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.

Why are there so many tragedies in the summer?

A friend of mine's child was playing in a driveway near a large box of recycled glass.  Somehow the glass all shattered and spilled on the driveway and the child fell into the glass needing over 40 stiches.  First of all we have to learn that we should be very careful about our recycled glass.  The other message that her Rav told her is that in the summer many people take vacations so there is less Torah learning going on.  Torah learning provides a protection for Klal Yisrael.  Therefore we should all take some time to increase our learning this summer.

A Torah Perspective on today's Tragedy from a Shiur by Rebetzin Kalmonovitz

There are many lessons from the horrible tragedy of the young boy who was brutally murdered.   The first lesson is that we are still in Golus.  It is easy to think that here in America everything is wonderful and easy, but the reality is that this is Golus, and we have to daven for Moshiach and not get too comfortable in this Golus.  When Hashem gave us the Torah it was established that our children will be our guarantee for the future.  When our children are taken away from us, it shows that our Torah is in question.  We have to look for a source of protection for Klal Yisrael. 

When Balack wanted Bilam to curse the Jews, he could not do it.  Therefore Bilam advised Balack to get the Jews to sin through immorality.  When he succeeded in getting them to sin, thousands of Jews were killed in a plague.  We learn from this that the greatest protection that we have is our tznius.  We all have to examine ourselves to find ways of improving our tznius.  This does not just mean clothing, but in all parts of our lives. The way we talk, how we relate to people of the opposite sex in our work environment, our homes, and many other things.

When asked, "How do we explain this to our children" Rebetzin Kalmonovitz said, "This is a Korbon for all of our generation, this neshamah is going up to Shamayim with all of the Tehillim and Tefilos that were said on his behalf, which makes this Korbon even more valuable.  Because we don't have a Bais Hamikdash to bring a Korbon, this became a Korbon Tzibur to be mechaper for all of our avonos.   At a recent Kinus Rabbi Wosner in Eretz Yisrael said that when a man is learning in Kolel and his wife is not acting with the proper level of tznius, the zechus of the man's Torah learning goes to the wrong side.  People who are Klei Kodesh have to be especially careful of their tznius.

When asked, "How can we emotionally deal with the fact that this was done by a fellow yid?"  Rebetzin Kalmonovitz said that the Yidden are the Lev of the world.  When something this horrible can happen then it shows how sick the world is, and how badly we need to do Teshuvah.

Coping With Crisis

Rabbi Kirzner ztl teaches us that from this Kepital Tehillim we learn that during a time of crisis we often think that it is best to focus only on our physical nisayon and leave the spiritual for later.  When in reality we have to remember that by focusing on spiritual pursuits we will make our suffering more bearable.

Tehillim Psalm 63 - Coping With Crisis Kirzner ztl, Rabbi Yitzchak

The pain of seeing our mistakes.

Recently I have been going over my books preparing for an audit.  I found that the most difficult part was finding my own mistakes.  Looking back and saying, "How could I have made such a dumb mistake."  I suddenly realized that this is the pain of Gehenom (in a tiny way).  When we get to Shamayim and we see what we could have been it will be unbearably difficult.  I have resolved to try harder to live my life in such a way that I don't have to look back and see as many mistakes.  I hope that I can keep even a tiny part of this resolve alive.

Rebbitzen Kalmanowitz - Chovos Halevavos Shiur in Monsey

Every Wednesday at 10:45 at 6 Ash Steet this summer.  For more info contact tioablog@gmail.com.

The Gift of Abstinence

Thank You HaShem, words just aren’t enough
There’s no way I could have done this without Your love
I came to meetings and listened to people share
Made outreach calls to women who care

They said “keep coming back – the gift will come”
Gave me hope and encouragement when I had none
I wanted to do it my way but finally had to admit
I needed to let go of controlling life as I wanted it

I heard people with serenity and I wanted that too
But I couldn’t understand why I had to leave the food
Why can’t I eat what I want and connect to HaShem?
But no matter how I tried, I couldn’t be like them

I wanted to meditate, to get up early and daven
To say Brachos over food, and not need to repeat them
To be patient and kind and present for my family
to stop fighting with myself over food constantly

But I still had self will, and I couldn’t let go
Still kept on thinking I needed to run the show
And then suddenly it came – I really don’t know how
HaShem gave me the willingness to start right now

42 days later – I can’t believe it’s true
Abstinence is a gift that can only come from You
Weighed and measured, my food is clean
Nothing in between – not one little bean

It sounded so restricting, so harsh and so strict
But this freedom from choice is truly a gift
No more “i can have a little now – lunch was quite small”
Or “I really need more, I wasn’t so full!”

I now know clearly when the food thoughts come
That really I need to connect to someone
I turn to HaShem and ask what I should do
Trying to fulfil His Ratzon as a good Jew

I try to meditate each and every day
On three healthy meals – Brachos I say
I’ve got a long way to go in my Avodas HaShem
But I’m so grateful each day that I can start again

No longer am I going to bed so full of self-hate
Scared to wake up and deal with my “fate”
Struggling and struggling with no peace in sight
This way gives me clarity – it really feels right

I daven for you all that you’ll get the gift too
And that I’ll hold on to the willingness to do what I have to do ...

With much love to you all in recovery,

FROM AN ANONYMOUS READER

Kaporos Avonos(forgiveness from sin) without pain.

To the extent that we feel Hashem's love, we are zocheh to Kaporos Avonos.  When we do a sin we build a separation between ourselves and Hashem.  When we feel Hashem's love we melt those separations.

from a sefer by Rabbi Tzvi Meyer Silverberg.

To merit a hidden light that no angel can fathom.

The Chofetz Chaim quotes a midrash which states that every time a person refrains from engaging in forbidden speech, they merit a hidden light that no angel can fathom. And that midrash is talking about a single moment; one can only imagine what lies in store for a person who can hold back from speaking ill of others on a consistent basis. Obviously, we should strive for good behavior simply because it's the right thing to do. But if you need a little incentive, that's a pretty good one.

Remaining silent has divine origins. The Talmud (Gittin 56b) evokes the praise of God following the Second Temple's destruction as "mi kamocha ba'ilmim Hashem" - "Who is like You among the mute ones O God" (this is a play on words of the phrase "mi kamocha ba'eilim Hashem" - "Who is like You among the mighty ones, O God"). It is referencing how God remained silent in the face of the profane conduct of Titus. This is the Creator of the Universe we're talking about - and it's concerning the destruction of His home on earth - and yet He's willing to exercise restraint! All we have to do is let go of our egos a little bit and try in our own small way to emulate God's characteristics when someone happens to say or do something that personally offends us.



Making our displeasure known with those with whom we disagree is often not worth it. Do we really have to get in our two cents every time we come across some subjective difference with a fellow Jew? Even when someone has objectively hurt us in some way, we have to make sure that our subsequent behavior is constructive. Unless we're fairly certain that rebuking them would have a positive effect, it's best to maintain our composure and simply keep quiet. All we can do is make the best decision based on the information we have at the time. Sometimes we'll still make a poor choice despite thinking before speaking, but at least we'll be more cognizant of our behavior and less likely to hurt someone else.

We have to pick our fights in life. There are times when speaking up is extremely important. For example, when it comes to fighting evil - especially something as serious as radical Islamic terrorism - good people of all stripes must speak out and act. But in the micro realm of life, keeping quiet is usually the best way to go. For example, when it comes to relationships between individuals - especially people we see day in and day out - letting things go is often a wise choice. Routinely following this mode of behavior is a great way to keep the peace. We don't have to be passive; we just have to use some self-restraint.

Our generation greatly values people who speak their minds. In many respects, this has been a positive development. However, a better world will only be achieved when silence is valued just as much - if not more. As the proverbial saying goes, "speech is silver; silence is golden."

 

from:

http://levechad.blogspot.com/2011/06/silence-is-golden.html

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.

Tefillat HaShlah -

 The Shlah wrote that the eve of the first day of the Hebrew month of Sivan is the most auspicious time to pray for the physical and spiritual welfare of one's children and grandchildren, since Sivan was the month that the Torah was given to the Jewish people. He composed a special prayer to be said on this day, known as the Tefillat HaShlah - the Shlah's Prayer.

In 2011, the day for reciting the prayer falls on June 2, 2011, before sunset.

You can find it in Hebrew here:

http://www.shemayisrael.com/orgs/key/shlotfilaheb.htm

 

and in English here:

 

http://www.shemayisrael.com/orgs/key/shlotfilaeng.htm

Shavuos

for personal reasons I have been too busy to post so I am putting a link to previous Shavuos posts:

http://tiforoa.blogspot.com/search/label/Shavuos

The power of Tea

Since the only free "food" that I have is my herb tea I found this post very inspiring.  It is from Shirat Devorah http://shiratdevorah.blogspot.com/2011/05/rebbe-elimelechs-tea-mug.html

Rebbe Elimelech's Tea Mug

Reb Mordechai of Neschiz was a disciple of Rebbe Elimelech. When the Rebbe passed away, Reb Mordechai inherited the Rebbe’s tea mug. The Rebbe would say that when one drinks tea, he is in the spiritual realm of Asiyah, the World of Action, and he can do many things that otherwise he could not do.

Once, a barren woman asked Reb Mordechai to intercede on her behalf to Rebbe Elimelech that he should pray for her to bear children since the doctors had given up hope. “Go to him during tea time,” was Reb Mordechai’s advice. She did and received a blessing. Indeed, Reb Mordechai used to say, “Many barren women were blessed with children because their plight was mentioned to me while I drank tea from Rebbe Elimelech’s mug.”

The holy Rebbe Meir of Premishlan taught that this is hinted at in the prayer “Tehei hasha’ah hazos she’as rachamim — May this time be an auspicious time of mercy.” The word for “may,” תהא, can be read as תה, “tea.” Therefore the prayer can be read: “Tea time is a time of mercy.” In fact, the Gerrer Rebbe, the Chiddushei HaRim, used to say that Reb Mordechai of Neschiz was able to resurrect the dead using the tea mug of his Rebbe, Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk.

[Ohel Elimelech 130]

ps: I recently discovered :

Rooibos (Red Bush) is a reddish plant used to make an infusion and grown in South Africa. In the US it is sometimes called red tea. It has many of the antioxidant benefits of green tea, but because it does not come from tea leaves, it has no caffeine.

Join Rav Itamar Shwartz, shlita, the author Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh the week before Shavous to prepare for "Kabbalas haTorah."

To register for a Intensive Seminar  or for additional info please call 516.668.6397 or email info@bilvavi.us



Sunday May 29th - Flatbush -

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