TIforOA

Sanctify yourself through the permissible... Yevamos 20a

Divrei Torah to provide Chizuk in the struggle to balance spiritual and physical needs.

L'Iluei Nishmas Mirkah Bas Yosef




Showing posts with label Tisha B'Av and the Three Weeks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tisha B'Av and the Three Weeks. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Gateway to Geulah

Each day during the Three Weeks this new web site will post a different story of Ahavas Yisroel. The hope is that these stories will inspire us to to strengthen our own efforts in this area.

The first one is a powerful story:  Gateway to Geulah

By Sara Yoheved Rigler




http://21daysofahavasyisroel.com/index.php

Oceans of Ink

The Bais Hamikdash is not being rebuilt because of the sin of Loshon Hara.  If all of the oceans in the world were ink, and all of the heavens were parchment we could not fully describe the sins of Loshon Hara.

from a Shiur by Rabbi Zev Leff about the root causes of Loshon Hara.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Hidden reality.



Sometimes when we play hide and seek with a baby, the baby thinks you really aren't there if they cant see you. In the same way, we often feel like Hashem is not there because we can not see him. But just like the baby learns that the person was really there, we have to know that Hashem is really there all of the time.
from a Shiur on Naaleh: Perek 39: Gog's End
Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Yechezkel II
Added: May 23, 2011


I have been going through a very difficult time lately. Knowing that nothing is random and everything is from Hashem has kept me going.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Claiming our Reward

There was once a lottery in NJ that kept getting bigger and bigger until it reached $41 million dollars.  When they announced the winning number, no one came to claim it. Week after week, month after month, still no one came forward to claim the prize.  It was decided that if no one came to claim the prize, then the city where the ticket was bought would get the money.  The city was so excited at the expected winfall when suddenly the night before it would go to the city a letter came in claiming the prize.  When they asked the winner, "why did you put off claiming your prize" he said , well I was busy with this and that and I figured I would get around to it soon, then before I knew it, it was almost to late" 

We are like that man.  We have a change to claim our portion of eternity, which is worth much more then $41 million dollars, and yet we are busy with this and that.  This is the true churbon inside of us, that we don't realize  our potential, and how much nitzchius (eternity) we can claim from our mitzvot.  We have to do Teshuva now and claim our portion of Olam Haba.

A true story told by Rebbetzin Kalmonovitz in a Shiur Today.

Tisha B'av is over, but we are still in Golus. How can we move on despite the fact that this year there was no geulah?

Every person is a Mikdash Miat ( a small sanctuary), but inside of every person there is also a piece of the churbon.  Our thoughts are our Kodesh Kedoshim, and we have to work on correcting our thoughts to build them into a place of kedushah, and to remove negative thoughts from our heads to remove the churbon inside of us.  The first thing that we have to rectify is the chubon inside of us.

Heard from a Shiur by Rebbetzin Kalmonovitz today in Monsey, NY

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Why is it so much harder for this generation to mourn for the Temple then previous generations?

Our reality at this time, in this generation is so far removed from the spiritual reality.  Our lives are absorbed by the physical reality and we find ourselves seeking physical pleasure instead of spiritual growth.

Tisha B'av is mourning how distant we have become from the spiritual world.


from the Shiur, on Naaleh: Holiday of Distance
Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Jerusalem, Echoes of Lament: Tisha B'Av and the Three Weeks

Making the most of what we have.

Photo - The last half an hour of the fast at the Kotel, the Western Wall, in Jerusalem, Eretz Yisroel.
Hang in there. The fast is almost over. May it be true for the golus as well!
by Reb Gutman Locks at Mystical Paths

As the fast draws to a close I find myself appreciating what I have all the more.  The period of the 3 weeks and the nine days brought our lives to a level of simplicity that we do not usually have.  Walking through an enticing shopping area and saying to myself "no point in looking, you don't need or want anything, and even if you do you can't buy it" 


Even learning to get by without meat and chicken was eye opening.  When I first started OA my sponsor mentioned that meat and chicken are filling so I should eat them a lot.  Somehow I kept thinking that I needed meat and chicken all of the time.  During the nine days I discovered that I can be satisfied with beans and fish perfectly well.


Now as I contemplate going back to "normal" I am grateful that I learned that I can get by with less and still be satisfied.

Fighting the feeling of "I deserve it"

This was my first abstinent Erev Tisha B'av. In many ways I found it harder then Erev Yom Tov. Even though the house was not full of yummy treats my mind was playing tricks on me. It kept saying "you are not eating tomorrow you deserve more food". My sponsor told me that my davening will make a bigger difference to how I feel then my eating. Daven to Hashem to give you an easy fast and it will make a bigger difference then how much you eat.
Baruch Hashem she was right. I made it through Erev Tisha B'av abstinent and I am feeling better then other years even though I did not binge yesterday.
On a rational level I can say that my body is used to getting by with less but I know that it is a gift from Hashem.

Tisha B'av is a time to face the natural consequences of our actions

The book of Eichah was written as a prophecy not as history. It was written to warn us about what happens when we stray from Hashem's path. While Hashem is full of love and compassion for us there are consequences to our actions. Tisha B'av is a day when we focus on the negative consequences of negative actions. Hashem wants us to do Teshuva and return from our aveiros. Hashem does not want to punish us. Hashem want to fill our lives with Brachah but if we do not do Teshuva we will face horrible consequenes.
From the Shiur "Tisha B'av-connecting to Kinos" by Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz on Aish Audio.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Preparing for the Yom Tov Tonight

I just spoke to a friend of mine.  She is in the middle of baking challah for tonight.  She believes that it is going to be a Yom Tov. 

May Hashem Bless us that she is right.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Rabbi Leib Kelemen on Tisha B'Av

Every relationship revolves around details.  When we want to improve our relationships with others we have to move out of our self and look at the other person's details.

If we want to have a relationship with Hashem we have to think about what is important to Hashem.  We have to realize that it is not important whether we understand why Hashem wants us to do things, we have to do what Hashem wants because we love Hashem and want to do his will.

Our goal in life is to have a proper relationship with Hashem.  We have to focus on Hashem's details, and find ways to build a stronger relationship with Hashem.

To prepare for Tisha B'Av we have to improve our relationship with others and with Hashem.

from a Shiur by Rabbi Leib Kelemen about Tisha B'Av

A Definition of Sinat Chinam from Rav Zev Leff

Don't think evil in your heart about your neighbor.  Don't look at your neighbor's shortcomings look at his strengths.
If there is no emes and Shalom there is no Beis Hamikdash.

from a Shiur on Kosher Tube:
67 - Rav Leff - Tisha B'av Night 5767 (2007 - Part 1 of 5)
http://koshertube.com/videos/index.php?option=com_seyret&Itemid=4&task=videodirectlink&id=2626

Kinna 22: Mass Suicide For Hashem's Name from Naaleh

Every year when I read the Kinos I could not understand why there are times when it is permitted to kill yourself Al Kiddush Hashem, and yet there are times when it is forbidden to kill yourself to shorten the suffering before death.  In this Shiur Rabbi Avishai David explains that if you are afraid that you will be unable to prevent yourself from commiting a grave sin, it is permitted to kill yourself to prevent it, but it is forbidden to kill yourself to prevent suffering.

from the Shiur: Kinna 22: Mass Suicide For Hashem's Name
Teacher: Rabbi Avishai David Class: Kinnot: Poems for Jerusalem
http://www.naaleh.com/viewclass/2627/single/

Friday, July 16, 2010

Learning from Shabbat Chazon

Since we don't mourn on Shabbos, Shabbat Chazon is a window of peace in the midst of the mourning period of the 9 days.  This gives us a vision "Chazon" of the importance of mourning, and the beauty of Shabbas.  By experiencing the contrast of the two extremes it gives of an appreciation of the importance of each.

Shabbat Chazon: Valuable Vision
Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Jerusalem, Echoes of Lament: Tisha B'Av and the Three Weeks
Added: July 20, 2009

Never underestimate the value of Tears.

 Tears are a very powerful tool.  When our tears come from the heart, they have a cleansing effect.  When we cry over our sins, they wash away our sins.  Even when a person does a big sin and does Teshuva there is still a stain on the person's neshamah.  True tears wash away this stain.

heard from a Shiur by Rebbitzin Kalmonovitz

Rav Kessin: "Just Before Mashiach"

Into the second hour, he began to talk about 2010. And he brought up the incident in Imanuel.


“Imanuel was a mind-boggling event. …It was incredible.”

He began to give some background.

Imanuel was established about 25 years ago. They felt that they needed a prestigious rabbi to entice others to come to live there, so they asked a very important rav, Rabbi Yehoshua Moshe Aharonson, who had just retired from being Chief Rabbi of Petach Tiqva. He agreed and came to live among them. They had a dinner to celebrate the founding of the yishuv and he was the main speaker. Now, I’ll stop here for a moment and let you read what I found about Rabbi Aharonson.

Rav Yehoshua Moshe Aharonson of Petach Tikva (1910-1993). Born in Warsaw, he was was named rabbi of Sanok in 1937. In the winter of early 1940, he was appointed to the Beis Din of Warsaw. In March 1942, he was deported to the Konin labor camp, near Chelmno. The Konin camp was liquidated in the summer of 1943. Rabbi Aharonson was taken to Hohensalza, and afterwards to Auschwitz 3 (Buna). In 1945 he was transferred from Auschwitz to Buchenwald and then taken on a death march to Theresienstadt, where he was liberated. He subsequently moved to Eretz Israel, where he served as a rabbi in Petach Tikva and Emmanuel. His writings were collected in the book Alei Merorot.

Back to the story.

“He gets up and gives a speech that is mind-boggling. …He said something that shocked the whole audience. Here’s what he said and keep in mind this is twenty-five years ago, in 1985.”

According to Rabbi Kessin, someone who was present at the dinner recorded Rav Aharonson's words. The Rav explained how the last Jews to live in the Shomron were exiled with the ten tribes because of the sin of idolatry. And from then (2500 years ago) until now (1985), it never had another permanent settlement. He told the audience that some of those who were resettling the area were the neshamas of those who had been exiled and had returned to make a tikun.

"So what's the tikun? He says like this. There'll come a time that an enormous Kidush Hashem will come out of Imanuel. Enormous! And he's saying this in 1985. And that would be the tikun for the avoda zarah. Now, they're all sitting and listening to him and they're saying what in the world is he talking about? Imanuel? A dwarf? It's a little village. What kind of Kidush Hashem is he talking about because you need a MASSIVE Kidush Hashem to mae a tikun for the ten tribes.... And this is going to happen right before Mashiach! This is what he says and no one understood what he was talking about."

Rabbi Kessin then went on to explain in great detail why he believes that the recent battle between the Chareidi parents in Imanuel and the Israeli High Court was the "enormous Kidush Hashem" referred to by Rav Aharonson.

B'kitzur, the Court, acting against all reason and their own self-interests, pushed the issue as far as they did, knowing that it never was a matter of discrimination and they basicaly demanded that the Chareidim bow down to the court and obey it even if it contradicted Torah Law and the instructions of the rabbis.
The Chareidi parents said over and over again publicly that they would only obey Hashem and His Torah. They went to prison accompanied by 150,000 supporters made up of every group of Jews. Rabbi Kessin said, "And they did it b'simcha!" He said that it was an amazing display of achdut and acceptance of the Divine Will and a tremendous Kidush Hashem. And that it could be enough of a zechut for Am Yisrael to finally cancel the gezeirah of Tisha b'Av, especially since we have entered the Minchah period of the Creation Calendar.
"Bein ha'arba'im...yehiye ohr."

from the Blog Tomer Devorah
http://palmtreeofdeborah.blogspot.com/

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Using our tears to bring the Geulah.

We know that the source of all troubles and misery today is that we do not have the Bais Hamikdash.  Even though we know this with our brains, we tend to forget and mourn our own problems instead of the Bais Hamikdash.

This is a tremendous mistake. If we would reconnect to the source of our problems and use our tears and misery to show Hashem that we really want Geulah, Hashem will bring us closer to that time.

We can not waste our tears.  Tears are valuable.  There is a great piture in the sky collecting all tears that were shed for the Bais Hamikdash.  When those tears are all there and the piture is full, Moshiach will come.

heard in a Shiur by Rebbetzin Kalmanovitz

Why should my mourning make a difference?

What difference will our mourning for the Bais Hamikdash make when so many people before us- tremendous Gedolim mourned and davened for the Bais Hamikdash and it did not bring Moshiach.  Why should my mourning make a difference?

This is like a town where it is known for sure that there is a great treasure burried in a certain spot, so everyone does everything they can to dig for the treasure.  They bring tractors and shovels and they dig like mad.  But the treasure is much deeper then they think.  They keep digging but that generation all passes away before they reach the treasure.  Subsequint generations keep digging becasue they remember that there is a treasure there, but they also don't reach the treasure.  Now it is up to this generation to keep digging.  Some people think, "why bother digging, if the previous generations didn't find the treasure why should I think that I can find it?"

Little do they know that there is a thin layer of dirt that lies between them and the treasure.  They just have to try a little and they will get there.

We can't give up.  Moshiach is comming soon.  We all just have to keep davening and doing Mitzvahs and longing for the Bayis Shlishi.

Heard from a Shiur by Rebbetzin Kalmonovitz

A powerful mashal to help understand the Chorbun.

There was once a king who had a son who was terribly spoiled from all of the luxuries of the palace. The king knew that the only way to see that the prince would develop correctly would be to destroy the palace and send the prince out into the world. The king knew that all of his servants were waiting to grab the riches of the palace and gloat over the prince's tragedy. Since the king did not want to give the servants this nachas he announced that the palace was being knocked down to clear the way for a bigger and better palace. As all of the treasures were being removed, the bystanders and even the prince were shocked by the tremendous riches of the palace. Once it was being destroyed the prince finally understood what he lost but it was too late. The prince had to wander around the world waiting for the new palace to be built.

Needles to say, Klal Yisrael is the Prince, and the nations of the world are the servants.  Isn't it tragic that we had to be exiled to appreciate what we had.

heard from a Shiur by Rebbetzin Kalmonovitz

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The true meaning of the pain we feel on Tisha b'Av from R. Shimshon Pincus

We are not really lacking.  We have homes, we have children, etc.  But Hashem is lacking, and we are connected to Him.  We feel His pain, so to speak.  His children are scattered throughout the world.  Millions of them are so estranged that they do not even know He is their Father, Such Pain!  On Tisha b'Av we feel the pain of Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

from Gates of Emunah by R. Shimshon Pincus page 19
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