David Linn has a picture blog at Temunot.
Ron Coleman has a politics and news oriented blog at Likelihood of Success.
What do you think of the Passover write up at Wikipedia?
Lots of Pesach stuff at Aish.
G-d willing we’re moving on to the next chapter of Mesillas Yesharim next week, so it might be a good time to re-review the Introduction.
Recommended reading for this column – “When American Families Move to Eretz Yisroel†by Rabbi Yair Spolter of Kiryat Sefer.
Dear Rabbi Horowitz:
My wife and I have always had a deep love for Eretz Yisroel since we both studied there in our post high school years. Over the years, we have been discussing the idea of making aliya (moving there) with our family, but somehow we never got to actually doing it.
Now, we feel that we are ready, but we are concerned about relocating our children. We have four children; the eldest is thirteen, and we would appreciate your guidance with this potential move.
I’m not sure how important this information is, but my wife is not as gung-ho about this as I am.
Dovid
Rabbi Horowitz Responds
Imagine that you decided to go on a one-day camping trip and then prepared a backpack with your provisions. Please bear with me Dovid while I carry this one out, but in the analogy, you are the sandwich, your wife is the bottle of orange juice and your kids are the dozen eggs.
I say that because generally speaking the men/fathers find relocation to be less stressful than do the wives/mothers. Why? Because the mothers are the ones who need to take care of the ‘stuff’ – the details that will make or break the success of your aliya.
Dovid don’t make the all-to-common mistake of underestimating the importance of getting the ‘stuff’ right. Please don’t trivialize or dismiss your wife’s concerns with the pragmatics of the move. Don’t think, “Here we are thinking of the incredible mitzvah of spending the rest of our lives in Eretz Yisroel and my wife is worried about jobs and schools for the kids.†If you need an example of what things look like when one is inspired by a big idea and neglects the details, just analyze the horrific train wreck that the war in Iraq has become. That also began with two big ideas – free the Iraqi people and spread democracy. But President Bush was so inspired by his vision that he forgot to ask or inquire if the troops will have bulletproof vests or who will make sure that the Iraqi people have electricity.
All things considered, I am most concerned about your thirteen year old. If you are the sandwich (easy to move), and your wife is the bottle of orange juice (much more likely not to handle the adjustment well), your children are the dozen eggs (far more likely to crack during the transition). And moving your adolescent child is like taking the eggs out of the container and stuffing all of them into your pants pockets.
I am always reluctant to give detailed advice to people whom I do not know well, but I can tell you with near certainty that you should not make the move at this point in your life. Let’s face it. Your children – especially the older ones – are Americans and making the adjustment to the Israeli culture is quite complicated. And although the benefit of making aliya is great, the risks are simply too high in your case. I suggest that you keep this dream of yours on hold until, with the help of Hashem, your children are married, or at least settled in the last year or two of High School. I would be far more likely to encourage you to make the move if you had written that you had either: 1) spent a great deal of time planning the move, 2) spent a summer in Eretz Yisroel with your children, 3) taught your children Hebrew and they took to the language well, and 4) your wife and children all ‘on board’ with your aliya plans. But from your question, it does not seem that this is the case. Should you decide to go ahead with your plans, please spend lots of time and effort properly planning for the move. The people I know who have made successful aliya — including and especially those who had teen children — all spent many months or years preparing for the transition.
For readers who are contemplating aliya, here are my suggestions:
* Do as much homework as possible. Speak to as many American olim as you can to pick up tips and suggestions to make the transition easier.
* Please read an outstanding article by my dear chaver, Rabbi Yair Spolter of Kiryat Sefer. While we respectfully agree-to-disagree on other topics (Click here and here), I concur with his column completely. (In fact, I first got to know Yair when I cold-called him to compliment him for his clarity of thought – and courage – when this article was first published in The Jewish Observer.)
* An excellent resource is Nefesh B’nefesh. (www.nbn.org.il) They have successfully facilitated the aliya of hundreds of families due to their methodical approach to guiding families – and their understanding of the importance of getting the ‘stuff’ right for the families who are making the move.
* If you are making the move, do so while your children are younger. The earlier in their lives the better.
* Look into the schools in prospective communities – even if your children are toddlers. Most Israeli schools are very different than American ones, and it is critically important that your family is in sync with the mosdos that your children will attend. Generally speaking, there is far more ‘gray’ in America than in charedi society in Eretz Yisroel. Make sure that your views on kollel, sports-playing-for-children, tzniyus for girls (and mothers) are at least close to that of the community in which you live.
I know many people who have successfully made aliya and I commend you for having the commitment to consider the move. My response is not ‘no’ – it is just, “Not yet†or “Not now.â€
© 2007 Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, all rights reserved
Please visit Rabbi Horowitz’ newly redesigned website, www.rabbihorowitz.com, to review/post comments on any of the archived articles. You can also visit the “Resource Listing†section (Click Here) of the website to become more familiar with many services and organizations that can assist you in your quest to help your children realize their fullest potential. Bright Beginnings has a growing number of skill-based materials in Chumash (Click Here) and Kriah (Click Here). I hope that you find them helpful. YH.
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Jonathon Rosenblum on It’s the Effort That Counts
Children who are praised from an early age for their native intelligence often become obsessed with protecting their image as “smart.†They tend to give up easily when they are intellectually challenged or do not grasp things immediately. They also come to devalue effort and to view working hard as a contradiction to their image of as “smart kids.†Ultimately, too much praise for their native intelligence can even cause them to underestimate their own abilities. Because they downplay the importance of effort, they may conclude that their failure to understand anything immediately proves that the earlier praise was unjustified
Rabbi Berel Wein on the Pre-Pesach Drive is On.
Thinking about Pesach makes us also think about how special we truly are and what our purpose and responsibility in life and in this world should be. Jewish history is not only facts and dates, scholarship and academic disciplines. It is, more importantly, inspiration and faith, guidance and hope, vision and destiny. And for all practical purposes, Jewish history begins with Pesach, with the Exodus from Egypt. It is ironic that there are those in the Jewish world who, for whatever unfathomable reasons, have attempted to deny the entire narrative of the Exodus from Egypt.
All of Jewish history and the fact of Jewish survival itself over the ages put the lie to such attempts and theories. Judaism is based upon the simple notion that my grandfather was not a liar. All of the deniers of the Exodus are modern scholars. Well, we are witness to the fact that many truths, such as the Holocaust, can spawn a denial industry. But that will not change the truth. So, knowing the Jewish story is itself a great high point of our pre-Pesach preparations.
Rabbi Brody on Shuli Rand and Ushpizin:
Don’t think that Shuli is a lone wolf. When I met him last week in Jerusalem, he told me that more than twenty of his former screen and stage colleagues – Tel Aviv’s best known stars – have become Baalei Tshuva (Jews returning to their roots).
A colleague’s son is having a Bar Mitzvah in a non-Orthodox setting. The son went to Hebrew school, and the father has shown some interest in Yiddishkeit. You’re invited and can’t make it to the party, but would like to purchase a gift. Do you give:
1) A non-religious gift
2) A religious article such as a pushka or a menora
3) An english sefer on a Torah topic
If you opt for choice 3), what sefer would you give.
A Simple Jew has Questions & Answers With Bob Miller – Midwestern Derech Eretz. An Excerpt:
I found some remarkable articles on the Web by Professor Deborah Tannen that clarify some misunderstood aspects of New York City (and Jewish) interpersonal behavior (see here and here). The gist of this is that some aspects of NYC conversational style and general American conversational style (as in the Midwest) are so different as to cause major misunderstandings about intent, character, etc.
Reading this material, I began to understand certain things that have happened in my life as a displaced New Yorker who has lived many years in the Midwest and other places outside Greater New York. It told me that much of what we take to be an indicator of derech eretz or the lack of it has to do more with local mannerisms than intent.
That said, I have noticed areas where derech eretz really does seem better in the Midwest:
1. People say “Good Shabbos” even to Jews on the street who are not their friends, relatives, or teachers, and are not dressed in the same Shabbos uniform.
2. Store personnel are generally friendly to customers and vice versa.
Read the whole thing.
Boruch Horowitz on Chulent, The View from the Fringes, and Blogging.
How can the Orthodox world prevent the need for “cities of refuge”? True, there will always be rebels, but not every person who doesn’t neatly fit in is a rebel. Sometimes, we have to be more understanding when thinking about why people do not conform easily. Such people may be working bnei torah, older singles, or people struggling with issues of faith and doubt. If there is something that the Frum community can do to minimize the phenomenon, then we should be doing it.
Rabbi Noson Weisz on Jewish Reality Checks
Every time we read Ki Tisa, we are freshly overwhelmed by the sin of the Golden Calf. How could the Jewish people construct and serve an idol a mere forty days after having heard the commandment “You shall not recognize other gods in My presence” from God’s own mouth at the foot of Mt. Sinai? Apart from the enormity of the sin involved, the fact that it was intellectually possible for the Jews to believe that such an idol had any power is incomprehensible. How could such great people have made such a silly mistake?
But the question goes even deeper. How could any intelligent human being possibly bow down to a statue? What is idolatry any way, and why are there so many injunctions in the Torah against it?
The OU Passover Guide is available here.
Rabbi Lazer Brody’s Purim Foto-Festival.
The Purim Podcast is available at Jameel’s and Ezzie’s sites.
And here’s a brief Purim Thought:
In the Maftir leining on Parshas Zochor, there is a discussion of the proper pronunciation of the word Zecher, so we re-read that phrase or the whole posuk. It’s ironic that the only Torah reading that fulfills a Biblical Commandment contains a built in question. As you many know the gematria of Amalek is the same as that of Safek, which means doubt. Amalek’s role is to cast a doubt on the existence of Hashem. So perhaps we have a Safek on this leining to bring about an awareness of our doubts or perhaps Amalek is sowing the seeds of doubt even as we lein about destroyinh him, awakening us to what a foe his philosophy really is.
In the second half of the introduction, the Ramchal brings down the posuk upon which the Mesillas Yesharim is based:
This is what Moshe Rabbeinu, may peace be upon him, teaches us when he says (Devarim 10:12), “Yet now, Israel, what does the Eternal, your God, request of you? Only to fear the Eternal, your God, to follow all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Eternal, your God, with all your heart and your entire being; [and] to keep the Eternal’s commandments and statutes….†Here he [Moshe] incorporated all the elements that are necessary for the perfection of that service that is desired by the Holy One blessed be He: fear of the Eternal; walking in His ways, love [of the Eternal]; perfecting the heart; and observance of all the mitzvos.
Although the Ramchal structures his sefer based on the Gemora in Avodah Zarah (20b), all the elements of our service are include in this posuk. Many of the commentators are focused on the wording of the posuk which makes it seem easy, when we know it is difficult. There are a number of answers, but the simple understanding is that high levels of service are within our reach.
Rabbi Dessler says, “All we have to do is start”. So consider spending some time listening to the mp3 or reading the text below and perhaps together we can strengthen each other to take some steps on the wonderful path that the Ramchal has paved for us.
Here is the 2nd Shiur in Rabbi Oelbaum’s Mesillas Yesharim series in mp3 format on the Introduction
Here is the second half of the introduction as translated by R’ Yosef Leiber and posted here through the genrosity of Feldheim Publishers. It is available for purchased here.
If we analyzed the matter objectively, we would no doubt discover its veracity. This would benefit us, and we could then teach it to others, thereby benefiting them as well. As stated by Shlomo (Mishlei 2:4-5), “If you seek it as [you would] silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand fear of the Eternal.” He does not say, “Then you will understand philosophy; then you will understand astronomy; then you will understand medicine; then you will understand the legal issues and judgments of Halachah,” but rather, “then you will understand fear of the Eternal.” We see that in order to understand fear of the Eternal, one must seek it out as he would silver and search for it as he would hidden treasures.
What has been transmitted to us through our parents and what is generally self-evident to every religious individual is insufficient! But yet we see that time can be found for all other branches of study yet for this no time is available! Why can’t a person at least designate specific times for this purpose, that would not interfere with other studies and endeavors that he pursues in the remainder of his time?
Scripture states (lyov 28:28), “Behold [Rein – ]n], fear of the Eternal – this is wisdom.” Our Sages of blessed memory comment (Shabbos 31b) that hein here means one, for that is the meaning of the Greek word hein. Thus, fear – and fear alone – is considered wisdom. And surely something that does not require study [and investigation] would not be considered wisdom. In actuality, all these matters demand profound study for one to truly know them rather than in a subjective manner or through faulty judgment, and particularly if one is to acquire and [truly] understand them. Therefore, he who delves into them will see that piety is not contingent on those things that the pseudo-pious, in their foolishness, consider relevant, but rather on true perfection and profound wisdom.
This is what Moshe Rabbeinu, may peace be upon him, teaches us when he says (Devarim 10:12), “Yet now, Israel, what does the Eternal, your God, request of you? Only to fear the Eternal, your God, to follow all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Eternal, your God, with all your heart and your entire being; [and] to keep the Eternal’s commandments and statutes….” Here he [Moshe] incorporated all the elements that are necessary for the perfection of that service that is desired by the Holy One blessed be He: fear of the Eternal, walking in His ways, love [of the Eternal], perfecting the heart, and observance of all the mitzvos.
Fear of the Eternal refers to the fear that His exalt-edness inspires. One should express fear before Him as one would before a great and awesome king, and he should feel embarrassment before the Eternal’s greatness, in every movement that he makes, and particularly when speaking before Him in prayer or when engaged in the study of His Torah.
Walking in His ways relates to the finest traits of character and their cultivation. As our Sages of blessed memory have explained (Shabbos 133b): “Just as He is merciful, so shall you be merciful…” – the underlying principle being that a person must conduct himself with honesty and integrity in all his various actions. Our Sages of blessed memory summarized the idea as follows (Pirkei Avos 2:1): “That which brings acclaim to the doer and earns him the acclaim of others,” namely, all that moves toward the
goal of true benevolence, meaning that it results in the strengthening of Torah and the promotion of har
mony within society.Love: to implant love of the Blessed One within a person’s heart so that his soul is stirred to find favor before Him, just as one’s heart is stirred to please his father and mother. And he will be anguished if he finds this quality deficient in himself or in others. Furthermore, he will zealously [safeguard] it and will rejoice intensely when implementing [even] a part of it.
Perfecting the heart: so that the service before the Blessed One should be carried out with pure intent, for the purpose of serving Him only and with no other motives. This means that one’s heart should be totally devoted to the Divine service, not like one who lacks commitment or acts out of habit; rather, one’s whole heart should aspire to this.
Observance of all the mitzvos: this means the complete observance of all the mitzvos with all their specifications and stipulations.
All of these principles require much elucidation. I have found that our Sages of blessed memory have incorporated these elements in a different type of arrangement, more detailed and specific, and systematized according to the order necessary for their proper acquisition. Their words are found in a baraisa cited in numerous places in the Talmud, such as the one in the chapter “Lifnei Edeihen” [“Before Their Festivals”] (Avodah Zarah 20b): “From here, Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said: Torah brings one to vigilance, vigilance brings one to alacrity, alacrity brings one to [spiritual] cleanliness, cleanliness brings one to abstinence, abstinence brings one to purity, purity brings one to piety, piety brings one to humility, humility brings one to fear of sin, fear of sin brings one to holiness, holiness brings one to Divine inspiration, Divine inspiration brings one to the resurrection of the dead.”
On the basis of this baraisa, I have undertaken to compose this work to teach myself and to remind others of the conditions necessary for the perfection of the Divine service in all its stages. Regarding each stage, I will explain its content, components, and details, the methodology for acquiring it, those factors that undermine it and how to avoid them. As a result, I or anyone else who may be moved to read it will learn to fear the Eternal, our God, and we will not forget our duty toward Him. That which the material world seeks to remove from our hearts will be stimulated by reading and contemplation, and it will stir us to perform what we have been commanded to do.
May the Eternal support our aspirations and safeguard us from failure. May the supplication of the Psalmist, beloved to His God, be fulfilled for us (Tehil-lim 86:11): “Teach me, O Eternal, Your way; let me walk in Your truth; unify my heart to fear Your name.” Amen, so may it be His will.
Kiruv Training Seminar
On Motza’ei Shabbos, February 24th at 8:30 PM, there will be a Kiruv Training Seminar at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel 147-02 73rd in Kew Gardens Hills.
The presenters will be Rabbi Chaim Sampson and Rabbi Eliyahu Bergstein from the movie Inspired Too. I spoke to Rabbi Sampson this week and I think the seminar will be very informative and useful.
$10 at Door; $5 Prepaid. You can prepay at www.kiruv.com.
Mesillas Yesharim Shiur by Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum
You may have missed it, so here is the 1st Shiur in Rabbi Oelbaum’s Mesillas Yesharim series in mp3 format. It gives a great introduction to the life and times of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and the sefer.
Rabbi Shaffier of The Shmuz on the Entire Megillah
With an eye towards understanding what really was happening in those times, the series goes throughh the story line of the Megilah, based on commentaries of Rashi, the Gemarah, the Gra and other meforshim, bringing out the many details and issues that were going on behind the scenes and the lessons to be learned from them. Please take advantage of these tremendous shiurim to prepare yourself for Purim. You can download the entire set for free here.
Summary of the Megillah
R’ Eliezer C. Abrahamson has put together a nice summary of the Megillah. In addition his Talmud Torah site has lots of good information on Basic Judaism.
Good Shabbos!!
Rav Daniel Feldman’s shiur on Shaloch Manos can be downloaded here.
Rav Feldman traces many of the disagreements in Shaloch Manos to a Teshuva of the Chasam Sofer who discusses the essence of Shaloch Manos. Is it like the Terumas HaDeshen who holds that the purpose of Shaloch Manos is to help people make the Seudah of Purim. Or is it like the Manos HaLevi (R’Shlomo Alacabes) who holds that the purpose of Shaloch Manos is to bring people closer to each other and strengthen the bonds of friendship.
Rav Feldman masterfully shows how many differences in opinions on Shaloch Manos can be traced to this machlokes as framed by the Chasam Sofer. Give yourself a pre-Purim treat yourself and download and listen to this wonderful shiur.
Thanks to Rabbi Zev Maybruch and the Vaad L’Chizuk HaTorah for sponsoring this shiur.
Inspired Too, Kiruv Across America will be showing at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel in Kew Gardens Hills at 7:45 and 9:45 on February 17th. In addition, we’ll be holding a Kiruv Training Seminar on February 24th at 8:30. For other showtimes and locations, please visit www.kiruv.com.
On Monday February 19th, at 10:15 AM the Vaad L’Chizuk Hatorah will present a shiur in Congregation Ahavas Yisroel in Kew Gardens Hills. The shiur will be given by Rabbi Daniel Feldman on the subject of “Mishloach Manos”
Rabbi Michael Rosensweig on Naaseh ve-Nishma: The Cultivation of a Torah Personality:
In any case, it is this ideal approach of naaseh ve-nishma when truly internalized that allows for the vanquishing of the yetzer hara and that establishes Klal Yisrael’s status as “banim la-Makom†who are elevated beyond the angels. Furthermore, the singular character of halachic law, in contrast to other legal systems (“lo asah chein le-kol goyâ€) can be traced specifically to naaseh ve-nishma. Chazal indicate that the introductory words of the parsha – “ve-eilah ha-mishpatim†link even Jewish civil law with the event of mattan Torah and integrate the branch of halachah seemingly most common to other legal systems with the courtyard of the Beit haMikdash. Indeed, the naaseh ve-nishma-anchored “mishpatim†are “lo yedaumâ€-incomparable to secular law. We can now better appreciate the words of Avot de-Rabbi Natan- that the priority of naaseh to nishma demonstrates that wisdom that is accompanied with an even greater commitment to good deeds is truly enduring. Halachic wisdom that stems from striving to internalize halachic values requires the anchor and concrete application of mitzvot.
As a community and as individuals we face many challenges as we struggle to live a maximal halachic life in a world which exerts diverse pressures and influences, many of which are incompatible with our commitment. We also live in an era of great opportunity in which certain social, technological and economic forces may be particularly conducive to spiritual growth. It is important that we seek halachic and hashkafic guidance to determine how and when to integrate the world around us. Immersion in mitzvot and the internalization of its values is the vehicle that will provide us with direction. It is vitally important that we recognize that the formula of naaseh ve-nishma was not only a historical declaration articulated by Klal Yisrael at a particularly crucial moment. This timeless proclamation remains the foundation for spiritual growth as individuals and as a community.
Rabbi Noson Weisz on Dale Carnegie With a Jewish Slant:
We Jews share this need for human contact with the rest of humanity. But God gave us a better solution to solve the problem of casual conversation. If we all had the benefit of a basic Torah education, we would all be quite familiar with the basic Talmud tractates which focus on Mishpatim. The traditional wisdom of the ages has assured that it is this area of the Torah that we focus on during the basic education period.
Theoretically, in a properly arranged Jewish world, instead of discussing sports or the weather, or playing Jewish geography, we Jews would debate concepts in Mishpatim. Instead of having to conduct boring conversations, we would be in the enviable position of being able to engage in heated discussions about deep ideas affecting the human character with relative strangers. Instead of gossip, the air would be filled with the sounds of heated debate over basic human issues. If we were fortunate, we might someday be in a position to resurrect that much-ridiculed stereotype of the Talmudic scholar.
Jonathan Rosenblum on Israels Greatest Internal Threat:
Whereas the state’s founding fathers envisioned a Jewish state engaging in normal relations with the rest of the world, and creating an enviable society within — “externally normalized, internally exceptional.” But just the opposite has occurred — Israel’s existence is still not accepted as normal by the nations of the world, and meanwhile her internal society has turned out to be anything besides exceptional.
In the nature of their critique, the writers surveyed differed in many details. But they all agree on two key points. First, in light of the external threats it faces, Israel cannot survive without a great deal of internal cohesion and sense of national purpose. And second, these qualities are notable today primarily by their absence.
These forceful critiques also contain a powerful message for the Torah community of Israel. We must do everything in our power to create the type of society that can serve as a model to other Jews of what a Jewish society might look like. Only then will be able to convince our fellow Jews that the Torah offers the answers for all that threatens our ability to summon up the will power to survive and prevail in our rough neighborhood.
As we mentioned last week, we are learning together the mussar classic Mesillas Yesharim by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (Ramchal) in memory of Sarah Bas Reb Eliezer Kops. We’ll be spending 3-5 weeks on each chapter and we are currently in the Author’s introduction.
Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum, one of the best speakers in Kew Gardens Hills and the NY area has graciously permitted us to post the mp3s of the Mesillas Yesharim series he gave last year. They are very worthwhile. If you want to purchase the entire 23 part series (which goes through Perek Hay) on CDs for $90, you can call 718 520-0115. We will not be leaving the mp3ss up permanently, so please listen to them within 2 weeks of posting.
Here is the 1st mp3, which gives an introduction to the life and times of Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto and the sefer. The download is in zipped format, so you should “right click” with your mouse and “Save Target As” to save the file to your PC where you can then unzip it and listen.
In the more good news department, Rabbi Yaakov Feldman has graciously granted us permission to use parts of his adaptation of Mesillas Yesharim for the project. One of the things that I like very much about Rabbi Feldman’s work are the summaries. Here is the summary of the Ramchal’s Introduction.
1. The Path of the just was written to remind people of what they already know, not to teach them new things. It would be best read several times so that what is familiar could make an impression, and the reader could thereby be reminded of his obligations.
2. There are many people who dedicate their lives and studies to the various arts and sciences, and some others to the theoretical or practical aspects of Torah, but few dedicate themselves to the study of the love and fear of and attachment to God, or to piety.
3. That has resulted in fewer intellectual people dedicating themselves to those matters, and incorrectly so. Everyone suffers as a result of that, both the wise and the unlettered: the wise because they do not attempt true piety, and the others because they do not attain it.
4. Matters of piety call for investigation and thought and the acquisition of specific tools and devices. It is not what we might think it is. Among other things, it is not putting oneself through acts of mortification.
5. We often place great effort upon things within Torah that are not at all incumbent upon us and serve no practical purpose, while our very real obligations to God are either left abandoned or carried out by rote.
6. Fundamentally, the acquisition of piety involves the following five traits:
a. reverence (“that you be in a state of reverence before Him comparable to what you would experience being before a great and awesome king”),
b. walking in His way (“all of your traits and actions are to be just and ethical”),
c. love (“It should bother you if God’s desires are not fulfilled, either because of yourself or someone else, and you should want them to be and derive a great joy in ensuring that they are”),
d. wholeheartedness (“one’s service to God should be done with the purest of intentions”), and
e. the keeping of the mitzvot (“in their fullness and with all of their conditions”).
7. The tradition words this in an orderly, step-by-step manner when it says (in the words of Rabbi Pinchas Ben Yaer, Avodah Zarah 20b),
Torah study brings you to caution,
caution to enthusiasm,
enthusiasm to innocence,
innocence to abstinence,
abstinence to purity,
purity to piety,
piety to modesty,
modesty to fear of sin,
fear of sin to holiness,
holiness to holy spirit,
and holy spirit brings you to the resurrection of the dead.”
This book is an explanation and analysis of that statement.
As the film Inspired Too highlights, there are many situations where Kiruv is possible and practical. If a person is friendly and approachable, co-workers, friends, relatives and even strangers might ask a variety of questions. Many of these are easy to answer and others can be researched. In some cases a book or website recommendation would be appropriate.
There are situations where a little training would be helpful. Here is a question for the Beyond BT readers, “What material would be helpful in a Kiruv Training Seminar?”
Here are some thoughts from frequent Beyond BT commentor Bob Miller (in no particular order):
1. Compare and contrast the western civilization outlook with the Jewish outlook.
2. What is the unique mission of the Jewish people? How have we accomplished that in practice? Where have we fallen short and why?
3. Compare and contrast the ways we learn about HaShem’s management of the world, such as observation and revelation, and detail the value of each.
4. Explain Judaism as a total life package.
5. Explain what tefilla is for and the modes of tefilla. What brings us to love HaShem and how do we express that? Explain and demonstrate the nuts and bolts of tefilla and negina. Explain how to get over mental obstacles to tefilla. Musical accompaniment is very good for this segment.
6. Tell true instructive stories of Tzaddikim and by Tzaddikim.
7. Use only instructors who know the material, but will not respond hastily to questions that need research, and who are exemplars of the virtues taught. This means that a crash course will not equip someone to instruct. Better to use someone with accomplishments.
8. Tell us how to view Jews who might need our help in a way that makes us respect them and not use them as objects or means to our ends.
If we believe in Hashem, Torah from Sinai and the eternity of the soul in the afterlife shouldn’t it pain us that the majority of Jews are not developing a relationship with Hashem? Some have opined that they can’t see their Aunt Rose ever becoming frum. Let me suggest that instead of targetting becoming frum as the goal, we just try to stir up a little more G-d awareness in our friends, neighbors and co-workers.
Inspired Too, Kiruv Across America premiered last week and we will be showing it at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel in Kew Gardens Hills at 7:45 and 9:45 on February 10th and 17th. In addition, we’ll be holding a Kiruv Training Seminar on February 24th at 8:30. For other showtimes and locations, please visit www.kiruv.com.
There is a lot of great Kiruv material on the kiruv.com site including The Dead End of Jewish Culture by Sara Yoheved Rigler. Here’s an excerpt from the article:
According to the American Jewish Identity Survey 2001, out of approximately 5.5 million American adults who are either Jewish by religion or of Jewish parentage and/or upbringing, nearly 1.4 million say they are members of a non-Jewish religion.
We are not talking here about secularism, not about Jews who opt out of going to synagogue in favor of a baseball game or the movies, but rather in favor of church. Since the vast majority of American Jews are of Ashkenazic descent, this means that 25% of the descendants of European Jews who resisted the blandishments and threats of Christianity for some sixty generations, often at the cost of their lives, are now voluntary apostates.
We’re starting a new project at Beyond BT. We’ll be learning Mesillas Yesharim by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (Ramchal) together. We’re going to go at a slow pace and we’ll supplement the text with posts, audios and of course comments. Whether you’ve already learned Mesillas Yesharim or not, why not take advantage of this great opportunity.
Leave us a comment or send us an email it you intend on joining us.
This project is dedicated in memory of Sarah Bas Reb Eliezer Kops a wonderful young woman from Kew Gardens Hills who was nifter a few years ago at a young age.
We will also accept names each week for people who want to dedicate the learning “in memory of” or “in honor of” someone.
You can purchase the latest Feldheim translation of Mesillas Yesharim here.
Rabbi Yaakov Hillel’s commentary is available here.
Rabbi Avraham Twerski’s commentary is available here.
Rabbi Avraham Twerski’s mp3 series on the sefer is available here.
Rabbi Noah Weinberg has some free audios of Mesillas Yesharim here.
Rabbi David Botton has a free audio series on the sefer available here.
Rabbi Mark Zelunka has a free audio series available here.
Rabbi Moshe Hauer has some free audios available here.
Rabbi Dovid Miller has some free audios available here.
Rabbi Herschel Reichman has some free audios available here.
OHEL is looking for a long term or pre-adoptive foster home for a foster child, Judah. Judah has been in foster care since the age of three. When Judah was nine, he was moved to a residential setting in order to best help him with certain psychiatric and emotional issues. He is doing very well at the residence and they have decided that it’s time for him to be placed in a home.
Judah is 12 years old. He is very sweet and loving. He is very charming and engaging. He has significant learning disabilities but he is very smart. He has an inner strength that is hard to describe. He has dealt with adversity in a way that is simply inspiring.
But like any little boy, Judah needs a lot of love. Two of Judah’s siblings have been adopted and Judah longs for a family like they have. He needs attention, structure and stability. He needs a home. He needs a family.
If you are interested, or if you know anyone who is interested, you can either email one of his previous foster parents at emansouth@aol.com
If you do not feel that you or anyone you know is able to meet Judah’s needs; please consider opening your own heart and home to another young person in need of foster care – and please also talk to your friends, family members and neighbors about doing the same. Ohel is constantly searching for foster families in the metropolitan area who can provide foster children with a loving and nurturing home. There is a particular need for families in Brooklyn. Please call Shulamit Marcus at 718-851-6300 for more information.
Rabbi Shaffier in a recent Shmuz about Kiruv made a great case for Grass Roots Kiruv. He pointed out that a non Rabbinic figure can often make a great impact because he is relating to the person peer to peer. He also pointed out many reasons that we should get involved. The only don’t in Grass Roots Kiruv is judgementalism. He felt that was the only taboo that would turn people off. Perhaps we’ll delve into that issue in a future post.
As you may know, Aish is kicking off the next phase of its Project Inspired, grass roots kiruv program with the premiere of the movie Inspired Too. You can also take part in the latest Purim campaign at the Project Inspired web site.
In Kew Gardens Hills, we’ll be showing the Inspired Too movie at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel on February 10th and February 17th at 7:45 PM and 9:45 PM. Admission is $10 at the door and $5 for advance registration. Click here to see the trailer and for scheduling information in a Shul near you.
In addition, there will be a kiruv training seminar on February 24th at 8:00 PM.
Inspiration Women’s Retreat
A Workout for the Mind and Soul
Fascinating Classes for the Intelligent Woman,
Beginner to Intermediate Level
February 18-19, 2007
Passaic, NJ
Price: $120
Limited number of spots available
For information or to Register call Dina at 973-458-0059 or Laurie at 973-773-1413 or
email dimensch – at – verizon.net
Our Baalei Teshuva friends from Argentina, Leandro & MatÃas have created a documentary with testimonies from baalei teshuva called “Para qué sirve ser judÃo” – “Why is it worth it to be a jew?”. The 38 minute documentary in Spanish or the 3 minute introduction can be viewed here.
Sara Yoheved Rigler on Israel’s Vital First Strike One surefire way to avert a nuclear holocaust.
We are living out a modern-day Purim story. Iran’s developing of a nuclear bomb, coupled with Ahmadinejad’s vociferous threats to destroy Israel, are nothing less than an edict of extermination. Of course we must respond militarily, but our first strike must be spiritual.
Teshuva means changing course. It means doing something different than you’ve done before. It means coming closer to God by accepting on yourself to do God’s will in some area of your life where previously you had resisted.
Jonathon Rosenblum on a Time to Hate
Jews too are instructed to hate the sin and not the sinner. But sometimes the two are inextricably bound, as in Saddam’s case. And often, easy forgiveness of the sinner diminishes the horror of his crimes. As Rabbi David Gottlieb of Baltimore pointed out in the wake of the Amish tragedy, even God Himself does not forgive sins committed against a fellow human being until the victim’s forgiveness has been secured. No one can confer forgiveness on behalf of the victim, and all the more so when no forgiveness was sought.
Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is also “a time to hate.†Would we really wish to live, asks Boston Globe columnist Jeff Jacoby (an observant Jew), in a society in which no one gets angry when children are slaughtered, a society in which there is an instantaneous dispensation for the most horrific acts of cruelty? I would not. And that is why I was glad to see Saddam hanging at the end of a noose.
Off the Derech & Those Who Care
Sunday, January 14, 2007 2:00 – 5:00pm $5 Donation
To all our Jewish Brothers & Sisters, whether you’re “Heimishe”, Modern Orthodox or some where in between:
* Have you lost touch with your Judaism?
* Have you thrown it all away, or wish that you could?
* Has Judaism become for you restrictive & punitive instead of joyous & meaningful?
* Do you have a Loved One struggling with these issues & would like to help?
A symposium will be held at the Carlebach Shul to address these issues and more. A safe place where people can vent, questions can be asked & answers will be given. We aim to provide hope, inspiration & guidance.
Speakers & Panelists:
Rabbi Naftali Citron – The Carlebach Shul N.Y.C. – moderator
Rabbi Shimon Russel – LCSW, Dean of Tikva Seminary
Pesha Cohen – LCSW , Project Takanot Coordinator, Sexual assault & Violence Program, Mt. Sinai Hospital
Yitzchok Schonfeld – organizer of the Thursday night “Chulent†get-together Rabbi Yitzchok Feldheim – Cong. – Yardley Penn.
All Welcome!! Separate Seating!! No one turned away!
For more info please go to www.carlebachshul.org
Gil Ronen has made a new short film, showing Chanukah scenes in Israel.
A Simple Jew emailed us the following article: Jason Bedrick is the first Orthodox Jew (a Lubavitcher) to be elected in New Hampshire.
Windham – A young man who does not shake hands with women was recently elected to the state Legislature, and the support of several members of the Salem Women’s Club was instrumental in his victory at the polls.
“My faith out of respect for women does not allow contact between unrelated men and women,” said Rep. Jason Bedrick, 23, R-Windham. He said he explains this on a daily basis to female colleagues who reach out their hands to him.
Usually, that’s the end of the conversation, he says, but sometimes, when he senses the woman isn’t convinced, he adds: “If every man in the world were to keep his hands to himself, would it be a better world for women or a worse world for women?”
Bedrick is the first Orthodox Jew to be elected in New Hampshire, a state that is home to fewer than 10 Orthodox Jewish families and where Jewish people account for 1 percent of the population.
