Asking Forgiveness From the Deceased

Question: In my past I wronged someone who is unfortunately no longer alive today. Is there any way I can make amends? 

Response: Rabbi David Rosenfeld [Aish]

As a matter of fact, the Talmud [Yoma 87a] discusses your exact situation. The proper way to make amends is to go to his grave accompanied by ten people and to publicly confess that you sinned to the God of Israel and to him and that you did such and such, and you beg his forgiveness. At the end the others respond three times "machul lach" [“it is forgiven to you”]. You should be barefoot during the course of this. 

If it is too far for you to travel, you can send a messenger to do the same, accompanied by ten people. He should state that he is the agent of so and so, and has come for the purpose of apologizing for such and such an act etc. 

If you have no way of knowing where he is buried or it would be very difficult to arrange a visit to his grave, you can gather ten people where you are and do the same procedure. My wishes that you achieve full atonement.

[Sources: Talmud Yoma 87a, Shulchan Aruch 606:2 with Mishna Berurah and Piskei Teshuvot]

Source: Aish

Also see How Can I Make Amends to a Deceased Person

The Three Levels of Tzadikim

In every generation there exists 36 tzadikim nistarim [hidden righteous men] - sometimes known as "the Lamed Vav-niks" - [Lamed Vav is Hebrew for 36], whose existence sustain the world.

When one of them dies, G-d finds another replacement.

A tzadik nistar is a hidden tzadik, whose righteousness remains unknown to his community. In every generation there are 36 tzadikim nistarim in addition to 36 revealed tzadikim. [see Leviatan and Behemot]. Together they combine to form the 72 "bridges" [corresponding to the 72 Names of G-d] described in the Zohar as linking together the concealed and revealed worlds. It requires tremendous self sacrifice for a tzadik nistar to reveal himself to the world. This was first accomplished in full by the Ba'al Shem Tov.

A tzadik is someone who has succeeded in fully overcoming the evil inclination of his animal soul [and has converted its potential into good] and who dedicates himself to spiritually elevating his people.

There are in general three levels of the tzadik:

1. A "complete tzadik" [tzadik gamur] who not only vanquishes in full his innate evil inclination, but even transforms it into good [for which reason he is referred to as tzadik v'tov lo," a tzadik who possesses only good].

2. An "incomplete tzadik" [tzadik she'eino gamur] who has not yet completed the task of vanquishing his evil inclination, though he has mineralized it in essence [for which reason he is called a tzadik v'ra lo," a tzadik who [still] possesses [a bit of] evil].

3. A "relative tzadik" [tzadik b'shem hamushal, or tzadik b'din] whose merits exceed his liabilities [see Tanya, chapt. 1].

Challah: Not Just Plaited Bread

A recent discussion on a  social media group caused some controversy as many Jewish women did not know the true facts about challah.

Someone asked where to buy challah..... and people responded by naming several local bakeries, one of which was not a kosher bakery and which was operated by a non-Jew.

So here are the facts.

Challah must be made by a Jewish person, and there is a very valid reason for this. The literal meaning of challah in the Torah refers to the commandment of hafrashat challah—setting aside and consecrating a small portion of dough to G-d before baking.   Only a Jew can do this setting aside and consecration of the small portion of dough.  

We separate challah dough to fulfill a biblical commandment [mitzvah] that originally provided a portion of bread dough to the kohanim [Jewish priests] serving in the Holy Temple. Because the Temple no longer stands, we now set aside and burn a small piece of the dough in remembrance of this practice, symbolizing that our sustenance comes from G-d and is not for our use alone. 

A non Jewish person does not have this obligation, and therefore even if they do it - which is highly unlikely as they probably don't know - it is not acceptable and does not fulfill the commandment. Only a Jewish person can make real challah.  Any other challah originating from a source that is not Jewish is not acceptable.

If you didn't know this, and have been buying your challot from a bakery where the baker is not a Jew, then don't worry, because you can rectify this situation by fixing the problem and going to a Jewish bakery.   By doing this, you will have done teshuva, and your past sin of buying the wrong [fake]challah will be turned into a mitzvah, because you have rectified the problem.

As Rebbe Nachman said: "If you believe you can damage, then believe you can fix.... if you believe you can harm, then believe you can heal."  That quote is at the top of my blog, although it is hard to read now, a bit blurry, but it's there.

Even non-Jews, Bnei Noach, who make a blessing over challah on Shabbat, should adhere to this rule, otherwise their challah is fake challah.

How to Perform the Mitzvah

The Separation of Challah

According to traditional Jewish law [Halacha], a non-Jewish person cannot perform the religious separation of challah [hafrashas challah], and any separation they attempt is considered invalid. Furthermore, dough that belongs to a non-Jewish person is exempt from the obligation of challah separation entirely.  

I hope no-one takes offence to anything written here, it is Torah, and there is no need to be offended.  

The Hidden Treasure

Art: Dima Dmitriev

''And from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him...'' [Va'Etchanan 4:29]

Chassidic thought teaches that in order for any entity to exist at all, God must renew it continually, by enlivening it with a spark of His own Existence.  Without being connected to God - the True Existence - the entity is unable to exist.  Thus, even the forces of evil must contain a Godly spark that enables them to exist.

But why, then, is it possible for the forces of evil to conceal this presence of Godliness within them?  

The answer is: To make possible the amazing elevation that can be reached through teshuvah.

When a person has regressed to a very low spiritual state, the Torah teaches us that ''from there [i.e. from amidst the forces of evil] you will seek God''.  

This teaches us that the Godly revelation which a person reaches through teshuvah is disproportionate to the effort involved, like ''finding'' a previously hidden treasure, as the verse states ''And you will find Him''.

Source: Lubavitcher Rebbe: Based on Ma'amer ani Ledodi, Shabbos Parshas Re'eh 5747

Handing the Keys to Moshiach

Rabbi Moshe Ben Tov [1930 - July 16, 2010] was a renowned Kabbalist, known for his unique ability to read mezuzot, earning him the title “Roeh Mezuzot,” or “the Mezuzah Seeker.” Through his extraordinary spiritual insight, Rabbi Ben Tov could discern the past and present conditions of individuals by examining their mezuzot. This practice made him a revered figure in the world of Jewish mysticism, and people from all walks of life sought his blessings and guidance.  

During  a visit to the Prime Minister's Office, Rabbi Ben Tov made a remarkable statement to Netanyahu.

“It is very important that your love of Israel continue until the Moshiach comes because you are going to stay in office and are going to meet him,” Rabbi Ben Tov said to Netanyahu. “You are the one who will give him the keys to this office.”                     

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