How much longer can Jews live in America?

 How much longer can Jews live in America?
__________________________________________

Midrash Rabah, Parshat Bereshit, Chapter 26, Paragraph 5:

Rabbi Huna taught in the name of Rabbi Yosef:
The Generation of the Flood was not blotted out
of the world until they made official marriage contracts
between people of the same gender…
__________________________________________

The government of New York State recently decided to
permit and officially recognize so-called marriages
between people of the same gender (Rachmana latzlan).

New York is only one of 50 states, but it is the state that
has the most Jews and most Jewish institutions.

The AIDS crisis, which struck harder in New York City
than anywhere else, may have been just a small warning
from G_d concerning this matter.  But instead of repenting,
New York has become much worse by giving more rights
to gays than ever before.

Another big cause for concern is the fact that Reform Rabbis,
Reconstructionist Rabbis, and Conservative Rabbis now
perform so-called gay weddings and officially accept gays
as colleagues and equals. There are now Reform gay Rabbis,
Reconstructionist gay Rabbis, and Conservative gay Rabbis.
I know that these people do not represent authentic Judaism,
but they are still Jews.

G_d is Kail Erech Apayim, the ultimate Master of Patience.
But even His patience has limits.  I shudder with fear when
I think about what could happen when His patience runs out.
__________________________________________
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Dvar Torah Parshat Emor

It is fitting that this parshat Emor is read during the Counting of the Omer.
We are counting the days from Passover until Shavout, the giving of the Torah.

When you count something it means that you are looking forward to it.
We are always looking forward to the Torah.  We long for it. We see it in our mind's eye,
and we can hear the call of the Torah.


In our tradition, we are constantly working on ourselves.  If you don't work on your
midot, then you are sliding backward.  Each day has a different aspect of the Torah
that we work on. They are the watch words of our faith.  Chesed, Strength, Beauty,
Greatness, Foundation, Eternity, and Kingdom.  Each of these aspects relates to how
we deal with each other and how we relate to Hashem.

As we move closer and closer to the Giving of the Torah, may we also move closer to
The perfect world that we long for.

Rachael Orbach

Life Coach Jerusalem, Where we care about YOUR Success!

Dvar Torah, Amalek, the enemy.

Ariel Sharon's Unit 101 undertook a series of

military raids against
neighboring Arab states that helped bolster Israeli

morale and fortify its
deterrent image. 

The unit 101 was known for raids against Arab 

civilians and military,notably
in the widely condemned Qibya massacre in the 

fall of 1953, in which 69 Arab
civilians, some of them children, were killed

by Sharon's troops in a
reprisal attack on their West Bank village.

In the documentary Israel and
the Arabs: 50 Years War,Ariel Sharon recalls

what happened after the raid,
which was heavily condemned by many

Western nations, including the U.S.:

Ariel Sharon was summoned to see Ben-Gurion. 

It was the first time he met
him, and right from the start Ben-Gurion said: 

"Let me first tell you one
thing: it doesn't matter what the world

says about Israel, it doesn't matter
what they say about us anywhere else. 

The only thing that matters is that we
can exist here on the land of our forefathers. 

And unless we show the Arabs
that there is a high price to pay for

murdering Jews, we won't survive."

The Rambam Hakadosh, in Halachot Melachim,

ch.6 writes that the war against
Amalek is a war of defense, a mitsva war. 

We must first ask from Amalek to
sign a Peace treaty. If Amalek wants peace,

there is no need to go to war.

But the war against Amalek, according to the

Rambam in the Guide to the
Perplexed, is a preventive war. In front of the 

cruelty of Amalek when we
were in the desert, liberated from the slavery 

in Egypt, when we were in the
Nazi extermination camps, we need dissuasion.

Whoever wants to exterminate
the 6.000.000 Jews living in Israel, like the

Iranian dictator, must know
that he will pay a very high price.

When I was at the funeral for the family Fogel,

may G.od avenge their blood,
in my neighborhood Givat Shaul, the former 

chief Rabbi of Tsahal, Rabbi
Rontski said "How can we be joyous for Purim?

We have to be joyous because
it is a joy from the Torah!" 
I think the best way to fight Amalek is to be 

joyous, because if we are sad,
we are far away from G.od. But if we are joyous, 

we are close to G.od

Reb David Orbach.
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Dvar Torah - Parshat Vayakhel

Michael Zaroovabeli February 23 at 11:19pm Reply • Report

This week’s parshah starts off relating the importance of Shabbat, that one should work six days and on seventh day rest.
Hashem then instructs Moshe to instruct all the Jews to donate various items for the making of the tabernacle. Many commentaries state that the tabernacle was made as atonement for the sin of the ‘Golden Calf.’
After the major transgression of the Golden Calf, Hashem’s divine presence did not totally rest upon the Jews. However by building the tabernacle, Hashem would be able to dwell his presence upon the tabernacle.
All the Jews rushed forward to contribute to the tabernacle, donating; gold, silver, copper, turquoise, purple, scarlet wool, linen, goat hair, red dyed ram skins, tachash skins, acacia wood, oil for illumination, spice for anointment and Shoham stones for the breastplate.
By all the Jews bringing with enthusiasm these items, they in a way atoned for the transgression of the calf.
And had done teshuva (repented). In turn it united a repented Jewish nation.
We see in the Tanach, various people repented for different transgressions, including; Reuven, King Achav, Nebudarzzan, King Menashe and many more.
The ultimate form of repentance should be done with both love and fear of Hashem.
The Jews in fact raised so much money in materials for the tabernacle that Moshe had to instruct the Jews to not bring any more after one day of donations!! How often do we find people raising money for example for a Shul/Yeshiva and request people to stop donating?? Virtually unheard of! This just shows how much the Jews regretted their sin.
These contributions were used in making many components of the tabernacle; The tent, its cover, its hooks, its planks, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, the ark, its staves, the cover, the partition curtain, the table, its staves, the utensils, the menorah, its lamps, the incense alter, the entrance screen, the elevation offering alter, the copper netting, the gate of the courtyard, the pegs for the tabernacle, the knit vestments to serve in the sanctuary and for many other uses related to the tabernacle…
The Torah then once again relates that Betzalel and Ohaliab were to partner up in making the tabernacle along with many ‘wise hearted individuals.’
Betzalel was only 13 years old, however Hashem provided him with the insights and knowledge in how to make the tabernacle.
The Torah then goes on to describe each of the tabernacles accessories, featuring their measurements. However all these measurements allude to various different insights.
One of the items featured in the tabernacle, which was described also in last weeks reading was ‘the Laver.’ This was a very large copper basin in the tabernacle courtyard from which the Kohanim were required to wash their hands and feet with before performing the service.
The copper was donated by the women; in fact, the copper came from mirrors that the Jewish women owned way back from the time they spent in Egypt, while the men were in slave labor.
The ladies used these mirrors, to beautify themselves, so that when the husbands came back from the back breaking labor, they would be aroused by their wives who used these mirrors to beautify themselves, in turn, helping repopulating the Jewish people. From this we learn, one should always try and focus their attention on their partner, and not for the general public. In trying to look best when they spend time with their husband or wife, rather than only making an effort when going to ‘work’ or to the public street while doing shopping.
This Dvar Torah is in memory of Yosef Natan Ben Sara, who sadly passed away this month.
Also please everyone pray for ‘Shimon Ben Naomi’, who is not feeling well and has been in hospital, please do some learning or praying in his merit to get better!
Have a great week, Michael Zaroovabeli.

Ki Tissa- Dvar Torah

Ki Tissa is the paradigm of Tshuva.  One of the greatest conflicts happened in the short history of the Jewish people.  The people went out from Egypt, the then capital of the known world.  It was a cruel society, involved with building monuments to their gods, the Pharoahs and their attendants.  The Jewish people were about to proclaim to the whole world, a message of life. But, sadly, like us all, they made a mistake.  They couldn't rely upon an absent leader. Moshe was called to asend Mr. Sinai.  The people waited.  They waited. and they waited. 38 days, 39 days, when is the 40th day?  Is it in the morning or in the evening?  Nobody knew.  It must have started with one person, and then snowballed.  Soon, they got caught up in the moment and the golden calf was made.

Aaron Hacohen was stunned.  He must have been.  He tried to make them stop, he said, "Tomorrow is a holiday to G-d!" But this was not enough.  The sound of the cries ascended to Moshe and Hashem.  Hashem offers to kill them all, but Moshe in his wisdom gave us the gift of Tshuva.

Returning to Hashem.  He taught us the 13 middot.  El Rachum Hanun . . .   We say these moving words throughout the year, on Yom Kippur and in the Tachnun that is said almost every weekday.  Tshuva is a gift that we can all avail ourselves.

If you feel estranged from Hashem.  remember that you can return, and Hashem will accept your prayers.

Each of us has a midda that can be improved, a mitzvah that we can observe in a better way, lets take upon ourselves, to improve ourselves, quietly,modestly, and hear the still small voice that emanates from Mr. Sinai even now.

Tshuva.  

Rachael Orbach
 http://jerusalemsmallbusiness.blogspot.com/
http://jerusalemscenes.blogspot.com/
http://rachaelenglishclasses.blogspot.com/

THE TEMPLE NOW? Parshat Tetzaveh

 THE TEMPLE NOW? Parshat Tetzaveh

After the Six Day War, Sages and professors came to the 

Rabbi Tsvi Yehudah Kook ZTS"L to ask him this question : 

" if the Temple Mount is now in our hands why shouldn't take

bulldozers at the place of the 2 mosques and begin
to build the Temple? "
The Rabbi answered very sweetly " Your proposition doesn't 

come from the Torah you know but from the Torah which is 

lacking you" In other words, this proposition is a mistake , 

the same way we have commandments to respect for
the Klal, we have an order to accomplish them.First, like 

the Rambam wrote, we need a Kingdom of Israel, with a King 

of Israel, then to destroy Amalek, then building the Temple.

Who is Amalek? We don't know exactly, we will know when the time comes.
The state of Israel looks like the beginning of the Kingdom.
To rebuild the Temple is not the most urgent thing to do.It is the
commandment for the Klal, and not for the Prat ( like tefilin) 
According to the " Sefer Hachinuch" the first condition before 

building the Temple is to have the majority of the People of 

Israel living in Erets
Israel. More Jews must make their Aliyah.

" The second Temple was destroyed because of baseless hatred 

between the Jews. The third Temple will be built by Ahavat chinam". 

Rabbi A.Y. Kook.

David Orbach 

Halleluya written by David Orbach with saxophonist Rachael Orbach 

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Sign up for your FREE Reb Shlomo Carlebach Parsha teaching and special audio gem

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Dvar Torah Parahas Terumah

Parshas Terumah

This week we look at the Ark of the Covenant. We are given exact instructions in the Torah how to build the Ark, how it looks and how it is to be carried. No one can see the Ark while it is moving and when it is put inside the Miskan, only one person in the world is allowed to see it.

This is a paradigm for our relationship with God. We are given exact instructions about how to set up our lives, but in the end we cannot see God. We pray to God, and we trust that everything that happens to us is for the best. We need to have faith. The Ark of the Covenant is about faith. Faith in God, faith in the commandments and faith ultimately in ourselves. We do what is right, not for ulterior motives, but because it is right. The laws of the Torah are given to us to nudge us in the right direction. Choose Life, Choose the good. Choose the truth.

Rachael Orbach

30 Shvat 5771 Rosh Chodesh Adar Aleph

Jerusalem  

Birth Pangs of Mashiach

bs"d

 

"I will live and not die to proclaim the wonders of Hashem" Tehillim

 

To my dear sisters,

When I was in the hospital last year before Purim, I had a spiritual awakening (it was about time!), even though being in the hospital really sucked! After I got out, after 9yrs from my first visit to Uman, this driven urge to return took hold of me & I arranged it within in a week. (Expired passport and all. It says R' Nachman invites you & who can turn down such an invite?!)

 

There was snow on the ground and I had been concerned about temperatures below 0 but it tuned out to be like a cold American winter that you just had to be well dressed for. (Actually it gave me a "warm" memory of my childhood winters in the US.) and the tzion was just a few slippery minutes away from our lodgings.

 

Well this experience was much different than the first. Being at the Rebbe's tzion was like being in a spiritual realm beyond, that was all connection and prayer. I would just put my warm shawl over my head to lehetboded and there was no-one else really there except me, H' and Rebbanu" . M'ein Olam Haba. And Shobbos, Shobbos was really above time & space. It was hard to land. After about a week I returned to Israel (I had been there on Moshe Rebbanu's Yortsite)

 

After about a month the tikkunim started coming hard and fast. If I had been in "7th Heaven", I was now below "Sea Level". How could it be? A month after such an uplifting experience by R' Nachman ztz"l. But that's what exactly the point. H' had heard my prayers & Rebbanu was quickening my tikkun but not in a way I expected , understood or enjoyed (an understatement!) I has having having extremely Ich d'lemashicha labor pains coming so strong and fast I could hardly breathe between them! I thought, "This is it, it's finally all coming apart. This time I'm going to die in labor" Not so! We can't fathom the ways of H'! He answers our prayers in His way according to to his unfathomable wisdom.

 

Know my dear friends that thru those "spiritual" but oh so painful "labor pains' we all experience, we are collectively giving birth to Mashiach!  B'emhara B'yamanu (C'mon H', enough is enough!)

 

"Come together right now, over me" Let's hang in there together!

 

Love Talia, Shabbat Shalom (17yrs ago on Shabbat Kodesh, my sweet Yisroel Meyer's neshama came into this world, and his neshama is definitely a Shabbat neshema bli "h)

 

*Pass this on to anyone you think this might strengthen.

-- 

"Say What You Need To Say" - John Mayer

 Have the courage to be who you are & to say what you feel in an honorable way, cause that's the only way to cultivate authentic relationships with self, G-d & others. TA

CD: Flashes In the Darkness

Talia Applebaum

<tappletree@gmail.com> 

The Rambam's Letter to his son- A little Mussar for all of us!

IggereT HaRamban - The Ramban's Letter (Written to his elder son, Nachman, with the instruction to read it weekly.)   The "Ramban" or Nachmanadies (4954-5030 or 1194-1270 c.e.) is an excellent Jewish source for self improvement. The starting point on his recommended behavior here is the control of anger, a major factor in Road Rage. Hear, my son, the instruction of your father and don't forsake the teaching of your mother (Mishlei 1:8). Get into the habit of always speaking calmly to everyone. This will prevent you from anger, a serious character flaw which causes people to sin. As our Rabbis said (Nedarim 22a):Whoever flares up in anger is subject to the discipline of Gehinnom as it is says in (Koheles 12:10), "Cast out anger from your heart, and [by doing this] remove evil from your flesh." "Evil" here means Gehinnom, as we read (Mishlei 16:4): "...and the wicked are destined for the day of evil." Once you have distanced yourself from anger, the quality of humility will enter your heart.This radiant quality is the finest of all admirable traits (see Avodah Zarah 20b), because (Mishlei 22:4), "Following humility comes the fear of Hashem." Through humility you will also come to fear Hashem. It will cause you to always think about (see Avos 3:1) where you came from and where you are going, and that while alive you are only like a maggot and a worm, and the same after death. It will also remind you before Whom you will be judged, the King of Glory, as it is stated (I Melachim 8:27; Mishlei 15:11), "Even the heaven and the heavens of heaven can't contain You" -- "How much less the hearts of people!" It is also written (Yirmeyahu 23:24), "Do I not fill heaven and earth? says Hashem." When you think about all these things, you will come to fear Hashem who created you, and you will protect yourself from sinning and therefore be happy with whatever happens to you. Also, when you act humbly and modestly before everyone, and are afraid of Hashem and of sin, the radiance of His glory and the spirit of the Shechina will rest upon you, and you will live the life of the World-to-Come! And now, my son, understand and observe that whoever feels that he is greater than others is rebelling against the Kingship of Hashem, because he is adorning himself with His garments, as it is written (Tehillim 93:1), "Hashem reigns, He wears clothes of pride." Why should one feel proud? Is it because of wealth? Hashem makes one poor or rich (I Shmuel 2:7). Is it because of honor? It belongs to Hashem, as we read (I Divrei Hayamim 29:12), "Wealth and honor come from You." So how could one adorn himself with Hashem's honor? And one who is proud of his wisdom surely knows that Hashem "takes away the speech of assured men and reasoning from the sages" (Iyov 12:20)!? So we see that everyone is the same before Hashem, since with His anger He lowers the proud and when He wishes He raises the low. So lower yourself and Hashem will lift you up! Therefore, I will now explain to you how to always behave humbly. Speak gently at all times, with your head bowed, your eyes looking down to the ground and your heart focusing on Hashem. Don't look at the face of the person to whom you are speaking. Consider everyone as greater than yourself. If he is wise or rich, you should give him respect. If he is poor and you are richer -- or wiser -- than he, consider yourself to be more guilty than he, and that he is more worthy than you, since when he sins it is through error, while yours is deliberate and you should know better! In all your actions, words and thoughts, always regard yourself as standing before Hashem, with His Shechinah above you, for His glory fills the whole world. Speak with fear and awe, as a slave standing before his master. Act with restraint in front of everyone. When someone calls you, don't answer loudly, but gently and softly, as one who stands before his master. Torah should always be learned diligently, so you will be able to fulfill it's commands. When you arise from your learning reflect carefully on what you have studied, in order to see what in it that you can be put into practice. Examine your actions every morning and evening, and in this way every one of your days will be spent in teshuvah (repentance). Concentrate on your prayers by removing all worldly concerns from your heart. Prepare your heart before Hashem, purify your thoughts and think about what you are going to say. If you follow this in all your daily actions, you will not come to sin. This way everything you do will be proper, and your prayer will be pure, clear, clean, devout and acceptable to Hashem, as it is written (Tehillim 10:17), "When their heart is directed to You, listen to them." Read this letter at least once a week and neglect none of it. Fulfill it, and in so doing, walk with it forever in the ways of Hashem, may he be blessed,so that you will succeed in all your ways. Thus you will succeed and merit the World to Come which lies hidden away for the righteous. Every day that you shall read this letter, heaven shall answer your heart's desires. Amen, Sela! This translation is part of the Worldwide network of learning materials of Pirchei Shoshanim (c)1996. Pirchei Shoshanim is part of the Shema Yisrael Torah Network which can be found at http://www.shemayisrael.co.il or through e-mail, pirchei@shemayisrael.co.il or by telephone at 732-370-3344 or fax 732-367-6608.   Share The Road! Save A Life!