http://www.jewpi.com Jewish Press International Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:08:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-3-1328749574/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-3-1328749574/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:06:14 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-3-1328749574/ The first Tablets were made by G-d, like the body of writing as explained in the Torah. The latter Tablets were made by man [Moses], as it says “Carve for yourself two stone tablets.” (Exodus 34: 1 ) Tablets are things which cause standing and existence, that it’s not “letters fluttering in the air. Read [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/generosity-week-starts-february-19-1328734689/ http://www.jewpi.com/generosity-week-starts-february-19-1328734689/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:58:09 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/generosity-week-starts-february-19-1328734689/ Generosity Week Begins February 19, 2012! Dear Friend, Generosity Week is The Mussar Institute’s newest program. It is an international communal event to build generosity. Open your hand. Opening your heart. Cultivate generosity. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/for-the-best-1328670968/ http://www.jewpi.com/for-the-best-1328670968/#comments Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:16:08 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/for-the-best-1328670968/ אמר רבי אבהו כתיב (תהילים ד: ב) “בְּקָרְאִי עֲנֵנִי אֱ-לֹהֵי צִדְקִי, בַּצָּר הִרְחַבְתָּ לִּי[; חָנֵּנִי, וּשְׁמַע תְּפִלָּתִי].” אמר דוד לפני הקדוש ברוך הוא, “רבון העולמים! כל צרה שהייתי נכנס לה, אתה הייתה מרחיבה לי. נכנסתי לצרתה של בת שבע, ונתת לי את שלמה. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/who-fed-the-egyptians-1328483169/ http://www.jewpi.com/who-fed-the-egyptians-1328483169/#comments Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:06:09 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/who-fed-the-egyptians-1328483169/ During the second 3 days of choshekh in which the darkness was tangible and the Mitzriim could not move, how did they eat? After all, an oath not to eat for 3 days is considered suspect, and we wait in expectation that the person will need to violate it. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-2-1328234416/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-2-1328234416/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:00:16 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-2-1328234416/ One can use this to explain the whole notion of breaking the [first] Tablets, for which I have not found an explanation. At first glance, understanding seems closed off. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/precondition-for-a-fast-1328138766/ http://www.jewpi.com/precondition-for-a-fast-1328138766/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:26:06 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/precondition-for-a-fast-1328138766/ דלמא: ר’ בא בר זבדא, ורבי תנחום בר עילאי, ור’ יאשיה נפקוי לתעניתא. דרש ר’ בא בר זבדא (איכה ג: מא) “נִשָּׂא לְבָבֵנוּ אֶל כַּפָּיִם, [אֶל אֵ-ל בַּשָּׁמָיִם.].” “נשא לבבנו אל כפים” — ואיפשר כן” אית בר נש דנסב ליביה ויהיב גו ידיה? אלא, מהו נשא? נשוי ליבינן לכך ידינן, ואחר כך “אל א-ל בשמים. [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/if-i-am-here%e2%80%a6-1326863043/ http://www.jewpi.com/if-i-am-here%e2%80%a6-1326863043/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:04:03 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/if-i-am-here%e2%80%a6-1326863043/ תניא: אמרו עליו על הלל הזקן, כשהיה שמח בשמחת בית השואבה אמר כן: “אם אני כאן, הכל כאן. ואם איני כאן. מי כאן?” A beraisa: They said about Hillel the Elder, when he was happy during Simchas Beis haShoeivah would say like this: If I am here, then all are here. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-1-1326258126/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-1-1326258126/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:02:06 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-6-refinement-%e2%80%93-part-1-1326258126/ AS A BEGINNING OF this preparation, so that one is ready to acquire Torah, the Torah requires specific conditions. The first condition is toil and contemplation, as our sages explain “’If in my statues you go’ (Vayiqra 26: 3 ) … that you should be toiling in the Torah. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-conclusion-1325815484/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-conclusion-1325815484/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:04:44 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-conclusion-1325815484/ This is also how it works with the emanation/assistance, the dew of heaven, of acquiring wisdom. Every person is worthy of grace from the One above some increase in wisdom, to take root in his soul some deep root. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-3/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-3/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:16:34 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-3/ WITH THIS it is possible to get a feeling for the idea that is told in the Talmud in an amazing story about the holy man Nachum ish Gam Zu. One time he did not fulfill the mitzvah of charity as he felt he should. He decreed upon himself that his eyes go blind, his [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/when-a-paradox-is-not-a-disproof/ http://www.jewpi.com/when-a-paradox-is-not-a-disproof/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 02:34:07 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/when-a-paradox-is-not-a-disproof/ The central theme of religion is whether the values, ritual, and system of thought work. The issues of genesis, the flood, or the tower of Babel are tangential, and out the outskirts of the Torah as a “theory” of meaning and purpose in life. It’s like studying modern physics. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-2/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-2/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:36:30 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-2/ With this idea one can understand how charity has the effect of enriching the one who performs it, as the sages say on the verse “’ aseir ta’aseir – you shall surely tithe’ – tithe, so that you shall become rich – shetis’asheir ” . Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-1/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comments Mon, 19 Dec 2011 22:22:28 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-5-sharing-%e2%80%93-part-1/ Similarly it is appropriate to think about all the gifts of heaven “from the dew of the heavens and the fat of the land” ( Bereishis 27: 38) that they are given to the Jewish people as a whole. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-conclusion-2/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-conclusion-2/#comments Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:06:36 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-conclusion-2/ With this idea one can understand how charity has the effect of enriching the one who performs it, as the sages say on the verse “’ aseir ta’aseir – you shall surely tithe’ – tithe, so that you shall become rich – shetis’asheir ” . Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/malki-tzedeq-and-birkhas-avos/ http://www.jewpi.com/malki-tzedeq-and-birkhas-avos/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:22:08 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/malki-tzedeq-and-birkhas-avos/ Compare these two snippets. I added color to highlight my point. First, Bereishis 14: 19-20. A massive regional war just completed, and Avraham joins the kings he fought with. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-6/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-6/#comments Tue, 06 Dec 2011 20:06:09 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-6/ Similarly it is appropriate to think about all the gifts of heaven “from the dew of the heavens and the fat of the land” ( Bereishis 27: 38) that they are given to the Jewish people as a whole. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-5/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-5/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:28:06 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-5/ In my opinion, this idea is hinted at in Hillel’s words, as he used to say, “If I am [not] for me, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am I?” It is fitting for each person to strive to be concerned for himself. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/help-our-soldiers/ http://www.jewpi.com/help-our-soldiers/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:58:17 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/help-our-soldiers/ I just received the following request via aishdas.org’s “contact us” form. Aside from an opportunity to help the religiously thirsty, for those of us in the US, or support what the US is doing in Afghanistan, it’s an opportunity for hakaras hatov (recognizing the good) performed by these soldiers. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-conclusion/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-conclusion/#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 20:52:18 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-conclusion/ And there are more levels in this of a person who is whole, who can connect his soul to feel that all of the world and worlds are his “I”, and he himself is only one small limb in all of creation. Then, his self-love helps him love all of the Jewish people and [even] [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-3/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-3/#comments Mon, 31 Oct 2011 16:34:17 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-3/ … And above him is someone who can include in his “I” all of his household and family. Someone who walks according to the way of the Torah, his “I” includes the whole Jewish people, since in truth every Jewish person is only like a limb of the body Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-2/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-2/#comments Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:06:14 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-2/ The entire “I” of a coarse and lowly person is restricted only to his substance and body. Above him is someone who feels that his “I” is a synthesis of body and soul. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-1/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 00:52:10 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-4-connecting-%e2%80%93-part-1/ Although at first glance it seems that feelings of love for oneself and feelings of love for others are like competing co-wives one to the other, we have the duty to try to delve into it, to find the means to unite them, since Hashem expects both from us. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/ten-reasons-to-attend-kallah-ix/ http://www.jewpi.com/ten-reasons-to-attend-kallah-ix/#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:09:04 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/ten-reasons-to-attend-kallah-ix/ Reasons to Attend Mussar Institute Kallah IX Where: The Mussar Kallah will take place at beautiful and serene Illinois Beach Resort, located in Zion, Illinois, amid 4,100 acres of a protected state park, right on the shore of Lake Michigan. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/the-beraisa-%c2%a0repeats-a-story-of-rabbi-lazar-bei-r%e2%80%99-tzadoq-and-abba-sha%e2%80%99ul-ben-batnis-who-were/ http://www.jewpi.com/the-beraisa-%c2%a0repeats-a-story-of-rabbi-lazar-bei-r%e2%80%99-tzadoq-and-abba-sha%e2%80%99ul-ben-batnis-who-were/#comments Sun, 23 Oct 2011 05:22:07 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/the-beraisa-%c2%a0repeats-a-story-of-rabbi-lazar-bei-r%e2%80%99-tzadoq-and-abba-sha%e2%80%99ul-ben-batnis-who-were/ The beraisa  repeats a story of Rabbi Lazar bei R’ Tzadoq and Abba Sha’ul ben Batnis, who were storekeepers in Jerusalem. They would fill their measure[d jars of oil] on erev Yom Tov and give them to buyer on Yom Tov [letting every last drop of sold oil drip into the buyer's container overnight]. Read [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-conclusion/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-conclusion/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 18:58:11 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-conclusion/ In the previous installment, Rav Shimon wrote, “שאם יאמינו שכל חכמתם וקנינם לא להם הוא, הרי אז אבדו כל עשרם, ורק על ידי הכפירה יתעשרו — If they believe that all their wisdom and all they acquired were not theirs, they would lose all their wealth. Only through heretical denial can they make themselves rich. [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-5/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-5/#comments Mon, 10 Oct 2011 23:50:17 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-5/ One can also feel this way with respect to acquiring a greater thing [than a qav of merchandise], which is wisdom. To elaborate: If a person does not try to the full measure of his ability to acquire Torah, to grasp the wisdom of awe-fear and pure faith, then there is a possibility to stumble [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-4/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-4/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:04:25 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-4/ In my opinion, this is true despite all the evil and sin that the world is full of because of this middah of self-love. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-3/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-3/#comments Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:38:22 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-3/ There are also grounds for asserting that in the very foundation of the creation of Adam, the Creator planted in him a very great measure of propensity to love himself. The sages of truth [i.e. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/thoughts-about-teshuvah-2/ http://www.jewpi.com/thoughts-about-teshuvah-2/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:26:07 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/thoughts-about-teshuvah-2/ “ Aspaqlaria : Aseres Yemei Teshuvah ” (47 pages) is a collection of essays adapted from those that appeared here on the subjects of teshuvah , shofar , vidui , and the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah . It is in Adobe Acrobat (PDF ) format, ready for printing. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-2/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-2/#comments Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:28:11 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-2/ For His Holiness is greater than ours. His Holiness is only for the created and not for Himself because nothing was ever added to or could ever be added to the Creator through the actions He did or does. Therefore all His Desire could only be to be good to the created, but what He [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-1/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 00:20:26 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-3-self-interest-%e2%80%93-part-1/ HOWEVER, what of a person who decides to submerge his nature, to reach a high level so that he has no thought or inclination in his soul for his own good, only a desire for the good of others? In this way he would have his desire reach the sanctity Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-conclusion/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-conclusion/#comments Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:12:08 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-conclusion/ In this way, the concept of separation is a consequence of the underlying basis of the mitzvah of holiness, which is recognizable in practice in the ways a person acts. But with insight and the calling of spirituality this mitzvah broadens to include everything a person causes or does even between him and the Omnipresent. [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/from-qeren-to-shofar/ http://www.jewpi.com/from-qeren-to-shofar/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:04:17 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/from-qeren-to-shofar/ The Ramban, in his Derashah leRosh haShanah, writes that a shofar is a keli , a formal utensil in the halachic sense. For this reason, while most rishonim hold that a hole in a shofar invalidates the shofar only if the hole is such that it changes the produced sound, the Ramban holds that any [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-5/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-5/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:02:17 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-5/ And so, it appears to my limited thought that this mitzvah includes the entire foundation and root of the purpose of our lives. All of our work and effort should constantly be sanctified to doing good for the community. We should not use any act, movement, or get benefit or enjoyment that doesn’t have in [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-4/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-4/#comments Sun, 18 Sep 2011 14:56:08 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-4/ 2- It is more difficult to understand “My sanctity is higher than yours.” This explanation is incumbent upon us to understand – in truth there is some similarity in the holiness He expects of us to His [Holiness], except that His Holiness is more general and inclusive. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-3/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-3/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:42:12 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-3/ According to this, it would seem the Midrash is incomprehensible. 1- What relevance does the concept of separation have to being similar to the Holy? The verse tells us with regard to this that His Will is not like this. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-2/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-2/#comments Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:54:09 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-2/ And about the foundation of this mitzvah of sanctity the Toras Kohanim has “‘be holy’ – be separate”. Nachmanides, in his commentary on the Torah, explains at length this notion of separation as it is stated in this mitzvah , that it is separation from excessive comfort and pleasure – even if they are actions [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/just-one-small-cry/ http://www.jewpi.com/just-one-small-cry/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:40:23 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/just-one-small-cry/ I had the severely painful experience this past Sunday of attending the levayah for a six year old boy r”l . Reuven Dovid a”h went for a walk with his father R’ Yehuda Herbst and R’ Dovid Reichenberg a”h shortly after Hurricane Irene. He touched a fence that was electrified by a downed power line, [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-1/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:58:30 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-2-qedushah-%e2%80%93-part-1/ In my opinion, this whole concept is included in Hashem’s mitzvah “Be holy, [for I am Holy].” The Midrash (Leviticus, Emor, ch. 24) says about this verse: “Can it [truly] be ‘Like Me?’ This is why it continues, ‘for I am Holy’ to teach that My Sanctity is above yours. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/portraits-in-holiness/ http://www.jewpi.com/portraits-in-holiness/#comments Sun, 11 Sep 2011 03:34:08 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/portraits-in-holiness/ We will soon get to Rav Shim’on Shkop’s explanation of the mitzvah “ qedoshim tihyu –  and you shall be holy. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-conclusion/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-conclusion/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:22:05 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-conclusion/ [ To repeat the first clause of the sentence: So too His Will is that we walk in His ways. As it says “and you shall walk in His Ways” (Devarim 28: 9)] כן רצונו ית׳ שנהלך בדרכיו כאמור “והלכת בדרכיו”, – that we, the select of what He made – should Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-3/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-3/#comments Mon, 05 Sep 2011 21:48:21 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-3/ For everything He created and formed was according to His Will (may it be blessed) [1] , [that is] only to be good to the creations. So too His Will is that we walk in His ways. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-2/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-2/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:12:08 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-2/ … so that our greatest desire should be to do good to others, to individuals and to the masses, now and in the future, in imitation of the Creator (as it were). Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-1-2/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-1-2/#comments Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:42:07 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-1-2/ Shaarei Yosher was written by Rav Shim’on Shkop (1860-October 22, 1939), and the body of the text deals with the principles by which doubt is resolved in court cases and in legislation, and the principles by which halakhah is set. We will be dealing, however, with the first part of the introduction. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-1/ http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-1/#comments Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:48:25 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shaarei-yosher-sec-1-mission-%e2%80%93-part-1/ Shaarei Yosher was written by Rav Shim’on Shkop (1860-October 22, 1939), and the body of the text deals with the principles by which doubt is resolved in court cases and in legislation, and the principles by which halakhah is set. We will be dealing, however, with the first part of the introduction. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/modeh-ani-redux/ http://www.jewpi.com/modeh-ani-redux/#comments Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:24:10 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/modeh-ani-redux/ A while back I blogged a recording of a shiur  I gave on Modeh Ani .  The sound quality on the recording was too poor for the shiur to be made out by most listeners. I recently emailed a group a piece on Modeh Ani that makes, in abbreviated form, many of the points I [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/the-ninth-of-av-5761/ http://www.jewpi.com/the-ninth-of-av-5761/#comments Tue, 09 Aug 2011 17:26:23 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/the-ninth-of-av-5761/ Elad Fogel, age 4 his big brother Yoav, 11   We say, “משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה — when Adar comes in, we increase in joy.” But this year, like too many years , Adar brought with it events that more fit our saying for this month. “משנכנס אב ממעטין בשמחה — when Av comes in, [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/the-ninth-of-av-3830/ http://www.jewpi.com/the-ninth-of-av-3830/#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 23:36:05 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/the-ninth-of-av-3830/ The Destruction of Jerusalem, David Roberts (1850) The second half of parashas Naso is quite repetitious. The head of each tribe brought a gift for the consecration of the Mishkan. Each gift was the same, but aside from some slight but intriguing grammatical differences, all twelve are recorded in the same words. Seemingly repeatedly. Read [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/teaching-mussar/ http://www.jewpi.com/teaching-mussar/#comments Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:26:06 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/teaching-mussar/ I recently commented on a post on Cross-Currents by R. Jonathan Rosenblum (RJR), an article that originally appeared in Mishpacha Magazine on July 30 th 2011, titled “Dr. Middos is not Just for Kids “. A good article, worth reading, a discussion of the centrality of middos to the entire Torah. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/the-mussar-dispute/ http://www.jewpi.com/the-mussar-dispute/#comments Sun, 24 Jul 2011 13:56:12 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/the-mussar-dispute/ R av Yisrael Salanter wrote to Volozhin, the flagship yeshiva of the yeshiva movement. He offered the Netziv his services as a mashgiach ruchani . The Netziv said that he was welcome to come, but if Rav Yisrael came, the Netziv would have to leave. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/he-should-inspect-his-deeds/ http://www.jewpi.com/he-should-inspect-his-deeds/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:46:24 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/he-should-inspect-his-deeds/ אמר רבא ואיתימא רב חסדא: אם רואה אדם שיסורין באין עליו, יפשפש במעשיו. שנא’ (איכה ג): נַחְפְּשָׂה דְרָכֵינוּ וְנַחְקֹרָה, וְנָשׁוּבָה עַד ה’. פשפש ולא מצא, יתלה בבטול תורה. שנאמר (תהילים צד): אשְׁרֵי הַגֶּבֶר אֲשֶׁר תְּיַסְּרֶנּוּ יָּ-הּ, וּמִתּוֹרָתְךָ תְלַמְּדֶנּוּ. ואם תלה ולא מצא, בידוע שיסורין של אהבה הם. Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/shechitah-as-a-guide-for-personal-evolution/ http://www.jewpi.com/shechitah-as-a-guide-for-personal-evolution/#comments Fri, 08 Jul 2011 22:04:15 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/shechitah-as-a-guide-for-personal-evolution/ I found the following on R’ Mordechai Torczyner’s blog “The Rebbetzin’s Husband “, in a post titled “Shechitah: A Guide for Evolution “. I thought that was a little confusing, like perhaps the topic would be about how to shecht animals that evolved from our current ones, so I bowlderized the title for this post. [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/the-bathroom/ http://www.jewpi.com/the-bathroom/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 01:36:08 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/the-bathroom/ (תהילים לב) “עַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל חָסִיד אֵלֶיךָ לְעֵת מְצֹא…” אמר ר’ חנינא, “‘לעת מצא’ זו אשה…”  ר’ נתן אומר, “‘לעת מצא’ זו תורה…” רב נחמן בר יצחק אמר, “‘לעת מצא’ זו מיתה…”  … ר’ יוחנן אמר, “‘לעת מצא’ זו קבורה”… מר זוטרא אמר, “‘לעת מצא’ זה בית הכסא.” אמרי במערבא, “הא דמר זוטרא עדיפא [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/the-holy-script-and-speech/ http://www.jewpi.com/the-holy-script-and-speech/#comments Sun, 03 Jul 2011 16:16:06 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/the-holy-script-and-speech/ T here is a beraisa quoted in mesechtos Megillah (3a) and Shabbos (1o4a) that R’ Chisda says, “the [final]  mem and samech of the luchos stood miraculously.” Meaning: the letters were carved all the way through, so that  ם and ס, letters that are drawn as closed shapes had a piece in the middle unattached to [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/akrasia/ http://www.jewpi.com/akrasia/#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2011 04:08:29 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/akrasia/ (Updated with quote from 19 Letters. Click here to skip to the new material.) In what part(s) of the human condition does religious experience center? Is the purpose of religion to effect an intellectual change — right thoughts? Is it an emotional affair? Central to the Mussar perspective is that religion is about akrasia (ἀκρασία). [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/what-is-frumkeit-3/ http://www.jewpi.com/what-is-frumkeit-3/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 18:58:23 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/what-is-frumkeit-3/ T he word “ frum ” has become a near-synonym for Orthodox. How this came to be is noteworthy. “Frum ” descends from the German “ fromm “, meaning pious or devout. In pre-war Yiddish, usage appears to have varied widely. On the one hand, those who named their daughters “Fruma” clearly thought being frum [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/what-is-frumkeit/ http://www.jewpi.com/what-is-frumkeit/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 02:06:10 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/what-is-frumkeit/ T he word “ frum ” has become a near-synonym for Orthodox. How this came to be is noteworthy. “Frum ” descends from the German “ fromm “, meaning pious or devout. In pre-war Yiddish, usage appears to have varied widely. On the one hand, those who named their daughters “Fruma” clearly thought being frum [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/mixed-emotions-3/ http://www.jewpi.com/mixed-emotions-3/#comments Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:00:14 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/mixed-emotions-3/ A long while ago I wrote (in “A use for every middah “): The Rambam (Hilkhos Dei’os 1: 4) describes the ideal balance of middos as being the shevil hazahav , the golden mean. He writes (tr. Immanuel O’Levy), “The way of the upright is [to adopt] the intermediate characteristic of each and every temperament [...]]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/any-torah-which-has-no-ancestral-home/ http://www.jewpi.com/any-torah-which-has-no-ancestral-home/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:22:17 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/any-torah-which-has-no-ancestral-home/ C ertain mitzvos must be done on a specific day, such as the beris milah of a boy who is healthy on the 8th day, or the Qorban Pesach . In these cases, the mitzvah overrides Shabbos . Read More »]]> 0 http://www.jewpi.com/like-a-weasel/ http://www.jewpi.com/like-a-weasel/#comments Thu, 05 May 2011 00:42:15 +0000 admin http://www.jewpi.com/like-a-weasel/ כתיב (תהילים מט[: ב]) “שִׁמְעוּ זֹאת כָּל הָעַמִּים, הַאֲזִינוּ כָּל יֹשְׁבֵי חָלֶד.” ר’ אחא אמר ר’ אבהו ורבנן ח”א למה הוא מושל כל באי העולם בחולדה.  אלא לפי שכל מה שיש ביבשה יש בים הרבה מינים בים מה שאין ביבשה ואין חולדה בים. Read More »]]> 0