Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘rav pincus’

The Proper Approach To Prayer (Rav Pincus)

Posted in Hadracha, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2011 | Leave a Comment »

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>

Read Full Post »

Faith & Trust – Emunah & Bitachon

Posted in Hashkafa, tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 9, 2010 | 1 Comment »

Rav Matisyahu Salamon Shlita, explains the difference between Emunah and Bitachon.

Emunah is a “concept” or a “theory”, while Bitachon is Emuna in action, or the application of Emunah into ones everyday life and actions.

Therefore, a person can theoretically be a “Ba’al Emunah” without being a “Ba’al Bitachon”. However, if one is truly a “Ba’al Bitachon”, then he must also be a “Ba’al Emunah” – and by definition!

Our job is to transform our conceptual understanding of Borei Olam (Emunah) into a concrete and working process of having Bitachon in Hashem.

What is the meaning of Emuna and Bitachon?

We tend to throw around the terms “Emunah and Bitachon” in tandem and we often forget or do not clearly distinguish between the two.

If we can translate Emunah as “Faith”, then perhaps Bitachon can be defined as “Trust”.

What is ‘trust’?

Rav Shimshon Pincus Zatzal spent much time talking about the meaning of Bitachon and how it is realistically applied. He points out that it is a big fallacy to think that proper Bitachon is to convince oneself in the face of adversity and danger, that there is no problem since Hashem will take care of everything.

This is wrong? “It’s not so pashut at all, the severity of the problems we face”, says Rav Shimshon.

In fact, proper Bitachon dictates that one should be fully aware of the clear and present danger which he is facing and to utilize that appropriate fear as a conduit for harnessing and channeling his trust in Hashem to help him out of his situation.

Indeed it can be said that if one is unaware of or minimizes the severity of the danger he is facing, he is unarmed with the proper tools to place his trust in Hashem’s salvation. In other words, it is the very real fear of danger  which can propel a person towards spiritual growth.

Rav Shimshon points out how it is said that the Brisker Rav Zatzal was a constant worrier. Indeed, during his flight from the accursed Nazis during the war, he would constantly  exclaim “they are coming to kill us”!!

Can it be said that the holy Brisker Rav was lacking in Bitachon? Only a fool would say this!

On the contrary, the Brisker Rav was a realist who understood and appreciated the severity of his situation and predicament. He recognized the danger he was in and properly and purposefully experienced and used his fear as a stepping stone to greatness by never removing Hashem Yisborach from his mind for even an instant! He would constantly reinforce his Bitachon in Hashem’s protection and salvation. Had he not experienced the acute fear for his life, perhaps he would have become complacent and might have ceased to think about Hashem and that he knew would be more dangerous than anything!

This, is the epitome of Bitachon – trust in Hashem!

…Not a blind trust, but rather a deep trust which emantes from and is reinforced by the understanding of the real danger one is facing and the fact that only Hashem can help him! Only Hashem can help a person navigate through the vicissitudes of life!

Indeed, it was this very same Brisker Rav who Rav Pincus said (as he himself heard from his Rebbe – the Brisker Rav’s son Rav Berel Soleveitchik, who was traveling with his Father at the time) was stopped by the Nazis while escaping by wagon. They were all ordered out of the wagon and Rav Berel stepped out first, whereupon he was ordered to hand over his watch to the Nazi guard who said “thank you for this gift”.

The Holy Brisker Rav then exited the wagon whereupon the guard took one look at his angelic face and exclaimed “Das iz Eingetlecher Mentsch”!! – “This is a God-like human being”! and he quickly returned the watch to Rav Berel and allowed them to continue traveling undisturbed!

The Rav who never took his mind off Borei Olam for a second during these difficult times, merited salvation from Hashem!

Says Rav Matisyahu Salamon, to simply remain with our Emunah in Hashem, places us in the same boat as some of the greatest gentile philosophers who were also ‘believers’, but did not live up to and act in accordance with their beliefs.

In fact, there was a noted philosopher who espoused moral values and who was caught engaged in a highly immoral act. When he was called on it and asked why the discrepancy between what he preached and what he actually practiced, he responded by saying that “when a Mathematician becomes a triangle and a Scientist becomes a test tube, then you may hold me to account and expect me to practice what I preach”!

We see here the clear and potential disconnect between belief (by itself and in isolation) as an intellectual pursuit and a theory, versus the practical application and integration of this concept into ones everyday life and actions.

This then, is our job when we are tasked with becoming “Ba’alei Bitachon”.

We must train ourselves (for all that is required is simple training and developing habits) to actually apply our belief system – or Emunah, into the concrete efforts of reliance – Bitachon in Hashem to help us in our trials and tribulations.

<Heard and Adapted From Talks by Rav Shimshon Pincus Z”L and Rav Matisyahu Salamon Shlitah>

Read Full Post »

The Lowering Of Standards In Each Generation.

Posted in Hashkafa, tagged , , , on January 5, 2010 | 1 Comment »

We know that there is a concept of ‘Yeridas Hadoros”. This means that there is a general weakening in our Yiddishkeit and standards of Yiddishkeit with the passing of each generation. Chazzal say this in so many words - and mention this concept in many different places. It is for this reason, for example, that if an Amora says a Halacha which contradicts a statement from one of the earlier Tana’im, we reject the psak of the Amorah and pasken Halachically, according to the earlier Tanah.

The question is, in what way have the generations become weaker? When it concerns the righteous men (Tzadikim) of previous generations, it should be obvious that the difference is qualitative and with respect to their superior knowledge of the Torah. The earlier generations were steeped in Torah and Avodah – and with each passing generation, we become weaker in this regard. However, where it concerns the women, exactly what is it that made the righteous women of the earlier generations qualitatively superior to the righteous women of our generation? Can it be said that the earlier women made a better potato kugel etc!

I have a kaballah from my Rebbeim that the qualitative superiority of our righteous grandmothers and great grandmothers of yesteryear was in their level of Emuna in Hashem Yisborach. These earlier women were saturated with feeling for Hashem. G-d wasn’t simply a ‘concept’ to our grandmothers. Rather, there was a palpable connection and feeling which they had for Hashem Yisborach. They literally lived with Hashem in the simplest form of understanding.

Today, we also ‘believe’ in Hashem. However, how ‘real’ is this belief? Do we feel Hashem and interact with him in our daily lives? Do we talk to Hashem just as we talk to our neighbor? Do we work on generating feelings of love for an Almighty G-d who runs this World from start to finish and who cares about each and every one of us and who desires to have a relationship with each of us…AND WHO IS AS REAL AS THIS TABLE BESIDE ME!

It is in this regard, that we have  become weaker and weaker with each passing generation. Hashem is becoming too much of a philosophy in our generation. We need to turn back the clock and develop and nurture feelings for Hashem, who is our Father and protector!

<Heard From Rav Shimshon Pincus>

Read Full Post »

Catch The Moment In Your Life!

Posted in Hadracha, tagged , , , on December 24, 2009 | 2 Comments »

All of us have moments in our lives, where we are suddenly hit with a lighting bolt of spiritual inspiration. We become enthused and excited.

Sometimes, the actual trigger is the result of a happy or sad encounter or episode. In all instances however, these moments are precious gifts given to us by Hashem, in order to arouse us from our slumber so that we may utilize them as a springboard for achieving greatness! If we do not utilize these moments properly, it is like taking something precious and simply throwing it in the mud.

How do we take advantage of these moments?

The Pasuk tells us “Im tairu es ha’ahava, ad shetechpatz” – Chazzal exchange the word “tairu” for the word “te’oreru” – to be inspired, and read the pasuk as follows: “Im te’oriru es ha’ahava, ad shetchpatz” – If you become inspired with love for Hashem – then, “ad shetechpatz” – (the word “techpatz” comes from the lashon “chefetz” – item) turn it into something concrete; something tangible.

This is a call to us not to let these moments slip away and instead to utilize them as a stepping stone to further achievement and to greatness! Make a commitment to become a better Jew, do a Mitzva, say a Prayer, do a Chessed, etc.

Catch the moment in your life, since ultimately, these are the moments that make your life!

<Heard From Rav Shimshon Pincus>

(Rav Chatzkel Levenstein Zatzal, the famous Mirrer Mashgiach, grew up in his younger years under difficult circumstances. This forced him to go to work at a very young age, where he subsided on a meager living working long hours. Every Friday, Rav Chatzkel would receive his stipend for the entire week. One Erev Shabboss, when Rav Chtazkel was in the Mikvah, somebody reached into his pants hanging on the hook and robbed him of his entire weeks pay! Upon exiting the Mikva, Rav Chatzkel soon realized that he had been robbed of his entire income for the week. Needless to say, he was devastated.

Here came one of those precious moments, which Rav Shimshon Pincus referred to above.

Rav Chatzkel sat down and quickly made a Cheshbon Hanefesh – he searched his soul – and he thought to himself; see how one individual has managed to rob me of an entire week of my life – let alone a weeks worth of income! How can such a thing be? How can I allow myself to be in a situation where my life is so precariously influenced by an outside element beyond my control?

Upon further reflection, Rav Chatzkel came to the realization that there is indeed one lofty pursuit and career path which can NEVER be taken away from an individual - and that is the pursuit of holiness and spirituality! It was then that Rav Chatzkel made the decision to drop everyhting and to immerse himself completely into the sea of the Torah and spirituality!

Rav Chatzkel was able to catch and capitalize on this crucial moment in his life and the rest is history! His beautiful legacy lives on and on until the coming of Mashiach.

What a lesson for all of us! We are constantly given these precious moments and cues, let us learn how to make the best of them!

Read Full Post »

A Partnership With Hashem

Posted in Hashkafa, tagged , , , on December 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Rav Shimshon Pincus, ZT”L says a beautiful vort regarding our partnership with Hashem.

We know that in Hilchos Shabbos, there is a Halacha regarding two people who transport an item together from one “Rishus” to another. Under normal conditions, when a person carries outside of a rishus by himself, he is oiver on the transgression of ‘hotza’ah Merishus l’rishus’. However, what happens when two people do this melacha together?

Chazal tell us in the Gemarah that it depends on the ability of each person to actually carry this item by himself. If each person can do this alone (“Zeh Yachol, V’zeh Yachol), then the fact that they are doing it together will preclude each one from being Chayav, since it is as if none of them are doing it exclusively.

However, if each individual cannot carry the item alone and they therefore rely on each other to actually carry this item outside of the rishus (“Zeh aino yachol, v’zeh aino yachol), then we say they are BOTH Chayav for transgressing the laws of (Hilchos) Shabboss.

Says Rav Shimshon, the same is true of our partnership with Hashem.

Hakadosh Baruch set us up as a “shutaf” (a partner) with him, with respect to our completion of Mitzvos and in order to accomplish our purpose on this earth. Hakadosh Baruch Hu, Caviyachol (it is hard for us to understand what this means), views himself as an “eino yachol” with respect to this mutual relationship which he created and he “relies upon us to help him help us” (so to speak).

Hashem provides us with Parnassa, but we need to make our own hishtadlus.

Hashem provides us with doctors who can cure us (“V’rapoi Yerapei”..Hashem allows doctors to heal), but we need to actually visit them and be mispallel that they should succeed.

Hashem is ready to provide us with every yeshua and bracha possible, but we need to Daven for it.

When we partner up with Hakadosh Baruch Hu, there is absolutely nothing which we cannot accomplish!

Read Full Post »

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 95 other followers