Did you say the ‘Nasi’ Today? (Yom Beis)

From the Safer Haminhagim: [Every day from Rosh Chodesh Nissan until the twelfth of the month, usually after Shacharis,] one reads the passage [from Bamidbar 7-8:4] that describes the offering brought on that day by a particular Nasi, or tribal prince, for the dedication of the altar of the Mishkan. [In common parlance, each day’s passage itself is often referred to as “the Nasi.”] This daily reading is followed by the prayer which opens with the words yehi ratzon (and which appears in Siddur Torah Or [as well as in Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 371]). This prayer is recited even by a Kohen or a Levi [despite its seeming relevance only to tribes other than the Tribe of Levi]. [284]

To see the rest of the text of the Nasi click the Extended Article!

Did you say the ‘Nasi’ Today? (Yom Alef)

From the Safer Haminhagim: [Every day from Rosh Chodesh Nissan until the twelfth of the month, usually after Shacharis,] one reads the passage [from Bamidbar 7-8:4] that describes the offering brought on that day by a particular Nasi, or tribal prince, for the dedication of the altar of the Mishkan. [In common parlance, each day’s passage itself is often referred to as “the Nasi.”] This daily reading is followed by the prayer which opens with the words yehi ratzon (and which appears in Siddur Torah Or [as well as in Siddur Tehillat HaShem, p. 371]). This prayer is recited even by a Kohen or a Levi [despite its seeming relevance only to tribes other than the Tribe of Levi]. [284]

A Haggadah for Our Troops

It’s the question that keeps rabbis up at night: how is an exodus from a kingdom that no longer exists, that happened thousands of years ago, relevant to today’s Jew? On March 29, millions of Jews will bless and drink a cup of wine (the first of four), signifying the start of an hours-long ceremony of reading, reciting, and ancient ritual. After Passover, we return to the world of melting economies, climate change and belligerent nuclear-armed nations. Can a Seder celebrating outbreak from slavery in 1313 BCE be meaningful today?

The Book Or The Cover?

Legend has it that the late Albert Einstein, having just completed a paper and in need of a clasp, spent a considerable amount of time trying to straighten-out a clip that was twisted and unusable. While struggling with the dysfunctional object, his assistant discovered a new box of perfect clips. Einstein took one of the new paper clips reshaped it and used it as an instrument to repair the old bent one.

In response to his assistant’s bewilderment, the renowned physicist declared: “I had just established a new objective; once set upon a goal I’m not easily deflected.

Sicha of the Rebbe – Parshas Vayakhel-Pekudei

The Rebbe says:

1. This year the Parshios (Torah portions) of Vayakhel and Pekudei are read together on one Shabbos.

2. We know that generally the name of something hints at what the thing is all about. This is especially so with regards to the name of a Parshah (Torah portion) because everything in the Torah is perfectly exact.

Let us examine our two portions of this Shabbos and see if their names fit with their content:

The Sin Behind the Sin, Clinging To Bad Ideas

Weeping uncontrollably a distraught mother one day called on a Chassidic Rebbe. “Rebbe,” she exclaimed, “It’s my son; he’s acting really strange; I think he needs a psychiatrist!”

“What’s the matter,” asked the Rebbe, visibly concerned.

“The matter?” cried the woman, “he’s behaving like a lowlife! He was observed dancing with gentile women and dining on swine! I’m telling you, he went Mishuga.

The Rebbe pondered the crisis for a quiet moment. “My dear lady,” he then declared: The good news is that your son is far from Mishuga.”

“You see, if your son were dancing with pigs and dining on women, I’d say that he is indeed insane, but that’s not what you describe. The characteristics you present are that of ‘sinfulness’ not ‘insanity.’”

“No, no; your son is not crazy. He has rather become a crude and lascivious young man, and there’s nothing crazy about it. ”

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Yankel appeared in Shul one day with both his ears heavily bandaged. “I was ironing a shirt when the phone rang,” he sheepishly explained. “That explains one ear,” blurted a fellow congregant, “But what about the other?” “My luck,” came the reply, “the guy decided to call back.”

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Taanis Esther – The Fast of Esther – Laws and Customs

The fast begins at 5:15am and ends at 6:09pm (NYC Times)

Because Adar 13 (the day before Purim) falls on a Shabbat this year, the “Fast of Esther,” usually observed on that date, is moved back to today.

Haman’s “Final Solution” was scheduled for the 13th of Adar. Instead, Haman was hanged, and by royal decree the Jews mobilized in self-defense and successfully defended themselves against all attacks. On the next day, the 14th of Adar, the Jews rested, savored their miraculous salvation, and established the holiday of Purim.

Whenever in peril, we are commanded to institute a fast day to repent, pray, and ask for Divine mercy. Thus the 13th of Adar, the day of battle, was a day of fasting.

The Divine is in the Detais – What Does An Infinite G-d Have With A Finite World?

Once, on Rosh Hashanah, the Alter Rebbe Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, asked his son the Miteler Rebbe to share some of the thoughts upon which he had reflected during his Davening-prayers earlier that day.

Short Sicha of the Rebbe – Parshas Terumah

The Rebbe says:

1. Regarding the building of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) in this week’s Torah portion the Torah says, “You should make the beams for the Tabernacle of acacia wood (Atzay Shittim), standing upright”.

2. The Previous Rebbe explained that the Hebrew word for, “acacia”, which is, “Shittim”, also means, “turning away”. In other words, there is a middle path which is the path of logic and reason, and the turning away from the middle path is called, “Shittim”, from the word, “Shtoos – Senselessness”.

However, there are two types of ways to be senseless. One way is to turn away from the middle path of logic and be senseless in the opposite way of holiness, as the Talmud states, “A person only commits a transgression because a spirit of senselessness entered him”, and another way is to turn away from the middle path of logic and be senseless in a holy way, as the Talmud states, “The senselessness of this Sage has helped him”.

No! Do Not Turn Your Brain Off – The Divinity Within The Mundane

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas State Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

Eyes that See and Ears that Hear – The Key To Divine Triumph

At a metro station in Washington DC sat a man one cold January morning playing the violin. Thousands of people passed through the station during the time he played six Bach pieces, most of them on their way to work.

Only six onlookers paused throughout the 45 minute performance. Most attention was paid by a three year old boy, whose eyes were transfixed on the violinist even as his mother tugged him along.

A total of $32 was collected from 20 people who did not care enough to stop and admire the presentation. The artist received no recognition. No one noticed when he finished playing. No one applauded.

Neither did anyone take note of the fact that the instrumentalist played one of the most intricate pieces of music ever written, on a violin worth 3.5 million dollars. Nor did they have a clue that it was Joshua Bell, one of the finest musicians in the world, who only two days before played before a packed theater in Boston at an average of $100 per seat.

Why The Urgency? – It Is In Our Hands To Take G-d Out Of Exile

I recently heard of an interesting incident. I cannot vouch for its authenticity but its point is well taken.

When the adapters of the Rebbe’s talks were working on a very delicate subject, one of the editors wrote a note to the Rebbe proposing a certain interpretation of the subject matter to which the Rebbe responded, “This is complete heresy.”

The reason I mention this is because the following is a delicate idea which I have not seen explicitly stated and thus pray that it is not sacrilege.

In our Torah portion we find what might be considered one of the most perplexing statements made in the Torah ever. What I am referring to is the very last verse of our Parsha, Beshalach, Chapter 17, Verse 16:

“And He [G-d] said, For there is a hand on the throne of the Eternal, [that there shall be] a war for the Lord against Amalek from generation to generation.”

A Sicha of the Rebbe – The Tenth of Shvat

The Rebbe says:

1. There is a famous letter of the Baal Shem Tov in which he describes his encounter with the soul of Moshiach (the Messiah) during one of his journeys throughout the heavenly spheres. “When will the Master come?” asked the Baal Shem Tov, “When your wellsprings (the wellsprings of Chassidus) are spread throughout, even to the outside” answered Moshiach.

2. The Rebbe points out that since our Sages tell us that everything can be found in the Torah, this idea that as the result of the wellsprings of Chassidus being spread throughout the world Moshiach will come must also be hinted at in the Torah:

In its description of the exodus from Egypt, the Torah says, “The children of Israel left triumphantly”. The Targum Onkelos (a major translator of the Torah into Aramaic) translates this verse into Aramaic and writes, “The children of Israel left with their heads held high”.

Self Destructive Arrogance – The Tendency To Cut The Nose To Spite The Face

During the eight years that the noted Chassid, Reb Mendel Futerfas, spent in the Gulag in Siberia, courtesy of the Soviet regime, as a result of his “Illegal acts” on behalf of Yiddishkeit, he encountered many an extraordinary character.

In his subsequent years as a spiritual mentor, he would often recount the tales of these personalities and the lessons that he was able to glean from them regarding his service of G-d.

Among these accounts was his encounter with a group of youth belonging to the “Haskalah” (Enlightenment) Movement. Members of this faction were wont to mock and disgrace all that is holy, especially the Jewish faith.

During his chat with the youngsters, they proudly shared their glorious history. They bragged about the day when a group of them, on their way to work, came upon a number of Chassidim walking with their Rebbe, the eminent Rebbe of Rudzhin.

They vividly recalled how they took advantage of the opportunity to ridicule and denigrate the “Fanatic believers.” When the Chassidim failed to react, they unleashed a more sordid battery of venomous insults. Seeing that they had no intentions to relent, the Rebbe turned to the head of the band and said, “It appears that you seek an unusual death.”

Audio: R. Shais Taub’s Class on the Tanya Map at Mayanot

Hei Teives at the Mayanot Institute for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, Tanya Map author, Rabbi Shais Taub, gave an intense overview of the 53 chapters of Tanya based on the map. The Shiur was based on the Tanya Maps donated by Kehot.

Chof Daled Teves Publication

On the occasion of Chof-Daled Teves – the Yom Hillulah of the Alter Rebbe, The Rebbe encourages us to learn the works of the Alter Rebbe in Nigleh and Chassidus, and to learn Mishnayos beginning with the letters of his name.

Shake Off The Golus Mentality – Never Underestimate G-d Nor His People

A renowned Maggid (traveling preacher) arrived one day at the hometown of Reb Shmuel Munkes, a noted disciple of Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. After reading his letter of approbation, lauding him as a Tzaddik wont to wander from town to town for the sole purpose of inspiring fellow Jews, the townspeople invited him to preach.

Throughout his sermon the Maggid berated his simple audience, accusing them of dreadful sins. He proceeded to describe in vivid detail the severe punishment that awaited them as a result of their evil ways. When finished, the proud orator quickly retired to his room, leaving his crestfallen audience to wail over of the Divine retribution about to befall them.

No sooner had he made himself comfortable, when a man with a long knife and sharpening stone entered his room. To the Maggid’s utter surprise, the armed visitor was none other than R’ Shmuel himself.

Bolting the door behind him, R’ Shmuel proceeded to sharpen his knife. After a few tense and wordless moments, the Maggid broke the silence. “What’s this all about,” he asked with a look of astonishment.