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Holidays
Essays on the weekly Torah portion, the holidays and Jewish thought.
Essays
E-Lights Sukkot – The Sukkah: Between the Collective and the Individual Does the Sukkah commemorate the Clouds of Glory or the booths our ancestors lived in? Two opinions, and two dimensions of Jewish existence. E-Lights Rosh Hashanah – When Shabbos Replaces the Shofar When Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbos we do not sound the shofar. How, then, do we coronate G-d as our King? Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah Menorah and the Mezuzah Where does one light the Chanukah Menorah? In many communities the custom is to light it near a window so that it can be seen from… Holidays BEIRACH – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 14) When we are ready to recite the Birkat Hamazon, as we do whenever we eat bread, the meal has come to an end. In the context of the… Holidays HALLEL – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 15) Although we have already recited half of the Hallel (the special Psalms of praise to extol G-d for His miracles) before the meal,… Holidays Introduction – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 1) The Seder, as its name suggests, is an orderly ritual; so orderly, in fact, that even before we start the Seder, an outline of its… Holidays KADESH – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 2) We open each Seder with recitation of the Kiddush, just as we do at the onset of every Shabbat and major Jewish holiday. During… Holidays KARPAS – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 4) The third step, Karpas, consists of dipping a vegetable in salt water. (Customs vary as to which vegetable is used. In some… Holidays KOREICH – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 11) The creation of a sandwich is attributed by some to an 18th century English aristocrat. As Jews, we know that it goes back at… Holidays MAAGID – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 6) The tone has been set. We know that we are holy. We know that we have the need to cleanse ourselves by allowing the holiness we… Holidays MARROR – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 10) After we have internalized the dynamic and liberating force of G-dly awareness, it would seem that we should be able to revel in… Holidays MATZA – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 9) In the next step of the Seder, we recite a blessing that praises G-d for giving us the Mitzvah/commandment to eat Matzah. In other… Holidays MOTZIE – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 8) After washing our hands, we begin the process of internalizing the message of spiritual freedom by eating the Matzah. However,… Holidays NIRTZA – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 16) Unlike the previous 14 steps, this last and final step does not manifest itself in any prayer or action. We have reached a point… Holidays RACHTZA – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 7) Before we partake of the Matzah, we wash our hands a second time. If washing the first time was about removing the impurities that… Holidays SHULCHAN OREICH – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 12) A “set table” is a reference to the festival meal that we are obliged to eat every Shabbat and Jewish Holiday. But the festive… Holidays TZAFUN – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 13) Following the meal, we eat the Afikoman (the larger half of the middle Matzah that we broke and then hid away in Yachatz). Tzofon… Holidays U'RCHATZ – 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 3) Washing the Hands After reciting the Kiddush, we wash our hands before dipping a vegetable in salt water, the next item of the… Holidays YACHATZ- 15 Steps of the Seder (Part 5) The fourth—yet still preliminary—step is the breaking of the middle Matzah. We break the Matzah at this point because it sets the… Holidays Response To 911 Our minds and hearts have been numbed. We have all become victims of history’s most heinous terrorists act. We are now grieving… Holidays Chanukah – A Heavenly Symphony Of all the Holidays, Chanukah stands out because it reveals a deeper part of our soul’s treasure than most other Holidays. This will dispel the myth that Chanukah is a minor holiday. A Holiday that can touch and kindle the soul of can touch soul of every Jew and reveal the uncontaminated core of eve Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and Jewish Education (2) Only by preserving the integrity of Torah, by giving our children a Torah education that emphasizes its relevance to our lives, can we dispel the darkness of exile and usher in the ultimate Redemption. At that time, G-d will remove all the impurity from the world and “the world will be filled with t Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and the Light of Moshiach True light – the light of the first day of creation; the light of Chanukah – is defined as the ability to see the inner dimension of existence. Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and Education In Jewish education, there are times when a child (and the child within us) has to know that he or she must search, probe, question and seek answers. Never be satisfied with what we now understand. The child must also know that there are certain things that are elusive; they are beyond us and for wh Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and Throwing Joseph Into the Pit Lighting the Menorah represents the introduction of truly sublime levels of spiritual light into our Earthly realm that transcends the normal levels of spirituality. The ultimate goal is to make the transcendence “visible” and accessible to the lower levels, so that everyone is illuminated and basks Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah and Tradition Chanukah is an obsession with optimism, excellence, hope and certainty. An attitude like this can only exist for those who Judaism is a part of life. When it comes to life, we don't want compromised life. We want and we seek to live our lives to the fullest. Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah Deleted! Chanukah is the defeat of those who wanted us to forget. Forgetfulness is a product of alienation from our G-dly soul. Tanya explains that the reason we forget is because our Animal Soul governs us. Because it is a natural soul, it follows the laws of nature for things to continually deteriorate and Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah: Major or Minor Leagues? The light of Chanukah is representative of the light G-d created the first day of creation. This light was not sunlight but a spiritual force too powerful for an imperfect world to experience and enjoy, so, our sages tell us, G-d concealed this light for the future Messianic Age. However, when the H Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah “R” Rated (Restricted) for Children Only Adults Must Be Accompanied by a Child CHANUKAH “R” RATED (RESTRICTED): Chanukah is a children’s holiday. The very word Chanukah derives from the Hebrew word “chinuch”… Holidays Chanukah – Chanukah: Vive Le Light It is not enough for us to realize our natural potential – symbolized by the number seven, the highest number in the natural order. Even as we light the seventh light, we observe an empty space on the menorah for an eighth light. It beckons and challenges us to beyond our nature and realize the clim Holidays Chanukah – Eight and Not Seven The very essence of Chanukah is praise and thanksgiving and not just joy. Lighting the menorah – as an expression of praise and thanksgiving – is what characterizes the holiday and not just something that we do during Chanukah. Underlying this approach is the notion that the greatest form of thanksg Holidays Chanukah – Fat Is the Culprit When the Holy Temple was recaptured by the famed Maccabees, they searched for a bottle of oil that still had the High Priest's seal. Although they were allowed to use tainted oil, they would not do so, for then they would have won the war but lost the battle. Holidays Chanukah – Greek Darkness and Chanukah Light The Rebbe explains why the Greeks did not destroy the oil but only contaminated it with the Greek “touch.” Their objective was to remove the sanctity from the Temple and all of Judaism. Holidays Chanukah – Inside and Outside In previous generations, the “outside” started at the entrance to our homes. If there was any darkness, it was not coming from within. אhe Chanukah lights that were kindled on the entrances of our homes had the positive effect of bringing some light into the “street.” Holidays Chanukah – Transforming the Rebels The objective of the lighting of the Chanukah lights goes well beyond dispelling the darkness associated with rebelliousness. Its true goal is to transform defiance into an extraordinary and unconventional positive force. Holidays Yom Kippur – Feasting and Fasting Everything possesses spiritual energy. But, G-d deliberately hid much of this energy so that we, the human beings, utilizing our intelligence and choice to do good, can discover that energy and then unleash it. Where does G-d hide this spiritual energy? In levels of existence that are lower than the Holidays Yom Kippur – It Depends Who You Ask – Yom Kippur Meditation (2) From G-d’s perspective, Teshuvah can bring atonement. G-d’s utter transcendence renders the blemish harmless. To access this transcendent level of G-d, before whom sin is irrelevant, we must arouse a similar transcendent response from within our soul. Holidays Yom Kippur – Kol Nidrei In these tumultuous times that we find ourselves, we are witness to a new phenomenon: unprecedented good alongside unprecedented evil. This phenomenon is explained in Chassidic texts as an indication that we are on the threshold of the ultimate Redemption. It is a time that is characterized by the e Holidays Yom Kippur – Rising Above Time Instead of just focusing on our past misdeeds or on resolving for the future, on Yom Kippur we discover who we really are now. Our essential bond with G-d is revealed. When we know who we are, regretting the past and resolving for the future are no longer the overriding issue. Being a Yom Kippur per Holidays Yom Kippur – Teshuvah – The Art of Return When one expresses remorse for his or her actions, the emotional experience of remorse can counter the emotions that one experienced while he or she committed the forbidden act. When we confess verbally, however, the physical act of speech is endowed with the power to neutralize the forbidden action Holidays Yom Kippur – The One and Only On Yom Kippur the most unique level of the soul, called the Yechidah, can be reached and expressed. This explains why, only on Yom Kippur, we pray five different prayers. These five prayers are designed to reveal all of the five levels of the soul, including yechidah. Holidays Yom Kippur – Yom Kippur and Sukkos: The Link There is an obvious reason for the sense of urgency conveyed by the requirement to build the Sukkah immediately after Yom Kippur. One should always connect a resolution for the good to something concrete. If time is allowed to elapse between the time when one makes a commitment for the good, albeit Holidays Yom Kippur – Yom Kippur Meditations Talking about Redemption serves the same three functions as confession of sins: It reveals our faith in the coming of Moshiach; It strengthens our faith in the coming of Moshiach; It creates a feeling and yearning for it even if they did not previously exist. . Holidays Rosh Hashanah – A Truly New Year! When the two days of Rosh Hashanah are followed by Shabbos—three consecutive days of holiness—it represents a qualitatively higher form of holiness. An event that recurs three times establishes a chazakah (literally: a strong fact), an established and entrenched reality. And just as the head control Holidays Rosh Hashanah – All Sevens Are Precious Rosh Hashanah, as the beginning of the seventh month, expresses the need to find meaning and purpose in all that preceded Rosh Hashanah. All of our last year’s good deeds resemble a cacophony of disparate notes and musical sounds. Rosh Hashanah is the Maestro who unites them into one beautiful symph Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Breaking Down the Gates The Ba’al Shem Tov once remarked: Liturgy can be compared to a key that opens the gates of heaven for us. However, prayer that is said with sincerity and heartfelt emotion is like an ax that can break through any gate and barrier. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Giving the Year a Head Rosh Hashanah is when we coronate G-d as our King. Without our involvement on Rosh Hashanah to proclaim Him as our King the world will not be the same. G-d will continue to keep the world going, but His “head and heart” will not be in it. Rosh Hashanah gives the entire cosmos a head; a G-dly sense o Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Day of Judgment Rosh Hashanah is more than a solemn day of judgment. It is the day which determines not only the life of nature for the New Year, but the very nature of life as well. All of this depends on our acceptance of, and enthusiasm for, G-d as our King, on Rosh Hashanah. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Happy “Two” Year The weekly Sabbath primarily speaks to our relationship with G-d. The Sabbatical year, by contrast, extends to our relationship with others as well. All of our produce (in the Land of Israel) must be left Hefker (free for all) to take and we may no longer collect the money owed to us (without a Pruz Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Our Father Our King The shofar was chosen, not in spite of its simplicity, but because of it. The shofar symbolizes and expresses the simple, incorruptible and essential nature of the soul which is connected to the "simple" and essential aspect of G-d. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Rosh Hashanah: A Day of Delight Every Rosh Hashanah, our sages tell us, the process of creation comes to an end. G-d’s delight in being the King of the world is no longer a foregone conclusion. It takes our efforts on Rosh Hashanah, of proclaiming G-d as our King, and especially the blowing of the Shofar, to get G-d to once more d Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Rosh Hashanah and the Monarchy A true king, by definition, is the most powerful, aloof, detached and exalted being. There can be no greater gap between two entities as the gap that exists between a king and his subjects. The king is also, paradoxically, the most devoted, attached and connected being, whose entire essence is his d Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 10b What Happened on Rosh Hashanah? R. Eliezer says “The world was created in Tishrei. In actuality, the creation of the world occurred 6 days earlier on the 25th of Elul. Rosh Hashanah, the first day of Tishrei, is actually the anniversary of the sixth day of creation; the day in which the first man was created. Without humanity, cre Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Rosh Hashanah Text for Jewish Meditation “Abraham was one,” means that Abraham popularized the concept of G-d’s unity into the world. This concept was actually introduced on the first day of the seventh month, the day of Adam’s creation. Upon his creation, on Rosh Hashanah, Adam, declared to the entire universe, “G-d is King. He has garbed Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Teshuvah: The Power of Return True regret involves taking full responsibility for one’s misdeeds. To regret the past and then give excuses for oneself, misses the whole point of Teshuvah. For Teshuvah to be complete, one must take full responsibility for one’s actions. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – The Cry of the Child Many thousands of Jews, even those who had no knowledge of Judaism and no interest in it, would nevertheless choose death rather than abandoning their G-d when they were confronted with the option to convert to another religion or die. This inner G-dly spark is ignited with the sounding of the Shofa Holidays Rosh Hashanah – The Head Rosh Hashanah is more than just a day designated for certain rituals and services. The day itself has a soul and life of its own. And depending on how we show respect for the awesomeness of the day, we will be blessed with a good and productive year. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – The Prosecution Rests Sounding the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah, Maimonides writes, is to awaken us from our involvement in worldly pursuits and to alert us to our responsibilities as Jews. The Shofar reminds us as to what is truly important in our lives and rouses us to sincerely turn to G-d. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – The Three Questions Joy and Introspection are both imperatives. Torah reveals the secret how they can coexist. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – The Unshofar (2) Shabbos is not only a day of the week, it is also a mindset. There can be two distinct—legitimate—views of life: A weekday perspective and a Shabbos perspective. The “weekday person” views himself or herself as a product of the world and the environment in which he or she lives, where Shabbos is an Holidays Rosh Hashanah – The Year of Salvation, Delight and Moshiach The Ba’al Shem Tov would frequently encourage us to break through the internal barriers that prevent us from expressing all of our latent potential, and to even go beyond our capabilities in doing good in all matters that involve our relationship with G-d and our relationship with others. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – The Unshofar The Shofar works primarily because it jolts us out of our reverie. There are certain times, however, when we need to be awakened not by the jolting sound of a Shofar, but by the loving caress of a day that is permeated with delight, joy, peace, rest and tranquility, the qualities of Shabbos. Holidays Rosh Hashanah – This Is What It's All About! All Jewish holidays occur on the anniversary of some major historical event. What event does Rosh Hashanah immortalize? The answer is: “This is the day that is the beginning of Your work.” This day is not just an historical event, it is the day that the very concept of history, along with all else t Holidays Rosh Hashanah – What’s New? The new opportunity of Rosh Hashanah guarantees that all of the negative experiences of the past year do not impede our ability to turn over a new leaf. A new surge of Divine energy on Rosh Hashanah makes it possible for us to begin a new life, despite our past shortcomings. The new energies of Rosh Holidays Rosh Hashanah – Where’s My Head? Many of life’s challenges relate to the influence of others. Without realizing it, we follow blindly the fads that have been established by people we do not know or respect. The message of Rosh Hashanah-The Head of the Year is that we should truly be heads and not tails. We must use discernment as t Holidays Sukkos – Detachment The requirement of using detached branches to cover the Sukkah is to repudiate the pantheistic conception that equates G-d with nature. While G-d can be found in nature, and manifests Himself within it, G-d is not synonymous with nature. He created it and He transcends it. Holidays Sukkos – Global Warming of the Future Conceptually, each and every Mitzvah enables us to enter into G-d’s Sukkah, i.e., G-d’s abode, one Mitzvah at a time. However, a single Mitzvah gets us only part way into the Divine Sukkah. The Mitzvah of dwelling in a Sukkah allows us to enter G-d’s Sukkah completely. Holidays Sukkos – Sukkos: The Three Varieties The Sukkah that has three complete walls, but is open on one side—represents the individual who has a solid base— much like the letter chaf that has a bottom line that gives the letter support—but is nevertheless open to all the alien and threatening influences from the outside. This individual, whi Holidays Sukkos – Seeing, Hearing, Smelling, Touching and Eating G-Dly Energy Judaism is simultaneously the least demanding and the most demanding religion. It is the least demanding because even one Mitzvah lasts a lifetime. Yet, Judaism paradoxically demands that we never limit ourselves. It demands of us to do everything with our “everything.” This paradox is represented b Holidays Sukkos – The Eternal Embrace Sukkos is when we celebrate the "victory" we enjoyed on our Day of Judgment. We carry the Lulav (Palm branch) because, our sages tell us, its scepter-like appearance is a symbol of victory. Sukkos is when we "throw a party" for all of the bounty we received from G-d during the High Holy Days. Holidays Sukkos – The Four External and Internal Lights The Sukkah is the symbol of the future Messianic Age. Its four walls are expressive of four agents that brings us to the period of Redemption. They are Teshuvah, Tefilah, Tzedakah and Torah. Hence the ideal four wall configuration construction of the Sukkah alludes to these four agents of Redemption Holidays Sukkos – The Four Meditations The Midrash connects each of these four species to G-d. The four species are four meditations about G-d. G-d I reveled through nature (Esrog), His commandments (Lulav), the existence of the Jewish people (Myrtle) and His support of the widow, orphan and the downtrodden (Willow). Holidays Sukkos – Outside in Whatever we experience through the sounding of Shofar on Rosh Hashanah manifests itself during the days of Sukkos. On Rosh Hashanah we ask G-d to be our King and show us His delight in maintaining an intimate relationship with us. During Yom Kippur we remove any and all impediments to our relationsh Holidays Sukkos – The Perfect Esrog The Esrog tree and its fruit have the same taste. This suggests that the means (the tree) should not be different from the end (the fruit). Much of our lives are spent on the means of things. Torah, however, does not separate between the means and the end. The means are also endowed with G-dly purpo Holidays Sukkos – The Season of Our Rejoicing Sukkos is the primary Festival of joy. True joy is experienced only when there is a spiritual component to it. Any other form of happiness is more like a drug that provides one with a fleeting sense of satisfaction. True joy is defined by the degree to which our inner-G-dly- self is allowed to surfa Holidays Sukkos – The Total Holiday Dwelling in the Sukkah is the only Mitzvah that involves the entire person. Even one’s clothing and boots are invited into the Sukkah. Although the water of the Mikveh envelops the entire person, we do not immerse ourselves while clothed and the immersion is of short duration. We certainly don’t “dw Holidays Sukkos – The Three Names of Sukkos When we leave our comfortable homes and enter the fragile Sukkah that is unprotected from the elements, we demonstrate that the commitments we made on Yom Kippur were genuine and enduring. When the Jew goes against the natural order of “ingathering” and goes out with his food and other needs into th Holidays Sukkos – Unity Within Unity In the Messianic Age we will experience two forms of unity in their fullest. We will all enter in one figurative Sukkah in which we are all seen as one. On the other hand, each of us will realize the fullness of his or her individual qualities. Yet, all of these qualities that reside in different cl Holidays Sukkos – We’ll Build This Fourth Wall and We’ve All Paid for It! The Midrash explains that the Torah begins with the letter beis to convey the message that the creation of the world is similar to the beis: it is contained on three sides, leaving the fourth side open. Knowing from the very outset that the world is incomplete because of the open side helps us under Holidays Sukkos – Where’s the Table? No nation’s existence seemed to be more precarious than ours. Yet, miraculously, no nation has enjoyed such G-dly protection and shelter. We have this incredible power of resiliency that is unmatched by any other group. We have seen G-d’s protective power in the most obvious and overt manner just as Holidays Sukkos – Yom Kippur and Sukkos: Three Links Both Yom Kippur and Sukkos enable us to “touch” the unknowable. The difference is that the cloud created on Yom Kippur was seen by the High Priest exclusively who alone entered into that inner precinct of the Temple. During the Holiday of Sukkos, however, the mystery of G-d’s hidden-ness and other-n Holidays Simchas Torah – Beracha – Bereishis The second set of Tablets, did not radiate the same Divine luminescence as the first set. They were actually intended to empower us to ultimately absorb a higher form of Divine light. Moses was given and transmitted far more Torah knowledge than he would have received and transmitted had he not shat Holidays Simchas Torah – Circles The closer we get to fathom the innermost aspects of Torah in which the Divine is exposed, the greater ability we have to break out of all confining and inhibiting elements. When that occurs, the joy is indescribable. Holidays Simchas Torah – Dancing Into the World of Moshiach! We are living in unique times. We are—despite our shortcomings as individuals—the most spiritually unique generation as well. In addition to the cumulative effect of all the generations before us, our generation has been given unique challenges. For better or for worse, we have met these challenges Holidays Simchas Torah – Dancing to Infinity! Yom Kippur constitutes the “ceremony” of marriage between G-d and the Jewish nation. The actual celebration takes place throughout the entire festival of Sukkos, reaching its crescendo on Simchas Torah. Marriage is initiated by the giving of a ring. Similarly the wedding celebration of G-d and His p Holidays Simchas Torah – Déjà Vu All Over Again Torah is much more than just a guide for life. Torah is the very blueprint of creation. The only way the world can function properly is when it conforms to the plan that was responsible for its very existence. To not follow the Torah is not just the wrong or immoral thing to do, it negates our very Holidays Simchas Torah – Dancing Leaves and Dancing Feet G-d does not manifest Himself where one’s ego leaves no room for Him. True joy can only be experienced when our emotional state is healthy and vibrant. However, the ultimate experience of joy is when we are in touch with our soul, our G-dly life. Holidays Simchas Torah – Jewish Spin Doctors The joy of Simchas Torah is not limited to the connection we enjoy with the Torah commensurate with our limited service. Rather, they joy is unlimited, because it derives from our intrinsic connection to Torah that comes from Above. This connection is beyond the parameters and confines of human ende Holidays Simchas Torah – Moses Is Alive and Well! Every one of us possesses a spark of Moses in our soul. There are times when this spark is ignited and our awareness of G-d is awakened. At times like these we feel spiritually empowered and we become passionate for G-d and for all that is G-dly. Holidays Simchas Torah – Party for Two Just as the Torah contributes to our knowledge, observance and holiness, we also contribute to the Torah. When a Jew studies Torah and puts his heart and soul in that study, the Jew instills a dimension of G-dly energy that we possess, exclusively, that enhances the power and holiness of Torah. Holidays Simchas Torah – Simchas Torah and the Power of a Jewish Custom Simchas Torah demonstrates our love for G-d’s Torah. It elicits an extraordinary measure of Divine pleasure, as it were. For it indicates that G-d is close to us and is not just an Authority figure. Holidays Simchas Torah – Restoring the Light Kadish must be recited with a Minyan. Kadish is cognate to the world kedusha, holiness and connotes a level of Divine energy that is detached from our realm of reality and accessibility. An individual cannot break out of his own reality and grasp something beyond his reach. Groups of ten—that repres Holidays Simchas Torah – The End Is Wedged in the Beginning When we conclude the Torah we begin anew. While returning to the beginning we start all over on an entirely new level. The Genesis that we will read this year after concluding the Torah is an entirely different Genesis from the one we read last year. Holidays Simchas Torah – The Jewish Master Card On Simchas Torah, as we dance with the Torah, we should feel secure in the knowledge that the Torah feels comfortable with us. The mere fact that the Torah is extending us “credit” is indicative of the trust the G-d, the Giver of the Torah, has in our ability to pay back all that we have “purchased” Holidays Simchas Torah – The Three-Plied Blessing Chassidus explains that a blessing obtained through prayer may not materialize in the most optimum and efficient fashion. Even the powerful and persistent prayer of the saintly Choni, did not yield immediate results. Torah, conversely, has the capacity to make the Divine blessings materialize quickl Holidays Simchas Torah – The Torah Celebrates with Us Simchas Torah has a twin meaning: We rejoice with the Torah and the Torah rejoices with us. We rejoice with the Torah because the Torah informs us about our obligations and instills meaning in our lives. We rejoice with the Torah because it tells us how our souls’ connection to G-d actually transcen Holidays Simchas Torah – Torah: Right and Left Torah can combine opposite traits and forces and create a beautiful mosaic. Torah is essentially beyond all form. It is G-d’s utter delight that transcends all of existence. It therefore has the power to manifest itself in any number of colors and notes. It can be on the right and it can be on the l Holidays Simchas Torah – Two Tiered Unity To express the idea of unity where the lowest becomes the highest, we express our joy through dance. When we dance, it is the feet that raise the head to higher levels, because the feet possess a quality that even the head does not have. To exemplify the level of unity that transcends division altog Holidays Simchas Torah – Visible to All Jewish Eyes The name of this parsha read on Simchas Torah, is Beracha, which means blessing. This captures the essence of Torah which is the the ultimate blessing. The Torah is not only the greatest form of blessing it is the ultimate source of all blessings! Holidays Simchas Torah – We Want to Be Close to Moses According to the Ba’al Shem Tov, our desire for food is rooted in our soul’s desire to extract the powerful hidden sparks of Divine energy embedded in the food. When eaten in the proper manner (kosher, with a blessing before and after eating, with the right intent to have strength to do more Mitzvos Holidays Shavuos – Blintzes with Discipline Why do we eat dairy foods such as Blintzes on Shavuot? There are many answers to this question, but the following one provides us… Holidays Shavuos – Desert Storm Location, Location, Location History is replete with events of great significance. Of these, “Mattan Torah-The Giving of the… Holidays Shavuos – Echo-Less Shavuos is the anniversary of the most momentous occasion ever. On this day, over 3300 years ago, G-d revealed Himself to the… Holidays Shavuos – Honor Your Father and Mother Honor your father and mother, the fifth of the Ten Commandments (or, more precisely, the “Ten Statements”) appears in this week’s… Holidays Shavuos – Envy, Lust and Glory Torah is the greatest gift given to humankind. It was a hidden treasure that was finally revealed to the Jewish people at Mount… Holidays Shavuos – Immediately, If Not Sooner! The Holiday of Shavuos is first and foremost the anniversary of the day in which the Torah was given at Mount Sinai. Every Shavuos… Holidays Shavuos – Mazal Tov Bar Mitzvah MAZAL TOV BAR MITZVAH Shavuot is unfortunately a much ignored holiday, these days, partly because there are fewer rituals… Holidays Shavuos – Reverberation Shavuos is the anniversary of the most momentous occasion ever. On this day, over 3300 years ago, G-d revealed Himself to the… Holidays Shavuos – The Aleph of Judaism Shavuos is the anniversary of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. At that time G-d uttered the Ten Commandments that represent… Holidays Shavuos – The Echo-Less Sound of Torah Ii Torah is unique because it is G-d’s only direct communication with every Jew. Nature, although G-d’s creation, can only pick up an echo of His original voice. Holidays Shavuos – The Embrace of Sinai Shavuos, the upcoming Jewish Holiday, the anniversary of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, is arguably the most important… Holidays Shavuos – The Ultimate Audio Visual Experience EXPERIENCE For centuries, Judaism combined audio and visual instruments in its teaching of Judaism. From the time we received the… Holidays Shavuos – The Relentless Sinai Experience The upcoming holiday of Shavuos (of the year 5777-2017) marks the 3,329th anniversary of Mattan Torah-the Giving of the Torah at… Holidays Shavuos – Trees and Fruits and Moses Meets Moshiach MOSHIACH In many Jewish communities there is a custom to decorate the synagogues with branches and leaves of trees. One of the… Holidays Shavuos – To Embrace the Eternal Reasonable people will argue as to which is the most important Jewish Festival. Some will say, what difference does it really… Holidays Shavuos – Yes or No? Our sages describe the scenario of the giving of the Torah at Sinai in the following manner: When G-d would make an affirmative… Holidays Last Days of Passover – Don’t Stand on Ceremony PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – Double Vision PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – Silent! PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – Sing and Shine PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – The Horse and Its Rider PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – The Inner Song PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – The Last Day of Passover: The Bottom Line (Ii) PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – The Last Day of Passover: The Bottom Line PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – The Link PASSOVER PASSOVER Holidays Last Days of Passover – Three Jews, Four Opinions PASSOVER PASSOVER Pesach Haggadah – All Dressed Up and Ready to Go Pesach Matzah and Maror Passover - the Passover-lamb that our fathers ate during the time of the Beit Hamikdash - for what reason [did they do so]? Pesach Haggadah – Chad Gadya One of the hymns sung by many at the end of the Seder is the Chad Gadya hymn, although it is not included in the Chabad version of the Haggadah it is nevertheless considered to be a holy hymn with deep symbolic and spiritual overtones. Some of the greatest sages of the last few… Pesach Haggadah – Ask, Child On all nights we need not dip even once, on this night we do so twice! Pesach Haggadah – Four Cups Plus One This week’s Torah portion features the four expressions of Redemption: “I will take you out...rescue you...redeem you...take you... bring you to the land, and give it to you as a heritage.” The four cups we drink Passover night at the Seder were instituted by our sages as a… Pesach Haggadah – Innocent by Association Blessed is the Omnipresent One, blessed be He! Blessed is He who gave the Torah to His people Israel, blessed be He! The Torah speaks of four children: One is wise, one is wicked, one is simple and one does not know how to ask. Pesach Haggadah – It’s a Command! The wise one, what does he say? "What are the testimonies, the statutes and the laws which the L-rd, our G-d, has commanded you?" You, in turn, shall instruct him in the laws of Passover, [up to] `one is not to eat any dessert after the Passover-lamb.' Pesach Haggadah – Magid Tell the Story Freedom of Speech Pesach, our sages tell us, is more than just a commemoration of an ancient people’s drive for independence saga. One of the salient themes of the Seder is the need to feel as if we are actually the ones who are going through this liberation process. Quoting the Mishnah, the… Pesach Haggadah – Reach for the Highest: The Sky Is Not the Limit It happened that Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Elazar ben Azaryah, Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Tarphon were reclining [at a seder] in B'nei Berak. They were discussing the exodus from Egypt all that night, until their students came and told them: "Our Masters! The time has come… Pesach Haggadah – Staff Eats Staffs "And with signs," this refers to the staff, as it is said: "Take into your hand this staff with which you shall perform the signs." Pesach Haggadah – Shabbos Hagadol- Shabbos of Maturity There are many reasons given for the designation of the Shabbat that precedes Passover, as Shabbat Hagadol-the Great Sabbath. The primary reason given is that on the Sabbath immediately preceding the Exodus from Egypt the Egyptians were informed of the impending “tenth plague”… Pesach Haggadah – The Four Answers One of the significant aspects of the Seder is the emphasis we place on questions; specifically, the Four Questions. Pesach Haggadah – The Four Sons in Ascending Order Blessed is the Omnipresent One, blessed be He! Blessed is He who gave the Torah to His people Israel, blessed be He! The Torah speaks of four children: One is wise, one is wicked, one is simple and one does not know how to ask. Pesach Haggadah – The Seder: The New World Order The obsession with doing things in their proper order is exemplified in the Passover evening service known as the Seder, which means order. Despite the fact that the Passover Seder is devoted to the theme of freedom, which often implies the lack of order, freedom in Judaism… Pesach Haggadah – The Sixteen Sons? The wise one, what does he say? "What are the testimonies, the statutes and the laws which the L-rd, our G-d, has commanded you?" You, in turn, shall instruct him in the laws of Passover, [up to] `one is not to eat any dessert after the Passover-lamb.' Pesach Haggadah – The Ten Plagues (I) Blood. Frogs. Lice. Wild Beasts. Pestilence. Boils. Hail. Locust. Darkness. Slaying of the First-born. Pesach Haggadah – The Ten Plagues (Ii)-The Last Three Blood. Frogs. Lice. Wild Beasts. Pestilence. Boils. Hail. Locust. Darkness. Slaying of the First-born. Pesach Haggadah – The Ten Plagues (Iii) Blood. Frogs. Lice. Wild Beasts. Pestilence. Boils. Hail. Locust. Darkness. Slaying of the First-born. Pesach Haggadah – The Ten Plagues the First Step to Freedom Blood. Frogs. Lice. Wild Beasts. Pestilence. Boils. Hail. Locust. Darkness. Slaying of the First-born. Pesach Haggadah – This Is the Bread of Affliction “A Kosher and Happy Passover” This is the bread of affliction that our fathers ate in the land of Egypt. Whoever is hungry, let him come and eat; whoever is in need, let him come and conduct the Seder of Passover. Pesach Haggadah – Windows 2448-5776 man of seventy years old, yet I did not succeed in proving that the exodus from Egypt must be mentioned at night-until Ben Zoma explained it: "It is said, `That you may remember the day you left Egypt all the days of your life;' now `the days of your life' refers to the days,… Holidays Purim – Beauty Is in the Eyes of the Beholder Queen Esther, we all think, was a most beautiful woman and that that was the reason she was chosen by the Persian King… Holidays Purim – Fighting the Modern Hamans The Shabbos before Purim is known as Parshas Zachor, the Sabbath of Remembrance because during this Shabbos we read the selection… Holidays Purim – Building Bridges Whenever we find ourselves in an in-between period I cannot help but to reflect on our own “in between” place in history – in… Holidays Purim – Purim, Redemption and Transcendence TRANSCENDENCE Judaism is all about knowledge. We are enjoined to know G-d, to study Torah, to ask questions and to find answers.… Holidays Purim – L’chaim On Purim the sounds of the “L’chaim-to life” will reverberate throughout the Jewish world. The Rebbe once explained that the word… Holidays Purim – Purim the Greatest Holiday The myth is that Purim is a minor, minor holiday; a fun time. It certainly is not a serious or major Holiday. It has even been… Holidays Purim – Sleepless in Shushan (2) Purim is known for the miracles that are cloaked within nature. G-d did not reveal His power then in the manner of Passover with… Holidays Purim – The Miracle of Purim When we analyze the story of Purim we come to the conclusion that it was a rather natural event. A New York Times reporter who… Holidays Purim – The Elephant Hat A Purim Parady Holidays Purim – The Misfortune of Purim The Talmud makes an observation. Wherever the Torah uses the word vayehi-and it was it is an expression of misfortune or pain. It… Holidays Purim – To Drink or Not to Drink Purim and Shemini: The joyous Festival of Purim occurs, in some years in the week that we read the parsha of Shemini. (Leap Years,… Holidays Purim – Transformation As we enter into the joyous month of Adar, it is appropriate for us to reflect on the concept of joy as it pertains to this month… Holidays Purim – What’s the Point? Hamantashen are the staple of Purim, yet as Purim itself has been relegated, incorrectly, to the status of a minor holiday, so too… Holidays Purim – Who Comes to Whom? By Divine providence, the sixteenth of Adar, the first day after Shushan Purim, introduced a revolutionary phenomenon. That is…
