Friday, April 30, 2021
Mourning Restrictions during the Omer
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The Reward
Art: Boris Dubrov
''And you shall take for yourselves on the first day, the fruit of the hadar tree...'' [Emor 23:40]
The Vilna Gaon had a great love for the mitzvah of the four species. Year after year, Vilna's vendors streamed to the Gaon's house with choice etrogim, and he would select the one he thought was the nicest.
One year, a vendor showed the Gaon an exquisite etrog. The Gaon was very impressed and was willing to pay its full price.
''I do not wish to sell the etrog for money'' responded the vendor. ''Rather, I desire the reward that you will garner for performing the mitzvah of the four species.''
''I readily agree'' said the Gaon. ''I will take the etrog, and you will receive my reward.''
All those who visited the Gaon that Sukkot saw him savoring his beautiful etrog to a far greater degree than in previous years.
To calm their curiousity, the Gaon explained: '''Throughout my entire life, I have yearned to fulfill the words of our Sages [Pirkei Avot 1:3] ''Be like servants who serve their master, not for the sake of receiving a reward.'' A person must not serve Hashem simply in order to receive a reward. This is extremely difficult, however, as we are constantly aware that we will receive a reward each time we perform a mitzvah, But this year I was given the opportunity to perform a mitzvah with the knowledge that I would not be receiving any reward for doing so!''
''I am so fortunate to have merited such an opportunity. This is why you find me so overjoyed.''
Source: Rabbi Yisroel Bronstein |
Friday, April 23, 2021
Rabbi Yitzchak Isaac of Komarna
Thursday, April 22, 2021
Genetically Modified Organisms
by Rabbi Benjy Simons
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Sefira and the Redemption Pt 1
Rabbi Mendel Kessin audio, shiur given 4/19/21
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Motivation
Text by Rabbi Yisroel Bronstein
Friday, March 26, 2021
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Forgetfulness and its Connection to Moshiach
Monday, March 22, 2021
Before Redemption, A Great Roaring of Water
Looking at the east coast of Australia right now.....it reminded me of this blog post about a great roaring of water.
Last year it was fire, this year it's water. The great floods of 2021, which you can read about here
I'm not in a flood zone, but I feel the pain of those who are.
[originally published at Yiddishkeit.org by R. Yaakov Nathan]
The prophectic words of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, from the newsletter HaKria V’HaKedusha [Tammuz, 5704/1944]
Your throne stands firm from of old; You have existed forever.
The rivers have raised, O Lord, the rivers have raised their voice; the rivers raise their raging waves.
More than the sound of many waters, than the mighty breakers of the sea, is the Lord mighty on High.
Your testimonies are most trustworthy; Your House will be resplendent in holiness, O Lord, forever.
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Friday, March 12, 2021
A Flawless Mitzvah
Tuesday, March 9, 2021
Moshiach's Current Struggle
Three new lectures by Rabbi Mendel Kessin have been uploaded, here they are:
Moshiach's Current Struggle - given 2/8/21
Monday, March 8, 2021
Friday, March 5, 2021
Thursday, March 4, 2021
The Rebbe of Rebbes - Yarzheit 21 Adar
Kever of Rabbi Elimelech in Lizensk, Poland [Photo: יהונתן וואקסמאן] |
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Holiness Flew Away
Monday, March 1, 2021
Not Accountable
Someone close to someone close to me committed suicide last week. I was searching on the internet for something sensible to say to one of the relatives, and to be honest, I couldn't find much there that felt right.
Until I read this:
Friday, February 26, 2021
The Purim Codes
It is fairly safe to assume that (a) Streicher did not know about the three small letters in the Megilla, (b) he did not know that these letters corresponded to the year in which he was being hanged, and (c) even had he known, he would have had no motivation to reinforce the validity of Jewish texts, traditions, or prophecies. One could not ask for a more independent confirmation of the all encompassing knowledge to be found in the Sifrei Tanach.
Thursday, February 25, 2021
A Mysterious Guest's Purim Secret
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
Powerful Prayer Day
Also see: Purim's Golden Opportunity
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Monday, February 22, 2021
The Torah is Light
Source: Rabbi Yisrael Bronstein
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Thursday, February 18, 2021
The Lesson of the Tachash
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Terumah: The Tachash and the Erev Rav
The Tachash is said to have had one horn, this picture is for illustrative purposes only, and not a real Tachash |
Sunday, February 14, 2021
The Battle of the Last War....
...are you programmed
New shiur from Rabbi Alon Anava whose videos can now be found at Vimeo.com
Wonderful lecture, everything is explained here, highly recommend this shiur.
The battle of the last war - Are you Programmed? from Rabbi Alon Anava on Vimeo.
Friday, February 12, 2021
Egypt as the Model for Redemption
Rabbi Mendel Kessin, audio - this lecture was given in October 2020
Thursday, February 11, 2021
Kochav Yaakov in Adar ??
Back in 2016 I published a blog post about ''Nibiru'' [the Star of Jacob] which was predicted by the Ramak to appear on the 25th day of the 6th month, which generally speaking is Elul. See A Date with Nibiru
Another rabbi is saying that we will see the Kochav Yaakov in Adar this year: if you count the months beginning at Tishrei, then Adar IS the sixth month: see Major Kabalistic Leader predicts Star of Jacob as early as Adar
It seems to be that Adar is the month we have been waiting for, on so many levels.
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Why the Entire World is being Attacked by CoronaVirus
I'm re-listening to this shiur, which was given in March 2020 by Rabbi Anava who has been unwell and hopefully will return to the video scene very shortly. Anyway, I found that the re-listening one year later was quite interesting.
Monday, February 8, 2021
Friday, February 5, 2021
The Melave Malka and Moshiach Connection
by Rabbi Benjy Simons
Thursday, February 4, 2021
Rabbi Yuval Asherov
Monday, February 1, 2021
Why Tzaddikim Atone for Us All
by Rabbi Elchanan Lewis
Question: How can the death of a Tzaddik become a Kapparah [atonement]?
Friday, January 29, 2021
Shabbat Shira Customs
Thursday, January 28, 2021
The Essence of Tu B'Shvat
Rabbi Mendel Kessin, new audio
The Essence of Tu b'Shvat click here to listen
Another interesting link at Daf Yomi Review Torah Numerology The Final Frontier