Yitnu”?

Rav Pincus brings the Rashi; “Zeh Yitnu”- Heroh Hakodesh Boruch Hu L’Moshe Ke’min Matbeyah Shel Eish U’Mishkoloh Ma’chatsis Ha’Shekel, Ve’Omer Lo: Ko’Zeh Yitnu”.

The Torah’s message, says Rav Pincus, is that our Tzedakah should be with Matbeiyos Shel Eish to be given with a bren, with enthusiasm, with a Simchas Ha’Chaim, and with an empathy and kind words to and for the recipient; “Ko’zeh Yitnu”.  The characteristic of Eish is that it cleanses and does not allow impurities and foreign particles to enter the mix.

And the sources of our monies as well as its expenditures must be “Shekel Ha’Kodesh”; the power of Tzedakah and hekdesh of money is not only in the support of Torah, Chessed organizations, and needy individuals but also as much in the avoidance of that which is antithetical to Torah values and Hashkafah. Such negative expenditures, says Rav Pincus, diminish ones Beis Mikdash Me’At and devalues his “Shekel Ha’Kodesh.

The Torah’s message to us, say Harav Pincus, is that Kesef Yehudi is not a Mah Be’Kach but are “Matbeiyos Shel Aish” and we therefore have a Choiv Kodesh to preserve, protect, and use  it Be’Kedusha; “Ve’Oz YeShamshu Le’Chapear al Nafshoseinu, Ve’Yoveeyu Berochos Merubos El Boteinu”.

“Zeh Yitnu”

“What’s in your wallet”?

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Is the question often posed by the fashion cognoscenti in the secular Fashion capitals of the world; Paris, Rome, Milan, and Madison Avenue. Their answers and the “fashionable” clothes they manufacture cater to and elicit from the baser human instincts.

Le’Havdil, our Torah Hakedosha takes a different perspective. In this weeks Parsha, Hashem commands Moshe: Ve’Ohsisa Bigdei Kodesh L’Aharon Oh’Cheey’choh L’Chovod U’Lesifores.

Rav Shimshon Pincus, ZT”L  says that the Torah’s message on Fashion re: the singular, beautiful, and holy clothing worn by the Kohanim during their Avodas Hashem in the Bais Hamikdosh applies to all of us for we are all “Kohanim”.  ‘Ve’Atem Tiyu Lee Mamleches Kohanim V’Goy Kodosh’. Each one of us, Klal Yisroel, stand and serve constantly before Hashem with our Tefilllos, Kiyum HaTorah, Mitzvos, and in our interactions with the secular society we live in.

And therefore says Rav Pincus, we are just like the Kohanim in the Beis Hamikdash, each one of us has the obligation to be clothed in “Levushei M’Yuchad”, so that we are recognized as Me’Shorsei Hashem.

What is the definition of a Jewish “Levushei M’Yuchad” asks Rav Pincus: They have three characteristics:

1.  The clothes should be Tzenua-modest,

2.  They must not contain Shatnez,

3.  They should contain a Levush of Mitzva, i.e.; Tzitsis.

Clothes, says Rav Pincus, protects us not only from the external elements, cold, heat, etc. but also protects us internally, our Neshama from succumbing to our baser human instincts and behaviors. The proper clothing has a level of Kedusha that serves to protect us from harmful external influences.

Rav Pincus notes that the first people to wear clothes were Odom and Chava as it says: VaYa’as Hashem Elokim Le’Odom U’LeIshto Ketonos Ohr Va’Yalbeesheim”.

Rav Pincis references the Chazal in Bereishis Rabbah that notes the Milah “Ohr” (with an Eyin) is a remez for the word Ohr ( Aleph-light) to indicate that one who clothes himself with clothes that are “Levush M’Yuchad” will be zocheh to be clothed and protected in and by the Ohr-Light of the Torah.

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Today, Zayin Adar, is the Yahrtzeit, Lzecher Nishmas our Zaide, R. Avrohom Ben R’ Yechiel Mechel ZT”L, one of the founders and Gabbaim of the Chevrah Kaddisha Morya, West Side, New York. Yehei Zichro Baruch.

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It appears from this weeks Parsha that indeed we can.

At Har Sinai the Posuk tells us: Ve’Chol Ha’Om Royen Es Hakolos V’Es Halapeydim. Rashi Z”L explains that Bnei Yisroel  ‘Roiyen Es Hanishma”, they saw the sounds- that which is heard- the Aseres Hadibros emanating from Hakodesh Boruch Hu and Moshe Rabbeinu.

The Sfas Emes Z”L asks how is this possible, how can we see a sound?

Answers the Sfas Emes that to appreciate this, we need to understand the differing characteristics of seeing and hearing.

When one sees an object, the object and stimulus remains external to the viewer and is not incorporated within the person.

On the other hand, when one hears a sound, it is internalized and becomes one with the person.

At Har Sinai, says the Sfas Emes, when Hashem said the words  “Ohnochi Hashem Elokecho”  Bnai Yisroel saw their shoresh chiyuso and as a part of their ‘Nishmas Hashem’ that resides within every Jewish soul, the Mahus of every Jew, the “Pintele Yid”. Their response was “Na’aseh, Ve’Nishmah!”, the external actions required to fulfill Mitzvos became internalized and woven into the Neshamah of every Yid.

How is Emunah acquired asks Harav Gamiliel HaKohen Rabinowitz, Shlita. By constantly speaking of Emunah; the external of speech will internalize and make it a part of us. Rav Gamliel brings the Posuk:

“He’Emanti Key Adahber Le’ma-an Tesaper B’oznei Bincho U’ben Bincho Es Ahsher His’ahlalti Be’Mitzrayim Ve’Es Ohsosei Ahsher Samti Bom Vee’Datem Key Ani Hashem.”

Emunah is strengthened by constantly speaking of it, “He’Emanti Key Adahber…” to the point where it becomes part of you.

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