May the Real Moshiach Please Stand Up.

I heard a conversation recently between two friends. One said that President Obama is ruining the economy and the country, and turning America into a dictatorship. The other said look at the bright side: the American people were fooled into voting for him because they expected him to be the Messiah. Well he's not exactly the Messiah but that's why the American people voted for him. America is ready for the real Messiah to come, they just don't know exactly who he is yet so they were fooled into thinking that the President of America could be Moshiach. Anyhow, President Obama promised change and hope and basically redemption from the old worldly culture.
All this shows that the world is one small good deed away from the real redemption, so may the real Moshiach please stand up.

Funny Moshiach Video

Moshiach, Moshiach, Moshiach...

Mashiach the son of David will not come until the pocket will be empty of even the smallest coin

וזהו שאמרו רז״ל: אין ישראל נגאלין אלא בצדקה

And this is what our Sages, of blessed memory, meant by saying that7 “Israel will be redeemed only through charity.”

שיעשו גם אם יהיו פטורים מדינא

[This refers to the charity] that they will perform even if they are legally not obligated,

כי אין בן דוד בא כו׳

for8 “[Mashiach] the son of David will not come [until the pocket will be empty of even the smallest coin].”

I.e., even if (Heaven forfend) there will not be a solitary coin left in one’s pocket, tzedakah will still be given. And it is this boundless level of tzedakah that secures a complete atonement for the sins of our people, after which9 “they will immediately be redeemed.”

The Rebbe explains that the Alter Rebbe does not conclude the above-mentioned quotation about the precondition for the coming of Mashiach because it is quite possible that he did not want to write out the last words (viz., “until the pocket will be empty of even the smallest coin”); and this precondition of the Sages can be fulfilled on the spiritual level, by conducting oneself with the humility of the destitute.

This could also explain why the Alter Rebbe does not say...כשיהיו (“when they are legally not obligated”), but rather...אם יהיו (“if they are legally not obligated”).

7. See above, Epistle 9, footnote 16.
8. Sanhedrin 97a.
9. Rambam, Hilchot Teshuvah 7:5.

From: Lessons in Tanya

How will we make money in Moshiach times?

Thought this was interesting from Kuntres Umaaon Maamamor 25, Chapter 1.
It says that God will bless you in all that you do.
Says Sifri, does this mean that if he sits with folded hands and does nothing God will help him? So the Torah says in that that you do. A person has to do and then God will help him.

This is a difference between the days of exile with its avodas haberurim and the future day of the Moshiach. In the times of Moshiach God's material blessing will flow down without the need to prepare a vessel for one's sustenance. But in the days of exile man has to work himself to prepare the instrument for his sustenance.


anyhow that all I wanted to say for now, enjoy.

He Answered With a Nod - A Miracle Story about Moshiach's Coming in 5769 or 5770.

I am surprised that I haven't seen this story published on the internet even though it has been published for almost a year now. I am sure many people will find it very interesting with all the news about Moshiach's coming in the year 5769 and 5770.

Story taken from:
Miracles And Amazing Stories In Our Times, Volume XII, Number 12

He Answered With a Nod
note: the original publication checks all stories for authenticity.

The Shabbos between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur (known as Shabbos Shuvah), the fifth day of Tishrei 5769, October 4, 2008 became even more unique after the most incredible dream of Rabbi Yosef Feldman's.

During the afternoon of that Shabbos when he dozed off, he saw in a dream a fellow Chasid, Rabbi Zev Simons OB”M who passed away along with his wife in a tragic car accident approximately eight months before.

In his dream, Zev requested a favor of Rabbi Feldman. Puzzled, Rabbi Feldman queried, but you are not alive anymore. Zev acknowledged this to be true but nevertheless, he asked Rabbi Feldman to go to Zev's house and make a Minyan there. But, Rabbi Feldman responded the house had been sold. Zev informed him that that if has not been sold yet, it is in the process. Rabbi Feldman further questioned, how he can get into the house, surely it must be locked. To which Zev replied, “don't worry, you'll be able to get in”.

Now, Rabbi Feldman had some questions of his own and proceeded to ask of Zev, “When is Moshiach coming?” and Zev's immediate response was “in approximately a year”. Rabbi Feldman asked further “and is the Rebbe Moshiach?” Zev did not answer verbally, but nodded with his head. And with that the dream ended.

The following day, Rabbi Feldman decide to go to the Simon's house and see what will transpire. As he reached the house, true to Zev's word, the door was open and there was a South African Jewish family living there. Rabbi Feldman approached the gentleman and inquired whether he was the owner of the house. The man responded that they were in the process of buying the house but at the moment the sale has not been completed.

Rabbi Feldman proceeded to tell him of this dream and the request of Zev Simons OB”M concluding with his request t fulfill Zev's wish. The man was agreeable to allow the Minyan in his home and took part in it as well.

Rabbi Feldman arranged the Minyan during which they said Kaddish, learned Mishnayos for the benefit of the departed and gave charity as well on their behalf.

During his conversation with the gentleman of the house, Rabbi Feldman was informed that these people did not know the Simon's nor of their tragedy. Yet when they had a little boy, whose Bris took place the day after the accident, by divine providence they name their son Menachem Zev.

Moshiach Now!!!

Moshiach is coming in 5769

There was a yid who lived in Vilna in the times of the Alter Rebbe and his name was Mendel. He was a learned man but he was a big opponent of those who followed in the path of the Baal Shem Tov and his followers. So what he would do was make fun of every single minhag (custom) that the Chassidim would employ. The way that the Chassidim dressed being careful to button their coats right over left, the gartels, the way the Chassidim behaved and so on and so forth.

They say of course that all jokes get old and so Mendel set out to devise a plan to come up with new material of how he may make fun of the Chassidim and their ways. As most of his material was already outdated he decided that he will go to Leozna himself and see the Rebbe, and this way he will have the best possible way to make more jokes and fun. He set out to Leozna, arrived there and was greeted by the Chassidim. He informed them of his desire to see the Rebbe. "See the Rebbe?" they said, "you cannot just go in to see the Rebbe so easily". First you have to prepare. They told him that you have to learn these certain books, Musar seforim and so on for examle Chovos Halevavot (Duties of the Heart) and Reishis Chochma. Then you have to go to the mikva. You have to farbreng with the chassidim. you have to write out your request to the Rebbe on paper, you don't speak to the Rebbe. You have to make an oppointment and wait to be let in to be seen. So he agreed to do all these things. He went back to Vilna and learned all the books that he was insturced to learn and came back to Leozna. He fargbred with the Chassidim, immersed in a mikva, wrote out a request on paper and made an appointment to be go into the Rebbe's room.

The day came for him to be seen. He went into the Rebbe sat down and handed his paper over to the Rebbe. The Rebbe took it and read the letter to himself. Then he picked up his head sat back and answered Mendel in a musical voice.

Mendel's reqest was that the Rebbe should give him a tikkun (corrective measure) to dirtying his tziza (fringe of his garment). This too was all made in a manner to make fun of the whole idea of Rebbe and Chosid and so on and so forth. then instead of signing his name Mendel he signed his name Chaim ben Sarah.

So the Rebbe looked up and answered, there are more things that you require a tikkun for besides getting your tziza dirty, isn't there Mendel? the Rebbe said using Mendel's real name. This had such a great effect on Mendel that he immediately fell into a faint. He eventually woke up exited the room, stayed in Leozna for a few months, realized his great error and become a very big and devout Chosid of the Alter Rebbe.

So they said about him, I cannot remember who says the Rebbe or the Chassidim that this was a case that his yetzer ha Tov was able to outsmart his yetzer ha Ra. How is this? His yetzer Ha Tov wanted that he should come to the Rebbe realize what truth is realize what the Rebbe is and so on and so forth. But unfortunately his yetzer ha Ra would not let him go so easily. So his yetzer Tov decided to trick it. His yetzer Tov told his yetzer Ra, come to Leozna, there you will see all the Chassidim and their silly and foolish ways and activities, you will see the Rebbe himself, you will have what to talk about and laugh at your whole life! And this way he was able to drag his yetzer Ra also to the Rebbe and all this was to realize truth, chassidus and the Rebbe.

We are faced with a similar situation this year. For what ever reason many people are afraid and do not wish that Moshiach will come in the year 5770. So can trick our yetzers to do a lot more in order bring Moahiach a year earlier, this year, in 5769.

This story was heard from Rav Shalom Jacobson shlita.

Moshiach Now. 5769 (2009).

Great Link to Noahide Book

I found this link recently the book The Path of the Righteous Gentile is available as a free e-book from Moshiach.com

http://www.moshiach.com/action/morality/

Enjoy.

A Fair Attempt at a Rebbe Painting

A Fair Attempt at a Rebbe Painting

A Letter From the Rebbe to a Tomim Who Started Cutting his Beard

Igros Kodesh VI pg. 285)
29 Av, 5712, Brooklyn.
Greetings and blessings,
For a person like yourself, it is surely unnecessary to elaborate on the concept explained in many places in Chassidus, and also in works of Mussar: that a divine blessing [:arousal from above”] requires a fit vessel, appropriate effort on man's part [ an arousal from below']. It is absolutely obvious that one should not initiate something that runs directly contrary to the “arousal from above: for which one is [requesting and] praying.
[In light of the above,] How shocked was I to see you[r appearance] in the office of the Merkos Le'Inyonei Chinuch, that you labored and compelled your divine soul to remove, Heaven forfend, the “Image of G-d” from your face, by cutting and removing the thirteen fixtures of the beard, which correspond to the thirteen pathways of divine mercy! They are the channels for one's livelihood, as is explained in the Zohar and in Chassidus in several places. Elaboration upon this is unnecessary, especially for tone who hails from the Sephardic community who have held fast to the study of the Zohar for all time. There, no opposition ever existed to it, as did exist in several places in earlier days among the Ashkenazim.
It is difficult and burdensome for me to elaborate upon this. Surely these lines will suffice. I give you the benefit of the doubt that perhaps your intention [in cutting your beard] was as follows: You have seen and contemplated the statement of our Sages that earning one's livelihood is as difficult as splitting the Red Sea.1 It, therefore occurred to you that perhaps it worthwhile to assist the A-lmighty (Who sustains [all creatures] from the eggs of lice until the horns of the wild ox2) in His task by causing your outward appearance to resemble the gentiles. This would then make it easier for you to be given a rabbinical position, or the like.
However, even one who is not intelligent will easily understand that this is contrary to simple faith; to suggest that laxity in observance of the mitzvos of the Torah-i.e., distancing oneself from the Source [of life]-will bring the person to be granted a large flow of blessing. You should study in-depth that which is explained concerning [the verse], “[He will bless himself in his heart, saying , “Peace will be with me, though I follow the caprices of my heart] adding the watered to the thirsty.”3
It is my firm hope that the efforts that my father-in-law, the Rebbe, of blessed memory invested in you as his student and his Chossid will assist you to leave behind the aforementioned mistaken thinking. If the hand of someone else is enticing you [to cut your beard], then explain to him as well that such conduct is contrary not only to divine intellect, but also to human intellect. For every Jew believes that G-d is the Master, even of this physical and coarse world. He and only He is the one to allocate sustenance to a person and his family. Thus, the human effort [“arousal from below”] should also be consistent with this.
From on who awaits good news and blesses you with spiritual and material success, which, for a Jewish man and woman, go hand in hand,
PS: Our Nesi'im have elaborated upon [the prohibition of] cutting one's beard: Tzemach Tzedek, Shu”t Yoreh Dei'ah, 93. Tzemach Tzedek, Chiddushim leMakkos, ch. 3. Piskei Dinim on Yoreh Dei'ah, 181, sec.2. Derech Mitvosecha, 2:221b. In the book known as Amudei Arazim of Rabbi Margolis of Yerushalayim, toward the end the compiled the opinions of the later rabbinical authorities, etc., concerning all the above.

[1] Pesachim, 118a.
[2] Shabbos, 107b.
[3] Devorim, 29:18. This is explained in Kuntres U'Ma'aon, ma'mar 5.

The Rebbe as the Moshiach

There is no debate within the Lubavitch community: Only one individual, the Rebbe, crafts the opinion of Chabad. There may be divergent opinions as to what the Rebbe's opinion is on a specific subject, but the resolution can only be found within the fullness of the Rebbe's works.

In their recent Post op-eds on Lubavitch, neither Rabbi Shmuley Boteach ("Chabad messianists: Wrong, but still Jews," January 21), nor Rabbi David Berger ("Rabbi Boteach, you're wrong about Chabad," January 24), actually reference the Rebbe's own writings or statements on the subject of the messiah.

A fundamental principle of Chabad throughout its 200-year-plus history is that its primary mission is to bring the messiah and the revelations of redemption to all of mankind.

In 1951, during the Rebbe's first discourse, he said that our present generation was the seventh from the Alter Rebbe - the first Lubavitcher Rebbe. The Rebbe explained that Moses, the leader of the seventh generation after Abraham, was the catalyst in bringing the divine presence into the world. In a similar way, the Rebbe outlined, our generation - the seventh, is tasked with, and will succeed in bringing the divine presence into the world permanently, with the full redemption.

The rest of the article is found here at JPost.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull&cid=1201523794958

Drawing of a man learning Torah

Drawing of a man learning Torah.

Gimmel Tamuz - Beginning of Redemption

It obvious to all of us that the main thing is that G-d Almighty should send immediately the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach to redeem the Jewish people in an auspicious time and an auspicious hour with joy and a happy heart.

On Gimmel Tamuz what at first seemed like the beginning of exile turned out to be the beginning of redemption.

In G-d We Trust - An Essay About the Ailing Economy

The economy has been going haywire fast. What are we supposed to think at a time like this? I believe that we have to go back to basics and see why this problem happened in the first place, the complete loss of faith in the American dollar and economy. I mean, what happened over here? Nobody believed that what they were buying was worth anything valuable. No one could trust that salespeople were selling them anything useful. The whole system became who can outsell the next guy? Who can offer some piece of junk to the customer that he doesn't need, and convince his that he really needs it?

The system had to collapse. But we really have to see this as one step backwards in order to to take two steps forward. We have to be astute and realize that we have to put G-d back into the way we do business. A person has to be able to trust that what he is buying is worth the amount that he is paying and that he is not being ripped off. We have to instill back into our society that the idea of cheating and stealing is against the laws of G-d Almighty. Only with such an awareness can the economy recover and become strong again.

A rare story of the Alter Rebbe

This unbelievable story was heard in the name of Rabbi Vishedski A'H.

There was once a chossid of the Alter Rebbe. The man was a peddler of goods and made a living traveling from town to town selling his items. One time, by a yechidus, the Rebbe asked him questions and after hearing the chossid's responses, the Alter Rebbe advised him that he should always carry with him three challahs. The chossid did not understand why the Rebbe would give him such a strange instruction, but the chosid did exactly as the Rebbe instructed, trusting that one day he would understand why he got such advice from the Rebbe.

And so it happened, one day that the chossid was traveling before shabbos and he lost his way. Shabbos was approaching soon so he quickly tried to find a place to stay. He knocked on a house and the owner came out with a friendly smile. They exchanged greetings and the chossid explained to the man that he needed a place to stay the night. The man invited him in and led him to his room. Now, this man was a non Jew, when he opened the door and led the chossid into the room, the chosid realized that there was a friend that was going to be staying with him that night. It was a huge dog the size of the chossid himself! He realized that his host is not as friendly as he first appeared to be and quickly turned around to go back. By this time the door was locked and the non Jew told him that it this room “people go in but they do not come out.”

The chossid became very afraid. He figured being in a room with such a friend he did not have long to live. He started praying to G-d and saying vidui (confession). He noticed that the dog was just sitting in his corner. So the chossid began davening mincha. Still, the dog was quiet. He then davened kabbalas shabbos and marriv. The chossid remembered that he had three challas with him so he found some water in the room, washed and made kiddush on the bread. The dog listening to kiddush, so to speak, and afterwards was very excited. The chossid realized that the dog wanted some challah, so he ate a small piece and gave the dog the rest of the loaf. Needless to say, the rest of the night he did not sleep, with such a friend in the room who would sleep? Morning came and the chossid davened shacharis and the same scene repeated itself with the challah.

After shabbos the owner of the house opened the door to the room carrying a broom and bucket hoping to clean up the bones of the man. Lo and behold he found the chossid sitting in one corner and the dog in the other. So he screamed at the dog, "get that Jew, eat him!” but the dog wouldn't move. The chosid realized that when you feed a dog you become its owner. So he said to the dog “get that man!” and the dog jumped on the non Jew and tore him apart and killed him.

Then the dog took the Jew by his kappota and dragged him to the forest. There he took him to a place where the chosid found a great treasure, a chest filled with gold coins. The non Jew acquired it all by killing and stealing it from his former guests. The dog grabbed the Jew again and took him outside the forest near the village. At that point the dog spread dropped dead. The Jew realized where he was and made his way home. Before going home he stopped by the Alter Rebbe to tell him all that had transpired. The Rebbe took him in and told him the following: the dog was a gilgul (reincarnation) of a Jew who did not properly fulfill the mitzvah of eating after making kiddush. His punishment was to be stuck in the body of this dog. When you made kiddush for him this was its' rectification. The reason he took you to show the gold coins is because he wanted to repay you for helping him accomplish his tikkun so he can go to Gan Eden. The Rebbe told the chosid that he should open a business with the gold coins which the chossid did and became a rich man.

Needless to say, the chossid realized why the Rebbe gave him the seemingly strange instruction to carry the three challahs with him at all times.

Beautiful, Noahide Universal Laws Movie

Enjoy and learn from these videos. This is video one of five.



Video 2



Video 3



Video 4



Video 5

Journey to see through someone else's eyes

An essay by my friend Joel.

Today I am going to look at writing a story through someone else's eyes. That would make sense if I want to improve my writing skills. Up until now my writing has been through my own eyes. I have to say that I like that more than writing through someone else''s eyes. I feel very uncomfortable trying to speak for someone else. I really don't like it at all. It felt wrong when I have attempted to write from someone else's point of view in the past. For me, it might be wrong today as well. But, that is the exercise of the moment. Can I tell you anything as if I were seeing it through someone else's eyes?

I'm not going to pressure myself to do this. Instead I am going to coach myself and try to find out if it works for me. In the meantime I am going to do what I always have done. Which is, more or less thinking out loud. I have to say that it has been working for me. So, I am not in such a hurry to move into another mode. The danger of trying to stretch myself is that I may stretch myself too far and stop writing altogether. That has happened plenty of times before. I like to think of it as the "burn it up" phase because when I reach it I want to completely destroy everything I had ever written. Somehow the idea of a fire taking it all away is comforting. But that is only when I am in that "burn it up" phase. I try not to get myself into that phase too often.

The thought of writing through someone else's eyes bothers me enough to raise the warning flag. So I will approach this exercise with caution. They say, "he who turns and runs away lives to fight another day." If I'm not up to figuring out how to write through someone else's eyes right now I would prefer doing something else that doesn't raise the "up in smoke" response.

So, here I am. Just me. Talking out loud about nothing.

This is how I start. This is how I begin to explore.

Now you may be thinking...

Boom. There it is. Could this be the beginning of seeing through someone else's eyes?

I don't think so. "Now you may be thinking..." is just what comes up for me when I write. That's me taking both sides of the argument. And frankly, I don't like going that way. I tend to get lost in a made up argument in my head and waste my time and the reader's time trying to defend myself against this inner critic.

I tend to be very critical of my work. So as I am writing, a part of me watches my every move with a critical eye. I am asking myself now what this critic is looking for. Is it the truth? Yes. No. Maybe.

Well, here we go... Now I'm going to get into a conversation with myself about it.

I might as well go for it. The conversations are always going on in my mind. I just don't want to bother you with all of this.

I've been accused of spending too much time thinking about things. I've been told that I should just do it. "Yes, you should think things through but then you need to make a decision and move on from there."

I don't know to what extent I agree with this advice. And this is the kind of conversations I have with the critic in my mind all the time.

This reminds me of a story about how intense these inner conversations can get.

-------------

A guy once had the idea to get up very early - at the crack of dawn. So he set his alarm to wake himself up.

When the alarm went off he said to himself, "Wow. What a good idea. I can get so much done by starting my day at this early time. I shouldn't waste a minute."

Then he hears a voice in his mind say, "Yea, but you can remain in bed for a little longer and it won't make that much of a difference. You'll still get what you need to done today."

He thought about it and it sounded like a good idea.

Then a second voice in his mind said, "No, don't listen to him. He's going to mess up your whole day. You need to get your feet moving. The early bird gets the worm."

He considered that and agreed that this is also a good point.

The first voice responded, "But, if you stay in bed a little longer you will feel more rested and therefore you will eventually be more productive."

Anyway, they argued back and forth, each presenting a very compelling side to the argument. The guy said to the voices look I don't have a strong preference either way so I'll let the two you decide whether I should get up or stay in bed. Just tell me when you've come to some consensus.

He figured that as long as they were busy arguing he might as well take a short snooze.

He said he woke up four hours later and they were still arguing. That's how strong the voices can be.

--------------

I try to avoid getting sunk by these critical voices. I spend so much time fending off the criticism of these inner critics that I can't imagine writing from someone else's point of view.

I have a list of things that I avoid doing. Evidently, this exercise falls into that category. I may just finish up this entry with the recognition that it was too much for me to do today. I don't see it happening. but at least I got to see what comes up when I consider it.

Written by Joel.

A letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe about intermarriage.

From: Letters from the REBBE volume 2 letter 19

B.H.
Erev Succos, 5727
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Blessing and Greeting:

I am in receipt of your Express letter, and although it is Erev Yom Tov and not very convenient for correspondence, I will reply as briefly as possible in view of the importance of the matter and your understandable anxiety, I leave it to you're discretion whether to show this letter to your sister, or convey to her its contents.

For a Jewish person to marry a non_Jew is one of the greatest calamities, and not only from the religious viewpoint. Nor is it entirely a personal matter affecting the person involved, for it concerns the whole Jewish people, and there are few transgressions which affect the whole Jewish people as an intermarriage, G-d forbid. It is a transgression also against one's elementary honesty, for it is exceedingly unfair to the other party, from the viewpoint of each, and it is also unfair to their respective good friends, who wish to see their near and dear one lastingly happy, an not otherwise.

It has often been pointed out that marriage in general, even between two persons of similar background, entails a certain risk as to eventual adjustment and compatibility. Even if the two had been acquainted for some time, it is no sure criterion as to what the relationship will be when the acquaintance is turned into a marriage, where the two will be thrown together under one roof for 24 hours in the day, day after day, and week after week, etc.

But when the background is entirely different, and where this deference dated back for scores of generations and consequently of a deep and lasting quality - the chances of adjustment and compatibility are negligible as to be non-existent. Especially, where the difference is of a definitely antagonistic and hostile nature, as has been evidenced by the pogroms and persecutions of Jews in Every land where Jews sojourned in the past 2000 years. Moreover, modern science recognizes the hereditary nature of character traits, particularly deep[rooted ones over generations.

Thus, if one is honest - in the plain sense of the word - one would not wish to drag another party into an alliance which is doomed from the start. And if one truly loves the other, and not in a selfish way, one would certainly not wish to involve the other into such a misfortune,and would readily forgo the prospect of immediate and short-lived pleasure in order to spare the other the inevitable result. Otherwise, the professed love is nothing but selfish and egotistic.

Should there be children from such a union, there is the added consideration of the tragedy of the children having to witness constant friction, and worse, between their parents, which are bound to follow in the natural course.

There is no need to elaborate on this very painful subject.
Needless to say, I am aware of the "argument" that the percentage of intermarriage is a considerable one and many of them seem to last. But it is sure unnecessary to point out that married people try to put on the appearance of a "happy" marriage, being ashamed to confess failure and to reveal the frictions and indignities, etc., suffered at home. In an intermarriage the sense of shame is even greater, knowing that many friends had warned them against it, and they had maintained that their marriage would be different. But as a matter of fact and statistics, the percentage of separations and divorces are incomparably grater than in non-intermarriages.

And another point. In the vast majority of cases, those that enter into an intermarriage are very emotionally invalid. Were thy themselves to be asked about others contemplating such a step, they would counsel against taking a step which would commit each other to possible lifelong misery. Indeed, they would consider it irresponsible to take such a step in an emotional state of mind.

As a postscript I wish to add, that according to Jewish Law the child goes after the mother. Therefore where the mother is Jewish, even if the father is not, the child is Jewish and duty-bound to fulfill all the Mitzvos, etc. Further details may be obtained from any Rov.

Wishing you and yours a happy Yom Tov,

With blessing,
(signature)

Shavuos

B”H

There is a dispute in the Gemara over which day the Jews received the Torah from Hashem in Sinai, whether on the 6th day or the 7th of Sivan. All agree that the Torah was given on Shabbos. In the inner dimension of Torah, there are two main ways we serve Hashem: starting from our initiative, or responding to Hashem’s influence on us (from below to above or vice-versa). Receiving the Torah was a spectacular, awesome, stupendous, tantalizing, heart-pounding, indescribable influence from Hashem on us. We responded, “we will do then we will understand”! After all the glitz and glamour, we have to “put our money where our mouth is”, to put on Tefillin, give tzedaka, etc. all the mitzvas. This is the bottom line, what the whole show of Matan Torah was all about. Not to go up to the heavens, rather to bring the heavens down here, make this physical world the abode for G-d Almighty himself by fulfilling his commands and desires. According to Rabbi Yossi in the Gemara, on the 7th day is when we received the Torah because that is when we actually started the service of Hashem which is from below to above, pushing ourselves and toiling ourselves to please Hashem and do his will. As it says in the Torah, “return to your tents…” According to the Rabbis in the Gemara (the other opinion), just the fact that Moshe went up to heaven and brought the Torah down here, already showed this level of service. (Likkutei Sichos) This Shavuos we received the Torah all over again, as if for the first time ever. As we say the blessing before studying Torah, “…Blessed are you H’, who gives us the Torah”. Every time we learn Torah, we have to do so like we are receiving it from Hashem on Sinai. Now that we just experienced Shavuot, how much more so do we need to “be there right now”. We even get special help, because Hashem confuses the Satan and he’s out of the picture just like on Rosh Hashana. By staying up all night and studying Torah on the first night of Shavuot, we show Hashem our love, awe, and respect we have for the Torah and him. The Torah says, if you leave me for one day I will leave you for two days (G-d forbid). And we know that “mida tova meruba me midat puranut” (a good merit is rewarded multiple), so the Torah will be with us the entire year and through this we will merit to reveal the master of the world, Alufo shel olam, with the complete and ultimate redemption of the entire Jewish people and all the worlds NOW!

The Yarmulke Obsession

Tuesday night I was at a wedding of a man that was almost single handedly responsible for me and my father’s return to observant Judaism. I say almost because, as chance may have it…there was a certain Rabbi whom I had met two years prior as a cadet in military school, who would come every Sunday. The Rabbi would bring BBQ potato chips, and cinnamon buns, and divrei Torah…and even a portable sukkah. Eleven years had passed since that year in military school, and now this Rabbi, none other than a Chabad Shliach, was at the wedding, being that he is the bride’s uncle. Ok so far everything sounds nice and sweet…your typical pareve L’Chaim magazine kind of stuff. Now let me get to my point. When I lean over to tell the Rabbi who I am; before any introductions were possible he noticeably stared at my yechi yarmulke. I mean it’s a crown heights wedding, so it’s not like it’s a big chiddush or that I stick out or anything. Anyways…you might be thinking “OK, big deal.” and for now I’ll agree, but wait there’s more. The Rabbi is so excited to claim me as his baal teshuva and starts introducing me to all of his friends and his wife. So I play along to give credit where credit is due. Before I go any further with what is about to happen...I want to say that the Rabbi was genuinely happy...and I could feel his sincerity. He and his wife were mamash excited…and really remembered me and are extremely dedicated to their shlichus in their community and the cadets for at least two decades. In general I want it to be known that I’m not writing to be political, or to bad mouth anyone. Back to the story….the first Rabbi that I’m brought to tell my ”cadet” story to, introduces himself as “where did you get your yarmulke from?”
“The gartel gemach in 770” I replied

“It turns me off to Judaism”

“Rabbi if my yarmulke can turn you off to Judaism, then maybe you need to strengthen your foundation.” I answered with a sweet innocent smile.

“Take it off”

“Ok” I took it off jokingly, hoping he’ll realize he’s being stupid, and put it back on.

“You shouldn’t be wearing it…do you wear it to the bathroom?”

“Yes”

As this dialogue goes on with a perfect stranger…I’m also trying to tell anther perfect stranger how his friend brought me to Judaism…while the other friend continues…

“How can you wear such holy words to the bathroom?”

“It’s not a Torah verse...it doesn’t mention any names of G-d, what’s the problem? Maybe it’s like Modeh Ani” (I was about to start darshining chassidus to him about Moshiach and yechida. This will suffice for the understanding ;)

“How many times a day do you say Shema...How many times do you say yechi….”
This many times for this and that many times for that blah blah blah…this guy is not worth my time.

This is just one such example of many. I haven’t decided how many to share yet…..because I don’t think there are enough rocks for these Rabbis to hide under. But here is my point: ARE THESE PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR MINDS???

First of all...if I told you the story happened with a misnagid then no one would be surprised. That’s normal because for the most part we don’t expect them to know better.

Second of all...I’m telling him how his friend got me to start wearing a yarmulke…and he is telling me to take it off because obviously he doesn’t agree with what is written on it.

Third of all…we don’t know each other from a hole in a wall…and he’s asking me about my bathroom practices, and my fashion tastes in religious head garments, and the consistency of my prayers.

Bottom line...he thinks I’m nuts…and stupid…I’m just a silly baal teshuva wearing a yarmulke that says that his dead rebbe is my living one…whatever.

And I think……..
This is the introduction to my new series...I hope you enjoy and stay tuned.

by Velvel Kutsy

Moshiach Flag on Front Page of Washington Times

The link here

The source for having flags in the Chumash is in last weeks parsha Bamidbar. Chumash with Rashi for Bamidbar Numbers 1:1-4:20 2. The children of Israel shall encamp each man by his division with the flag staffs of their fathers' house; some distance from the Tent of Meeting they shall encamp. Rashi with the flag staffs: Heb. בְאֹתֹת. Every division shall have its own flag staff, with a colored flag hanging on it; the color of one being different from the color of any other. The color of each one was like the hue of its stone, set in the choshen [worn by the Kohen Gadol], and in this way, everyone could recognize his division. Another explanation: with the signs

About the picture (taken during parsha Bamidbar). Matisyahu  wrapped Tefillin on the leader of the pro-palestine group after the leader admitted he was Jewish. The whole group then disbanded.  

The Washinton D.C. S.W.A.T. Team now has a Moshiach Flag in their headquarters.

A SWAT member who is a flag collector said it was the greatest flag he ever saw so he took it to put up in the office. An interesting thing that happened was that the SWAT team took away all the other flags and such because the long poles are potentially dangerous, the only flag that for what ever reason was left, was the huge Moshiach flag.

Moshiach Now!!! And a Good Week everybody!!!

When will the Prophet Eliyahu come to announce the redemption?

The prophet Eliyahu is supposed to come before the redemption and announce that tomorrow Moshiach is coming! So if today I didn't hear his voice making this announcement, does this then mean that Moshiach cannot come tomorrow? This seems as a contradiction to the fact that we have to await every day for Moshiachs' coming.

The Rebbe says an unbelievable thing in a sicha parhas Brocha 5751:

Eliyahu HaNovi literally comes every single day to Tiveria (Tiberias) and announces that tomorrow Moshiach will come. And if a person is holding on the right level then he will hear his voice.
Therefore, there is no contradiction that some or most people haven't yet heard Eliyahu's voice, nevertheless, Moshiach can come any and every day!

Signs of Moshiach in the News

Salary.com's 9th Annual Mom Salary Survey Reveals Stay-at-Home Moms Would Earn $122,732 in the U.S. the full story by following this link.

A mother is not valued by how she competes with men. Real feminism shows the power of a woman in her womanhood, raising the next generation of children. Also, economically speaking, the children who are raised by moms who take care of them are generally better assets to society later on and are more well adjusted individuals.

Happy Lag B-Omer Everyone!

the world is burning with a spiritual fire tonight!

Hadar Hatorah Bal Teshuva Yeshiva in Crown Heights New York Shabbaton Poster

come learn some Torah and enjoy a good time in a friendly environment. perfect for those with little or not so little knowledge in Torah.

the Inner lag baOmer by Sagi Shukrun

Omer - Achievement

We are 26 days along the count and 8 days away from Lag BaOmer. The counting of the Omer is an important commandment which G-d commands us to do each year in preparation of receiving the Torah which includes all of G-d’s commandments in order to be able to observe the commands of the commander-in chief, G-d Almighty himself. We can all learn something from this strong word – command. When was the last time you commanded something or someone? You might have suggested or implied, but commanded? What we need to realize is, that besides for following G-d’s Torah and Mitzvahs (commands) haphazardly and “trying” to be a good Jew, we have to command ourselves to be the best we can. In Hebrew the word for command (mitzvah) means also to bind and unite. By doing the mitzvahs we unite with G-d. By commanding ourselves we unite with ourselves, the real you. We have to realize that our main mission in life is to fulfill the commands of G-d in the best way possible in quality and quantity. Not to remove ourselves from worldly matters such as the finer things in life or other interests and act like angels; rather we have to use the best the world has got to serve G-d. The Holy temple was decked-out in gold, so too we can be. But this is all in order to elevate the world to be a fit home for G-d to come and live with us here. This is our purpose, carried out in our own individual way. We have to command ourselves to carry out this mission. This serves as our ultimate will. Next, we must constantly meditate on what and how we can fulfill this mission. When we get a strong “hunch” and insight into practical action we must begin to carry them out immediately with the aid of proper advisers. We must imagine that we have already accomplished the mission and feel as if we are there now. This is what counting the Omer is all about. We rise above our basic emotions and selfish feelings, a meaningless 9-5 existence, a “he who dies with the most toys wins” worldview, and connect to the Creator himself. We follow this up by taking practical action. We create an image of what we need to be and begin to make it a reality. On the way to achieving success, we receive a giant bonus from G-d in the form of insight and rise to infinitely higher levels. This is Lag BaOmer. We receive the secrets of the Torah, the holy book called the Zohar. In the Zohar it tells us to envision our ultimate goal, see and feel ourselves already there, and work practically to achieve it while keeping ourselves fit and in-line to realize it at any moment. Then we keep working to receive the Torah, the holiday of Shavuos…

by Sagi Shukrun