I posted this once before and wanted to share it with you once again.
Now that we are in the nine days, it's time to really think about the churban and what we can do to bring moshiach closer.
We have so many opportunities throughout our day to do mitzvos. And like we've all learned when we were younger, each mitzvah you do adds a brick to the bais hamikdosh and yes-it is true! Each mitzvah you do helps bring the geula closer!
It's hard to imagine what we are missing when we never lived in those times. But it shouldn't be too hard to feel, to really feel that we want it back-even though we never experienced life with the bais hamikdosh. It takes a little bit of thought but once you think about it, you will realize how much we really NEED moshiach to come already!
Take a few minutes to think about the things going on around you. There is so much pain in the world. When moshiach comes, that pain will end. People who are sick will become healthy, orphans will be reunited with their parents...and the list goes on and on. There are people who are struggling financially, people with emotional problems, parents and children who need a big band-aid to improve their relationship...and all these things can and will be fixed one day!
We are busy with so many things throughout our day and what we can do is elevate our actions so that the mitzvos we are doing anyway become filled with enthusiasm and excitement. This way, they wont just be actions, mitzvos that are plain and simple, they will be great! How can we do that?
So here's the tip. You need to take an extra minute before you do something to actually think about what you are about to do.
Let's start with brachos.
We spend plenty of time each day eating. Don't you think that by spending a few extra moments before putting the food into your mouth, that bracha can reach a higher level?
The bracha of mezonos-thank you Hashem for giving me food that keeps me full and satisfied!
Shehakol-that everything Hashem created is an extension of His will. Everything exists only because He wills it.
These thoughts take a few extra seconds of your time, but by really thinking about what you are saying as you are saying, you add so much to the bracha you are saying!
There are plenty of other mitzvos that you do throughout your day. If you make yourself aware and try to think about what you do just a minute before you do it, your mitzvah will become so much greater! It's the kavannah, the thought that goes into it that makes all the difference!!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Tisha B'av and the Meraglim
Q: The meraglim complained and that's why we have Tisha B'av. What does it mean to complain?
A: The story of the meraglim has a lot of depth and there are loads of meforshim, explanations, on every passuk. It's not just that they complained. The spies were sent out on a mission to look at Eretz Yisroel and come back with a report.
Hashem did so many things along the way to make it positive but all they noticed was the negative. He caused many people to die so the inhabitants would be busy taking care of the dead and not notice the spies; instead they saw it as a land where people are always dying. (In todays terms, you can look at it as a land full of epidemic and not a healthy place to live.)
Hashem made it take shorter to travel across the entire land and let them see the most beautiful and fruits - they were huge. They took that to mean that this is a land full of giants and strong people; it would be too difficult for us to conquer such a land.
They didn't look at Hashem's bracha with a positive eye and didn't trust that He would help them fight to get in. So when they complained and cried-about something that was in essence a huge bracha, Hashem said He will make that night into a night where our tears will flow.
There is for sure a lot more to say but this is just the tip.
It's not just the complaining that brought about Tisha B'av. It's that they cried on that night, so it became a night where bad things happen to us.
It's the whole story of the spies going out with a negative attitude, coming back with a report that made the entire nation terrified to go into the land Hashem had promised us all these years! The entire nation cried and weeped and sobbed all night-from fear of having to enter this special land.
The spies took away everyone's trust that when Hashem promises something it's always good. The people didn't want to go into Eretz Yisroel! They didn't want Hashem to fulfill His word - all because the meraglim came back and said so much negative about Eretz Yisroel, Hashem's chosen land, for His chosen people.
The spies said bad things about the land-but in reality all those things were really good. They made Bnei Yisroel lose Hashem's trust by saying things that weren't 100% true in the first place. Everyone cried over something they should never have been crying about!
This is what it means that they cried for nothing.
A: The story of the meraglim has a lot of depth and there are loads of meforshim, explanations, on every passuk. It's not just that they complained. The spies were sent out on a mission to look at Eretz Yisroel and come back with a report.
Hashem did so many things along the way to make it positive but all they noticed was the negative. He caused many people to die so the inhabitants would be busy taking care of the dead and not notice the spies; instead they saw it as a land where people are always dying. (In todays terms, you can look at it as a land full of epidemic and not a healthy place to live.)
Hashem made it take shorter to travel across the entire land and let them see the most beautiful and fruits - they were huge. They took that to mean that this is a land full of giants and strong people; it would be too difficult for us to conquer such a land.
They didn't look at Hashem's bracha with a positive eye and didn't trust that He would help them fight to get in. So when they complained and cried-about something that was in essence a huge bracha, Hashem said He will make that night into a night where our tears will flow.
There is for sure a lot more to say but this is just the tip.
It's not just the complaining that brought about Tisha B'av. It's that they cried on that night, so it became a night where bad things happen to us.
It's the whole story of the spies going out with a negative attitude, coming back with a report that made the entire nation terrified to go into the land Hashem had promised us all these years! The entire nation cried and weeped and sobbed all night-from fear of having to enter this special land.
The spies took away everyone's trust that when Hashem promises something it's always good. The people didn't want to go into Eretz Yisroel! They didn't want Hashem to fulfill His word - all because the meraglim came back and said so much negative about Eretz Yisroel, Hashem's chosen land, for His chosen people.
The spies said bad things about the land-but in reality all those things were really good. They made Bnei Yisroel lose Hashem's trust by saying things that weren't 100% true in the first place. Everyone cried over something they should never have been crying about!
This is what it means that they cried for nothing.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Thoughts-The Nine Days
The nine days are here and we are hoping things will be good and news will be better iy"h. We've been having too many sad stories already and it's time for besuros tovos-good news! We all need to daven real hard for moshiach and beg Hashem to bring an end to everyone's suffering and pain! Hopefully, if we daven hard enough, we will all have yeshuos and good things!
The nine days isn't something we just talk about. We need to make the churban and the pain we feel over the loss of the bais hamikdosh a REAL thing. Think about all the good things we will have when moshiach comes! Take a few minutes to really think about it! When moshiach comes, we will have unbelievable clarity and understanding. We'll see why things happened and how it was really meant for the best - for our good.
We will all be so close to Hashem, our Father and we'll be truly happy! We won't be busy running after materialism, cool gadgets, jewelry, clothes, shopping - just to keep us busy. We'll buy what we need and then stop! Then we'll use the rest of our time for things that really matter - connecting to Hashem!
There will be no more pain, no more sickness, no more children going off the beautiful path of Torah! There will be happiness, people will have all their needs taken care of and we will have the ultimate connection to Hashem!
Let's all daven and hope that this day will come very soon!
The nine days isn't something we just talk about. We need to make the churban and the pain we feel over the loss of the bais hamikdosh a REAL thing. Think about all the good things we will have when moshiach comes! Take a few minutes to really think about it! When moshiach comes, we will have unbelievable clarity and understanding. We'll see why things happened and how it was really meant for the best - for our good.
We will all be so close to Hashem, our Father and we'll be truly happy! We won't be busy running after materialism, cool gadgets, jewelry, clothes, shopping - just to keep us busy. We'll buy what we need and then stop! Then we'll use the rest of our time for things that really matter - connecting to Hashem!
There will be no more pain, no more sickness, no more children going off the beautiful path of Torah! There will be happiness, people will have all their needs taken care of and we will have the ultimate connection to Hashem!
Let's all daven and hope that this day will come very soon!
Labels:
Churban,
Galus,
Moshiach,
Think,
Understand
Friday, July 29, 2011
Another Message?!
A European Gadol taken from us.
We didn't get the message.
An American Gadol taken from us.
We didn't get the message.
A Gadol from Eretz Yisroel taken from us.
We didn't get the message.
A little boy from Brooklyn, NY brutally sacrificed for us.
We didn't get the message.
A Sephardic Mekubal from Be'er Sheva savagely sacrificed for us.
Will we once again not get the message?
We shuddered.
We cried.
We gave Tzedakah.
We sighed.
We prayed.
We learned Torah.
But did we get the message?
Did we change?
Are we changing?
We heard speeches.
We heard tributes.
We heard songs.
But did we get the message?
Did we change?
Hashem is talking to us.
Are we listening?
Are we so brazenly insensitive?
Are we so deeply incapable of change?
Are we that numb?
The world is full of Achzariyus
The world is stooping to unprecedented lows.
The world is in a fast paced transition.
We dare not be insensitive.
We dare not chalk it up to coincidence.
We dare not block ourselves from feeling.
We must open our eyes and listen.
We must become bigger than our minute selves.
We must be ready to change...
ready to get the message...
ready to part of the transition...
Every Jew must be a part of this movement.
If not for him/herself, for the sake of their brothers and sisters, Am Yisroel.
It's time to really focus on Ahavas Yisroel
For the sake of Klal Yisroel
So we can merit Mashiach shel Yisroel
And the return of the Shechinah to Eretz Yisroel
Hazorim B'Dima, B'Rena Yiktzoru.
We wept oceans of tears
The time has come to reap with joy
Together.
Only together.
Taken from an email sent by www.halachafortoday.com
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Three Weeks - A Poem
I wrote this poem a few years ago...but the message still remains! Hopefully, next year we wont need to read it!
During the three weeks,
There is a change in mood,
And when we get to the nine days,
We stop eating fleishige food.
Why all these changes?!
Is there a point here?!
There is a message we should take,
And show Hashem we really care.
Although it was many years ago,
We still remember it now,
The bais Hamikdosh, Hashem’s holy house,
Was destroyed and burned to the ground.
It was a place of total clarity,
Where we gathered three times a year
And now it is gone, it is no more,
And for this we should shed a tear.
But how much do we really feel it?
Do we mourn the way we should?
Do we genuinely feel,
That we are missing out on so much good?!
We have to stop and think,
About the churban and its loss,
And how we can rebuild it,
No matter what, at all costs.
If r"l, YOUR house was gone,
And was burned in a terrible fire,
And you watched it burn to the ground,
You saw those flames rise higher and higher,
And the people closest to you,
Had their lives taken away,
Yes in the time of the churban bais Hamikdosh,
All this happened on one day.
Hashem’s palace, His home,
Was destroyed on Tisha B’av,
And believe it or not,
This too came from His love.
Because Hashem let out His anger,
On bricks and stones,
Instead of destroying all of us,
The Jewish nation as a whole.
And now it’s up to us,
To help rebuild it fast
By doing as many mitzvos as we could
To build the third bais Hamikdosh that forever will last.
So use this time to be extra kind,
Do chesed with the people you know,
Keep adding bricks to the bais Hamikdosh shel ma’alah,
So back to Yerushalayim we will go.
Take on something extra now,
Say tehillim, smile at your friends,
Apologize to those you have hurt,
Yes, now is the time to make amends.
Just show Hashem you are trying,
And you want to come back to Him,
And by each person doing teshuva,
He’ll bring us back to Yerushalayim!
During the three weeks,
There is a change in mood,
And when we get to the nine days,
We stop eating fleishige food.
Why all these changes?!
Is there a point here?!
There is a message we should take,
And show Hashem we really care.
Although it was many years ago,
We still remember it now,
The bais Hamikdosh, Hashem’s holy house,
Was destroyed and burned to the ground.
It was a place of total clarity,
Where we gathered three times a year
And now it is gone, it is no more,
And for this we should shed a tear.
But how much do we really feel it?
Do we mourn the way we should?
Do we genuinely feel,
That we are missing out on so much good?!
We have to stop and think,
About the churban and its loss,
And how we can rebuild it,
No matter what, at all costs.
If r"l, YOUR house was gone,
And was burned in a terrible fire,
And you watched it burn to the ground,
You saw those flames rise higher and higher,
And the people closest to you,
Had their lives taken away,
Yes in the time of the churban bais Hamikdosh,
All this happened on one day.
Hashem’s palace, His home,
Was destroyed on Tisha B’av,
And believe it or not,
This too came from His love.
Because Hashem let out His anger,
On bricks and stones,
Instead of destroying all of us,
The Jewish nation as a whole.
And now it’s up to us,
To help rebuild it fast
By doing as many mitzvos as we could
To build the third bais Hamikdosh that forever will last.
So use this time to be extra kind,
Do chesed with the people you know,
Keep adding bricks to the bais Hamikdosh shel ma’alah,
So back to Yerushalayim we will go.
Take on something extra now,
Say tehillim, smile at your friends,
Apologize to those you have hurt,
Yes, now is the time to make amends.
Just show Hashem you are trying,
And you want to come back to Him,
And by each person doing teshuva,
He’ll bring us back to Yerushalayim!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Brachos
Chaya Sara is in Eretz Yisroel for the summer and asked me to post this for her.
Hey everyone its Chaya Sara from Eretz Hakadosh!!!! Its amazing to be here you feel so connected to Hashem and the truth of the world!!!
We were all so shooken up by this insane story and I heard something that we could do in a small way and it has powers to help us grow from this whole experience!! It's so hard to understand what is going on now and we must realize that Hashem wants to get our attention and we need to do something fast!!!! Here's one small and very easy thing to do. Please share this idea with others! (It's not copy writed at all!!!)
We had a speaker come to speak to us in eretz yisroel about the awesomeness of making brachos out loud and getting someone to say amen to your brachos. She said in the name of R' Moshe Feinstein zt"l that brachos with someone saying amen to the bracha is a full bracha and it saves a person from death!! She said to repeat in your head brachos save from death:)!! So we should work on saying our brachos out loud because then we really connect to hashem in a real way and open up the doors of bracha!!
She also said that a few years ago a big tzaddik came in a dream and said tell everyone that making brachos opens up many doors of brachos and everyone should make sure to get someone to say amen!!! And while saying amen the thought you should have is to think Hashem is true!!! So that is a small thing that you could really work on to help us all get closer to Hashem in a real tangible way!!!! And she said that every amen creates a malach and we dont want to throw a malach in the garbage...She said in hebrew malach lo lepach:)!! Isn't that cute?
So if we could really work on it that could be a great starting point:)
This is something that is not so difficult at all. It takes a little bit of extra concentration and the effect this can have is unbelievable! When you have someone to answer amen to your bracha, you will automatically say the words of that bracha slower, try not to jumble the words together and you will probably start to think of the meaning of the words you are saying!
Hey everyone its Chaya Sara from Eretz Hakadosh!!!! Its amazing to be here you feel so connected to Hashem and the truth of the world!!!
We were all so shooken up by this insane story and I heard something that we could do in a small way and it has powers to help us grow from this whole experience!! It's so hard to understand what is going on now and we must realize that Hashem wants to get our attention and we need to do something fast!!!! Here's one small and very easy thing to do. Please share this idea with others! (It's not copy writed at all!!!)
We had a speaker come to speak to us in eretz yisroel about the awesomeness of making brachos out loud and getting someone to say amen to your brachos. She said in the name of R' Moshe Feinstein zt"l that brachos with someone saying amen to the bracha is a full bracha and it saves a person from death!! She said to repeat in your head brachos save from death:)!! So we should work on saying our brachos out loud because then we really connect to hashem in a real way and open up the doors of bracha!!
She also said that a few years ago a big tzaddik came in a dream and said tell everyone that making brachos opens up many doors of brachos and everyone should make sure to get someone to say amen!!! And while saying amen the thought you should have is to think Hashem is true!!! So that is a small thing that you could really work on to help us all get closer to Hashem in a real tangible way!!!! And she said that every amen creates a malach and we dont want to throw a malach in the garbage...She said in hebrew malach lo lepach:)!! Isn't that cute?
So if we could really work on it that could be a great starting point:)
This is something that is not so difficult at all. It takes a little bit of extra concentration and the effect this can have is unbelievable! When you have someone to answer amen to your bracha, you will automatically say the words of that bracha slower, try not to jumble the words together and you will probably start to think of the meaning of the words you are saying!
Let's all try to work on this together and then we will bring so much goodness into the world!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
If Hashem Were To Go On Strike
I posted this once before and am putting it up here again because it's so good!
Here's a really great poem to help you realize how much Hashem does for us!!
Taken from a tape, The Iron Butterfly, by Suki and Ding
It’s just a good thing that Hashem above has never gone on strike,
Because He wasn’t treated for or for the things he didn’t like.
And if He had just once sat down and said, “That’s it, I’m through,
I’ve had enough of those on earth so this is what I’ll do:
I’ll give my orders to the sun, cut off your heat supply,
And to the clouds, give no more rain and run those oceans dry.”
And just to make it tough and to put the pressure on,
He’d cut off all the oxygen ‘til every breath is gone.
Do you know that Hashem would be justified if fairness were the game,
For no one has been more abused or treated with disdain.
And yet Hashem has carried on supplying you and me,
With all the favors in His world and everything for free.
No more would flowers bud in spring and food just wouldn’t grow,
And summer turn to winter, Hashem can do it all, you know.
He could make the daytime pitch black so we’d see our way no more,
There’s just so much Hashem can do to even up the score!
Men say they want a better deal and so on strike they go,
But what a deal we’ve given Hashem to whom everything we owe?
We don’t care who we hurt or harm to gain the things we like,
But what a mess we’d all be in if Hashem were to go on strike!!
Please let me know what you think about this and how this can help you enhance your appreciation for what you do have!
Here's a really great poem to help you realize how much Hashem does for us!!
Taken from a tape, The Iron Butterfly, by Suki and Ding
It’s just a good thing that Hashem above has never gone on strike,
Because He wasn’t treated for or for the things he didn’t like.
And if He had just once sat down and said, “That’s it, I’m through,
I’ve had enough of those on earth so this is what I’ll do:
I’ll give my orders to the sun, cut off your heat supply,
And to the clouds, give no more rain and run those oceans dry.”
And just to make it tough and to put the pressure on,
He’d cut off all the oxygen ‘til every breath is gone.
Do you know that Hashem would be justified if fairness were the game,
For no one has been more abused or treated with disdain.
And yet Hashem has carried on supplying you and me,
With all the favors in His world and everything for free.
No more would flowers bud in spring and food just wouldn’t grow,
And summer turn to winter, Hashem can do it all, you know.
He could make the daytime pitch black so we’d see our way no more,
There’s just so much Hashem can do to even up the score!
Men say they want a better deal and so on strike they go,
But what a deal we’ve given Hashem to whom everything we owe?
We don’t care who we hurt or harm to gain the things we like,
But what a mess we’d all be in if Hashem were to go on strike!!
Please let me know what you think about this and how this can help you enhance your appreciation for what you do have!
Labels:
Appreciation,
Poem
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Just One Week Ago...
Just one week ago, we were all davening and hoping little Leiby would be found.
Just one week ago, many, many people went out to search for missing Leiby.
And then…
…came the news.
We were so saddened, horrified, we didn’t know what to do.
Some of us cried.
Some of us didn’t.
But we all felt the pain.
The voices of those people searching for this missing little boy kept ringing in my ears. “Leiby, Leiby, Leiby”…and then I thought to myself, how far have we all gone?! We are lost!
Hashem is looking for us!
Do we hear His call?
He calls out to us through simchos, by giving us so much goodness, health, families, jobs, food, technology to make life easier, and then do we notice Him and thank Him for all He gives us?
Then He calls out to us through painful times, by sending stories our way that make us cry…and think…and return to Him.
Can we heed the call?
Can we listen to His voice?
Imagine Hashem calling our YOUR name.
You are His precious child and He wants YOU to come back!
“Sara, Sara, Sara”
“Ruchi, Ruchi, Ruchi”
“Chaya, Chaya, Chaya”
“Esther, Esther, Esther”
Where are you?! Come back home to me!!
Hashem is calling out to each and every one of us.
We got the message.
Now it’s time for us to come back.
Today, Shiva Asar B’Tammuz is a fast day. The purpose of a refraining from eating all day is to get you to think-to think about where you are in life and where you want to be and to work on moving forward towards becoming a better person. If a person refrains from eating all day but does not do some teshuva, some repentance, then what was the point in fasting altogether? They just did the external without focusing on the inner purpose of the day.
So today, take a few minutes to think about one practical thing you can do to bring the geula closer.
There’s so much to work on. Let’s start now.
Just one week ago, a story happened that impacted all of us in the most personal way.
Just one week ago, we were all hurting, crying and in pain.
Let’s do something real, today, so that this will be the last painful story we hear.
Also, last year’s post about the three weeks is powerful. You’ll want to read it.
Just one week ago, many, many people went out to search for missing Leiby.
And then…
…came the news.
We were so saddened, horrified, we didn’t know what to do.
Some of us cried.
Some of us didn’t.
But we all felt the pain.
The voices of those people searching for this missing little boy kept ringing in my ears. “Leiby, Leiby, Leiby”…and then I thought to myself, how far have we all gone?! We are lost!
Hashem is looking for us!
Do we hear His call?
He calls out to us through simchos, by giving us so much goodness, health, families, jobs, food, technology to make life easier, and then do we notice Him and thank Him for all He gives us?
Then He calls out to us through painful times, by sending stories our way that make us cry…and think…and return to Him.
Can we heed the call?
Can we listen to His voice?
Imagine Hashem calling our YOUR name.
You are His precious child and He wants YOU to come back!
“Sara, Sara, Sara”
“Ruchi, Ruchi, Ruchi”
“Chaya, Chaya, Chaya”
“Esther, Esther, Esther”
Where are you?! Come back home to me!!
Hashem is calling out to each and every one of us.
We got the message.
Now it’s time for us to come back.
Today, Shiva Asar B’Tammuz is a fast day. The purpose of a refraining from eating all day is to get you to think-to think about where you are in life and where you want to be and to work on moving forward towards becoming a better person. If a person refrains from eating all day but does not do some teshuva, some repentance, then what was the point in fasting altogether? They just did the external without focusing on the inner purpose of the day.
So today, take a few minutes to think about one practical thing you can do to bring the geula closer.
There’s so much to work on. Let’s start now.
Just one week ago, a story happened that impacted all of us in the most personal way.
Just one week ago, we were all hurting, crying and in pain.
Let’s do something real, today, so that this will be the last painful story we hear.
Also, last year’s post about the three weeks is powerful. You’ll want to read it.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
How Can One Believe in Hashem After This?
Someone submitted this question anonymously: How can one believe in Hashem after this?
You want to know how one can believe in Hashem after such a horrific story. I have a different question for you. How can one not believe in Hashem after this?!
Only Hashem, who is way above and beyond our understanding could make something as crazy as this happen. If Hashem were just a friend who we can sit down with and have a conversation with and try to understand the way He works, then He would not be a G-d. A G-d is someone who is by definition above our understanding and so there will be times when we will not be able to get clear answers as to why things happen.
It's hard.
But it's the reality of life and the definition of what a G-d really is.
Only Hashem could have caused such a crazy story such as this one to happen. We try to understand, we try to figure out if there is someone to blame, something that could have been prevented and we come up with nothing.
These parents were so careful with the safety of their child. This was the first time they let him walk alone and planned the route with him so they'd meet up at the right time and place.
But it was not meant to be.
When Hashem gave the job to the malach hamaves, the Angel of Death, he didn't want to do it. He said, "I don't want a job that will make people look down upon me." So Hashem told him, "Don't worry. Every time you do your job, whenever you take someone's life away, people wont even realize that it was you who did it." And that's why when someone passes away, people are always finding someone, some reason, some piece of negligence, some other excuse as to why the person died the way he did. People blame the driver who was driving too fast, the doctors who could have done something else, the illness...but in this case there is nothing and no one to blame! It is obvious and clear that this is the work of a very scary Angel of Death and the work of G-d and G-d alone.
No one else could have made this happen but Hashem.
And that is why I can say I still believe in Him, even after such a horrible story.
After such a story, it is still very important to strengthen our trust and belief in Hashem and I can understand that this shook you up and gave you some questions to think about.
But if you know that only Hashem could have caused it, you are already a step in the right direction.
What you need to remember is that we have a long history with a proven track record of trust in Hashem as our G-d, our King and our Savior.
Hashem created the world and everything in it, from the tiniest ant, to the little worm, to the dog and cat and elephant and everything in between.
He created the first person who existed in this world and every person who came after him.
He's the one behind the story of Yosef and the brothers and He caused 70 people to go down to mitzrayim and endure suffering there. And then He redeemed us, a nation that grew to over one million people, through unbelievable miracles, such as the 10 makos, from when water turned into blood up until the death of the firstborn of each Egyptian household. He led us out of the land that we suffered in-Egypt-and then through His miracles we crossed the sea and our enemies drowned.
He kept us alive throughout the 40 years we spent in the dessert by keeping us nourished through the mon and well hydrated with the water from the well of Miriam. We were also protected by the heavenly clouds on all sides so no nation or animal could attack us.
He brought us into the holiest land, Eretz Yisroel, and kept us going even after the first and second Bais Hamikdosh were destroyed.
Throughout our long and bitter exile, whenever any nation tried to destroy us, we have remained alive and they have not been able to wipe us out.
And one person, one murderer, who brutally took the life of a precious and innocent Leiby Kletzky a"h, is going to shake our rock solid faith in Hashem, who did so much for us as a nation and does so much for each of us as an individual?!
How can any of us let this one person, this murderer, cause our emunah in Hashem to crumble?!
Hashem wakes you up every morning.
Every second of the day that you are alive and breathing is because Hashem is blowing air into your body and keeping your heart pumping blood through your veins.
You are able to see because Hashem wills it so.
You can read and understand what this says only because that is the will of Hashem, because He is your Loving Father and wants you to know that this one story cannot shake the belief we all have in Him.
He does so much good for you.
We cannot let one monster get rid of the everlasting belief we have in Hashem, who brought us into this bitter exile and kept us alive throughout all these years and will redeem us with miracles - miracles that are greater and more awe-inspiring than the miracles He performed in Mitzrayim.
May that day come very soon!
I would really appreciate if the person who asked this question can please let me know if this helped you and if you still have any questions.
You want to know how one can believe in Hashem after such a horrific story. I have a different question for you. How can one not believe in Hashem after this?!
Only Hashem, who is way above and beyond our understanding could make something as crazy as this happen. If Hashem were just a friend who we can sit down with and have a conversation with and try to understand the way He works, then He would not be a G-d. A G-d is someone who is by definition above our understanding and so there will be times when we will not be able to get clear answers as to why things happen.
It's hard.
But it's the reality of life and the definition of what a G-d really is.
Only Hashem could have caused such a crazy story such as this one to happen. We try to understand, we try to figure out if there is someone to blame, something that could have been prevented and we come up with nothing.
These parents were so careful with the safety of their child. This was the first time they let him walk alone and planned the route with him so they'd meet up at the right time and place.
But it was not meant to be.
When Hashem gave the job to the malach hamaves, the Angel of Death, he didn't want to do it. He said, "I don't want a job that will make people look down upon me." So Hashem told him, "Don't worry. Every time you do your job, whenever you take someone's life away, people wont even realize that it was you who did it." And that's why when someone passes away, people are always finding someone, some reason, some piece of negligence, some other excuse as to why the person died the way he did. People blame the driver who was driving too fast, the doctors who could have done something else, the illness...but in this case there is nothing and no one to blame! It is obvious and clear that this is the work of a very scary Angel of Death and the work of G-d and G-d alone.
No one else could have made this happen but Hashem.
And that is why I can say I still believe in Him, even after such a horrible story.
After such a story, it is still very important to strengthen our trust and belief in Hashem and I can understand that this shook you up and gave you some questions to think about.
But if you know that only Hashem could have caused it, you are already a step in the right direction.
What you need to remember is that we have a long history with a proven track record of trust in Hashem as our G-d, our King and our Savior.
Hashem created the world and everything in it, from the tiniest ant, to the little worm, to the dog and cat and elephant and everything in between.
He created the first person who existed in this world and every person who came after him.
He's the one behind the story of Yosef and the brothers and He caused 70 people to go down to mitzrayim and endure suffering there. And then He redeemed us, a nation that grew to over one million people, through unbelievable miracles, such as the 10 makos, from when water turned into blood up until the death of the firstborn of each Egyptian household. He led us out of the land that we suffered in-Egypt-and then through His miracles we crossed the sea and our enemies drowned.
He kept us alive throughout the 40 years we spent in the dessert by keeping us nourished through the mon and well hydrated with the water from the well of Miriam. We were also protected by the heavenly clouds on all sides so no nation or animal could attack us.
He brought us into the holiest land, Eretz Yisroel, and kept us going even after the first and second Bais Hamikdosh were destroyed.
Throughout our long and bitter exile, whenever any nation tried to destroy us, we have remained alive and they have not been able to wipe us out.
And one person, one murderer, who brutally took the life of a precious and innocent Leiby Kletzky a"h, is going to shake our rock solid faith in Hashem, who did so much for us as a nation and does so much for each of us as an individual?!
How can any of us let this one person, this murderer, cause our emunah in Hashem to crumble?!
Hashem wakes you up every morning.
Every second of the day that you are alive and breathing is because Hashem is blowing air into your body and keeping your heart pumping blood through your veins.
You are able to see because Hashem wills it so.
You can read and understand what this says only because that is the will of Hashem, because He is your Loving Father and wants you to know that this one story cannot shake the belief we all have in Him.
He does so much good for you.
We cannot let one monster get rid of the everlasting belief we have in Hashem, who brought us into this bitter exile and kept us alive throughout all these years and will redeem us with miracles - miracles that are greater and more awe-inspiring than the miracles He performed in Mitzrayim.
May that day come very soon!
I would really appreciate if the person who asked this question can please let me know if this helped you and if you still have any questions.
Friday, July 15, 2011
A Korban - Yehuda ben R' Nachman
Tears.
That's all I can muster.
I'm looking for words; the right words.
They aren't forming cohesively, but too many people are seeking direction after this unspeakable tragedy for me to remain silent.
We have no Bais Hamikdash; yet we have Korbanos.
The latest Korban's name was Leiby Keletzky Hy"D
A young, innocent, sweet boy on this earth for less than a decade.
His life violated by a monster , then snuffed out in an act of unimaginable barbarism.
His body treated in unthinkable ways; a true Korban for Klal Yisroel.
What message lies therein?
If Hashem has allowed this to happen, it is unquestionably a message for us.
How many more messages do we need until we all wake up?
How can we be so numb and insensitive to what's going on around us?
We hear of this Korban, who serves to atone for OUR sins, yet we carry on with life as usual.
Yes, we say the expected things such as "what a tragedy!", "Hashem Yerachem" and such.
We put on a sad face and sigh for a minute or two; we may even shed a tear or two.
Then it's back to "business as usual".
We continue our vacations.
We continue our lunch dates.
We continue peppering our speech with vulgarities.
We continue watching forbidden television and movies.
We continue making disparaging remarks to our family and friends.
We continue worrying more about dressing in style than dressing B'Tzniyus.
We continue catering to our bodies at the expense of our Neshamos.
We totally miss the many messages that Hashem is sending us.
Are we so numb and blind?
How many more Korbonos do we need?
Do we need it right between the eyes R"L for us to finally take them seriously?
This boy was the son, brother and Korban of EVERY single Jew on the planet.
The amazing and heroic efforts of Acheinu Bnei Yisroel of all stripes and colors who united in the search for this boy, is surely part of the message.
He may not have been found as we all hoped, but his passing should leave us with the clarity to hold on to the Achdus that was engendered.
The outpouring of Tefilos that were said and tears that were shed for this boy and his family may not have produced the results that we hoped for, but they were not in vain.
Not one single tear, not one single prayer was for naught.
It is in times of pain and tragedy that Klal Yisroel gets their priorities straight, and focuses on the right things instead of the mundane.
We need to hold on to this focus and not need more messages to keep us anchored in Achdus and Tefilah.
Yes, there may be some evil people amongst us, but as a whole, Klal Yisroel is a great nation
Let's all be greater than we think we have the capacity to be.
Let's all start taking life a little more seriously.
Let's add more Torah to our lives, more Tzedakah, more Mitzvos, more Ahavas Yisroel....
Let's rid our lives of Lashon Hara, Machlokes, Sinas Chinam, Pritzus...
Let's show Hashem that we got the message!
May the Korban be accepted by Hashem and may our thoughts and actions not invalidate its powerful effect.
May we be zoche to a rebuilt Bais Hamikdash, where we can bring the kinds of Korbonos that we can offer with joy.
Perhaps if we did some real soul searching and internalized the many messages Hashem has been sending lately...
...We will be able to celebrate the 9th of Av this year instead of spending the day crying again.
Taken from Halacha for Today
Taken from Halacha for Today
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