Torah thoughts from Yerushalaim: THE PALACE.

Today is the 24th of Tamuz, 5770

These days I’m reading More Nebukhim, ‘Maimonides Guide of Perplexed’. In the third section of the book, chapter 51, Maimonides talks about the way of ‘knowing’ (in the sense of connecting to…) God and he gives the following example: the King (God) resides in an inner chamber of the Palace.  Some people, the prophets, are inside the palace wandering in the hallways, looking for the King. Some people know of the Palace and are searching the paths that lead to it. Others also know of the Palace, but they are confused and keep looking in the wrong/opposite direction, ironically, the more they search for it, the further away they get from the Palace. And finally, most people, who have no clue of a Palace or they just don’t care about it…     

The ‘prophets’ are not crystal ball readers but those few individuals who, first of all, have gain perfection in their character: They are ‘rich’ because regardless of how much they posses, they manage to ‘need’ very little and they are fully content having the minimum necessary to live. They are ‘wise’ or completely ‘humble’ because they are constantly learning from others and they never consider they know enough. And finally they are ‘strong’ because they have control on what they eat, on what they say, on what they see and on what they think. 

As you can see, the way to the Palace or ‘the Jewish spiritual journey’ requires first of all, a good dose of self-discipline and character refinement.
The blessing of ‘milk and honey’:  http://www.aish.com/ci/s/97371409.html


The desired effect of praying


23rd of Tamuz, 5770


When we pray with Kavana, focusing our mind exclusively on God, our Tefila leaves a long lasting effect in our personalities, enough to impact our deeds, thoughts and values. When we mentally strive to maintain God at the center we regain consciousness of our place on the periphery of reality.

Still, we try to change and improve what we can change and improve, but at one point we learn to ‘accept’ (not ‘give up’, but accept. Notice the difference!) that some things are beyond our reach and beyond our power to modify. ‘Emuna’ faith is usually understood in the sense of ‘hope’, but to me the proper understanding of Emuna is ‘acceptance’.

This state of the mind, acceptance, is also known as ‘anava’ humbleness. It consists on recognizing the existence of a higher power which control what we don’t. When we reach this state, many small things that use to make us angry becomes less important… we try to make the best of it, of what we can’t change, and we let go easier …

If prayers don’t bring my mind to a higher level of ‘Emuna’ and ‘humbleness’, then probably I have not prayed with enough Kavana. I might just have articulated some Hebrew ‘sounds’….



Prayers from Yerushalaim

19th of Tamuz, 5770

BARUCH HASHEM I’m now in Erets Israel for the next three weeks. I’m staying in a small apartment in Yeshivat haKotel, a two minutes walk- literately- from the Western Wall. It is also thirty seconds away from Beth-El Synagogue, where I go to pray.
Beth-El synagogue is one of the ancient Synagogues in the Old City and one of the most special in the world. When you pray there you really feel transported to a different planet. In that Synagogue the lachash (silent Amida) lasts at least 40 minutes. Which gives you the unique opportunity -and forces you- to take very seriously every word of the Amida.
Stopping to think for a few seconds when you say ATA (‘You’), for example, being conscious that you are addressing God in the second person and feeling that you’re really in front of God Almighty, is probably one of the most important goals of our spiritual journey. Every word of the Amida guides you to follow a path that leads to His presence. And when you think about Him, the focus shifts from asking things from God to a mental effort to get closer to Him, as you would do to be closer to someone you deeply love.
You’ve to concentrate and focus in every word without letting any other thoughts -even thoughts about your basic needs- invade your mind. At those precious minutes you’re trying to find in your soul the right way to think about God.
It is indeed a very challenging exercise of concentration but extremely rewarding. I tell you why, BH tomorrow.
Note: It is really difficult to find an accessible Wi-Fi in the vicinity . So, BH I’m not sure at what time of the day you will get the HOTD for the following 3 weeks…..



Between 17 of tamuz and 9 of Ab

Today is the 18th of Tamuz, 5770

Ben haMetzarim is a period of 3 weeks, from the 17th of Tammuz until the 9th of Av (July 19th/20th). As we have explained, it took the Babylonians three weeks from the time the Babylonian army breached the walls of Yerushalaim until they finally burned and destroyed the Bet haMikdash. During this time, besides the massive destruction and pillaging of the Holy city, thousands of people were tortured and killed.

That is why during these 21 day period we observe certain traditions of mourning that build up as we get closer to Tisha BeAv.

SHEHECHEYANU for NEW FRUITS: Eating a new fruit that will require us to say the blessing Shehecheyanu during the three weeks should be done only on Shabbat.

WEDDINGS: No weddings take place during the three weeks.

 

ENGAGEMENTS: Saying Shir Lamaalot with no music is allowed until Rosh Chodesh Av (July 11th /12th).

MUSIC: We refrain from listening to music during the three weeks. Religious music is allowed, if it is not live music.

CLOTHING: It is not permitted to buy new clothing, except: 1. For a bride or groom that will get married after Tisha BeAv. 2. If the article is on sale and it will be substantially more expensive after Tisha BeAv. Our tradition is also to not buy gold and/or Jewelry from Rosh Chodesh Av.

HAIRCUT: It is permitted to get a haircut only until Rosh Chodesh Av. Our Minhag is that men do not shave from the Shabbat before Tisha BeAv until after Tisha BeAv.

NEW HOUSE: it is permitted to close or move into a new house until Rosh Chodesh Av.

EATING MEAT: Our tradition is to refrain from meat after Rosh Chodesh Av until the day after Tisha BeAv. A person who is sick or weak or a woman during the first 30 days after giving birth, are allowed to eat meat. Although chicken would be preferable to meat. Fish is allowed during the three weeks.

 

The above mentioned are some examples of the basic traditions that we follow on these days of mourning (for more information ask one of our community Rabbis).



The fast of 17th of Tamuz

17th of Tamuz, 5770

Five tragedies happened to the Jewish people on the 17thof Tammuz:

1. In Biblical times, Moses descended from Mount Sinaion this day and upon seeing the Jews worshipping the Golden Calf, he broke the first set of Tablets that carried the Ten Commandments.

2. King Menashe, one of the worst kings of the Kingdomof Yehuda, placed on that day an idol in the Holy Sanctuary of the Temple, around the year 700 BCE.

3. In the time of the First Temple, on the 17thof Tammuz in the year 587 BCE, the Kohanim (priests) stopped offering the daily sacrifices due to the shortage of sheep during the siege of the city by the Babylonian army.

4. One year later, 586 BCE the walls of Yerushalaim were breached after many months of siege by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces. Three weeks after the breach of the wall the Bet haMikdash was destroyed on the 9thof Av.

5. Around the year 50 of the Common Era, Apostomus, a Roman captain, seized a Torah scroll and burned it in public.



The fast of 17th of Tamuz

Today is the 16th of Tamuz, 5770
Tomorrow Tuesday June 29th is a fast day, Shiva Asar beTamuz. The fast begins at dawn and ends at 8.59 PM.
 
On the 17th of Tamuz there are only two prohibitions: eating and drinking. NO additional limitations apply, such as the prohibition of washing the body, wearing leather shoes, working, driving, etc.
 
Who is exempted from fasting?
Minors: boys under 13 and girls under 12 years old are completely exempted from fasting.
Nursing women: According to the Sephardic Minhag, after giving birth women are exempted from fasting for 24 months, even if they are not actually nursing their baby.
Pregnant women, especially after the first 3 months, are exempted from fasting.
A person who is sick, for example, flu or fever or one who has a chronic disease, for example, diabetes, is exempt from fasting.
Elders should consult with their physicians if the fast will not affect their health. If it will, they are exempted (and in some cases, prohibited) from fasting.
 
All other healthy people should fast and remember the tragedies that fell onto the Jewish people in this period.
 
Our custom is to authorize to wash one’s mouth or brush the teeth in this Taanit, provided one will be very careful to lower his head as to avoid swallowing water unintentionally.
 
Tomorrow, B’H, I’ll explain why we fast on this day.



The right Focus

13th of Tamuz, 5770

Yesterday a short but fierce ‘tornado’ struck our Great Neck community causing unseen devastation and damage. (see: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/powerful-thunderstorm-takes-heavy-toll-on-li-1.2049955).

Everything happened in less than 20 seconds…. Hundreds of homes were affected and probably ‘thousands’ of tress fell on the streets,on backyards and on top of houses. In my house, which I believe was affected in an average way, six tress fell down. Three of them fell on the garage, one of them on the car another one over an A/C structure and the tallest one fell on the neighbor’s backyard but it uprooted half of my driveway. Great Neck looks like a battlefield! Everywhere you see destruction and devastation. And of course, no power (no AC, freezer, etc).

Is it God’s wrath unleashed on our community? Punishing us for the ‘terrible’ things we do, as probably some ‘spiritual opportunists’ will state?

Indeed our Chakhamim teach us that every time a tragedy affects us we need to reflect on our lives. Why? Because tragedies or ‘acts of God’ of this nature are very powerful reminders of our fragility and perhaps the best invitation to reflect on our mortality and limited existence.

But today I think we should focus on something else: Despite the terrible effect of the ‘tornado’ BARUCH HASHEM there was no one killed or even hurt, as far as we now, which given the numbers of trees and live wires that fell , to me, it is a obvious miracle (Nes Galui)!!!

Many times, we chose to focus on God’s wrath but this time I chose to focus on God’s mercy, on Magen Abraham, God that protected Abraham and saved his life so many times.

I chose to focus on MODIM ANACHNU LAKH ‘we are thankful to You God Almighty’ al nishmotnu hapekudot lakh knowing that ‘our lives are ‘deposited’ with You, at Your care …’

A tragedy of this magnitude also gives us the chance to look for opportunities of Chesed, helping and caring for others in times of need.

May haShem always protect us from harm!

Shabbat Shalom!!!



Should milk be Kosher certified?

Today is the 11th of Tamuz, 5770
2000 years ago the rabbis of the Talmud forbade buying cow milk from a non-Jewish milkman. Why? Because the non Jewish milkman would have other animals than cows in his farm. At the time of collecting the milk he would normally mix it with camel milk, donkey milk, etc. which obviously aren’t Kosher! The rabbis then forbade buying ‘milk’ from a gentile milkman unless the milking process was supervised by a Jew, making sure it is pure cow milk.

But, what happens today when the circumstances have changed? Should we still suspect that in today’s food industry companies would mix cow milk with non Kosher milk?

There are three opinions on this issue and as we have explained, given two or more opinions everyone should follow his community Minhaguim.

Opinion # 1: the Rabbis made a decree and ‘formal rabbinical decrees’ must be derogated to run out. They don’t expire by themselves, even when the circumstances have changed. Accordingly, milk has to be supervised.

Opinion # 2: The USDA inspection service serves the same role as the original ‘Jewish supervisor’, therefore any normal cow milk is permitted (R Moshe Feinstein z”l)

Opinion # 3: The Rabbis did not issue a ‘formal decree’ but a ‘warning’ (Rambam). Therefore, when circumstances change, the warning is not in effect anymore. The original warning assumed that the gentile milkman would have an extra profit from mixing milk (Chut haMeshulash). Today, non kosher milk would cost more than cow milk. No restrictions are necessary. Normal cow or goat milk is allowed.



HA-EL HAGADOL HAGIBBOR VEHANORA

Today is the 10th of Tamuz, 5770
“God, who is great, powerful and awe-inspiring.” These words of the first Berakha of the Amida are really exceptional. Why? Because we normally praise God by referring to what He does for us: Ozer, Moshia, Magen, helps, saves, protects, etc. We never refer or describe anything about haShem HIMSELF.

Our rabbis were very reluctant to do so because no matter what we would say, we would always fall short from praising God Almighty. Take the word “powerful.” Can this word, which we use to describe a car (what a powerful engine!) or the president of an important company (a “powerful” man!) etc., be enough to describe haShem’s infinite power and might?

We believe that describing God’s ‘power’ or ‘greatness’ is absolutely beyond our human capability or vocabulary. Therefore, any praise that we would say about God HIMSELF would be actually considered an (involuntary) offense…

The rabbis therefore were hesitant to authorize the use of these words and the only reason they allowed us to say these attributes is because Moshe Rabbenu said them (Ekeb).
“Had Moshe not pronounced these attributes and had not the men of the Great assembly ordained this in our prayers, we would be unable to say it” (Berakhot 33b)

In a sense, we are not actually daring to describe God’s attributes, we are just reiterating Moshe Rabbenus’ ‘s words.
DO something for Israel
MUST WATCH AND SHARE!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vi8B0l63B8


AHABAT ISRAEL: When it gets to Israel, facts don’t matter…..

Today is the 9th of Tamuz, 5770

We must know the painful truth about Israel’s situation and make it known to as many people as we can. We can’t defeat some of the NY Times’ cynical columnists in their relentless criticism against Israel. We should, however, first know the facts ourselves and then make every effort to spread the truth over the Web.
Take for example Hamas and the Gaza strip. Israel has been criticized and portrayed as the ‘bad guy’ for not lifting the blockade, which is so unfair for the ‘innocent’ Gazans. Hamas is portrayed as the victim. As if it was just another separatist political movement, like the Spanish ETA or the Kurdish PKK. Now, what does ETA want? ETA, as most nationalistic groups, declare that their goal is to gain political independence from Spain and create an independent Basque state. In a sense, they are advocating for a Basque state that will leave peacefully alongside the Spanish state…
But what does Hamas want? One good thing about Hamas is that they NEVER tried to hide their true intentions and they even wrote a ‘Charter’ where they explicitly manifest their goals.

Article Thirteen: Peaceful Solutions, [Peace] Initiatives and International Conferences

…the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion; the nationalism of the Islamic Resistance Movement is part of its faith, the movement educates its members to adhere to its principles and to raise the banner of Allah over their homeland as they fight their Jihad: “Allah is the all-powerful, but most people are not aware”. *

What do all Israel critics mean when they demand Israel to lift the blockade or to engage in ‘conversations’ with Hamas? Hamas is an Islamic organization, and I know as a Rabbi, that unlike nationalistic expectations, religious principles are NOT negotiable….

Hamas seeks only the destruction of Israel. And Israel must do whatever it sees fit to prevail.

DO SOMETHING FOR ISRAEL

* http://middleeast.about.com/od/palestinepalestinians/a/me080106b.htm

Read Pilar Rahola, a voice of reason in EU: http://www.aish.com/jw/s/96560674.html

Read the column of one of Israel’s unconditional critics, advocating ‘dialogue’ with Hamas.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/11/opinion/11iht-edcohen.html?scp=2&sq=roger%20cohen&st=cse