Rabbi Kessin: Footsteps of Moshiach

I don't know when this was recorded but I think it is the latest shiur from Rabbi Kessin - it's probably things you have heard him speak of previously, but anyway here it is, for anyone who wants to watch it.  Thank you MQB for sending it to me.

The Secret Life of Queen Esther

A brilliant insight from the Lubavitcher Rebbe on ''Esther's Fast''

This women's class was presented by Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson on Tuesday Parshas Tzav, 12 Adar II, 5779, March 19, 2019 at the Ohr Chaim Shul, Monsey, NY

Adar The Month of Mazal

From the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe; adapted by Yehoshua Metzinger

When the archenemy of the Jews, Haman, was drawing lots for an opportune time to wage his personal war against the Jews, he was delighted that the date of the deadly decree fell in the month of Adar. The reason he was so happy was that he found that every other month on the Jewish calendar had some auspicious date to aid the Jewish people, but in Adar he saw that Moses passed away on the 7th. Haman was so sure that this date would cause misfortune for the Jewish people that he made Adar the deadline for the decree.What are the special qualities of Adar that grant the Jewish people good fortune…?

However, what Haman didn't know is that Moses was also born on the 7th of Adar, which made the month an auspicious one for the Jewish people, not only during the events of Purim but also today. How did the joy of Moses' birthday cancel out the misfortune that the 7th was also the day of his passing, and what are the special qualities of Adar that grant the Jewish people good fortune?

Adar is under the constellation of the fish. Haman saw nothing particularly lucky or beneficial in the constellation of the fish. He was threatening to swallow up the Jewish people like a fish swallows food. But he didn't see that there was a bigger fish, and that he would be swallowed up himself. Just as larger fish swallow smaller fish, so the tragedy of Moses' passing is swallowed up by his birth, for that joy is greater than the sadness of mourning.

The mazal…and the soul are in perfect alignment on that day…

How do we know this is so? The Lubavitcher Rebbe points out that a person's soul shines stronger on his or her birthday. The aspect of the soul that is contained within a person is actually a spark of the person's root Neshama, which stays above. This Neshama that is above the earthly Neshama is called "mazal". A person's mazal is stronger on the birthday because the mazal, which drips vitality into the soul, and the soul are in perfect alignment on that day.

Even though we all individually have birthdays, Moses's birthday is like the collective birthday of the Jewish people. How is this so? Because the leader of the Jewish people is equal to the Jewish people collectively. [Num. 21:21, Rashi] Since every generation has a spark of the soul of Moses, his birthday is also the birth of the essence of the souls of the Jewish people. This is why the mazal of the Jewish people is stronger in Adar.

Adar is also the month of completion, rectifying the lunar year to the solar cycle and readying us for revelation. In leap years there are two Adars. In such a year, what was incomplete reaches its full potential. Just as the Jewish people are frequently compared to the moon, Adar is an auspicious time to reach one's spiritual potential.

Also, the two Adars together have 60 days. If an unkosher liquid falls into a pot, the mixture can still be considered kosher if the unkosher part is less than a ratio of 1/60. The 60 days of these two months reflect the ability of this number to nullify negativity.

But the sages have said that the Jewish people are beyond mazal and there is no ('ein' in Hebrew) constellation that is associated with them. This is why the Jewish people were able to show such self-sacrifice on Purim, and at all times; the capacity for self-sacrifice is beyond logic.

This greatness is hinted in the name of Adar which is spelled alef, dalet, reish. The alef represents the power of G‑d, which may seem to be separate from everyday existence. The dalet and reish form the word "dar", which means "to dwell". The alef, or G‑d's unlimited power, aims to create a dwelling place in this limited world.

Adar is a propitious month…for joy…

Moses tried to accomplish this in the last seven days of Adar when he worked to build the Tabernacle. The Shechinah wasn't revealed in the Tabernacle, so he kept rearranging and rebuilding it. Finally, on the last day, the Shechinah was revealed in the Tabernacle. The last seven days of Adar during which Moses spent building the Tabernacle correspond to the seven generations during which the Shechinah was not revealed. G‑d's intention was that he should have a dwelling place in this world, and this was being accomplished at the end of Adar.

Haman's mistake in thinking that Moses' passing ruined the month of Adar for the Jewish people was actually to our benefit; he chose to set the decree in the month of the greatest mazal for the Jewish people. This teaches us that Adar is a propitious month for protection, for improving ourselves and for joy, which reaches greater and greater levels as we progress through the two Adars.

Source: Chabad

Sweetening Judgments

Art OceanXGoddess

from the writings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

When the messengers who bring suffering are despatched, they are made to take an oath: that they will neither set out nor return except on such and such a day, at such and such a time, and only [carry out their mission] by using the designated means. However, repentance, prayer and charity have the power to nullify [the enactment of] this oath.

Reciting the Torah chapters concerning the Choshen, the Breastplate [Exodus 28:15-30; 39:8-21] is a tikkun [rectification] for harsh judgments.

A person who suffers affliction should give charity. This charity will be considered as if it were a fee paid to a judge for his services, which when accepted, nullifies the verdict's validity. And through this his suffering will be alleviated.

When a person rebukes his friend for the right motives, he has a thread of loving-kindness drawn over him.

A person who does not accept rebuke will experience suffering.

To sweeten harsh judgments, recite Psalm 39 and Psalm 77.

When the nations have issued an evil decree against the Jews, Psalm 62 should be said.

A person can determine and understand his sins from the suffering which he experiences.

There are four things which abolish harsh decrees: Tzedakah [charity], crying out to G-d, changing one's name and improving one's conduct.

Crying out to G-d helps the individual only prior to the final decree.

A person's accusers are beaten off by the study of Torah.

A final decree accompanied by an oath cannot be abolished, even for the sake of an entire community.

The effects of a decree against a person apply only in a specific place. He can save himself by changing his location.

A person should tell others of his anguish so that they will pray for mercy on his behalf.

Accepting suffering with love is like bringing a sacrifice.

A person who falls down while walking should see this as a sign of a downfall on a spiritual level. Falling down while walking sometimes serves to nullify a pronouncement of death which has been issued against the person.

A person who finds himself suffering from harsh judgment should make it a habit to gaze at the Heavens.

The Holy One exonerates the person who teaches righteousness to the wicked.

A man of truth receives G-d's lovingkindness undisguised by judgments.

Trust in G-d sweetens judgment and draws down loving-kindness.

Through faith [emunah] it is possible to convince G-d to follow your will.

Iran Plans and God Laughs

Yesterday there was an article in the Yeshiva World News stating that Iran planned to detroy the kevarim of Mordechai HaTzadik and Esther HaMalka and replace it with a Palestinian Embassy, G-d forbid.

Today on Twitter: #BREAKING: Security forces of #Iran's Islamic Regime including #IRGC Ground Force are now sending their troops and military equipment including these MRAPs to the city of #Qom in-order to establish military curfew over #CoronaVirus outbreak and death of two people in the city!

Another video shows arrival of the MRAPs of #IRGC Ground Force at the entry points of the city of #Qom for military curfew and closure of main roads to the city over the #CoronaVirus outbreak in the city!

Crazy Light Show Last Night

We had the most amazing lightning last night, I was mesmerized.  The night sky lit up, on and on and on, never seen anything like it, and we have a lot of storms here but this one was something else again.

Here's a video that will give you some idea

Rabbi Kessin: Current Events and Messianic Process

Just in, shiur given Feb 16.

Discreet Tzedaka

by Rabbi David Hanania Pinto

 "When you lend money to My people, to the poor person who is with you" [Mishpatim 22:24]

The word 'עמך', who is with you, seems to be superfluous?

The sefer 'Lekutei Hamelitz', written by Rabbi Meir Laniado zt"l, offers a beautiful explanation: The Gemara says [Chagigah 5a], that one who gives charity to the poor must do so secretly. However, one who lends money to his friend, should do so specifically in the presence of witnesses, for if not, he transgresses the prohibition of, "You shall not place a stumbling block before the blind", for the borrower may forget about the loan and deny that he borrowed money.

The precise wording of the verse expresses this idea clearly: 'עם כסף תלוה את עמי', when you lend money to My people, meaning if you lend money to your friend, you should do so with 'עמי', meaning in front of witnesses. But if you are donating charity to the poor, this should be carried out discreetly, which is implied by the wording, 'את העני עמך', specifically 'with you', and not in front of others.