The Weekly Sedra – Parashas Noach – A Tale Of Two Souls

A Peak Into The Human Psyche

Two nations are in your womb. Two governments will separate from inside you; the upper hand will go from one government to the other.
– Genesis 25:23

The Holy One, blessed be He, created two impulses, one good and the other evil.
– Talmud Berochot 61a

Like it or not, we are each engaged in a battle against our own set of mean genes. They are wily opponents too. Masters of the visceral, they control through satisfaction, pain, and pleasure.
– Dr.’s Terry Burnham and Jay Phelan Mean Genes

Destroy man’s desire to sin, our sages tell us, and you would destroy the world.
Not that anyone needs to sin. But one who lacks the desire to sin is not a citizen of this world. And without citizens, who will effect lasting change?
– Tzvi Freeman

As a child, Reb Herschel of Krakow was once scolded by his father for not arising early for prayer service. “I can’t help it,” complained the boy. “It’s that yetzer hara of mine. It keeps telling me to turn over and go back to sleep – that it’s too early to awake.”

Parshas Vezos Haberachah and Simchas Torah

The essence of Torah is not logic and understanding, it is higher then that, it is Hashem’s essence! Therefore even the words of Torah being said by a young child connects to the same level which the greatest Talmudic scholar connects to. And this is why we dance with the Torah on Simchas Torah with its mantle on and do not learn it- because the essence of Torah is above all reason and comprehension, the essence of Torah is Hashem’s essence!

The Rebbe says:

1. The Torah portion which we read on the day of Simchas Torah is Parshas Vezos Haberachah, the very last portion in the Torah.

2. The Rebbe now says that there must be a connection between Simchas Torah and the Parshah of Vezos Haberachah:

The Weekly Sedra – Sukkos: Moving (Forward) In Circles

Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad system of chassidic philosophy, was for a time, a disciple of Reb Menachem of Vitebsk (until the latter left Russia for the Holy Land in1777).

One year on Simchas Torah, before Hakkafos (the circular procession with which the holiday of Simchas Torah is identified), the entire synagogue was waiting for Reb Menachem Mendel to begin the recitation of the preceding verses, beginning with Atoh Hareisa. After a long unexplained silence, R’ Menachem approached R’ Shneur Zalman and said: “I perceive a hundred different ways to interpret this passage, but I cannot translate them into practice. I would hence prefer to refrain from reciting it.”

Reb Shneur Zalman protested: “But a person can never stand at the place which his eyes behold; for when he reaches that point he will see even farther. It is typical for this scenario to repeat itself again and again. So Rebbe, when you have realized these hundred ideas in practice, you will perceive yet more ideas and insights, and there will be no end to the matter.”

The Rebbe was quite pleased with this answer, and at once proceeded to recite: Atoh Hareisa. . .

The month of Tishrei encompasses the entire spectrum of the human experience. As the month steadily progresses, we move from the state of introspection of Rosh Hashanah; to the state of emotion of Yom Kippur; to the state of action associated with the holiday of Sukkos. The action associated with the holiday of Sukkos includes the building of booths – known as Sukkos – for outdoor dwelling, as well as the binding and bringing together of the four species in a special ritual.

The Weekly Sedra – Sukkos: A Lesson In Security!

There was once a Melamed (Cheder teacher) whom a well-to-do industrialist engaged to serve as the village resident tutor for a period of time. It so happened that during this same period the prosperous businessman built himself a magnificent mansion.

During the housewarming festivities all the household members found themselves, as can be expected, in highly festive and cheerful spirits. When the owner of the new home noticed that the visiting Melamed was quite caught up in the joyous festivities, he turned to him in surprise: “Why so much joy? After all, you are only here temporarily!”

The Melamed, who might have been of humble means but not of humble mind, quickly glanced back at the Bal-Habbos (owner/employer) and rejoined: “And you Sir? Do you think you’re here forever? You too, are only here temporarily!”

Despite all the attention paid to security these days there is much that can be learned from Judaism concerning this vital topic.

Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement

The Rebbe says:

1. There is an argument in the Talmud regarding the atonement for our sins on Yom Kippur:

Opinion #1): The Rabanan (Rabbis) say that Yom Kippur only atones for those who do Teshuvah (repent).

Opinion #2): Rebbi says that even if did not do Teshuvah Yom Kippur atones for him, because “the day itself atones for him – Etzoomay Shel Yom Michaper”.

The Halachah (law) follows the opinion of the Rabbis .

The Fast of Gedalia

The fast end at 7:32pm (in NYC), for the Zmanim in your area visit Chabad.org

Today is a fast day mourning the assassination of the Jewish royal Gedaliah ben Achikam, governor of the Land of Israel for a short period following the destruction of the First Temple.

Gedaliah’s killing spelled the end of the small remnant of a Jewish community that remained in the Holy Land after the destruction, which fled to Egypt. (According to many opinions, the assassination of Gedaliah actually occurred on Rosh Hashanah, but the commemoration of the event is postponed to the day after the festival; when the day after Rosh Hashanah is a Shabbat — as it is this year — the fast is postponed to Tishrei 4.)

For more on Gedalia read the Extended Article.

The Weekly Sedra – Rosh Hashanah – The New Year

The Rebbe says:

1. The Talmud tells us that “The Mitzvah of the day (of Rosh Hashanah) is blowing the Shofar”.

2. The Rebbe now quotes the Baal Shem Tov who explains the Shofar’s meaning:

The Baal Shem Tov explains the Shofar with a parable :

Blowing the Shofar is like a child crying to his father and saying, “Father, father, save me”.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Nitzavim-Vayeilech

The Rebbe says:

1. Every year without exception we read the Torah portion of Nitzavim on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah (the New Year).

2. We know that every Shabbos has a connection to and includes in it all the days of that coming week. Therefore, there must be a connection between Parshas Nitzavim and Rosh Hashanah (because, as we said, Rosh Hashanah is one the days included in the coming week of the Shabbos on which we read Parshas Nitzavim).

Question: What is the connection between the Torah portion of Nitzavim and Rosh Hashanah?

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Ki Savo

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion the punishments for going against Hashem’s commandments are discussed (this is called “the Tochacha”).

2. The Rebbe begins a discussion concerning how we should look at life:

We find that our Sages described our supposed perspective on life in two ways:

1) “Kol D’Avid Rachamana L’Tov Avid – Whatever the Merciful One does, He does it for the best” .

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Shoftim

The Rebbe says:

1. In this weeks Torah portion the Torah says “Because the man, tree of the field”.

2. The Rebbe brings two opinions on how to understand this verse:

The first opinion: In the Sifri (Halachic Midrash on the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy) our Sages understand that this verse is telling us that man is only sustained from trees.

The second opinion: In the Talmud , our Sages understand that this verse is telling us that man is compared to a tree.

3. The Rebbe now begins explaining each opinion and shows how they are actually not arguing:

The Weekly Sedra – The Shofar

The Rebbe says:

1. Beginning from Rosh Chodesh Elul (the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul) until Rosh Hashanah (the New Year) [1] we blow the Shofar [2] everyday to arouse us to repent and bring ourselves closer to Hashem (G-d).

More specifically, the Shofar awakens a fear of Hashem in our hearts.

2. The Rebbe now points out the difference between the blowing the Shofar during the month of Elul and on Rosh Hashanah:

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Re’eh

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion the Torah says1 “When Hashem, your G-d, will broaden your boundaries as He spoke to you, and you say “I would eat meat”, for it is the desire of your soul to eat meat, as all the desire of your soul you may eat meat”.

Rashi (an acronym for Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) brings two explanations for this verse:

Rabbi Yishmael explains2 that this verse is teaching us that before the Yidin (the Jewish people) entered Eretz Yisroel (the Land of Israel) they were not allowed to eat meat out of desire, they were only allowed to eat meat from the Sacrifices which they brought, however now, once Hashem brought them into Eretz Yisroel and broadened their boundaries, they were allowed to eat meat out of desire.

the Weekly Sedra – Eikev – All for the Boss

Sholom Aleichem. Serving a master is a part of life. For some the master is the pursuit of wealth while for others it could be intellectual satisfaction. Ideally, one recognizes the Master of the World and serves only Him. Serve this or serve that, but serve one must.

Being a servant has various formats. One can be a simple servant who performs his/her duties out of absolute obedience or one can be a devoted servant who serves happily due to the realization of the great lofty status of the master. In Chassidic philosophy this matter is discussed at great length. By understanding the master/servant relationship we will be able to utilize that understanding in our serving the Master of the World.

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Eikev

The Rebbe says:

1. The Haftarah (a short selection from the Prophets, read every week after the regular Torah portion) of this week’s Torah portion is part of a series of “seven Haftaros of comfort” which we read between the Ninth of Av1 and Rosh Hashanah (the New Year).

The “seven Haftaros of comfort” are called thus because they speak about our final redemption and this gives us comfort and strength to overcome this dark exile.

2. The Rebbe now explains that the Torah portion after which the “Haftarah of comfort” is read must also be a Torah portion of comfort:

The Weekly Sedra – Va’eschanan – Signage

Sholom Aleichem. The scene was right before a meal about 110 years ago. Rabbi Sholom Ber Schneersohn, the third Chabad Rebbe known as the Rashab, was washing for bread. He was meticulous in everything and ritual washing before bread was no exception. Suddenly, his younger brother Rabbi Menachem Mendel rushed in breathlessly.

“What a discovery!” exclaimed Rabbi Menachem Mendel, “Doctors in France have discovered a vein in the back of the human head. This vein can help one to concentrate or remember. When one leans forward this vein causes the blood to flow towards the part of the brain that aids concentration and helps one concentrate. When one leans back this vein causes blood to flow towards the memory part of the brain and helps one recall.”

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Va’eschanan

The Rebbe says:

1. In this week’s Torah portion Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses our teacher) recounts what happened at Mount Sinai where the Yidin (the Jewish people) received the Ten Commandments/ the Torah.

During this repetition of the Ten Commandments, Moshe Rabbeinu reminds the Yidin that throughout the giving of the Ten Commandments the voice of Hashem was “a great voice which did not stop” .

2. The Rebbe now quotes the Midrash which brings three possible meanings for “it was a great voice which did not stop” :

The Weekly Sedra – Parshas Devarim

The Rebbe says:

1. With this week’s Torah portion we will read and study a new Book in the “Chumas” (the five books of Moses). So far this year we have experienced the Book of Bereishis (Genesis), the Book of Shemos (Exodus), the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus) and the Book of Bamidbar (Numbers). This Shabbos we begin the Fifth Book- the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy).

2. This Shabbos (Sabbath) is called “Shabbos Chazon – The Shabbos of the (prophetic) vision”. This is because the Haftorah1 this week begins “This is the (prophetic) vision of Yeshayahu son of Amotz…”2.