Restoring Evil to Its Holy Source

"He forgives sins.... " [Ki Tisa 34:7]

The word for "forgive" here literally means "carry" or "lift". Based on this, the Baal Shem Tov taught that G-d elevates the sparks of holiness in the sin, for nothing - not even a sin - could exist unless it contained a spark of holiness. G-d returns them to their source. This is the essence of forgiveness.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi explained this idea as follows: It is indeed impossible to elevate a sinful act; such an act is evil, and the only proper treatment for it is to denounce it. 

In contrast, the power of desire vested in the act is not evil, for it is possible to utilize this power to desire good as well as evil. When we repent properly, we divest our power of desire of its veneer of evil and restore it to its holy source.

from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

Adapted by Moshe-Yaakov Wisnefsky

Purim 5783

Chag sameach everyone.  Sorry for the lack of posts, I haven't been feeling great lately, I think it is part of the suffering we all have to go through.

If you can't do much for Purim, at least give some tzadaka.  This can be done easily over the internet.  I know some people are homebound and may not even be able to hear the Megillah being read "live" and in person, unless they are fortunate enough to have someone come to their house and read it.

It seems a long time ago that I looked at a photo of a strange "planet" [moon?], seemingly covered in holes.  That same  planet is back again and starring in it's own cameo on the FAA Advisory camera.  It's part of the "Nibiru" system, and when I find out its name [someone has given them all names] I'll let you know.  

Why We Have Purim and Shushan Purim

 New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

Third Rome #3: Russia's Hidden Role in Hasidism and Zionism

Rabbi Efraim Palvanov 

How did events in the Russian Empire launch two transformative Jewish movements that changed the world? What role has Russia (particularly the KGB) played in the early years of the State of Israel, and the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict? And what does it all have to do with ancient prophecies of Magog, Edom, and the "Third Rome"?

To watch previous lectures on "Third Rome" click on the Palvanov Label below this blog post.

Amalek and the Spiritual Essence of Purim

 New shiur from Rabbi Mendel Kessin

The Three Keys

"Engrave on it with signet-ring [type] engraving: "Holy to Hashem"
  פִּתּוּחֵי חֹתָם קֹדֶשׁ לַי־הֹוָ־ה 
[Tetzaveh 28:36]

In Maseches Ta'anis (2a) R' Yochanan states that there are three maftechos, three keys, in Hashem's possession that He never entrusts to others:

• the key to childbirth
• the key to rain
• and the key to resuscitating the dead

The Gemara derived this from three verses:

Hashem does not entrust the key to childbirth to a messenger, as the verse states: "G-d remembered Rachel; G-d hearkened to her and He opened (vayiftach) her womb" [Bereishis 30:22]

Hashem does not entrust the key of rain to a messenger, as the verse states: "Hashem shall open for you His storehouse of goodness, the heavens, to provide rain for your Land in its time" [Devarim 28:12]

And Hashem does not entrust the key of resuscitating the dead to a messenger, as the verse states: "Then you will know that I am Hashem, when I open your graves" [Yechezkel 37:13]

These three keys, remarked the Vilna Gaon, are alluded to in the verse: "Pituchei chosam kodesh laHashem" - פִּתּוּחֵי חֹתָם קֹדֶשׁ לַי־הֹוָ־ה -

The acronym of the word  חֹתָם [Ches, taf, mem] which means "seal" hints to the following words:

Ches - Chayah [a woman who has recently given birth]

Taf - Techiyas HaMeisim [the resuscitation of the dead]

Mem - Matar [rain]

The verse can therefore be read as follows:  "The keys of [pituchei] childbirth, resuscitation of the dead, and rain - ChoTaM - are designated for Hashem's use only ["kodesh laHashem"].

Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein

The Yanuka: "For My Sake The World Was Created"

5 minutes, Hebrew with English subtitles.

If the English subtitles do not appear, run your mouse over and click on the Cog in the bottom right hand corner of the video, click on Subtitles and the click on English.

Who Will Build the Final Beit HaMikdash?

 Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz