The Way of Strife

"Why do you elevate yourselves over Hashem's congregation?" [Korach 16:3]

Such is the nature of a dispute that is not for the sake of Heaven, noted R' Simchah Bunim of P'shischa. It blinds the eyes and closes the hearts of the quarrelers, so that they lose their common sense.

For the Torah testifies about Moshe Rabbeinu: "Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth." How could anyone possibly accuse him of possessing the contemptible trait of arrogance? Yet this is exactly what Korach and his assembly did, as the verse states: "Why do you exalt yourselves over the congregation of Hashem?"

Rather, this is the way of strife, the power of impurity that accompanies it totally corrupts an individual's intellect.

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The World's Obsession with Israel

Unless you are an Australian, you probably have no clue who Austen Tayshus is...... he is one of Australia's best-known comedians, real name Sandy Gutman .... and although he is someone I've known for most of my life through family connections, I rarely get to see him these days, but did manage to catch him on the "Q and A" show a couple of weeks ago, and just found there is a video of that show on You Tube.

If you begin watching at 40:00 mins on the video, you will see him in action, as a woman in the audience mentions the recent boycott of a Sydney council against Israel.... and Sandy [the one with the sunglasses] socks it to the anti-semitic guests on the show.   His comment [at 41:36] to anti-Israel Lee Rhiannon "Why are you so OBSESSED with Israel?" is something we would all like to know - why are all these people so obsessed with Israel?  And a special note about journalist and flotilla-participator Paul McGeogh's response to a question at 46:30 - where he tries, and fails, to justify his blatant anti-semitic journalism. 

For all those who missed the show, or for everyone who ever wanted to know, I'm posting the video here..... why is everyone so obsessed with Israel?  They don't really have a good answer, but at least the question was asked! Thank you Sandy.

Food for Thought

I remember hearing a shiur many years ago, one of the first shiurim I attended, given by Rabbi Mordechai Berger .... about the fact that when we are hungry, it is not that we desperately need the food we crave, but rather that our soul is craving to connect to Hashem, and through eating [and making the appropriate blessing on the food], we are enabling our soul to connect.   And that is why we feel hungry or thirsty several times a day, even though our body doesn't necessarily need all that food to survive.

It doesn't really matter what you eat [or drink] - your need to connect to Hashem will be achieved whether you eat a stick of celery or a giant piece of chocolate..... you will feel satisfied by either, because the goal has been achieved: your soul has re-connected to Hashem through the act of eating.

This has been explained much better than I can in Rabbi Oliver's latest post The True Purpose of Thirst and Hunger

A Kind Word

by Rabbi Michoel Gourarie

Charity and kindness are of the most important aspects of Jewish tradition. The Talmud teaches that compassion and acts of goodness are the trademarks of the Jewish soul. Charity brings blessing, hastens the final redemption and is compared to all of the Mitzvot put together.

There are various forms of giving. We can assist someone in need with something tangible like money or gifts. Another form of kindness, of equal importance, is time. Spending time guiding, advising, motivating, or just being a listening ear are all legitimate ways to fulfill this important Mitzvah.

But there is another form of giving that is possibly even more powerful and important. It takes very little effort and yet does not receive the attention and importance it deserves. This is simply saying something small to someone in a way that makes them feel valued and respected. This can be achieved by saying a kind or uplifting word to someone feeling down or as simple as a warm "hello" greeting to a friend or even a stranger.

The Talmud teaches that he who gives a coin to a poor person receives three types of blessings. However, if he says a soothing word and makes him feel better, he is given eleven blessings. It also teaches that greeting someone properly brings the blessing of longevity.

Giving someone time or money fulfills an external need. They provide important support but don't address the inner essence of the individual. A kind word or a warm greeting respects their human dignity and inner soul. Every human being is created in the image of G-d and possesses a soul of Divine origin. Respecting and uplifting that person is recognition of his/her Divine imprint.

We might not all have a lot of time or financial resources to help others in big ways. But we can all take a few seconds to say something positive to someone else or to greet the neighbor, garbage collector or the mailman with a smile. These small acts of real kindness deepen relationships, and inject a positive energy and a flow of blessing into all of existence.

Leave a Message of Support for Gilad

On the eve of the fifth anniversary of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit’s capture, an online campaign launched in Australia and highlighting his continuing captivity by Hamas, has gone global.

The site Meet Gilad.com is the brainchild of Andre Oboler, director of the Community Internet Engagement Project at the Zionist Federation of Australia.

Its aim is twofold: to collect one million personal messages of support for Shalit from around the world, and to build a coordinated global network of organisations, which can work towards “goals of mutual interest”.

The Sins of the Father

Art: Marianne Caroselli

"He reckons the fathers' transgression to the sons' account, up to the third and fourth generations" [Shelach 14:18]

In explaining how children can be punished for the sins of their parents, R' Berechiah HaNakdan recounts the following parable:

A hungry wolf met a fox and desired to devour it.

"Why would you want to devour me?" asked the sly fox.  "I am thin and have few bones... go and devour a fat-fleshed human, and you will enjoy the feast."

"I cannot devour a human" replied the wolf, "as the verse states "Of every beast I will demand it" [Bereishis 9:5] - [this verse warns beasts against killing people - see Rashi there]

The fox cackled and said "You have nothing to fear, for it is not you who will receive the punishment, but your children, as the verse says "He reckons the fathers' transgression to the sons' account."

The wolf was persuaded by the fox, and it began to search for a human.  On the way, it fell into a trap laid by hunters.  The wolf began yelling for help.  When the fox heard the calls of the wolf, it carefully approached the wolf.

"You liar!" screamed the wolf.  "Did you not say that only my children would get punished for my sins?"

"Fool that you are" replied the fox, "You are also not getting punished on account of your own sins, but for the sins of your fathers."

"How could that be?" screamed the wolf....."Why would I suffer for what others have done?"

"And why did you set out to devour humans?" queried the fox.  "Was it not because you were counting on the fact that it would be your children who would suffer for your sins? Since you felt it was fair that your children bear your sins, it is only fitting that you bear your fathers' sins!"

A child, concluded R' Berechiah, is only punished for his father's sins if he is guilty of the same sins.  This is because an individual's punishment is meted out measure for measure. When someone emulates the sinful ways of his father, without concern that his children will receive punishment on account of his sins, he too gets punished for the sins of his fathers.

If this is true of the negative, how much more so is it true of the positive: when a righteous son follows in the ways of a righteous father, he will certainly be rewarded for the good deeds of his father!

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Gift of Self

In the city of Lizhensk, where Rabbi Elimelech taught, there is a steep rocky hill with a cliff known as "Rabbi Elimelech's Table". Yaakov-Yitzchak ish Horowitz, the famous Seer of Lublin, used to climb up there when he was young. He would sit alone and meditate for hours on the meaning of true humility, and how the nullification of the ego could be achieved.

One day, while he was deep in his meditations, Reb Yaakov came to the conclusion that the only way to give himself completely to G-d was to literally offer up his own life. So he went to the very brink of the ledge and looked down, intending to throw himself onto the rocks below.

But a friend named Zalke had secretly followed him up the trail from the village and was hiding in the bushes, watching. When he realized that Reb Yaakov was about to commit suicide, Zalke ran toward him, grabbed him by the belt, and pulled him back from the ledge to safety. Then Zalke remained there with his friend for a long time, comforting and encouraging him to remain in this world, until he had finally talked his soul out of its grim purpose.

Years later, after Reb Yaakov had become known as the Seer of Lublin, his old friend Zalke - now Rabbi Zalke - went to visit him. As he entered the room, the Seer went up to him, took both of his hands in his, and gazed deeply into his eyes. Then the Seer said "My dear, dear Zalke, my friend, my life - I truly love you like a brother. This is because, in my soul's first incarnation on this earth, you were my father. But when I think back to what you did to me in Lizhensk - how you talked me into remaining in this sorrowful world - then I find I cannot love you as much."

Nevertheless, the Seer of Lublin did remain in this world, and lived to a ripe old age. At the wedding of his grand-daughter, Hinda, when the time came for the gifts to be announced, the aged Seer was sitting at the table with his head in his hands, and appeared to be asleep. Over and over the master of ceremonies kept announcing "And now for the wedding gifts from the bride's family...." and waited for the Seer to answer. But the Seer remained motionless and did not seem to hear. Then everyone became silent, and waited respectfully for him to wake up.

A half hour passed and the crowd was getting restless. So his son leaned over and whispered in his ear "Father, wake up - they are calling for you to announce the gifts from the bride's family". The Seer looked up with a start and replied "Then I give myself. After thirteen years, the gift will be brought."

The wedding guests were puzzled by this strange announcement. What on earth could it mean? Of course, there were other generous gifts from the bride's side, and the Seer's family hastened to announce them. But the strange incident remained in the minds of the people. A few years later, the Seer of Lublin passed away.

Thirteen years after the wedding announcement, Hinda bore a son, whom she named Yaakov Yitzchak after her deceased grandfather. When the boy grew up, he looked exactly like his famous grandfather, right down to the fact that his right eye was a little bigger than his left. It is said that he was the very same soul, come back to fulfill his promise to "give himself" for a wedding present.

Source: "Jewish Tales of Reincarnation" - Yonassan Gershom

Technically Challenged

Did you hear a click?

Rita and Frank were trying to take a photo to send to their friends for Frank's 84th birthday, but as Rita listened in vain for the traditional camera 'click' they ended up with a video instead, which - as they say these days - is now going viral.