<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?><rss xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:blogger="http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008" xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:georss="http://www.georss.org/georss" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:openSearch="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/" xmlns:thr="http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0" version="2.0"><channel><atom:id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353</atom:id><lastBuildDate>Tue, 29 Apr 2025 11:46:34 +0000</lastBuildDate><category>Noam Elimelech</category><category>Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk Lyzhansk</category><category>Noam Elimelech of Lizhensk</category><category>Rebbe Reb Melech</category><category>Bostoner Rebbe</category><category>Hanhagos HaAdam</category><category>Lyzhansk</category><category>Chassidus</category><category>Lizensk</category><category>Ba'al Teshuva</category><category>Baal Shem Tov</category><category>Chol HaMoed Pesach trip to the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem</category><category>Gemara</category><category>Noam Elimelech - 21 Adar II 5768 in Lizhensk</category><category>Rebbe Elimelech</category><category>Rebbe Menachem Mendel of Rymanov</category><category>Rebbe Reb Zisha</category><category>Rebbe Zusia</category><category>Talmud</category><category>passover</category><category>15 of av</category><category>Arizal</category><category>Berdichever Rebbe</category><category>Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh</category><category>Exciting News and Developments</category><category>Exodus</category><category>Fish</category><category>Gaon of Vilna</category><category>Grodzisk</category><category>Haman</category><category>Hassidus</category><category>Kabala</category><category>Kabbala</category><category>Kedushas Levi</category><category>Levi Yitchok Berdichev</category><category>Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev</category><category>Maggid of Mezritch</category><category>Mitzpeh HaGalil Vacation Village</category><category>Names</category><category>Parshas HaMan</category><category>Purim</category><category>Qabbala</category><category>R. Yisrael of Ruzhin</category><category>Rabbi Elimelech of Lyzhansk</category><category>Rashash</category><category>Rav Arele Roth</category><category>Rebbe Reb Mendele Rimanover</category><category>Segula for Parnasa</category><category>Shomer Emunim</category><category>Tammuz</category><category>Tosfos</category><category>cleveland</category><category>hanipoli</category><category>heart</category><category>matzo baking</category><category>moshe rosenberg</category><category>mp3 audio</category><category>niggun</category><category>pesach</category><category>photos</category><category>poland</category><category>potato</category><category>rimanov</category><category>tu b'av</category><category>tu bav</category><category>tu be'av</category><category>uri rosenbaum</category><title>Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Wellsprings of Chassidus &amp;amp; Jewish Meditation</title><description>Baal Shem Tov's teachings Classical Chassidus, Noam Elimelech, Kedushas Levi, Degel Machne Efraim, Meor Eynaim, Reb Zisha of Hanipoli and many more. Jewish Chassidic and Kabbalah Meditation classes.</description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/</link><managingEditor>noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)</managingEditor><generator>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>357</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><language>en-us</language><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:image href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_WXWDiUaNbaI/R03klayuQzI/AAAAAAAAADU/OYvR1hVeNNo/s200/podcastlogo.jpg"/><itunes:keywords>Chassidus,hassidus,kabbalah,baal,shem,tov,noam,elimelech,jewish,meditation,kedushas,levi,degel,machene,efraim,torah,podcast,jewish,podcast,parsha,podcast,parsha,shiur,shiur,podcast,be,er,mayim,chaim</itunes:keywords><itunes:summary>Baal Shem Tov's teachings Classical Chassidus, Noam Elimelech, Kedushas Levi, Degel Machne Efraim, Meor Eynaim, Reb Zisha of Hanipoli and many more. Jewish Chassidic and Kabbalah Meditation classes.</itunes:summary><itunes:subtitle>Chassidus PodCast</itunes:subtitle><itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality"><itunes:category text="Judaism"/></itunes:category><itunes:author>Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker</itunes:author><itunes:owner><itunes:email>tal.zwecker@gmail.com</itunes:email><itunes:name>Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker</itunes:name></itunes:owner><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-2978862062791355571</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Sep 2024 01:42:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2024-09-01T04:55:15.006+03:00</atom:updated><title>Exciting News and Developments</title><description>&lt;span style="font-family: arial;"&gt;BH the translation projects are continuing, for more info on sponsorships and dedications please contact me via chassidusonline @ gmail here are some progress reports:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ol style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Divrei Mordechai&lt;/b&gt; by Rav Mordechai Steiner of Monsey NY editing is complete,
proofreading in progress working on the cover design as well&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;All new full
complete translation of the &lt;b&gt;Noam Elimelech&lt;/b&gt; - Chumash Bereishis complete, Chumash
Shemos complete through parshas Terumah inclusive, editing has begun on
Bereishis, Likkutei Shoshana, Tzetel Koton Hanhagos HaAdam complete.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;MeOros Ohr HaChaim haKadosh&lt;/b&gt; - selections from the famed sefer Ohr haChaim HaKadosh on
the parsha and Yomim Tovim, Moadim, with summaries and stories and segulos,
similar in format to the MiPeninei Noam Elimelech target audience - parsha sefer
for your Shabbos table to share with family or to use as your companion to share
vorts at Shalosh Seudos and Melave Malka progress At least one selection and
several segulas for each parsha complete, now in second year cycle of adding
additional vorts per parsha translation is ongoing&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;English Pirkei Avos Volume 2&lt;/b&gt; - translation is 80-90% complete - includes Divrei Torah and parables and
stories from Tzadikim of all schools including Chassidishe Rebbes, Sefardi
Chachamim, Litvishe Rosh Yeshivos and Gedolei haDoros&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Simchassidus &lt;/b&gt;- similar
to Returnity a collection of Divrei Torah from all the generations of
Chassidishe Rebbes on Simchah! Including letters igros written by rebbes on this
topic.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Zera Kodesh&lt;/b&gt; of Rav Naphtali Ropshitzer - this sefer on the Haggadah
translation is ready and has been edited, we are in raising money to cover the
editing and publishing costs.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Zera Kodesh&lt;/b&gt; on Channukah - in progress&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Jewish Meditations on the Parsha&lt;/b&gt; and Chagim/Moadim/Yomim Tovim - NEW&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Jewish Meditations on the Siddur&lt;/b&gt; - NEW&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Bible Secrets and Mysteries of the Mitzvos&lt;/b&gt; - NEW&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Mishlei haBaal Shem Tov &lt;/b&gt;- a collection of the Baal Shem Tov's meshalim
and parables on the parshah in progress&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: georgia;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ner Tzaddik - MeOros haTzaddikim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt; -
Bios and Tales of Gedolie Yisroel the beloved parshah booklet ongoing looking
for sponsors to publish in book formats&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Make a donation&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thechesedfund.com/chassidusonline/please-help-me-produce-seforim&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1717091744645000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw1gIYCsgtXYnzgoVunRLbbj" href="https://thechesedfund.com/chassidusonline/please-help-me-produce-seforim" style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"&gt;https://&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;thechesedfund.com/&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;chassidusonline/please-help-&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;me-produce-seforim&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;join the mailing list here:&amp;nbsp;&lt;a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1717091744645000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw37SAiojXfM2P2t3-cwahDP" href="http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"&gt;http://groups.google.com/&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;group/beermayimchaim&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Author Page&amp;nbsp;&lt;a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1717091744645000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw2BYJub_vW9AJGja4Jjj7CG" href="https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.amazon.com/-/e/&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;B003VH9D48&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Support Our Yeshivah&amp;nbsp;&lt;a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thechesedfund.com/chassidusonline/kabbalah-yeshiva&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1717091744645000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw3dLSa6flPD3DDqDQ1tFDTv" href="https://thechesedfund.com/chassidusonline/kabbalah-yeshiva" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"&gt;https://&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;thechesedfund.com/&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;chassidusonline/kabbalah-&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;yeshiva&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Free Audio Shiurim&amp;nbsp;&lt;a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://torahdownloads.com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-zwecker.html&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1717091744645000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw1AWnObw9dzVgN004yjOTya" href="http://torahdownloads.com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-zwecker.html" style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"&gt;http://torahdownloads.&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;zwecker.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2024/09/exciting-news-and-developments.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-3972656753402239465</guid><pubDate>Sun, 01 Sep 2024 01:28:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2024-09-01T04:28:34.895+03:00</atom:updated><title>Kollel for Penimiyus haTorah and Kabbalah new Zman new Hours new Location</title><description>The Kollel for Penimiyus haTorah and Kabbalah will imy begin the new Zman 2nd day of Rosh Chodesh Elul with new Hours Sun-Thurs 10am-1:30pm followed by Minchah at our new Location KSY Rabbi Haber's shul on Nachal Dolev in RBSA - Kehillas Shivtei Yeshurun Ramat Beit Shemesh Alef, looking fwd to welcoming new members. For more info email me @ chassidusonline @ gmail.com or call in 058 322 1218</description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2024/09/kollel-for-penimiyus-hatorah-and.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-4019856053850151003</guid><pubDate>Wed, 29 May 2024 18:03:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2024-05-29T21:27:36.724+03:00</atom:updated><category domain="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#">Rashash</category><title/><description>&lt;h1 style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;u style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"&gt;Powerful Segulah of Pidyon HaRashash Short FAQ&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/h1&gt;&lt;h2 style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;u&gt;A few people asked me about the Pidyon HaRashash here are a few answers to the questions:&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/h2&gt;&lt;ol style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;What is a pidyon? A pidyon is a ritual where the&amp;nbsp;donation is given to grant merit to help effect a yeshua the person's mazal is changed for the better and exchanges his tzelem for a new one.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;What is Pidyon HaRashash it for? To help heal the sick, change mazal, hatlzacha for children, help for a zivug or Shidduch, help for parnassah and bring a yeshua or salvation to someone in need.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;How does Pidyon HaRashash work?&lt;br /&gt;The procedure is that the pidyon is done as follows: The person who needs a yeshuah (or someone on his behalf) gives tzedaka (the common amount is $160 or more and this is given to support Torah scholars, I will see it gets to kollel yungeleit) this tzedaka is the pidyon that will imyh affect the yeshuah - the number 160 corresponds to the gematria tzelem and the one who performs the pidyon will have in mind the kavanos the 5 Divine Names and daven that the pidyon grant a new "tzelem" Elokim and affect the yeshua to the person who needs it. Then the 160 silver coins (Silver is Kessef also gematria 160) the silver coins are "exchanged" for the tzedaka so he can perform the ritual of the pidyon and counts and arranges the coins in the form of these 5 Divine Names and recombines them to cancel the dinim and sweeten the harsh decrees. After the pidyon we say a tefillah using Hebrew Name and Mother's Hebrew Name and recite 3 chapters of Tehillim it is beneficial but not necessary that the person who has the pidyon and anyone else who is related and wishes to, to also recite these 3 chapters every day for that week, any other questions?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;Why does Pidyon HaRashash work? The Arizal taught Rav Chaim Vital that a&amp;nbsp;sick person's Tzelem has been spiritually blemished and requires a tikkun, the&amp;nbsp;pidyon HaRashash helps by drawing down a new Tzelem of Mochin deGadlus - according to Kabbalah this help heal the person and change his mazal.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;Why does it cost money? Why isn't it free? First of all it does not cost money,&amp;nbsp;the pidyon is an exchange for the 160 coins required to&amp;nbsp;effect the ritual that&amp;nbsp;draws down Mochin in a new Tzelem and heals and helps a yeshua for the person. Giving tzedaka is a well known practice to help a yeshua and here the tzedaka&amp;nbsp;is given as a merit for the person who needs the healing or the help. The donation is a form of self sacrifice where the person donating gives of his hard earned funds to demonstrate his teshuvah much like a korban. Besides this many mitzvos in Yiddishkeit cost money and are not free, that is how Hashem set up the self-sacrifice from us to benefit from His Divine rewards for example besides tzedaka and maaser - korbanos were not free, the offerings cost money, yet they were required for atonement, tzitzis, tefillin, kosher food, etc. none of these things are free. While obviously we can always daven and say Tehillim for free the&amp;nbsp;power of the pidyon requires an additional donation to tzedaka,&amp;nbsp;that is how the&amp;nbsp;Arizal taught it to Rav Chaim Vital. Besides the&amp;nbsp;pidyon requires time and effort as well to do, just as doctors and nurses don't just work for free - the donation goes to avrechim who learn, study and perform the pidyon HaRashash, they have families to support and expenses to pay just as well all do.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;Are there any "sources" for this? What are they? Yes in Shaar HaKavanos&amp;nbsp;Rav Chaim Vital explains that he performed this pidyon annually on Erev Rosh HaShannah for a good new year and gave the tzedaka money distributing it by Sukkos. The form of the pidyon is found in the Kuntres Sefas Emes of Rav Ya'akov Ninyo, as well as the Yareh (Rav Raphael Yechiel Abulafia's) manuscript and other handwritten editions of the Siddur haRashash as well as the modern printed seforim such as Rechovos HaNahar and Nekudos HaKessef.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoEUirrUeQKsNXvw4geDq20gPNAuSxxZXMozqbS1tOb12JiqDUbqyNJkV_lEHS5f8Mhnl8XTJ2G3C0QHMMFlfqqdgPejMm5pAAB_rfo6oGl6sCf44KKO-JD_FHVV6z9MbSlNf5MAfR7OyllIDRGCNVSlYd6S-ZpC4QfD8qICMys7tchT_g8H7YHjG_hc/s443/whatsapp-image-2023-01-10-at-14727-pm-11673551758.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" data-original-height="443" data-original-width="357" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoEUirrUeQKsNXvw4geDq20gPNAuSxxZXMozqbS1tOb12JiqDUbqyNJkV_lEHS5f8Mhnl8XTJ2G3C0QHMMFlfqqdgPejMm5pAAB_rfo6oGl6sCf44KKO-JD_FHVV6z9MbSlNf5MAfR7OyllIDRGCNVSlYd6S-ZpC4QfD8qICMys7tchT_g8H7YHjG_hc/s320/whatsapp-image-2023-01-10-at-14727-pm-11673551758.jpeg" width="258" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;Who was the Rashash? Why is the Pidyon named for him if it comes from the Arizal? The Rashash is an acronym for Rav Shalom Sharabi from Yemen who came to Jerusalem and became the Rosh Yeshiva of Beis E"l he was a great Kabbalist and talmid chochom best known for his famed Siddur full of Divine Names and Meditations that take the Arizal's teachings to a whole new practical level, since his Siddur contains the tradition for how to perform the pidyon itself it is named after him by most people who refer to it. To distinguish it from other well-known pidyon ritual's&amp;nbsp;taught and recorded attributed to Eliyahu HaNavi, the Ramban and others.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;Can you use any amount donation? The custom is to give at least 160 in the denomination of that country, usually nowadays its $160, some people like to give more, others cannot afford it and give less. I once participated in a pidyon together with a minyan of ten kabbalists and talmidei chachamim and we did the pidyon for someone and the organizer who gathered us together told us that Rav Yaakov Meir Shechter told the donor for this pidyon that he must pay each of us $1800 and he did. That said the original 160 silver perutos that Rav Chaim Vital used are probably worth something like $20 today, but he distributed those 160 coins to tzedaka and $20 would not go a very long way today. The goal of the donation is to gain merit. Tzedaka has a value no matter how much you give and it varies and depends on the self sacrifice of the donor and his means.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;Where do you get 160 silver coins from? Good question - BH we had a few generous sponsors and donors who covered the costs to purchase silver coins from bullion sellers - we are using silver dimes that went out of circulation in the 1960s.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;Are there other pidyons? Yes there is a pidyon for 232 coins for the 4 Divine Names A"b Sa"g Ma"h Be"n and also there are a pidyon from Ramban and from Eliyahu HaNavi The most common performed is the Rashash.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;Who can do the pidyon? Someone who has studied the teachings of the Arizal and Rashash and who has seen and performed the pidyon and knows the kavanos&amp;nbsp;from Siddur HaRashash.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style="margin-left: 15px;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;please &lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com"&gt;contact me&lt;/a&gt; for more information on these if needed.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;Make a donation&amp;nbsp;&lt;a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://thechesedfund.com/chassidusonline/please-help-me-produce-seforim&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1717091744645000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw1gIYCsgtXYnzgoVunRLbbj" href="https://thechesedfund.com/chassidusonline/please-help-me-produce-seforim" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"&gt;https://&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;thechesedfund.com/&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;chassidusonline/please-help-&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;me-produce-seforim&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;join the mailing list here:&amp;nbsp;&lt;a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1717091744645000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw37SAiojXfM2P2t3-cwahDP" href="http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"&gt;http://groups.google.com/&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;group/beermayimchaim&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Author Page&amp;nbsp;&lt;a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48&amp;amp;source=gmail&amp;amp;ust=1717091744645000&amp;amp;usg=AOvVaw2BYJub_vW9AJGja4Jjj7CG" href="https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.amazon.com/-/e/&lt;wbr&gt;&lt;/wbr&gt;B003VH9D48&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="background-color: white; 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color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature" dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2024/05/pidyon-harashash-short-faq-few-people.html</link><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" height="72" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQoEUirrUeQKsNXvw4geDq20gPNAuSxxZXMozqbS1tOb12JiqDUbqyNJkV_lEHS5f8Mhnl8XTJ2G3C0QHMMFlfqqdgPejMm5pAAB_rfo6oGl6sCf44KKO-JD_FHVV6z9MbSlNf5MAfR7OyllIDRGCNVSlYd6S-ZpC4QfD8qICMys7tchT_g8H7YHjG_hc/s72-c/whatsapp-image-2023-01-10-at-14727-pm-11673551758.jpeg" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-2757752506723076185</guid><pubDate>Wed, 27 Dec 2023 19:20:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2023-12-27T21:20:47.943+02:00</atom:updated><title/><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;BH&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;After Pesach we started a Kollel from 10 in the morning until 1pm Sunday through Thursday schedule is Otzros Chaim with &lt;i&gt;chavrusas &lt;/i&gt;focused on &lt;i&gt;peshat &lt;/i&gt;with a &lt;i&gt;iyun &lt;/i&gt;shiur that I give once or twice a week based on Rav Dwek Eifa Sheleima and Rav Morgenstern sefer shiurim we also went into Etz Chaim&lt;i&gt; mati velo mati &lt;/i&gt;and &lt;i&gt;shaar hakdamos&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;BH after&amp;nbsp; 1230pm we are studying the Rashash &lt;i&gt;matbea beracha kavanas&lt;/i&gt; in the siddur Rashash&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;Looking for a place to study Kabbalah and Penimiyus haTorah in RBS?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;please be in touch&lt;/a&gt; if you would like more information on joining us studying and or sponsoring / funding and dedication opportunities&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;Schedule&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ol style="text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;Leshem 10am&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;10:30-1pm Chavrusa learning Otzros Chaim in depth with shiur and &lt;i&gt;sekimum&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;Mon &amp;amp; Wed 12:15/12:30pm-1pm &lt;i&gt;Kavanos &lt;/i&gt;Siddur HaRashash &lt;i&gt;Matbea Berachah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"&gt;Rav Karmi Ingber and Tal Moshe Zwecker&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY12AKRcLnp7FV4AxTH5tfLzcdlrJF3QnzY27ctwW_sMeBZK8dKwuJqL_vKZ0oW1wp0JTM4-0F8Dng6Kc02xbyd1GtqGXEm5n7KrsKGDTbcLXiAMZHoEzM0vSol3J1usWltKcyZnGoduPO6YGTnGsgFMKlNRMYYIwFYhUpGgl3bPct0MSseRMss9FosA/s3264/20230619_114708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY12AKRcLnp7FV4AxTH5tfLzcdlrJF3QnzY27ctwW_sMeBZK8dKwuJqL_vKZ0oW1wp0JTM4-0F8Dng6Kc02xbyd1GtqGXEm5n7KrsKGDTbcLXiAMZHoEzM0vSol3J1usWltKcyZnGoduPO6YGTnGsgFMKlNRMYYIwFYhUpGgl3bPct0MSseRMss9FosA/s320/20230619_114708.jpg" width="320" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwSggZ2leCt6Y3PsN3xb_UZn6mXvYEFxAQn9iJvxeUJfru6-X5qkYaUbF74GJGJMemQ_DWz8456FwRBTVSCWqHmCXaswa4FXGRH0puwi70TvB3yjIau3K5AvUD5-SUIs4hfOrg3ZfdxPJmMtV6-P23FoprCPDtQ45ciW8csdN1LBfITd35cLPH_873CY/s3264/20230619_114717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWwSggZ2leCt6Y3PsN3xb_UZn6mXvYEFxAQn9iJvxeUJfru6-X5qkYaUbF74GJGJMemQ_DWz8456FwRBTVSCWqHmCXaswa4FXGRH0puwi70TvB3yjIau3K5AvUD5-SUIs4hfOrg3ZfdxPJmMtV6-P23FoprCPDtQ45ciW8csdN1LBfITd35cLPH_873CY/s320/20230619_114717.jpg" width="320" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6P58TsAtiwTpUrBSYX5CVNi1ax9nXIBBqLe2KkOxipDLj0bJfRPqL0PLcKFCTpje8W6Qx10yOrLl4IV9pR9ridzX1QZrAPZDW4nlNV1x3143qLT7rfHgM6sCHeogWSitpUGlFI8TOrZuHry_C4rHhI_CFIybx-SENvyAHnHt7-GqMSaWnR1WVP7wLrE/s3264/20230619_114914.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="3264" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu6P58TsAtiwTpUrBSYX5CVNi1ax9nXIBBqLe2KkOxipDLj0bJfRPqL0PLcKFCTpje8W6Qx10yOrLl4IV9pR9ridzX1QZrAPZDW4nlNV1x3143qLT7rfHgM6sCHeogWSitpUGlFI8TOrZuHry_C4rHhI_CFIybx-SENvyAHnHt7-GqMSaWnR1WVP7wLrE/s320/20230619_114914.jpg" width="320" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2023/12/blog-post.html</link><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" height="72" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHY12AKRcLnp7FV4AxTH5tfLzcdlrJF3QnzY27ctwW_sMeBZK8dKwuJqL_vKZ0oW1wp0JTM4-0F8Dng6Kc02xbyd1GtqGXEm5n7KrsKGDTbcLXiAMZHoEzM0vSol3J1usWltKcyZnGoduPO6YGTnGsgFMKlNRMYYIwFYhUpGgl3bPct0MSseRMss9FosA/s72-c/20230619_114708.jpg" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-66189274212478048</guid><pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2019 23:43:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-02-27T01:43:10.603+02:00</atom:updated><title>Yahrzeit Hillula of the author of Noam Elimelech</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"&gt;
Today 21 Adar is the Yahrzeit Hillula of the author of Noam Elimelech, Rav Elimelech son of Eliezer Lipman ZYA&lt;br /&gt;
so &lt;a href="https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;study his Torah&lt;/a&gt;, recite &lt;a href="http://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/The%20Prayer%20Before%20Praying%20of%20the%20holy%20Rebbe%20Elimelech%20of%20Lizhensk.pdf" target="_blank"&gt;his Tefillah&lt;/a&gt; light a candle and &lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/new-english-noam-elimelech-on-parsha-moadim" target="_blank"&gt;give tzedaka&lt;/a&gt; for his zechus&lt;br /&gt;
Please study and pass on&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;a href="https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf"&gt;https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
</description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2019/02/yahrzeit-hillula-of-author-of-noam.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author><enclosure length="715452" type="application/pdf" url="https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf"/><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:subtitle>Today 21 Adar is the Yahrzeit Hillula of the author of Noam Elimelech, Rav Elimelech son of Eliezer Lipman ZYA so study his Torah, recite his Tefillah light a candle and give tzedaka for his zechus Please study and pass on https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker</itunes:author><itunes:summary>Today 21 Adar is the Yahrzeit Hillula of the author of Noam Elimelech, Rav Elimelech son of Eliezer Lipman ZYA so study his Torah, recite his Tefillah light a candle and give tzedaka for his zechus Please study and pass on https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf</itunes:summary><itunes:keywords>Chassidus,hassidus,kabbalah,baal,shem,tov,noam,elimelech,jewish,meditation,kedushas,levi,degel,machene,efraim,torah,podcast,jewish,podcast,parsha,podcast,parsha,shiur,shiur,podcast,be,er,mayim,chaim</itunes:keywords></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-225119587625346039</guid><pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2019 18:18:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2019-02-26T20:19:00.154+02:00</atom:updated><title>Noam Elimelech Yahrzeit Hillula</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;Today is the Yahrzeit Hillula of the author of Noam Elimelech, Rav Elimelech son of Eliezer Lipman ZYA&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;so &lt;a href="https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf"&gt;study his Torah&lt;/a&gt;, recite &lt;a href="http://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/The%20Prayer%20Before%20Praying%20of%20the%20holy%20Rebbe%20Elimelech%20of%20Lizhensk.pdf"&gt;his Tefillah&lt;/a&gt; light a candle and &lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/new-english-noam-elimelech-on-parsha-moadim"&gt;give tzedaka&lt;/a&gt; for his zechus&lt;/div&gt;Please study and pass on&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf"&gt;https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br clear="all"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;Kol Tuv,&lt;br&gt;R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker&lt;br&gt;Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing&lt;br&gt;Chassidic Classics in the English Language&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.chassidusonline.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.chassidusonline.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;chassidusonline@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;in Israel: 972-58-322-1218 (sorry no sms)&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If I am in the USA 516-388-8814 ( sms yes) &lt;br&gt;Help Fund a New Project &lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/new-english-noam-elimelech-on-parsha-moadim" target="_blank"&gt;https://thechesedfund.com/cause/new-english-noam-elimelech-on-parsha-moadim&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;Free Audio Shiurim &lt;a href="http://torahdownloads.com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-zwecker.html" target="_blank"&gt;http://torahdownloads.com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-zwecker.html &lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;join the mailing list here: &lt;a href="http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim" target="_blank"&gt;http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br&gt;Author Page &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2019/02/noam-elimelech-yahrzeit-hillula.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author><enclosure length="715452" type="application/pdf" url="https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf"/><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:subtitle>Today is the Yahrzeit Hillula of the author of Noam Elimelech, Rav Elimelech son of Eliezer Lipman ZYAso study his Torah, recite his Tefillah light a candle and give tzedaka for his zechusPlease study and pass on https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf Kol Tuv, R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing Chassidic Classics in the English Language www.chassidusonline.com chassidusonline@gmail.com in Israel: 972-58-322-1218 (sorry no sms)If I am in the USA 516-388-8814 ( sms yes)  Help Fund a New Project https://thechesedfund.com/cause/new-english-noam-elimelech-on-parsha-moadim Free Audio Shiurim http://torahdownloads.com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-zwecker.html join the mailing list here: http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim Author Page https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker</itunes:author><itunes:summary>Today is the Yahrzeit Hillula of the author of Noam Elimelech, Rav Elimelech son of Eliezer Lipman ZYAso study his Torah, recite his Tefillah light a candle and give tzedaka for his zechusPlease study and pass on https://torahdownloads.com/assets/material/Mipeninei%20Noam%20Elimelech%20-%20Translation%20of%20Sefer%20Noam%20Elimelech.pdf Kol Tuv, R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing Chassidic Classics in the English Language www.chassidusonline.com chassidusonline@gmail.com in Israel: 972-58-322-1218 (sorry no sms)If I am in the USA 516-388-8814 ( sms yes)  Help Fund a New Project https://thechesedfund.com/cause/new-english-noam-elimelech-on-parsha-moadim Free Audio Shiurim http://torahdownloads.com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-zwecker.html join the mailing list here: http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim Author Page https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48</itunes:summary><itunes:keywords>Chassidus,hassidus,kabbalah,baal,shem,tov,noam,elimelech,jewish,meditation,kedushas,levi,degel,machene,efraim,torah,podcast,jewish,podcast,parsha,podcast,parsha,shiur,shiur,podcast,be,er,mayim,chaim</itunes:keywords></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-1251789693857639680</guid><pubDate>Mon, 12 Nov 2018 13:57:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2018-11-12T15:58:06.199+02:00</atom:updated><title>New Audio Shiurim What really happened to Dina bas Yaakov? The Zera Shimshon tells us based on the Arizal Rav Naphtali Ropshitzer in the Zera Kodesh Hashem builds Yerushalayim using our Torah and mitzvos We build Yerushalyim with our days Yaakov is the ladder bridging heaven and earth</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://soundcloud.com/parshapodcast/zera-kodesh-vayeitze-vayishlach-jacobs-ladder" target="_blank"&gt;https://soundcloud.com/parshapodcast/zera-kodesh-vayeitze-vayishlach-jacobs-ladder&lt;/a&gt;     &lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Interstate,&amp;quot;Lucida Grande&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans&amp;quot;,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(242,242,242)"&gt;Hashem builds Yerushalayim using our Torah and mitzvos We build Yerushalyim with our days Yaakov is the ladder bridging heaven and earth Hear how the heilige &lt;b&gt;Rav Naphtali Ropshitzer in the &lt;u&gt;Zera Kodesh&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt; describes Yaakov&amp;#39;s duality as feet planted on the ground head soaring to heaven, why do we do mitzvos using physical objects like wool &amp;amp; leather?&lt;/span&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr" class="m_7287945350811340375m_2429225254911070376gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;&lt;a href="https://soundcloud.com/zera-shimshon/zera-shimshon-vayeitze-vayishlach" target="_blank"&gt;https://soundcloud.com/zera-shimshon/zera-shimshon-vayeitze-vayishlach&lt;/a&gt;     &lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Interstate,&amp;quot;Lucida Grande&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans&amp;quot;,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(242,242,242)"&gt;What really happened to Dina bas Yaakov? The &lt;b&gt;Zera Shimshon&lt;/b&gt; tells us based on the &lt;u&gt;Arizal&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;u&gt; &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;Kol Tuv,&lt;br&gt;R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker&lt;br&gt;Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing&lt;br&gt;Chassidic Classics in the English Language&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.chassidusonline.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.chassidusonline.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;chassidusonline@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2018/11/new-audio-shiurim-what-really-happened.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-5557379349999550559</guid><pubDate>Thu, 08 Nov 2018 17:28:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2018-11-08T19:28:45.857+02:00</atom:updated><title>ZERA SHIMSHON TOLDOS AUDIO</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;a href="https://soundcloud.com/zera-shimshon/zera-shimshon-english-toldos" target="_blank"&gt;https://soundcloud.com/zera-shimshon/zera-shimshon-english-toldos&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr" class="gmail-m_-1911771868177780365gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;ZERA SHIMSHON TOLDOS AUDIO&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Kol Tuv,&lt;br&gt;R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker&lt;br&gt;&lt;font size="1"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing&lt;br&gt;Chassidic Classics in the English Language&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:englishzerashimshon@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;englishzerashimshon@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;PODCAST &lt;a href="https://soundcloud.com/zera-shimshon" target="_blank"&gt;https://soundcloud.com/zera-shimshon&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Interstate,&amp;quot;Lucida Grande&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans&amp;quot;,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(242,242,242)"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;font size="1"&gt;The Zera Shimson Segula  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Interstate,&amp;quot;Lucida Grande&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans&amp;quot;,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="1"&gt;Rabbi Shimshon Chaim Nachmani promised that anyone that takes upon himself to learn from his seforim and teachings would be blessed by health wealth and children&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Interstate,&amp;quot;Lucida Grande&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans Unicode&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Lucida Sans&amp;quot;,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;background-color:rgb(242,242,242)"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;font size="1"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote"&gt;&lt;blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote"&gt;&lt;blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote"&gt;&lt;blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr" class="gmail-m_-1911771868177780365m_-8085162034704679770m_4239788903656972058m_-4145302812853794160gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2018/11/zera-shimshon-toldos-audio.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-1175138574746415441</guid><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2018 21:06:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2018-06-28T00:06:50.924+03:00</atom:updated><title>Or ha-Ḥayyim Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar - (5456; 1696-1743) Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;Or ha-Ḥayyim  Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar - (5456; 1696-1743) Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh Hillula Yorzeit 15 Tammuz&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories" target="_blank"&gt;https://thechesedfund.com/&lt;wbr&gt;cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-&lt;wbr&gt;english-sefer-with-stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br clear="all"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class="m_779331583941966463gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;    &lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;Today the 15&lt;/span&gt;&lt;sup style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;of Tammuz is the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;Yahrzeit or anniversary commemorating the petira and passing of the Ohr HaChaim, Rabbeinu Chaim ben Attar. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;Here are some facts about this great and holy Torah giant:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;1. T&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;he Ohr HaChaim was born in Morocco and was niftar at age 47 less than a year after moving to Jerusalem and was buried on the Mount of Olives called Har HaZeisim.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;2. The Holy Ohr HaChaim&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;was one of a few yzadikim called 'holy'. This small group includes the Alshich and the Shelah. The Baal Shem Tov said that&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;the Ohr HaChaim was a spark from the soul of Moshiach&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;3. Many stories abound talking about the great miracles people experienced&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;by praying at his grave. One famous story was of Rabbi Moshe Hillel Slezinger who didn't have children for many years. One of his doctors was so mean as to exclaim that when he grows hair on the palm of his hand he will have children. Tearfully Rabbi Hillel went to the Ohr HaChaim's tzion and promised to learn from his sefer every week. Within a year he had a daughter. He raised a generation of righteous children and one of his sons in law was Rav Moshe Halberstam a dayan and halachic authority in the Eidah HaCharedis.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;4. In&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;WWII when the threat of Germany entering the Holy Land was palpable,&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;the Jerusalem rabbinical courts told the masses to go to the grave of the Ohr HaChaim to pray and beseech G-d for salvation. This group was headed by the Admorim (Hassidic rabbis) of Husyatin and Zhvil. After they finished saying the Tehilim at the kever they were both smiling. People asked why they were smiling and they answered that "the danger has passed; we are no longer in danger of the Nazis invading Israel." People asked; "how do you know?" One Rabbi said "I saw the 4 letter name of G-d properly written shining and hovering over the grave of the Ohr HaChaim so I understood the danger has passed." Indeed 2 days later, the Germans led by Rommel were routed at El Alamein by General Montgomery and they also suffered heavy losses on the Syrian front. The Russians opened a third front against Germany and they retreated from the region to regroup against the new threat. Miraculously the Jews in Israel were saved.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;5. A spiritual remedy for having children is&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;to accept upon yourself to learn from the Ohr HaChaim's commentary on a steady basis and in this way you will merit to have righteous boys that will learn Torah and keep mitzvoth. The admor 'Lev Simcha' of Gur said that the Ohr HaChaim had no children of his own so all of his strength to procreate is embedded in his holy commentary. That is why each portion of this holy book can bring fertility and righteous children.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;6. Learning the Ohr HaChaim is a spiritual remedy for&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;recovering from sickness, to strengthen your faith in G-d, wealth, a long life, fear of G-d and purity of the soul. In the book "Kiymu Vekiblu" it says that a person who learns the Ohr HaChaim's commentary on the Torah Portions of Acharei and Kedoshim is guaranteed not to leave this world without Teshuva and repentance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;7.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;The Baba Sali, Rabbi Yisrael AbuChatzeira&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;would sit studying and complete the commentary of the Ohr HaChaim for that week's Torah portion every Friday.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;8.  The Ohr HaChaim passed away at the beginning of a Saturday night the 15&lt;sup style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box"&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;of Tammuz (Motzai Shabbat like this year).&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;When he passed away the Baal Shem Tov in Mezhibuzh was washing his hands for the third meal as it was still day time in Mezhibuzh. He cryptically stated; "The Western candle was extinguished" (alluding to the western candle of the menorah). His talmidim asked him what he meant after Shabbat and the Baal Shem Tov explained that Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar, the holy Ohr HaChaim passed away. They asked him how he knew and he answered that there's a certain kavana - a mystical intention when making the beracha for washing the hands that is only revealed from the heavens to one person in the generation. When I washed my hands for the third meal this intention was revealed to me so I knew that the holy Ohr HaChaim passed away.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;9. The grave or tzion of the Ohr Hachaim is considered a holy site&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;: People visit it today on his Yohrzeit to pray there and they also visit there all year round to pray and daven for yeshuos and salvations.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; based on &lt;a href="https://www.hidabroot.com/article/193697/9-Facts-About-the-Ohr-HaChaim-in-Honor-of-his-Yohrzeit" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.hidabroot.com/&lt;wbr&gt;article/193697/9-Facts-About-&lt;wbr&gt;the-Ohr-HaChaim-in-Honor-of-&lt;wbr&gt;his-Yohrzeit&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories" target="_blank"&gt;https://thechesedfund.com/&lt;wbr&gt;cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-&lt;wbr&gt;english-sefer-with-stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Monday, October 30, 2017 at 2:55 pm | י&amp;#39; חשון תשע&amp;quot;ח&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;By Rabbi Y.Y. Rubinstein&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It is an old debate whether a man is shaped by his times or a man shapes the times he lives in. But it is only relevant to those few individuals whose impact on their era leaves an indelible historical mark.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In 1732 a British citizen was born in Virginia whose life would certainly change the course of history. His name was George Washington. The American Revolution in which he played a leading role would shake the entire world of the 18th century. It would set the stage for the French Revolution 13 years later. It would be a century in which many revolutions would occur.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For Klal Yisrael, the 1700s would see other leaders, lehavdil, who would bring about change and leave their mark, not on battlefields or in parliaments but in the world of ruchniyus. Far away in Europe, the Baal Shem Tov was born. His revolution would be more profound and far-reaching than one could ever imagine.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Around the same time, on yet another continent, Africa, another Torah leader was born whose impact on the Jewish world would be enormous. His influence would reach beyond the city and country of his birth, would touch every part of Klal Yisrael, and would reverberate to this very day.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In 5456/1696 in the town of Salé on Morocco's Atlantic coast, Rabbi Chaim Ibn Attar, the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh, was born. The name Salé in Arabic means "the place the sun sets." Its full title is al-Mamlakah al-Maghribiyyah — the Kingdom of the West.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Morocco had first become unified under the Alaouite Dynasty (which rules to this day) in 1666. Salé was the center of the infamous Barbary pirates who attacked European ships and sold their passengers and crews into slavery.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Attar family (The name Ben Attar means spices or spice seller) lived in perilous times and in a dangerous place. They had arrived in Morocco after the expulsion from Spain.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim's grandfather, also called Chaim, was one of the leading chachamim of Salé and its Rosh Yeshivah. His son, Moshe, followed in his father's footsteps; his grandson and namesake was destined to climb his grandfather's path too, and reach even greater heights than those who preceded him.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Danger soon engulfed the Attar family. The local vizier persecuted and oppressed the city's Jews, and young Chaim, who had already shown prodigious ability in Torah by the age of 9, was forced to flee with his family to nearby Meknes, finding refuge with relatives.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Later a shidduch was arranged between the Ohr Hachaim and his cousin Fatzonia. The marriage was not blessed with children and Fatzonia encouraged her husband to marry a second wife, Esther.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In 5485/1725, shortly after the passing of his father-in-law, the Ohr Hachaim felt it was safe to return to Salé.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The story of an event that occurred there has an intriguing connection to one of his most famous insights in his commentary on Chumash, one that subsequently intrigued baalei hashkafah and filled pages of their sefarim:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The commentary is regarding the story of Reuven stopping his brothers from killing Yosef for crimes they believed merited execution. Reuven "saved him from their hands" and persuaded them instead to throw him into a pit. The passuk says the pit was "empty, containing no water." Rashi comments that it was empty only of water, but was full of scorpions and snakes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh explains Reuven's actions: "Human beings have freedom of choice and are able to kill someone who is not in fact chayav misah (does not deserve the death penalty)." In other words, if they had killed Yosef that would not be proof that he deserved to die. But this is not the case if a wild animal kills a man, since an animal has no bechirah. When Reuven "saved him from their hands," it means he saved Yosef from their bechirah.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Now the story: The governor of Salé was marrying off his daughter. His entire family bought expensive clothing and sent them to the Ohr Hachaim, who was a goldsmith. He was ordered to weave gold threads into the material. The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh demurred, explaining that "every month I work just enough to earn my livelihood, and the rest of the time I devote to Torah study. This month I have already earned enough money."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;When the governor learned of Rav Chaim's refusal to perform the work, he took steps to avenge what he saw as a personal insult.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;He ordered that the lions he kept in his palace be starved. He then dispatched soldiers to take Rav Chaim from his home and throw him into the lion's den. The Ohr Hachaim sat down among the lions and recited Tehillim. The hungry animals sat around him, ignoring their hunger pangs and the governor's "suggestion" of what would remove them.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As the Ohr Hachaim had written, a wild animal kills a man only if the victim is sentenced to die by Heaven's decree. No such decree had been issued.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Facing ongoing danger and persecution, the Ohr Hachaim decided to move to Eretz Hakodesh. In 5499/1739, at age 43, he set out with his family and two talmidim. They traveled from the Kingdom of the West across North Africa to Algeria. From there they sailed to Livorno in Italy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim's arrival in Italy was met with great enthusiasm, and he was persuaded to spend two years there teaching Torah. Though he had arrived penniless, he was able to earn enough for his family and talmidim to undertake the next stage of the their journey. Benefactors also provided for the publication of his great commentary on Chumash in Venice. From the date of its publication in 1742, it has been studied and found universal acceptance and admiration.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;That admiration was particularly intense among the followers of the spiritual revolution that was occurring at that time throughout Europe.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Rebbe Reb Pinchas of Koretz said, "Sefer Ohr Hachaim protects the home, and learning it has the same effect on the neshamah as learning the Zohar."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Those words were echoed by the Yesod Haavodah of Slonim and the Admor Harav Yisrael of Ruzhin.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim's arrival and entry to Yerushalayim was dddelayed due to an epidemic in the city. Settling instead in Akko, he set up his yeshivah, teaching Gemara in the derech of the Rambam. On 15 Elul 5502/1742 Rav Chaim ben Attar entered Yerushalayim at last but sadly, was niftar less than a year later.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It is related that during Shalosh Seudas, the Baal Shem Tov sensed that Rav Chaim Ben Attar had passed away, and before it was possible for anyone in Europe to know of this tragic news, the Besh"t exclaimed, "The light from the West has been extinguished!"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;On the passuk "And Moshe the servant of Hashem died there in the Land of Moav by the word of Hashem," the Ohr Hachaim writes:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"He died there, but only there. He lives on in another holy and sublime place by the word of Hashem."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim lives on through his powerful and penetrating peirush, studied and quoted throughout the world in shuls, yeshivos, schools and homes. It appears in the Mikra'os Gedolos, where his words are printed below the words of Hashem.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;from the &lt;a href="https://hamodia.com/frominyan/the-ohr-hachaim/" target="_blank"&gt;https://hamodia.com/frominyan/&lt;wbr&gt;the-ohr-hachaim/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;Kol Tuv,&lt;br&gt;R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker&lt;br&gt;Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing&lt;br&gt;Chassidic Classics in the English Language&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.chassidusonline.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.chassidusonline.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;chassidusonline@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;in Israel: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-58-322-1218&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories" target="_blank"&gt;https://thechesedfund.com/&lt;wbr&gt;cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-&lt;wbr&gt;english-sefer-with-stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2018/06/or-ha-hayyim-rabbi-chaim-ibn-attar-5456_28.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-2660059241071899520</guid><pubDate>Wed, 27 Jun 2018 21:05:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2018-06-28T00:05:43.409+03:00</atom:updated><title>Or ha-Ḥayyim Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar - (5456; 1696-1743) Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;Or ha-Ḥayyim  Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar - (5456; 1696-1743) Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh Hillula Yorzeit 15 Tammuz&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories"&gt;https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br clear="all"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;    &lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;Today the 15&lt;/span&gt;&lt;sup style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;of Tammuz is the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;Yahrzeit or anniversary commemorating the petira and passing of the Ohr HaChaim, Rabbeinu Chaim ben Attar. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;Here are some facts about this great and holy Torah giant:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;1. T&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;he Ohr HaChaim was born in Morocco and was niftar at age 47 less than a year after moving to Jerusalem and was buried on the Mount of Olives called Har HaZeisim.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;2. The Holy Ohr HaChaim&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;was one of a few yzadikim called 'holy'. This small group includes the Alshich and the Shelah. The Baal Shem Tov said that&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;the Ohr HaChaim was a spark from the soul of Moshiach&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;3. Many stories abound talking about the great miracles people experienced&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;by praying at his grave. One famous story was of Rabbi Moshe Hillel Slezinger who didn't have children for many years. One of his doctors was so mean as to exclaim that when he grows hair on the palm of his hand he will have children. Tearfully Rabbi Hillel went to the Ohr HaChaim's tzion and promised to learn from his sefer every week. Within a year he had a daughter. He raised a generation of righteous children and one of his sons in law was Rav Moshe Halberstam a dayan and halachic authority in the Eidah HaCharedis.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;4. In&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;WWII when the threat of Germany entering the Holy Land was palpable,&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;the Jerusalem rabbinical courts told the masses to go to the grave of the Ohr HaChaim to pray and beseech G-d for salvation. This group was headed by the Admorim (Hassidic rabbis) of Husyatin and Zhvil. After they finished saying the Tehilim at the kever they were both smiling. People asked why they were smiling and they answered that "the danger has passed; we are no longer in danger of the Nazis invading Israel." People asked; "how do you know?" One Rabbi said "I saw the 4 letter name of G-d properly written shining and hovering over the grave of the Ohr HaChaim so I understood the danger has passed." Indeed 2 days later, the Germans led by Rommel were routed at El Alamein by General Montgomery and they also suffered heavy losses on the Syrian front. The Russians opened a third front against Germany and they retreated from the region to regroup against the new threat. Miraculously the Jews in Israel were saved.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;5. A spiritual remedy for having children is&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;to accept upon yourself to learn from the Ohr HaChaim's commentary on a steady basis and in this way you will merit to have righteous boys that will learn Torah and keep mitzvoth. The admor 'Lev Simcha' of Gur said that the Ohr HaChaim had no children of his own so all of his strength to procreate is embedded in his holy commentary. That is why each portion of this holy book can bring fertility and righteous children.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;6. Learning the Ohr HaChaim is a spiritual remedy for&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;recovering from sickness, to strengthen your faith in G-d, wealth, a long life, fear of G-d and purity of the soul. In the book "Kiymu Vekiblu" it says that a person who learns the Ohr HaChaim's commentary on the Torah Portions of Acharei and Kedoshim is guaranteed not to leave this world without Teshuva and repentance.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;7.&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;The Baba Sali, Rabbi Yisrael AbuChatzeira&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;would sit studying and complete the commentary of the Ohr HaChaim for that week's Torah portion every Friday.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;8.  The Ohr HaChaim passed away at the beginning of a Saturday night the 15&lt;sup style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box"&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;of Tammuz (Motzai Shabbat like this year).&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;When he passed away the Baal Shem Tov in Mezhibuzh was washing his hands for the third meal as it was still day time in Mezhibuzh. He cryptically stated; "The Western candle was extinguished" (alluding to the western candle of the menorah). His talmidim asked him what he meant after Shabbat and the Baal Shem Tov explained that Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar, the holy Ohr HaChaim passed away. They asked him how he knew and he answered that there's a certain kavana - a mystical intention when making the beracha for washing the hands that is only revealed from the heavens to one person in the generation. When I washed my hands for the third meal this intention was revealed to me so I knew that the holy Ohr HaChaim passed away.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;strong style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;9. The grave or tzion of the Ohr Hachaim is considered a holy site&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt;: People visit it today on his Yohrzeit to pray there and they also visit there all year round to pray and daven for yeshuos and salvations.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="margin:0px;padding:0px;box-sizing:border-box;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:&amp;quot;Open Sans&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;Open Sans Hebrew&amp;quot;,Arial,serif;font-size:19px;text-align:left;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;float:none;display:inline"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; based on &lt;a href="https://www.hidabroot.com/article/193697/9-Facts-About-the-Ohr-HaChaim-in-Honor-of-his-Yohrzeit"&gt;https://www.hidabroot.com/article/193697/9-Facts-About-the-Ohr-HaChaim-in-Honor-of-his-Yohrzeit&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories"&gt;https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Monday, October 30, 2017 at 2:55 pm | י&amp;#39; חשון תשע&amp;quot;ח&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;By Rabbi Y.Y. Rubinstein&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It is an old debate whether a man is shaped by his times or a man shapes the times he lives in. But it is only relevant to those few individuals whose impact on their era leaves an indelible historical mark.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In 1732 a British citizen was born in Virginia whose life would certainly change the course of history. His name was George Washington. The American Revolution in which he played a leading role would shake the entire world of the 18th century. It would set the stage for the French Revolution 13 years later. It would be a century in which many revolutions would occur.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;For Klal Yisrael, the 1700s would see other leaders, lehavdil, who would bring about change and leave their mark, not on battlefields or in parliaments but in the world of ruchniyus. Far away in Europe, the Baal Shem Tov was born. His revolution would be more profound and far-reaching than one could ever imagine.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Around the same time, on yet another continent, Africa, another Torah leader was born whose impact on the Jewish world would be enormous. His influence would reach beyond the city and country of his birth, would touch every part of Klal Yisrael, and would reverberate to this very day.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In 5456/1696 in the town of Salé on Morocco's Atlantic coast, Rabbi Chaim Ibn Attar, the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh, was born. The name Salé in Arabic means "the place the sun sets." Its full title is al-Mamlakah al-Maghribiyyah — the Kingdom of the West.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Morocco had first become unified under the Alaouite Dynasty (which rules to this day) in 1666. Salé was the center of the infamous Barbary pirates who attacked European ships and sold their passengers and crews into slavery.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Attar family (The name Ben Attar means spices or spice seller) lived in perilous times and in a dangerous place. They had arrived in Morocco after the expulsion from Spain.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim's grandfather, also called Chaim, was one of the leading chachamim of Salé and its Rosh Yeshivah. His son, Moshe, followed in his father's footsteps; his grandson and namesake was destined to climb his grandfather's path too, and reach even greater heights than those who preceded him.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Danger soon engulfed the Attar family. The local vizier persecuted and oppressed the city's Jews, and young Chaim, who had already shown prodigious ability in Torah by the age of 9, was forced to flee with his family to nearby Meknes, finding refuge with relatives.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Later a shidduch was arranged between the Ohr Hachaim and his cousin Fatzonia. The marriage was not blessed with children and Fatzonia encouraged her husband to marry a second wife, Esther.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;In 5485/1725, shortly after the passing of his father-in-law, the Ohr Hachaim felt it was safe to return to Salé.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The story of an event that occurred there has an intriguing connection to one of his most famous insights in his commentary on Chumash, one that subsequently intrigued baalei hashkafah and filled pages of their sefarim:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The commentary is regarding the story of Reuven stopping his brothers from killing Yosef for crimes they believed merited execution. Reuven "saved him from their hands" and persuaded them instead to throw him into a pit. The passuk says the pit was "empty, containing no water." Rashi comments that it was empty only of water, but was full of scorpions and snakes.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh explains Reuven's actions: "Human beings have freedom of choice and are able to kill someone who is not in fact chayav misah (does not deserve the death penalty)." In other words, if they had killed Yosef that would not be proof that he deserved to die. But this is not the case if a wild animal kills a man, since an animal has no bechirah. When Reuven "saved him from their hands," it means he saved Yosef from their bechirah.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Now the story: The governor of Salé was marrying off his daughter. His entire family bought expensive clothing and sent them to the Ohr Hachaim, who was a goldsmith. He was ordered to weave gold threads into the material. The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh demurred, explaining that "every month I work just enough to earn my livelihood, and the rest of the time I devote to Torah study. This month I have already earned enough money."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;When the governor learned of Rav Chaim's refusal to perform the work, he took steps to avenge what he saw as a personal insult.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;He ordered that the lions he kept in his palace be starved. He then dispatched soldiers to take Rav Chaim from his home and throw him into the lion's den. The Ohr Hachaim sat down among the lions and recited Tehillim. The hungry animals sat around him, ignoring their hunger pangs and the governor's "suggestion" of what would remove them.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;As the Ohr Hachaim had written, a wild animal kills a man only if the victim is sentenced to die by Heaven's decree. No such decree had been issued.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Facing ongoing danger and persecution, the Ohr Hachaim decided to move to Eretz Hakodesh. In 5499/1739, at age 43, he set out with his family and two talmidim. They traveled from the Kingdom of the West across North Africa to Algeria. From there they sailed to Livorno in Italy.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim's arrival in Italy was met with great enthusiasm, and he was persuaded to spend two years there teaching Torah. Though he had arrived penniless, he was able to earn enough for his family and talmidim to undertake the next stage of the their journey. Benefactors also provided for the publication of his great commentary on Chumash in Venice. From the date of its publication in 1742, it has been studied and found universal acceptance and admiration.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;That admiration was particularly intense among the followers of the spiritual revolution that was occurring at that time throughout Europe.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Rebbe Reb Pinchas of Koretz said, "Sefer Ohr Hachaim protects the home, and learning it has the same effect on the neshamah as learning the Zohar."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Those words were echoed by the Yesod Haavodah of Slonim and the Admor Harav Yisrael of Ruzhin.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim's arrival and entry to Yerushalayim was dddelayed due to an epidemic in the city. Settling instead in Akko, he set up his yeshivah, teaching Gemara in the derech of the Rambam. On 15 Elul 5502/1742 Rav Chaim ben Attar entered Yerushalayim at last but sadly, was niftar less than a year later.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It is related that during Shalosh Seudas, the Baal Shem Tov sensed that Rav Chaim Ben Attar had passed away, and before it was possible for anyone in Europe to know of this tragic news, the Besh"t exclaimed, "The light from the West has been extinguished!"&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;On the passuk "And Moshe the servant of Hashem died there in the Land of Moav by the word of Hashem," the Ohr Hachaim writes:&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;"He died there, but only there. He lives on in another holy and sublime place by the word of Hashem."&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;The Ohr Hachaim lives on through his powerful and penetrating peirush, studied and quoted throughout the world in shuls, yeshivos, schools and homes. It appears in the Mikra'os Gedolos, where his words are printed below the words of Hashem.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;from the &lt;a href="https://hamodia.com/frominyan/the-ohr-hachaim/"&gt;https://hamodia.com/frominyan/the-ohr-hachaim/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;Kol Tuv,&lt;br&gt;R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker&lt;br&gt;Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing&lt;br&gt;Chassidic Classics in the English Language&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.chassidusonline.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.chassidusonline.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;chassidusonline@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;in Israel: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-58-322-1218&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories"&gt;https://thechesedfund.com/cause/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh-english-sefer-with-stories&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2018/06/or-ha-hayyim-rabbi-chaim-ibn-attar-5456.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-6354617465893849425</guid><pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2018 11:12:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2018-05-03T14:12:51.133+03:00</atom:updated><title>"Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer" VIDEO AUDIO SHIUR</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; VIDEO AUDIO SHIUR&lt;br clear="all"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;    &lt;div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;AUDIO &lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b style="font-size:large;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;letter-spacing:normal;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;color:rgb(255,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;text-align:-webkit-center"&gt;&lt;table width="100%" align="center"&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;margin:0px"&gt;&lt;table align="left"&gt;&lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;&lt;td nowrap style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;margin:0px"&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.torahway.org.uk/archive/03-05-2018.wma" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)"&gt;http://www.torahway.org.uk/arc&lt;wbr&gt;hive/03-05-2018.wma&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; VIDEO&lt;/font&gt;: &lt;a href="http://www.kolhalashon.com/New/Media/PlayShiur.aspx?FileName=6169-20180503-102934.mp3&amp;amp;Video=True" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)"&gt;http://www.&lt;wbr&gt;kolhalashon.com/New/Media/&lt;wbr&gt;PlayShiur.aspx?FileName=6169-&lt;wbr&gt;20180503-102934.mp3&amp;amp;Video=True&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:12.8px;font-style:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-caps:normal;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:normal;text-align:start;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;white-space:normal;word-spacing:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"&gt;&lt;br&gt;Ohel Moshe Golders Green London&lt;span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="gmail-aBn" tabindex="0" style="border-bottom:1px dashed rgb(204,204,204)"&gt;&lt;span class="gmail-aQJ" style="top: 2px; z-index: -1;"&gt;May 3 2018&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/div&gt;    &lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;HiLights&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rashbi comes out of the cave and destroys the world how does a simple anonymous Jew with two hadasim calm rashbi&amp;#39;s kasha how can they leave chayei olam for chayei sha&amp;#39;a?&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The Beis Aharon said whoever has emuna in Rashbi has Chizuk in Rashbi&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Just as HaKadosh Baruch Hu laKol so too Rashbi laKol even lepechusim&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Nekudo Tova in the heart of each Jew and each day&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Peshat in Rabbi Akiva&amp;#39;s memra that veAhavta LeReyacha Komacha is a Klal Gadol baTorah according to the Radmosker Rav Avrohom son of Tiferes Shlomo&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rav Henich from Alexander Lag baOmer is the heart of Sefiras HaOmer &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Finding the secret good in each day of our lives a message from the Zohar parshas Naso&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rav Shimon exempts us from all dinim&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;Kol Tuv,&lt;br&gt;R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker&lt;br&gt;Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing&lt;br&gt;Chassidic Classics in the English Language&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.chassidusonline.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.chassidusonline.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;chassidusonline@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;in Israel: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-58-322-1218&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2018/05/lag-baomer-heart-of-sefiras-haomer.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author><enclosure length="8183388" type="audio/x-ms-wma" url="http://www.torahway.org.uk/archive/03-05-2018.wma"/><itunes:explicit>no</itunes:explicit><itunes:subtitle>&amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; VIDEO AUDIO SHIUR &amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; AUDIO  http://www.torahway.org.uk/archive/03-05-2018.wma&amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; VIDEO: http://www.kolhalashon.com/New/Media/PlayShiur.aspx?FileName=6169-20180503-102934.mp3&amp;amp;Video=True Ohel Moshe Golders Green London May 3 2018  HiLightsRashbi comes out of the cave and destroys the world how does a simple anonymous Jew with two hadasim calm rashbi&amp;#39;s kasha how can they leave chayei olam for chayei sha&amp;#39;a?The Beis Aharon said whoever has emuna in Rashbi has Chizuk in RashbiJust as HaKadosh Baruch Hu laKol so too Rashbi laKol even lepechusimNekudo Tova in the heart of each Jew and each dayPeshat in Rabbi Akiva&amp;#39;s memra that veAhavta LeReyacha Komacha is a Klal Gadol baTorah according to the Radmosker Rav Avrohom son of Tiferes ShlomoRav Henich from Alexander Lag baOmer is the heart of Sefiras HaOmer Finding the secret good in each day of our lives a message from the Zohar parshas NasoRav Shimon exempts us from all dinim Kol Tuv, R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing Chassidic Classics in the English Language www.chassidusonline.com chassidusonline@gmail.com in Israel: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-58-322-1218</itunes:subtitle><itunes:author>Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker</itunes:author><itunes:summary>&amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; VIDEO AUDIO SHIUR &amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; AUDIO  http://www.torahway.org.uk/archive/03-05-2018.wma&amp;quot;Lag BaOmer Heart of Sefiras HaOmer&amp;quot; VIDEO: http://www.kolhalashon.com/New/Media/PlayShiur.aspx?FileName=6169-20180503-102934.mp3&amp;amp;Video=True Ohel Moshe Golders Green London May 3 2018  HiLightsRashbi comes out of the cave and destroys the world how does a simple anonymous Jew with two hadasim calm rashbi&amp;#39;s kasha how can they leave chayei olam for chayei sha&amp;#39;a?The Beis Aharon said whoever has emuna in Rashbi has Chizuk in RashbiJust as HaKadosh Baruch Hu laKol so too Rashbi laKol even lepechusimNekudo Tova in the heart of each Jew and each dayPeshat in Rabbi Akiva&amp;#39;s memra that veAhavta LeReyacha Komacha is a Klal Gadol baTorah according to the Radmosker Rav Avrohom son of Tiferes ShlomoRav Henich from Alexander Lag baOmer is the heart of Sefiras HaOmer Finding the secret good in each day of our lives a message from the Zohar parshas NasoRav Shimon exempts us from all dinim Kol Tuv, R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing Chassidic Classics in the English Language www.chassidusonline.com chassidusonline@gmail.com in Israel: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-58-322-1218</itunes:summary><itunes:keywords>Chassidus,hassidus,kabbalah,baal,shem,tov,noam,elimelech,jewish,meditation,kedushas,levi,degel,machene,efraim,torah,podcast,jewish,podcast,parsha,podcast,parsha,shiur,shiur,podcast,be,er,mayim,chaim</itunes:keywords></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-9112229834989336191</guid><pubDate>Fri, 12 May 2017 00:45:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2017-05-12T03:45:19.850+03:00</atom:updated><title>It's Out! Ma'asei Avos by Rabbi Tal Zwecker</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;          &lt;center&gt;              &lt;table id="gmail-bodyTable" style="border-collapse:collapse;margin:0px;padding:0px;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);height:100%;width:100%" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="center" height="100%"&gt;                  &lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;                      &lt;td id="gmail-bodyCell" style="margin:0px;padding:20px;border-top:0px none;height:100%;width:100%" valign="top" align="center"&gt;                                                    &lt;table id="gmail-templateContainer" style="border-collapse:collapse;border-width:0px;border-style:none;border-color:currentcolor" width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"&gt;                              &lt;tbody&gt;&lt;tr&gt;                                  &lt;td valign="top" align="center"&gt;                                                                            &lt;table id="gmail-templatePreheader" style="border-collapse:collapse;min-width:100%;background-color:rgb(255,255,255);border-top:0px none;border-bottom:0px none" width="600" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"&gt; 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       &lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2017/05/its-out-maasei-avos-by-rabbi-tal-zwecker.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-4963596319137698926</guid><pubDate>Tue, 28 Mar 2017 21:09:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2017-03-29T00:09:37.072+03:00</atom:updated><title>Maasei Avos Chassidus NEW BOOK ENGLISH SEFER ON PIRKEI AVOS</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;MA&amp;#39;ASAEI AVOS - PIRKEI AVOS THROUGH THE EYES OF THE STUDENTS OF THE BAAL SHEM TOV &amp;amp; THEIR DISCIPLES&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com"&gt;PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"&gt;Pirkei Avos is a treasure trove of timeless teachings from our Sages — teachings of mussar, character development, and advice for refining and honing the soul. What better way to appreciate these teachings than through the lens and perspective of our chassidic leaders?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"&gt;In Maasei Avos, renowned author Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker has gathered stories, anecdotes, and parables from the the Berditchever, the Tiferes Shlomo, the Kotzker Rebbe, and many others. Using their words and insights, he illuminates the teachings of our sages in a style that is eminently down to earth...yet inspires us to reach for the heavens. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbpqoiIr9zRprRc9_iUN7UUNRknsGkMUSegS38AcA-LRG79qC1Q6PjunNx09R_mMXmMm-TDc8hnLw1syUrRGjP4gqexjIgYIdCmB_jsgfdKjyzakuw8cFPjxzw8FGNVhoRxH3k2YlYKE/s1600/maasei_avos-777074.jpg"&gt;&lt;img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbpqoiIr9zRprRc9_iUN7UUNRknsGkMUSegS38AcA-LRG79qC1Q6PjunNx09R_mMXmMm-TDc8hnLw1syUrRGjP4gqexjIgYIdCmB_jsgfdKjyzakuw8cFPjxzw8FGNVhoRxH3k2YlYKE/s320/maasei_avos-777074.jpg"  border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_6402659694274870002" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;​&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Once again, Rabbi Zwecker has opened the wondrous world of Chassidus to the English-speaking public. Enrich your understanding of Avos with this fundamental and profound work.&lt;/p&gt;Hardcover                                                                      approx 295 Pages  &lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;b&gt;PREORDER PRICE $19.99 &lt;br&gt;EBOOK also available just $8.95 each in PDF format&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br clear="all"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;To pre order:&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;chassidusonline@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"&gt;Pirkei Avos is a treasure trove of timeless teachings from our guiding avos  — teachings of mussar, character development, and advice for refining  and honing the soul. What better way to appreciate the teachings of our  avos, our forefathers, than through the lens and perspective of our rebbes,  the chassidic masters?  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The tzaddikim peeled away the layers of peshat (the simple literal meaning)  and uncovered the hidden messages of remez (hints), derash (homiletical,  analytical, and allegorical), and sod (secrets of Kabbalistic tradition).  They revealed deeper meanings and covert messages and unearthed gems  of splendorous light from within Chazal's mishnayos.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Baal Shem Tov was the founder of the chassidic movement. The  Maggid of Mezritch was his successor, and the Maggid had many disciples  who became the next generation of leaders and rebbes. Each of these disciples  reflected facets of the primary teachings of the Maggid and the Baal  Shem Tov: Love every Jew; teach even the simplest Jew how precious and  important his avodah is; be joyful and invigorated when serving Hashem;  light your soul on fire when you study Torah; soar Heavenward on the  wings of each word of tefillah when you daven; seek the counsel of the righteous  and hearken to their advice; observe the wonders and miracles of the  rebbes; never forget about Hashem even in the midst of the most mundane  acts; and Hashem is there beside you, each step of the way — while you   8 Ma'asei Avos  conduct business, eat, sleep, sing, dance, laugh, and mourn.  Each tzaddik represents another thread woven together to form a tapestry  of chassidus, teachings that shape our avodas Hashem — how we serve  G-d, how we relate to man, and how to better ourselves and our lives. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Each  tzaddik hails from a dynasty and a chassidic court that emphasized these  teachings, and as they passed down their rich heritage and molded, guided,  and directed their chassidim they told stories: Tales of kings and princes,  thieves and bandits, wicked tzaddikim and righteous resha'im, parables and  messages. When the rebbes held court and conducted their public meals,  the chassidim were invited to their holy tables. At the tisch the rebbe was  inspired to say Torah, and the Shechinah spoke through him as he delivered  discourses, drawing down Torah from the highest Heavenly spheres  to love, rebuke, and shape his listeners.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;It is from that body of traditional Torah and tales on Avos that I have  gathered samples to share with you, my readers. So as the lights dim, shalosh  seudos draws near, and the crowd of silk bekishes and shtreimels jostles to get  closer and hear a message to heal its heart and balm its soul…come join us!  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Sit back, close your eyes, and listen to the tzaddik — and don't worry if  your Yiddish is a bit rusty and your Hebrew needs some work. I have arranged  translation as transportation so that you can join me on a journey  to the deepest depths of your own heart and soul, to be moved and transformed  by the fire and light of chassidus on Avos.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2017/03/maasei-avos-chassidus-new-book-english.html</link><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" height="72" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbpqoiIr9zRprRc9_iUN7UUNRknsGkMUSegS38AcA-LRG79qC1Q6PjunNx09R_mMXmMm-TDc8hnLw1syUrRGjP4gqexjIgYIdCmB_jsgfdKjyzakuw8cFPjxzw8FGNVhoRxH3k2YlYKE/s72-c/maasei_avos-777074.jpg" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-6072857641076155860</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Mar 2017 08:40:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2017-03-22T10:40:22.970+02:00</atom:updated><title>MeOros Ohev Yisroel Illuminating Insights of the Apta Rav Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel A Collection of Teachings, Stories and Parables of the Rebbe Avraham Yehoshuah Heschel of Apta - Mezibuz on Shabbos &amp; the Holidays</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;MeOros Ohev Yisroel Illuminating Insights of the Apta Rav Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel A Collection of Teachings, Stories and Parables of the Rebbe Avraham Yehoshuah Heschel of Apta - Mezibuz on Shabbos &amp;amp; the Holidays &lt;/u&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;How the Ohev Yisroel Became a Talmid of the Noam Elimelech&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; In the city of Zavanitz there were smugglers who would smuggle goods without paying the levied taxes  and there was rampant desecration of the Shabbos. The Apta Rav, Rav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel was  greatly upset by their behavior and sharply rebuked them.  Rav Shmelka, the son of Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov wished to travel and visit the Apter however since  he hailed from Zavanitz he was worried that the Apter would ask him from where he was from and  upon hearing that he was from Zavanitz he would not let him even cross his threshold!  His friends advised him to completely ignore any questions about where he was from and simply to  introduce himself as Rav Moshe Leib Sassover's son. And so it was that when the shamash asked him  who he was he told him the son of the Sassover. When the Apter heard this he ran over to Reb Shmelka  and greeted him warmly shaking his hand with both hands, he lit candles in his honor, donned fner  clothes in his honor and seated him in a special chair reserved for honored guests shrugging off all  protests saying "Why, but you are my rebbe's son!"  While Rav Shmelka was thus seated the Apter Rav told him, "let me tell you a story about when I was  the Rabbi of Kolbesov. I was back then a young man, an avrech and I lived in the house set aside for  the Rav. Now this house was vey large and my small family occupied only one wing. The winters were  freezing and my salary was barely enough to feed us and certainly not enough to squander on heating  such a large home. So though it was furnished we lived in only one wing.  I sat and learned lishma, sincerely for the sake of heaven and I had plenty of free time since it was a  small city with few affairs that needed my attention or intervention. I often studied together with my  son and as we were immersed in our studies lishma nothing disturbed us. We were not chassidim, and  since our primary avodah was Torah study we even looked upon their ways with disdain and counted  ourselves as misnagdim or opponents to chassidus.  Illustration 1: The Translator at the Ohel of the Holy Baal Shem Tov praying  at the Ohev Yisroel 5770  One day two anonymous travelers passed by and knocked at my window and asked if I had room for  lodgers and guests. Why, yes I answered, the entire second wing is at your disposal. They unloaded  their luggage and made themselves at home. I noticed that they seemed like holy individuals and  whatever conversations they had among themselves always sounded lofty and that they spoke about  things pertaining to Avodas Hashem, yet I was too busy with my studies to take their &amp;quot;idle chatter,&amp;quot;  seriously. I thought that my derech and path was correct and shrugged them off.  They were my guests for some three days and on the third day as they prepared to continue on their  way they came to take their customary leave of me. One of them began to engage me in conversation  and to tell me some story. I was greatly troubled since they were detracting from my learning and from  my sincere Torah study, yet it would have been rude and ill mannered for me to just interrupt him and  so I listened politely as I could. When he finished the first story he began to tell me another one! At this  point my hair stood on end as I was so disturbed at this waste of my precious time. When he finished  the other guest began to tell me a tale as well and the pain I felt was death itself! Finally they finished  the third story and left on their way.  Some three months passed and I found that I understood the meaning of the first story and that I had  needed it. Some three more months passed and I found that I understood the need I had for the second  story, and three months later for the third story. I was shocked to see how they were able to understand  what I would need and what would befall me over the course of this entire year, I understood that this  must be through ruach hakodesh and I hoped that Hashem would merit me another opportunity to  reunite with these two holy individuals. Two years later I looked up out the window and I saw them  both travelling in their carriage past my window. I could not miss such an opportunity! I ran outside to  catch them and draw their attention. I was in such a rush I did not dress myself in my coat or my  spudek (the fur hat worn by important personages such as the town Rabbi) and I ran in my shirt after  their coach chasing it across town. When I finally caught up with them near the inn I asked them in  between catching my breath as to their destination. "We are headed to Lizhensk, to the Rebbe Reb  Elimelech," they explained. "Can I join you?," I asked. They agreed on the condition that I go to the  market while they prayed and get some provisions for the journey such as some rolls, bagels and butter.  I completely forgot myself, town rabbi or not and in just my shirt I went and bought the bread and the  butter. When I returned they had finished their prayers and told me to hurry and get ready. I quickly ran  home, got dressed and grabbed my tallis and tefillin and jumped on their carriage. "We are taking you  to the Rebbe Elimelech," they explained, "since we can tell that your soul's root is bound to his." And  so they did. The Rebbe Elimelech became my mentor and I became a disciple. Those two holy tzadikim  were your father, Rav Moshe Leib Sassover and Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev.  Afterwards Rav Moshe Leib would say often that he should get shidduch gelt – a broker's fee for  making the match between the Apter and the Rebbe Elimelech. To this the Berditchever responded,  "and I should get double your fee since I also brought the Rebbe Reb Elimelech and the Rebbe Reb  Zisha to the Maggid of Mezritch!"  (Kisvei Rav Yoshe #11 p116; Devarim Areivim II #2 p53-54)  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Parashas Yisro  We Will Do and We Will Hear  "And Moshe took the words of the people back to Hashem." (19:8)  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Study the Ohr HaChaim who explains that Moshe did not return an answer back to Hashem from Bnei  Yisroel, because Hashem does not need answers, He knows man's heart. Rather the reason why Moshe  told over the words of the people back to Hashem was to make them more beloved before Him. He  retold of how they said we will do even before, we will hear.  Another thing we can say is that when Moshe payed attention to the reply that they had said we will do  before we will hear it was a wonder, that no human being could have grasped this concept, only a G-dly  power as the Midrash relates (Shabbos 88a; Yalkut Shimoni Shemos 277) [that Hashem asked] "Who  revealed this secret which only the ministering angels use to my children." As it says Tehillim (103:20)  "Bless Hashem, His angels of strength and might, who do His will and listen . . ." First they act and do  His will and afterwards listen. Bnei Yisroel down here below had these things in mind, and Moshe  understood that these were not their own words, and that a Divine spirit spoke within them, with His  word on their tongues (based on Shmuel II 23:2). The Shechinah itself was speaking from the throats of  each and every one of Bnei Yisroel replying We will do and we will here.  This is why it says "And Moshe took the words of the people back to Hashem," it means that he took  what was said back to Hashem by recognizing the source of these words as being from Hashem. It  means that Hashem Himself answered this and He had willed for them to say we will do before we will  hear.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Parashas Ki Sissa  Waiting, Anticipating and Preparing for Shabbos&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt; "And Hashem said to Moshe you should speak, safeguard my Shabbosos because they are a sign  between us, to know that I am Hashem your sanctifier." (31:12-13)  Our sages (Shabbos 10b; Beitza 16a) derived from here that whoever gives a gift to his friend must tell  him so. The Holy One told Bnei Yisroel. "I have a great gift stored away in My treasury and her name  is Shabbos." Surely Shabbos is a great gift, the light and sanctity which comes down from above into  people's hearts, and the holy spirit of sanctity and a renewed intellect and vitality which comes from  the supernal world known as Aravos from which vitality and delights emerge since it houses the stores  of life. (Chagiga 12b)  Truly a person should wait in anticipation for the gift of Shabbos all week long, waiting for the sanctity  and vitality which is coming to him and surely this requires great preparation all six days of the week  for Shabbos. And just as he prepares himself so will his grasp of Shabbos be, as the verse tells us (prev.  16:5) "and they prepared that which they brought," teaching us that a person must exert himself during  the week and prepare so that he will have Shabbos. "Whoever exerts himself on Friday will eat on  Shabbos and whoever does not from where will he eat?" (Avodah Zara 3a) And although a person may  prepare himself it is still a great gift, because even if a person will prepare himself in many different  ways, he is nonetheless unworthy of the great holiness and abundance bestowed to him by Hashem on  the Shabbos day, as much as he prepares it is still a free gift. However he must prepare himself to have  a vessel ready to accept it and the strength and energy needed to do so.  There are two components to the observance of Shabbos, and they are Zachor – remembering and  Shamor – safeguarding. Zachor – remembering is the masculine aspect known as duchrah (the active  giver) and Shamor – safeguarding is the feminine aspect known as nukva (the passive receiver) (Zohar  I 28b). This means that a person who observes Shabbos in order to give Hashem pleasure and delight,  that binds his soul up to the highest supernal place by observing Shabbos and he can serve Hashem  with an expanded consciousness and send shefa and blessings above to all the worlds, he is the aspect  of Zachor (the masculine active giver).  Then there are people who serve for their own benefit. And our sages say (Shabbos 118b) even if a  person worships idols like the generation of Enosh if he observes Shaboos he is absolved and  forgiven," the reason is that when a person sins he separates himself from the source of life and  blemishes his soul (Tikkunei Zohar Tikkun 70) however when the sanctity of Shabbos arrives then the  Holy One shines into all the hidden worlds a great luminous light and this illuminates a person's soul  and then the soul can return to its source.  This is the great gift since by observing Shabbos according to all its laws then he is forgiven for all of  his sins. So whoever has this in mind when he is observing Shabbos, this too is a good intention.  However there is an incorrect way as well, if a person were to have in mind when he is performing the  mitzvos of Hashem in order to be rewarded even if that reward is something spiritual, nonetheless that  is an aspect of the nukva (the feminine receiver) who desires to take and receive from Hashem, and the  primary way for a person to serve Hashem should be to give and send forth shefa through his actions as  it says (Tehillim 68:35) "Give power to G-d," (Zohar II 32b; Eicha Rabbah 1:33)  This is why the verse says "Ach - However safeguard my Shabboses," because words like Ach and Rak  are used to exclude (Rashi ad loc here on 31:13). This refers to the lower level since they are called  miyut in Hebrew which means small. The least level is to at least safeguard my Shabbos on the level of  Shamor. Because it is a sign, to know that I Hashem am sanctifying you,"that through the sanctity of  Shabbos I remove all forms of affliction from you and enlighten your soul and forgive your sins. And  whoever can rise up to the level of the male (the active giver ) is surely good.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Tzadik's Shabbos Guards Over All Bnei Yisroel  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Or we can say that the verse hints to us another matter, that if all of Bnei Yisroel could observe Shabbos  how great that would be! However although many of us, heaven forbid do not fulfill it properly the  verse promises us that through the righteous ones in every generation who do observe Shabbos  properly they give the Creator great pleasure and delight. A Tzadik is called Shabbos as is known  (Zohar II 94b). This is why the verse has the word Ach which means even those who minimally keep  and observe Shabbos (Ach is a miyut as was explained above) they safeguard my Shabboses, through  the tzadik who is called shabbos, all of bnei yisroel are seen as observing the Shabbos and they will be  safeguarded from all harm. And the merit of the righteous tzadikim who properly observe the shabbos  shall save the remnant of yisrael (yeshaya 31:5). "For it is a sign between You and me," the tzadik is  also called an os or a sign (Zohar I Hashmatos 266a) since he is like a sign or an imprint between  Knesses yisroel and the Creator.  "To know that I am Hashem who sanctifies you," this signifies that through the Tzadik Hashem's  sanctity is renowned, and made known. This is because the tzadik draws knowledge into the world and  he tells of the sanctity of G-d to other people. Through the sign of the tzadik all the Jewish people are  guarded from all harm and he uplifts them, he uplifts Hashem over them as if they all observed  Shabbos properly.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;A Taste of Olam HaBah  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Another explanation is that the Holy One wishes to merit Bnei Yisroel with the coming world of Olam  haBah, this is why he gave them the Torah and its commandments (Makos 23b). And the Holy One  wishes to allow Bnei Yisroel a taste of the reward in that spiritual place known as Olam HaBah.  Therefore in order for them to taste it He gave them the Shabbos day since it is a spiritual day an  example of the next world of Olam HaBah (Berachos 57b). On Shabbos everyone can recognize  spiritual delights.  However since we know that "there is no reward for mitzvos in this world," (Kiddushin 39b) how can  He give them pleasure and delight on Shabbos? Therefore Hashem gave them Shabbos as a gift.  (Rather than a reward which they deserve to be paid.) And it is true that there is no reward for the  mitzvos themselves in this world. However Hashem can give a gift even in this lowly world, to allow  those who do His will and observe the Shabbos a taste of the delight and pleasure of the next world –  Olam HaBah.  This is why the verse says "Ach – However observe my Shabboses," by observing Shabbos you will  taste a spiritual delight, and this will serve as a sign for you regarding your future reward in the next  world of Olam haBah. This is why the verse says, "because it is a sign, that I Hashem sanctify you"  that by observing Shabbos you will come to know that I Hashem am the one who eternally sanctifies  you for the future eternal world, to that day which is totally Shabbos forever (Mishna Tamid 7:4;  Gemarra Rosh haShannah 31a)  This what Hashem commanded Moshe to announce to Bnei Yisroel that this is the great gift which they  will receive on Shabbos, not the mitzvah, since Moshe had already announced all of the mitzvos to  them. However here He made known to them the advantage which they would gain by observing this  mitzvah, it would allow them to understand the reward waiting for them, that without Shabbos it would  be impossible for them to understand it in this world, since it cannot be revealed in this world (Beitza  16a).  However this was not the case regarding Moshe who was able to taste this in his lifetime and see his  reward in this world. This is not the reward for Shabbos, because Shabbos is itself the reward as our  sages said (Avos 4:2) the reward for a mitzvah is the mitzvah itself. This is the pleasure and delight of  observing Shabbos which is itself the reward. However Hashem did not announce this reward to the  nations (Beitza 16a), He did not give them this gift which Bnei Yisroel receive on Shabbos and no  stranger can mix in their joy and happiness. (Mishlei 14:10)  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;And to explain what we recite during the prayers on Shabbos (Birkas Yotzer Shacharis on  Shabbos):  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"There is no comparison to You, there is nothing except for You, there is nothing without You, for  Who is like You?, There is no comparison to You, Hashem Our King in this world; and there will  be nothing other than You Our King in the life of the Coming World; there will be nothing  without You our Redeemer, in the days of Moshiach and there will be none like you at the  Resurrection of the Dead."  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;If a person serves Hashem to be rewarded this is not terrible as the sages derived (Shabbos 63a) "long  days on the right," (Mishlei 3:16) to those who do the right thing, "and on the left wealth, honor and  glory," so this form of service for reward is the left hand path. However it is not the primary way to  serve, the primary form of Divine service is that the servant should not want anything for himself and  not ask for anyone but for Hashem and this itself will be his reward the very fact that he is serving  Hashem.1  This why we say "there is no comparison to You, Hashem our G-d, in this world," it means that I do not  wish to have any delight or pleasure on this world. And if you say, I will serve Hashem so that I shall  merit a portion in the next world which is a spiritual form of pleasure and delight, this too is not  considered avoda lishma, it lacks sincere intentions. However there in the world of souls some ask for  spiritual rewards. But even there in the world of truth, there are tzadikim who do not ask for anything  more than G-dly wisdom.  As our sages say (Berachos 64a) "Tzadikim have no peace in this world and not in the next world," this  is why we say "there is no comparison to You, Hashem our G-d, in this world, and there will be nothing  other than You, our King in the life of the Coming World," even there I want nothing more than Your  G-dly truth. And if you say, I shall serve Hashem for the days of Moshiach, when Hashem will remove  the darkness from our nation and the light and enlightenment will increase and people will achieve high  levels and their physical body will become pure and refined – this too is not the primary way to serve.  We do not ask for "the Days of Moshiach," either "except for You alone," compared to You everything  else is worthless. And not only the days of Moshiach, but even the pleasure which people will receive  at the time of the Resurrection of the Dead is also incomparable, in fact no pleasure and delight can  compare to the desire for G-dliness. Only to serve You and to be Your servant sincerely for Your sake  without any desire for reward or self advantage.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Parashas VaYakhel  &lt;br&gt;WHAT WAS &lt;br&gt;LEFT OVER FOR THE TZADDIKIM  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The work had been enough for all the work to do it — and there was extra.  (Shemos 36:7)  It seems like a contradiction to say that the work was "enough" and at the same time "there was extra."  If there was enough, then there wasn't anything extra. See the commentary of the Ohr HaChaim at  length [who also asks this question].1  Hashem is also known by the Name Kel Shakkai. Kel means "power," as in the verse "He took away  the mighty [אילי [of the land" (Yechezkel 17:13).6 Shakkai connotes giving, from the word shadayim  [which supply milk]. Therefore HaKadosh Baruch Hu is known as the All-Powerful One who  overcomes His own ability to give, as our Sages teach, "He said to His world 'Dai! Enough!'"  (Chagigah 12a). Because anything that comes from the Infinite Ein Sof can expand and grow without  any bounds. And therefore, since Hashem created the worlds, they wished to expand and grow without  bounds and HaKadosh Baruch Hu had to say, "Dai! Enough!" He had to arrange a specific order in the  worlds based on His supernal understanding of what His creations needed, and then He said "Dai!  Enough!" In this way He used His attribute of might. He caused a constriction within creation by  constrict His own power [so that the worlds He created and to which He gave life would not continue  expanding].  This is how Hashem must conduct His world — based on the strength of the receivers and not based on  His infinite and boundless strength. At this time [and in this world] the Jewish people are not capable of  receiving His great goodness nor His exacting punishments.  The work and labor of the Mishkan was a reflection of the creation of heaven and earth.8 It was  organized and constructed according to the dictates of the G-dly intellect, with the same combinations  of holy letters and divine Names with which heaven and earth were created. Thus our Sages teach that  Betzalel [whom Hashem placed in charge of building the Mishkan] knew how to combine the letters  with which heaven and earth were created (Berachos 55a). In other words, Hashem placed in the hearts  [of the builders of the Mishkan] wisdom, insight, and understanding.9 And Hashem gave this same  power to the righteous Tzaddikim in every generation — when a Tzaddikim studies Torah and creates  new interpretations in the course of his learning, he is in essence creating a new heaven and earth  (Zohar I:4b). And so when doing the work of Mishkan, they directed their thoughts toward the divine  wisdom through ruach hakocdesh and made unifications and used holy combinations [of letters and  divine Names]. This is how they formed all the vessels of the Mishkan and the rest of the work related  to it.  If they had wanted to, they could have broadened their intellect so that there would be no end, since the  spirit of Hashem had alighted upon them. However, it was necessary to place a boundary on it,  however they left over some of the work for the Tzaddikim in future, who would study the work of the  Mishkan when they studied the Torah. Each Tzaddik, according to the level of his intellect, would  recognize the wisdom hidden in the formation of each vessel and each part of the Mishkan, and he  would spiritually unify it with the upper worlds. Just as Hashem left a latent power in creation itself,  placing boundaries on His creations and leaving over the ability to expand the creation for the  Tzaddikim so that they themselves could create novel things, so it was in the work of the Mishkan.  This is the meaning of our verse, "The work was enough," meaning they place boundaries on the work.  "To do it" — that is, to rectify it10 and unify it using the supernal intellect with which they could  concentrate on each thing [that they made from the Mishkan] according to the level of their intellect.  However, "there was extra" — the surplus was left over for the righteous Tzaddikim and sages in each  generation. Then, in future generations, when they studied the order of the work of the Mishkan, they  could add their own knowledge to its construction according to how much their intellect could grasp.11  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;1. The Ohr HaChaim says, " 'Enough' is the opposite of 'extra.' If it is enough, then there is  nothing extra, and if there is extra, it is not just enough. There is no room to say that not this and  also this were both present, since both refer to the same type and the same aspect, and we have  no way to divide one type into two types, since one of these contradicts the other. Also it would  not have to say enough at all, rather the verse could have said "And the work had been extra for  all the work." And further the entire verse is superfluous since above it says "The people are  bringing more than enough for the labor of the work." Obviously they could not have said this  until they counted, so then why was it even necessary to add that "the work had been enough  etc."? Perhaps this verse demonstrates Hashem&amp;#39;s great love for the Jewish people, since they  brought a surplus more than was needed therefore Hashem honored them for their hard work  and allowed whatever was brought to be used in building the Mishkan. Therefore the verse  should be read as "All the work which Hashem commanded to be brought for the labor of the  Mishkan was enough to be used for and all the work went into the building of Mishkan even  though there was extra. Meaning that even though there was more than necessary, there was  nothing left over, even though in reality there was a surplus, as it says there was extra, however  there occurred a miracle and there was nothing left over." &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Writings that were Left Over from the Tzaddik  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Rav Meshulam Zisha of Zinkov, grandson of the Apta Rav, related a story he had heard from his father  Rav Yitzchak Meir of Zinkov regarding Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. Once the Berditchever was  visiting the Apta Rav in Kolbosov, and he asked to see some of the Apta Rav's writings on the  parashah. The Apta Rav happily lent them to Rav Levi Yitzchak. Rav Levi Yitzchak was so immersed  in his avodas Hashem that he completely forgot to return the writings to the Apta Rav. After Rav Levi  Yitzchak passed on, these writings were found among his own writings, and the publishers thought that  these belonged to Rav Levi Yitzchak as well, and they published them mistakenly in his name.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Parashas Pekudei  "These are the reckonings of the Mishkan, the tabernacle of testimony which were reckoned at  Moshe&amp;#39;s request." (38:21)  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Our sages taught in Ta&amp;#39;anis (8b) that blessings do not rest on things that are measured and weighed.  However here regarding the labor and work of the Mishkan which was all done according to exacting  reckonings and specific measurements, even so blessing rested in it. As it says in Shir HaShirim (7:5)  "Your eyes are like the pools of Cheshbon."  The root of the evil eye comes from the same source as Bila&amp;#39;am&amp;#39;s power, that wherever he gazed there  was a blight.1 This is because when that wicked individual would gaze upon something he separated  and detached it from its root source up above, from the source of life since he was aflame in desire for  that and it was important in his eyes, however he did not see the power of Hashem which was found in  that object.  However regarding the offspring of the Jewish people it says in Shir HaShirim (7:5) "Your eyes are  like the pools of Cheshbon," even something that has measure and is counted (Cheshbon is a place but  it also means a reckoning or measurements). Even regarding such things, their gaze is not harmful since  each object which a Jew sees, he recognizes the power of the Creator that is in it. Since he attaches that  object to its supernal root source, then with this gaze he is able to draw down blessings and shefa from  the upper source to this object. This is the meaning of "Your eyes are like the pools," the eyes become  as pools and wellsprings of shefa, even to an object that is counted and reckoned - "Cheshbon."   This then is the meaning of "These are the reckonings of the Mishkan," in the Mishkan everything was  counted and reckoned several times to be exact in the number, nonetheless there was blessing and the  Divine presence of the Shechina rested there. All the more so here the counting and reckoning was for a  Divine purpose.2 This is why it is written in the verse that it was reckoned "at Moshe&amp;#39;s request," since  this counting came out of Moshe&amp;#39;s mouth who was attached cleaving in dveykus and supernal sanctity,  then it even added blessings.  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Notes:  1. See Zohar I 68b "What is written regarding Bilaam? "The words of a man with an open eye."  (Bamidbar 24:15) He had an evil eye and everywhere he would gaze he would draw down a  spirit of destruction. This is the manner in which he wished to gaze upon Israel, since he would  destroy wherever his eyes would gaze." See also Ramban&amp;#39;s commentary to Bamidbar 22:35.  2. See Zohar II 225:1 "Rav Yitzchak asked Rabbi Shimon, since we know that blessings do not  rest on an object that has been counted and reckoned, why was everything in the mishkan  counted and reckoned? It has been said that in any place where sanctity rests, then if the  counting is also done for a holy purpose, then blessings continually rest there and do not depart.  From where is this known? From Ma&amp;#39;aser tithes. Since it is counted for a holy purpose, it is  blessed, all the more so regarding the mishkan. However any other thing that does not come  from the side of holiness, if they are counted or reckoned blessings do not rest there. Since the  other side, known as the evil eye can have control over it. And since the evil eye can control it,  blessings do not reside there."&lt;br&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2017/03/meoros-ohev-yisroel-illuminating.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-5376954692068990222</guid><pubDate>Wed, 22 Mar 2017 08:29:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2017-03-22T10:29:09.833+02:00</atom:updated><title>Fwd: Apta Rav - Ohev Yisroel</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_quote"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;In honor of his upcoming Yahrzeitv&lt;br&gt;5 NISSAN &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;RAV AVRAHAM YEHOSHUA HESCHEL BEN RAV SHMUEL OF APTA AND MEZIBUZ&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;AUTHOR OHEV YISROEL&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2017/03/fwd-apta-rav-ohev-yisroel.html</link><thr:total>1</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-2208726534652583001</guid><pubDate>Sun, 26 Feb 2017 11:31:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2017-02-26T13:31:33.366+02:00</atom:updated><title>CHASSIDUS ON THE PARSHA TERUMA</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sowing  the Seeds of the Zera Kodesh – Rav Naftoli Ropshitzer on Parshas  Teruma&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The  Message of Building a &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Mishkon&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;:  Do What You Can for &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Hashem&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  According to Your &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Kochos&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;And  they shall make an &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Aron&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;  from &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;atzei shittim&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;"  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;(25:10)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;heilige&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Rav Naphtali Ropshitzer cites two &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medroshim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  from the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash Rabba&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  that illustrate how infinite &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is and how seemingly pointless it is to attempt to build Him a  sanctuary or any type of dwelling place in the form of an earthly,  physical structure and yet &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  does not expect us to do the impossible; rather we can achieve this  end based on our own abilities, each one of us according to what we  can do: &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;(&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bamidbar  Rabba&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; 12:3): At that time  when &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  said, "They shall build for me a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Mikdosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and I shall dwell in their midst," Moshe asked, "How can anyone  build a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Mishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  wherein Your presence can dwell? 'Behold, the heavens and the  highest heavens cannot contain You, and surely not this Temple I have  built," (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Melochim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  I 8:27); and it says in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yirmiyohu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (23:24), 'Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?' and it says  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yeshayohu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (66:1), 'The heavens are My throne and the earth My footstool; what  house could you build for Me and what place could be My resting  place?'" "I do not ask," said &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  that they do this according to My ability; rather, said &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  all I ask for is that each person should do according to his  abilities…all I ask for are twenty &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;amos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  on the south side and twenty on the north side and eight along the  west."&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;(&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shemos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rabba&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  5:9) See how the Heavenly voice [at Mount Sinai] went forth to every  person, each according to his ability to receive it [individually  tailored to his personal level]: the elders according to their  ability, the young men according to their ability, the children  according to theirs, the infants according to theirs and the women  according to theirs. Even Moshe received and heard the voice on his  own level, as it says (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shemos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  19:19): "Moshe spoke and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  answered him with a voice" – with a voice that he was able to  accept and handle. Similarly, it says in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tehilim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  29:4, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kol Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ba'ko'ach&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – "The voice of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  comes in power". It does not say &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;bekocho&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – according to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  power – it says &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;bako'ach&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  meaning according to the abilities of each person on his level and  according to his capabilities to receive it.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Having  cited the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and demonstrating how &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  expects from us only what we can do for Him according to our &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kochos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  the Ropshitzer cites another &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tanchuma Teruma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  ch. 10, which teaches us that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei  shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; allude to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teshuva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  [the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  says: (They are named) &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – because just like Bnei Yisrael angered Me by sinning at the  Golden Calf, these &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  trees should now come and atone for their &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shetusim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (their acts of foolishness). Another idea is that &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is an acronym for &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sholom&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tova&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yeshua&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mechila&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (peace, good, salvation and atonement)] because &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is a word that derives from the word for nonsense and foolishness –  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shetus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  say (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Sota&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  3a) that a person only commits a transgression if a spirit of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shetus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  enters him. The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash  Tanchuma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Vayakhel&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  ch. 8) also teaches that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei  shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; atone for the sins of  licentiousness that took place at &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  with the daughters of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Moav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (see &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bamidbar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  25:1). So we see from these &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medroshim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  how the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  atone for sin. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Now the  Ropshitzer says that &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  has the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;gematria&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Soton&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;:  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;=300,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tes&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;=9,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yud&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;=10,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;=40  = 359; &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;=300,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tes&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;=9,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;nun&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;=50  = 359. This teaches us that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei  shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; atone for actions  that a person did when under the influence of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Soton&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  who is the same angel as the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;hora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bova Basra&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  16a). We can now see clearly how the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei  shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; allude to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teshuva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  say (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kiddushin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  30b) that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tavlin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (remedy) for the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yetzer hora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and the best piece of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;eitza&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (advice) to overcome it is through &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  study. This is what our &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  means, explains the Ropshitzer: "And they shall make an &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Aron&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  from &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;"  – &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Atzei&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  means an &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;eitza&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  means &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shetus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – [sins committed while under the influence of a spirit of]  foolishness and stupidity. Thus, the wood used from the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei  shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; to build the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Aron&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  alludes to an &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;eitza&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  against the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yetzer hora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  which influences us to act foolishly and transgress. That advice,  explains the Ropshitzer, is the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  which was placed in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Aron&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  alluding to the idea that the power to break the hold of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Soton&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;hora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  whose &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;gematria&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is equivalent to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  is through the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  which was placed in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Aron&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  made of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  This is why the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Aron&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  measurements were fractions rather than whole numbers, alluding to  the power to fracture the power of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yetzer  hora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; through the study of  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  If a person is broken-hearted over his past misdeeds, this too is a  form of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teshuva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and a way to break the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  because &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  does not overlook broken hearts. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  primary form of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teshuva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is through &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  study, as &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  say (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yalkut Mishlei&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  ch. 3:935), "If you usually study one page, then study two." The  primary form of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassidus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is also &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  study with diligence and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;hasmoda&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  say (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Zohar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  II 114b), "Who is considered a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;?  He who acts with &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chessed&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  toward his Maker." Since &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  are one and the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is called a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Toras&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chessed&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Mishlei&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  31:26) and we say that &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chessed&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is continuous (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tehillim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  52:3), if you wish to act as a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  toward &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  your Maker, you must attach yourself in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;dveikus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and His Torah which is &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chessed&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – and then you will be a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;This is  how the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Zera Kodesh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  explains our &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medroshim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  cited above: "And you shall make an &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Aron&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  from &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;atzei shittim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;"  – and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  does not expect you to do more than your own capabilities and  efforts, because the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Aron&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  alludes to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teshuva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  A person might say to himself, "How can I ever rectify my past  misdeeds? How can I ever fix my sins and transgressions? There would  be no end to the number of fasts and self-flagellations that I need  to undergo! &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  therefore said, "I expect of each of you only what you can do on  your level, just as My voice and Presence at &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Matan  Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; went forth individually  to each person according to his ability to perceive Me."&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;The  gates of heaven opened up and I saw G-dly visions, the Creator of the  four corners of the earth, and I gazed and meditated upon that which  I had permission to, and began to explain at the beginning of  &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Hashem&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;'s  holy words." (Ohr HaChaim, Bereishis)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;u&gt;Praises  for the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ohr  HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Shloma  Rabba Min Shemaya&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;There is a  tradition that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  heard a heavenly voice every &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  night that blessed him and said to him, "&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shloma  loch&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; – Peace be upon you!"&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;(&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shivchei  Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, p. 6–7)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Torah  Lishma &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Rav Shneur  Zalman of Liadi, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mechaber&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tanya&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and founder of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chabad&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  testified that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  studied &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  purely for its own sake – &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;lishma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – and that his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  study formed the twenty-four mystical ornaments for the heavenly  bride – (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kishutei kalla&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;).&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;(&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shivchei  Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, p. 6–7)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;A  Genius Among Geniuses&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Rav Levi  Yitzchok of Berditchev writes in his approbation to the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rishon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;LeTzion&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  "Many drank from the living wellsprings – the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Be'er  Mayim Chaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; – of this great  luminary, who is a genius among geniuses – &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;gaon  sheba'ge'onim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, a holy  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  renowned world over for his greatness and splendor and the boundless  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shefa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the light of his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and his fear and awe of Heaven, as is seen from his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;."&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;(&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shivchei  Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, p. 6–7)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;More  stories and praises of Rav Chaim &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ben&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Attar can be found below in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yahrzeit&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  section about the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;talmid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;The  Holy Lights of the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh – Teruma&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Daber  el Bnei Yisrael&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt; –  "Speak to Bnei Yisrael, and let them take for Me a &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;teruma&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;,  from every man whose heart is charitable shall you take My portion –  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;terumosi&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;"  (25:2).&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;Experts  and Rulers&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; has a unique  interpretation of our &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;:  he begins by way of introduction (see &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bova  Basra&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; 8b) that normally  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tzedoka&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  collectors must collect in groups of two, because we do not allow  individuals to collect money and impose their will on the community  as rulers in such matters alone. In fact, he cites the opinion of  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tosafos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ran&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rabbeinu Nissim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;)  that even two are insufficient except in matters where the amounts  collected are fixed, but when estimates need to be made and an  appraisal calculated of each person's net worth to fix the amount  of the donation, then three collectors must work together to arrive  at the correct figure. Now the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; says that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Halocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Sanhedrin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  5) that an individual who is an expert can in fact judge these  monetary matters alone, and his rule is law. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tosafos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  there say that he can force anyone to pay a donation and act alone  without a need for two. They derive this logically: since an expert  can judge matters alone when normally three judges are required,  surely here, in matters of rule of law where normally we require just  two, he can rule [and calculate and collect &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tzedoka&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  donations and the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teruma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;].&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Based on  this concept that an expert can rule, calculate and collect by force,  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  reinterprets the word &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;daber&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to mean "rule" and "control" instead of "speak". The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; understands from the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  that &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  commanded Moshe to rule over Bnei Yisrael as an expert individual,  who can rule alone on matters of donation, calculate the net worth  and ability of individuals and how much they should give and collect  from them even by force if need be. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Daber  el&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; Bnei Yisrael – "rule  over Bnei Yisrael" – and calculate and collect from them on your  own, even though appraisal normally requires three and collection  two, because you, Moshe, are an expert individual and you can take  the place of three and, of course, two, in matters of collection that  require rule of law. This idea, says the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, is demonstrated in  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  36:3, where we see Moshe collecting the donations on his own.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;My  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Teruma&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;From  every man whose heart is charitable shall you take My portion –  &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;terumosi&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;"  (25:2). &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; continues his novel  interpretation, and suggests that this &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  implies that regarding people who have &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;nedivus  lev&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; (a charitable heart) that  encourages him to give, perhaps no appraisal calculations were made.  Since we expect that people know how much they can afford to give  perhaps since they were self-motivated to be charitable, we just  accept whatever they bring. Others have an appraisal. Such a  donation, points out the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  is called by &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  "&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;My&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;  teruma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; – &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;terumosi&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;",&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  whereas the first half of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  calls the donations collected [sometimes by force] simply &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teruma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Terumas  HaMishkon &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;From  every man" (25:2).&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; points out that this  part of our &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  teaches that we include three categories of people whose donations  are normally rejected but are accepted for &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;terumas  haMishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;. These three  categories include: orphans, women and overly charitable  spendthrifts. Normally, we do not take charitable donations from  these three types of people because of special rules that apply to  each category type: In &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bova  Basra&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; (8a) we learn that  orphans cannot be forced to give charity except when it gives their  family name honor and prestige or atones for them. In &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bova  Kama&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; (119) we learn that  women's donations must be minimal except when they are wealthy.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bova Basra&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (ibid) rules that &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tzedoka&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  collectors should not visit overly charitable spendthrifts, because  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Taanis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  24a tells us that under pressure they will give too much and under  duress they will force themselves to donate beyond their means. When  collecting for &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;terumas  haMishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, however, donations  were accepted &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;me'es kol&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ish&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;asher&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yidvenu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;libo&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – "from every man whose heart is charitable" – even from  these three categories, [&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;me&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;]'&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;es&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – to include women, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kol&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – to include orphans, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ish  asher &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yidvenu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;libo&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – this includes overly charitable spendthrifts. From these three  types of people we accept even large sums and gifts for &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;t&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;erumas  haMishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;An  Exception to the Rule&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Now the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  explains why &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;terumas haMishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is such an outstanding exception to all the normal rules of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tzedoka&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  based on the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medroshim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;:  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yerushalmi Shekalim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  1:1 and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tanchuma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  teach that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Mishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  atones for the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chet ho'egel&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – the sin of the Golden Calf. Furthermore, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  explain how it was that Bnei Yisrael had all this wealth to build the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Mishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and donate toward its construction, even though they had recently  been released from slavery and were wandering in the desert. In  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shemos Rabba&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  ch. 33, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  tell us that together with the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  gems and precious stones rained down. In &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash  Tanchuma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; on &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Beshallach&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  we are told that the spoils of the Exodus from Egypt were so great  that even the smallest had something like forty laden donkeys of  gold, silver and precious stones, and in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash  Shir HaShirim Rabba&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, on the  words &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;torei zohov&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  we are told that the spoils of the Egyptians at &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kerias  Yam Suf&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; were even greater  than the spoils of Egypt itself! If so, we see clearly, says the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, that Bnei Yisrael  were actually very wealthy people. Now we can understand why  regarding &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;terumas haMishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  the normal rules of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tzedoka&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  did not apply and they accepted donations from orphans, women and the  overly charitable spendthrifts. Orphans' donations are only  accepted when this lends them a good name; here, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Mishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  atoned for them and for the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chet  ho'egel&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;. Normally, we  accept only small donations from women, but here they were all so  wealthy that that rule also did not apply. We do not accept the gifts  of overly charitable spendthrifts and we don't send &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;gabbo'im&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to collect from them because normally we worry about pressuring them;  again, they were so wealthy that this rule no longer applied.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Finally,  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  applies what we learned to teach us a lesson that when donating for  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;terumas haMishkon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Bnei Yisrael attached their souls in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;dveikus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  This is because the soul is also known as &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teruma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (see Yirmiyohu 2:3, where Bnei Yisrael are called &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Reishis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Reishis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  also means &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teruma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;).  By giving the donation of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teruma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  they were actually donating their very souls to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and so His Divine Presence – the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shechina&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – alighted upon them and dwelled among them.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(0,0,10);padding:0.01in 0.06in;line-height:100%"&gt;  &lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sponsor the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shiur&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  on &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;leil shishi&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Eretz&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Yisrael!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(0,0,10);padding:0.01in 0.06in;line-height:100%"&gt;  &lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;As we have been publicizing, many  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddikim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  teach that learning the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer  Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; is a  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;segula&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;parnossa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Emunas Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yiras Shomayim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;refua sheleima&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yeshuos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;zera shel kayoma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  If you would like to sponsor a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shiur&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Eretz&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Yisrael, please contact Rabbi Tal Zwecker at &lt;/font&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:tal.zwecker@gmail.com"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;tal.zwecker@gmail.com&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for further details, and he can help arrange this for you.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;br&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="JUSTIFY"&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;Yahrzeit  Stories&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;br&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;8&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;th&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Adar&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  – Rav Eliyohu &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ben&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  Avrohom Shlomo &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;HaKohen&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  Ha'Itamari of Izhmir, Turkey, &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Mechaber&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Shevet Mussar&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;Girded  With a Serpent Belt&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Rav Chaim  Palagi told how once the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mechaber&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shevet Mussar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  woke early one morning and rose to study &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  When he put on his belt, he did not notice that he had in fact  accidentally lifted a live, long serpent from the floor and tied it  around his own waist! It was dark and he could not see, and so he  simply tied the snake like a belt. In this manner, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  sat himself down and studied &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  As he sat &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shuckling&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  back and forth in motion to the singsong words of learning, the knot  became slowly undone and the snake unwound itself and slithered off,  miraculously, not biting the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  To commemorate this miracle, Rav Eliyohu authored the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ezor Eliyohu&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – "The belt of Eliyohu". From his holy works of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  we can see that this story is not farfetched for someone of such  stature, may his merit shield us! (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tenufa  Chaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, by Rav Chaim Palagi,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shoftim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  15)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;9&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;th&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Adar&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  – Rav Chaim Efraim &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ben&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  Osher Zeitchik, &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ra"m&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  in &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ohr Chodosh&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;,  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Mechaber&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;HaMeoros HaGedolim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;A  Siberian &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Gemora&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Rav  Zeitchik was &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rosh Yeshiva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in Buczacz when he was drafted into conscription in the Russian army.  Eventually he was taken to Siberia, where half a kilo of bread and  water from the distant, icy ravines were his only means of sustenance  and nourishment, since all local water was poisoned and unfit to  drink. The people, including himself, were unkempt and dressed in  rags and tatters, sick, exhausted and in despair.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;One day,  Rav Chaim volunteered to draw the water from the far-off well, a  distance of over three kilometers of frozen Siberian wasteland. His  reason was that he had discovered somehow that a Jew lived in that  area. Secretly, he hid the buckets and made his way, sneaking from  tree to tree, from grove to grove, until he reached this Jewish  family. He edged closer to the house and indeed discerned a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mezuza&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  on the doorpost. When the lady of the house answered his feeble  knocking and saw a man dressed in rags, she was fearful of him as an  escapee from the Siberian camps, but she was compassionate and  offered him a treasure: a slice of bread! She was amazed when he  shook his head. No, he didn't want the bread. "I am a Jew. I  don't want your bread. Please, do you have a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;?"  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;She called  her husband. "I am so sorry," the husband told Rav Zeitchik. "I  am not a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – I only own one single &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and I am not willing to part with it – it is a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Gemora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;."  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Please,"  begged Rav Zeitchik and began to cry. "Please have mercy on me!"  he sobbed. "At least give me just one &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;daf&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;!  Don't leave me like this!" &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;And so the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ba'al habayis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  tore the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Gemora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in half. It was an edition of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Nedorim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Nozir&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and Rav Zeitchik got &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Maseches  Nedorim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;. There was no one  happier in the world at that moment!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  disinterested guards and workmen paid no heed to the safety of the  working conditions; they did not value the lives of their charges  much at all. And so one day as he was working, chopping and sawing  wood, a heavy branch fell on Rav Chaim's head and injured him. He  fell to the ground, bleeding from the wound. His fellows gathered him  up and were about to transport him to the local hospital for medical  attention, when he stopped them. Before they took him any further, he  directed them to make a stop on the way to the grove where he had  hidden his secret treasure that he refused to leave behind – his  torn portion of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Maseches  Nedorim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, so that he could  take it with him to the hospital! (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hirhurei  Teshuva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Maamar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  27)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:100%"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;10&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;th&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Adar&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  – Rav Yosef Boruch &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;HaLevi&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  Epstein, the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Gutte Yid&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of Neustadt&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="line-height:100%" align="JUSTIFY"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  Sanzer &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  once made a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;siyum&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  upon completing the entire &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shas&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  One of the guests who joined him for the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;siyum&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  was the son of the holy &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ma'or  VaShemesh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, who was known as  the "&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Gutte Yid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of Neustadt". This hidden &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  tried to conceal his greatness. He was not known as a great scholar,  but was often seen reciting &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tehillim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  much like the simple townspeople. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="text-indent:0.5in;line-height:100%" align="JUSTIFY"&gt;  &lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;During the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;siyum&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  he told the Sanzer &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  that he too was celebrating a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;siyum&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  because he had completed the entire &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tehillim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  The Sanzer &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  replied, "Would you like to make an exchange? I will give you all  the merit I earned from studying the entire &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shas&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and you will give me the merit of your &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tehillim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;."  The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Gutte&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  refused the offer, and it stayed at that.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="text-indent:0.5in;line-height:100%" align="JUSTIFY"&gt;  &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;11&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;th&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Adar&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  – Rav Chaim Yosef Dovid &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ben&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  Refoel Yitzchok Zecharya Azulai, the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Chida&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;A New  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Yeshiva&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  and a New &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Talmid&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;When the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Rav Chaim &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ben&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Attar came to live in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Eretz&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Yisrael, his main focus was to establish a holy lofty &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yeshiva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais Medrash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  whose purpose was to study &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah  lishma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; on the highest level.  Its students would sit all day immersed in their studies, never  uttering any mundane words, wrapped in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tallis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  crowned in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tefillin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and unifying the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shechina&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  as they studied &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Gemora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rambam&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  delving into the depths of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Talmud&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  swimming in its seas and immersing in the words of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;dvar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem zu Halocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  As he himself testified in a letter written on the 22&lt;/font&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;nd&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shevat&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tov-kuf-bais&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to the financial supporters of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yeshiva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in Mantuba, Italy, he named the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais  Medrash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; "&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Heichal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ahava&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Medrash Kenesses Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – the Chamber of Love", to awaken &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  love for Kenesses Yisrael (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kenesses&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  alludes to the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shechina&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;).  From the Diaspora, Rav Chaim &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ben&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Attar brought with him &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;talmidim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and gained new ones in Yerushalayim – among whom was the great Rav  Chaim Yosef Dovid Azulai – the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ner HaMaaravi&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  ch. 24 p. 227)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Chida&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;'s  Testimony on the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ohr&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;HaChaim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;'s  Preparation for &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Kiddush&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Once, when  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  was on one of his travels in the lands of Ashkenaz, one of the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Admorim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  asked him to relate a story that described his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  holy &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;avoda&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;nigla&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;nistar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and here is one of the tales he told:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; had a special &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;minhag&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to prepare himself to make &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kiddush&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  on &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  Every &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Erev Shabbos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  he would sit and study and review with his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;talmidim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  the laws of testimony and witnesses – &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hilchos  Eidus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rambam&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  They would especially review the laws dealing with what things  disqualified a witness and rendered him &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;posul&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – unfit to give testimony. They studied this in order to do full  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teshuva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  [over any of these disqualifications.] Not only did the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; do this as a  preparation before making &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kiddush&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  but when he picked up the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kiddush&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  cup to recite the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  over it, he would be aflame with such excitement and thoughts of  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;teshuva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kedusha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  that all those present were also seized with pangs of regret and  remorse so great that they would beg and plead that they too should  merit to be &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;eidim kesherim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  (proper witnesses) to testify to the Creation of the world in six  days! (By Rav Yitzchok Alfaya in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kuntres  HaYachieli&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; Section &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Chapter &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Middos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tovos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  #18)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;'s &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Berocha&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  That He Should be Like Aharon &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;HaKohen&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Rav  Yekusiel Yehuda of Sanz-Klausenberg told the following story one  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Sholosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Seudos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  [see &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shefa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  on &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Parshas Naso  tov-shin-mem-daled&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;] (also  found in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kuntres&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tav Chaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  as a prelude to certain editions of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer Shem HaGedolim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;):&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Although  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  was counted among the younger of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;talmidim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  still Rav Chaim &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ben&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Attar greatly admired him, drew him close and bestowed upon the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  a special and unique &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  that from Heaven the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  should be sanctified with the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kedusha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of Aharon &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaKohen&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;At first  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  misconstrued his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  meaning and thought he had been blessed with the ability to give  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berochos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to Am Yisrael &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;be'ahava&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  just as Aharon and the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Kohanim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  bless the Jewish people. However, decades later, the true meaning of  this special &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  was revealed in the following amazing manner:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;In his old  age, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  ended up in Leghorn, Italy, which the Jews know as Livorno. He had  refused the position of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  again and again, although the various communities' elders and  leaders tried to have him take up the post. Instead, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  preferred to sit and learn &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  uninterrupted except for a four-year stint when he took up the post  of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  while he was in Egypt. Nonetheless, although he held no official  title or position, all the Jews knew of his greatness and accorded  him the honor and respect due to a sage and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Talmid  Chochom&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, one of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Gedolim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the generation.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;One day, a  community leader came before the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and complained to him that his wife had been seen alone in the  company of another man. "If this is so," said the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  "you must divorce her, give her a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;get&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and she loses any rights to collect her &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kesuba&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;."  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Dayonim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  heard his decision and were baffled; how could he decide such a  matter without any testimony or evidence? But they dared not  contradict his ruling. The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  asked that the wife be summoned to the place in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais  Medrash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; where he sat and  studied, immersed in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  tried to persuade her gently and kindly to accept a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;get&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of divorce from her husband, but the woman was brazen and arrogant.  She answered the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  back with &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chutzpa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and as she spat back her arguments to the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  remembered the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  he had received from the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  all those years ago. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Turning to  the insulting woman, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  asked, "Please, I have just one request. Listen as I read aloud to  you a portion from the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Parsha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;."  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  arrogant woman acquiesced to this one request and stood still as the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  took out a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and began to recite the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Parsha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Naso&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  where the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  describes the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sota&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  As the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  read the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pesukim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  the woman began to leave in the middle – but she did not escape in  time, for just as she reached the stairs, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  concluded reading the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Parsha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sota&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and no sooner did he finish the last words than she stopped with her  foot resting on the step, while her face contorted and her eyes  bulged out of their sockets. With a shriek she collapsed and dropped  dead. Hearing her outcry, many people rushed to the scene as she  breathed her last, and witnessed this miraculous event.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;What  Delayed the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  From His &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Shiur&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  in &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Yeshiva&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Rav Chaim  Yosef Arye Prager of Brisk writes how the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  once met the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Gaon&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Rav Dovid Ashkenazi of Bichov, who lived in Teverya and was sent by  Rav Avrohom Kalisker to collect funds for the nascent and struggling  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassidishe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yishuv&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  there. Rav Dovid traveled in the west for some seven years  collecting, and on one of his travels he met the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in Livorno. During their discussion about how greatly esteemed his  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  was among the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassidim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  replied humbly that he did not consider himself worthy of being  called a true &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;talmid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  who knew the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  claiming that he was just someone who had studied there in his  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yeshiva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  He then related to Rav Dovid the following amazing story about his  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  Rav Chaim &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ben&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Attar, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Once, the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  was late to arrive at the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yeshiva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  This was uncharacteristic of him and all the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;talmidim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  who had gathered at the appointed time for his shiur wondered at this  departure from custom. When the hour grew late and the delay  continued, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  gathered his courage and himself went to his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  home to see what the delay was about and to call on the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;. When he got there,  he engaged Rav Chaim in conversation and the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; told the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in a totally nonchalant and dismissive manner as part of the  conversation, "I was late because I was stuck on a difficult  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tosafos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  which I simply couldn't unravel or understand at all until…Rabbeinu  Yitzchok, one of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ba'alei  Tosafos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, came and explained  to me what he meant."&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;It Was  Only &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;L'shem&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Shomayim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; used to make frequent  trips with his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;talmidim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;daven&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  at &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kivrei Tzaddikim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in Yerushalayim. The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chida&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  described one such trip that he himself went on and accompanied the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and what he saw the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; do on that occasion:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;In my  youth I merited to travel together with the wondrous holy &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  our Master, Rav Chaim &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ben&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Attar and the students of his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yeshiva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  to travel to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;daven&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  at the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kivrei Tzaddikim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in Yerushalayim. When we reached the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;matzeiva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  author of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer Pri  Chodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, we watch as the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  [the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;]  remained there alone for some fifteen minutes or more, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;davening&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  at the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kever&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and his lips moved as he was talking and we understood that he was  asking &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mechila&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  from the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Pri&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  that he be forgiven [for Rav Chaim &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ben&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Attar, in his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer Pri To'ar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  would rule against him and argue on some of his points] and that all  that he did was purely &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;L'shem  Shomayim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; (for the sake of  Heaven)." (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shem HaGedolim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  Section on &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Seforim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  Entry for &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Pri To'ar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;11&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;th&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Adar&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  I – Rav Avrohom &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ben&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  Ze'ev Nachum Bornstein of Sochatchov, &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Mechaber&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Avnei&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Nezer Eglei Tal&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The  Broken &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Shidduch&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;There was  once a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  from Warsaw whom everyone nicknamed Der Kleine Moisheleh, who made a  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shidduch&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for his daughter. Soon after, they discovered that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chosson&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  had a lung disease, and when the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kalla&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  found out, she refused to continue with the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shidduch&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  The father of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kalla&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  received permission from a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais  Din&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; to dissolve the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shidduch&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  but when the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chosson&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  heard this, he suffered such great distress that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;agmas  nefesh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; amplified his disease.  His condition worsened from day to day, until finally he died, sick  and heartbroken.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Afterward,  the former &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;kalla&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  also grew ill and as she lay in her sickbed, she complained that the  departed spirit of her former &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chosson&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  kept vigil at her side, constantly imploring her to follow him and  that he was taking her to court…in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais  Din Shel Ma'ala&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; (the  Heavenly Court)! This continued for some days and her condition  worsened, until her father was worried and the doctors began to  despair of her ever getting better! And so her father traveled to  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sochatchov&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  When the holy &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  heard how the departed &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chosson&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  stood by her bed ordering her to a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Din  Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shomayim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  he grew excited and roared: &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Heh!  The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Halocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is that we rule that he who sues in rabbinical court must follow the  sued to his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais Din&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in his locale! Now go back home and tell your daughter in my name  that if the departed &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chosson&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  returns, she should tell him that back in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sochatchov&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  they say that if he has any reason to sue her in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais  Din&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, they need not take the  matter up before the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais Din  Shel Ma'ala&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;; rather, they  should take the matter up with me right here in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sochatchov&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and he can take her to a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Din  Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; here! She should repeat  this to him three times." &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;And so it  was. She did so and after the third time he never returned, she  recovered and never saw him again.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Rebbe&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;'s  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ahavas Yisrael&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Rav Moshe  Duvid'l once took the place of the usual &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shamash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  Rav Avrohom Yitzchok, who was called to Warsaw for an important  matter, and he tended to the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei  Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s needs. Once, early  in the morning, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei  Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; approached Reb Moshe  Duvid'l and told him, "Quick – bring me some water to wash, but  hurry, now the air is pristine and clean of all sins and crimes and  from all worldly desires. It is an opportune time to learn &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  Take care that no one disturbs me at all. Even if a person should  come with a golden crown, do not bring him before me!" &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;And so the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  sat himself down to learn, aflame with the fire of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;!  Soon a person arrived in modern dress, clean-shaven and wearing a  short jacket and asked to see the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  Moshe Duvid'l laughed at him. "Right now you want to see the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;?"  Especially since the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  had expressly forbidden him to bring anyone in. The guest offered  Moshe Duvid'l fifteen gold rubles for his trouble, a vast sum. Reb  Moshe Duvid'l was struck with awe. He took the gold fifteen-ruble  coin, entered the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  study and told the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  what had transpired, showing him the coin he stood to earn. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  wondered aloud, "What?! Do you mean to say that you can earn such a  vast sum through me? Bring him in! Just remember – three minutes  and no more!" &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Reb Moshe  Duvid'l pocketed the coin and brought the guest before the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  He waited. After about ten minutes, he could no longer hold back and  came in to extricate the man from the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  room. What he heard was the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  telling him, "Remember to fulfill these three things that I said,  and she will have a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yeshua&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;!"  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The man  left and that was that.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;One day  Moshe Duvid'l was in Kalisch, when a frum, bearded Jewish stranger  in a long coat approached him and asked, "Do you come from  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sochatchov&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;?"  When he applied in the affirmative, the stranger asked further, "And  do you sometimes attend to the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;?"  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Yes,"  answered the bewildered Moshe Duvid'l, whose bewilderment and  wonder only grew when the Jew grasped him warmly and said, "If so,  you must come to my house to celebrate with us and enjoy a fancy  meal." &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;So saying,  he steered Moshe Duvid'l off to his home. When the stranger  entered, he ordered his wife to quickly prepare a lavish feast.  "Prepare a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;seuda&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for the man who saved your life – here he is!" &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;And so it  happened that our bearded, long-frocked friend was none other than  our formerly beardless, short-jacketed stranger, who had once paid  Moshe Duvid'l handsomely to get in to see the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  He explained that his wife had been very sick, almost at death's  door, and he had traveled to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sochatchov&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to seek the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  blessing and advice. Among the three things that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  had told them to do to save his wife's life was to transfer all his  children from the modern schools into the traditional &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;cheder&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  At first, his wife had resisted, but eventually she agreed, and as  soon as she did, she got better and better. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;And now  she is as fit as a fiddle and healthy as can be!" &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;They  gifted Moshe Duvid'l handsomely and sent him off to Kalisch in  style. See just how much &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ahavas  Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  had, concludes the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mechaber&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer Abir HaRo'im&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  In order that Moshe Duvid'l earn a nice tidy sum, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  gave up a few precious minutes of his holy morning learning!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The  Value of the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Avnei&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Nezer&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;'s  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Torah&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  in &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Shomayim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Just how  precious that time was in the story above can best be illustrated by  the next two tales: &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Once, Rav  Gronim of Gur, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;ba'al  koreh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; for the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Sefas  Emes&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, told of how he visited  the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Sukkos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  when he still lived in Kroshnivitz. He was the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  guest and he slept in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sukka&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  himself made the bed and patted down the sheets and blankets to  guarantee a comfortable and warm repose. I lay down to sleep and the  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  sat down to learn, aflame with excitement and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;hislahavus&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;!  The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  kept checking to see I was asleep and so I made myself as if I was  sleeping and just then torrential rain began to fall. It was so  strong and buffeted the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sukka&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  so hard that the floor was already full of water. I peeked out and  saw the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  approach the window in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sukka&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  He opened the window and called out, saying, "What &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chutzpa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  these clouds have, that they dare &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mevatel&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  me and disturb my learning!!!" &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;No sooner  had the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  uttered this admonishment, than the rain stopped and the clouds  discontinued their downpour!" See how precious the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  study was in the Heavens!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The  Undervalued &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Torah&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  of the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Avnei Nezer&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  to Those Who Sought His &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Berochos&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;It is also  a well-known fact among all who came to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sochatchov&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  would often repeat this saying: "If people only knew and realized  what good favors I could accomplish for them through my &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  study, no one would ever dare cross my threshold again [to ask for a  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;]."  (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Abir&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaRo'im&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  Volume II, 283, 288, 291–292 )&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Avnei Nezer&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  and &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Eglei Tal&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  father, Rav Ze'ev Nachum, was the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in Biala. The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  future father-in-law, Rav Menachem Mendel of Kotzk, once revealed to  Rav Ze'ev Nachum how he merited having such a holy son:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;It was  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Purim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and all over the world the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yidden&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  rejoiced. So much so that even all the greatest &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;lomdim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  those &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yidden&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  who always sat and studied &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  were also busy with preparations and joyful &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Purim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  business. There was no one studying &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;!  No one, that is, except Rav Ze'ev Nachum. Since the world cannot  exist if no there is no &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  Rav Ze'ev Nachum was at the time supporting the entire world! &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Meanwhile,  in Heaven, there was a great uproar. No one was studying &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;!  … until they discerned Rav Ze'ev Nachum, and it was decided on  high that his reward would be a gifted son, a child whose light of  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  would illuminate the entire world that he had saved. This was the  reason his first-born son would be the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei  Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;. So revealed the  Kotzker. (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Abir&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaRo'im&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  7)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Even in  his youth, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  power of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  was already apparent. He once sat learning &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bais Medrash&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  when a crowd of crying &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yidden&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  came in. The crowd began to tearfully recite &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tehillim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;daven&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;refua&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of a terribly sick Jew whose end was near. Perhaps Heaven would have  mercy! Their cries and loud &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tefillos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  disturbed the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s  learning. "Listen," he told them, "if you promise to &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;daven&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  quietly and not disturb my study, I in turn promise you that he will  recover." The crowd heeded the young &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  scholar and, amazingly, the dying man recovered!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Divrei  Chaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; of Sanz tested the  young genius as a possible suitor for his daughter. Afterward he  remarked that "he learns like the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Noda  BeYehuda&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, but I cannot take  him as a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chosson&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for my daughter – he is too sharp for me!" &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Seraf&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of Kotzk, Rav Menachem Mendel, took him instead for a son-in-law, and  as he stood under the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;chupa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  the Kotzker declared, "May it be Your will, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  that his sick, weak body be able to hold such a great, genius mind!"  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Not long  after they were married, the Kotzker's daughter, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei  Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s wife Sora, burst  into her father's home, crying uncontrollably. Amid sobs she  explained that her young husband had contracted pneumonia and was  coughing up blood. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;No need  to worry," the Kotzker told her, "he will live a long life. He is  named Avrohom and you are Sora – the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  says, "Avrohom and Sora were old, coming along in days."&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sure  enough, this &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  was fulfilled, until age seventy-two, when the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Avnei  Nezer&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rebbetzin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  passed on. He then grew weak and sick, and realized that because his  father-in-law had blessed him through this &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  it had tied him to Sora's long life. Now that hers had ended, his  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  was up as well. When the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Imrei  Emes&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; of Gur came to console  him on his wife's passing, he related the above story, his  father-in-law's blessings, and the explanation of how he realized  that now his end was near as well.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;On the  last day of his life, he arose early and his son and family were at  his bedside. His condition had rapidly deteriorated since his wife's  passing and they saw he was breathing his last. He motioned them to  help him and he prepared himself, purified himself, and donned his  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tefillin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for the final time. As he &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;davened  Shemone Esrei&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, he grew  weaker, and during the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mekabetz nidchei amo  Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, he motioned for them  to remove his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;tefillin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  A light of peace and tranquility shone from him as he recited this  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;berocha&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  and he passed away with a heavenly kiss. May his merit shield us. (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Al  HaTzaddikim ve'al HaChassidim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  p. 186–191, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;B'darchei  Polin HaAveilos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2017/02/chassidus-on-parsha-teruma.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-2226889506315004490</guid><pubDate>Thu, 16 Feb 2017 16:47:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2017-02-16T18:47:01.543+02:00</atom:updated><title>השיעור בסה"ק אור החיים</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;br clear="all"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;השיעור  בסה&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ק  אור החיים&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;נתנדב&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;לעילוי  נשמת&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt; &lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;הרה&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ח&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt; &lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:48pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ר&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:48pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&amp;#39;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:48pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;אברהם  חיים&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:48pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ב&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:48pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:48pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ר  שלום ז&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:48pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:48pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ל&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ת&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;נ&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;צ&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ב&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ה&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;   &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;br&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;The  gates of heaven opened up and I saw G-dly visions, the Creator of the  four corners of the earth, and I gazed and meditated upon that which  I had permission to, and began to explain at the beginning of  &lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Hashem&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;'s  holy words." (Ohr HaChaim, Bereishis)&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;u&gt;Praises  for the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ohr  HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;The  Soul of the &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Ohr HaChaim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;  &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yismach Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of Alexander used to travel to Rav Yaakov of Radzimin and ask that he  should be blessed with &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;bonim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  Once, when the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yismach Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  left, the Radziminer told the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chassidim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  "What does the son of the Gritza &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Rav&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  want from me? What should I do if he has the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;neshoma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and cannot have &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;bonim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;!"  (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Eser Zechuyos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  #13)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;Drawing  Close All &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;Yidden&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yismach Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of Alexander used to follow the same path as the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; by drawing  every type of Jew close, even simple and strange types. This was the  way of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  The holy Neshchizer told that when the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ba'al  Shem Tov&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;'s brother-in-law,  Rav Gershon of Kitov, asked the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; why he allowed a  certain &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;talmid&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  into his &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yeshiva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  for Rav Gershon could tell that he was improper, the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; answered him, "This  is our way – we draw close even those who are distant." (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tiferes  Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;, p. 51 #166)&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;The  Holy Lights of the Ohr HaChaim – Yisro&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;A  Supernatural People&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;And  you shall be for Me a &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;segula&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;b&gt;  from all the peoples" (19:5).&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;One way  that the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  defines a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;segula&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is something with supernatural powers that defy nature. As an  example, some medicinal herbs have properties that seem to be against  nature, for in medicine an herb that has a cold nature should work  against sicknesses that have a hot nature, but herbal lore finds that  such cold herbs heal cold sicknesses and this is not a natural  phenomenon. Similarly, Bnei Yisrael are said by &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  to be an &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Am Segula&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  – a supernatural people, whose properties defy the natural order, a  people who operate by a different set of rules and standards and who  do not conform to what is observed as nature and its set of laws.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;The &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; gives an example:  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  teach in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  63 that if a Jew was prepared and ready to perform a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mitzva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and through no fault of his or her own was prevented from fulfilling  that &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mitzva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  he still gets reward, for it is counted as if he has done that  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mitzva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  whereas this is not true regarding a transgression. This rule,  however, does not hold for the other nations of the world; in fact,  the opposite is the case. Logically speaking, if this rule were  natural, it should play out that if thoughts can cause a reaction, it  should apply to the desire or will to transgress as well, not just to  do good and perform &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mitzvos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  And why, for the other nations, should this work in an opposite  manner [that if they wished to do good it does not count and if they  wish to sin, it counts as a transgression, even if they did not act  on it]?&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Another  example the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;HaChaim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  gives of Bnei Yisrael's supernatural power is the law (&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Sanhedrin&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  59a) that a non-Jew who engages in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  study or who keeps &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  is liable for capital punishment. If the act itself were a positive  one, shouldn't anyone who engages in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  study and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  observance be rewarded? If it is a negative act by its very nature,  how can it be a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mitzva&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for us? This is why the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  says, "You shall be an &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Am  Segula&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; from all the peoples":  the power and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;segula&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  of the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and its &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;mitzvos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  depend on you; your observance is what defines them as positive, not  any natural, inherent set of rules or conditions.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(0,0,10);padding:0.01in 0.06in;line-height:100%"&gt;  &lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;Sponsor the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ohr  HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shiur&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  on &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;leil shishi&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Eretz&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Yisrael!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(0,0,10);padding:0.01in 0.06in;line-height:100%"&gt;  &lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;As we have been publicizing, many  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tzaddikim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  teach that learning the &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;sefer  Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt; is a  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;segula&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;parnossa&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Emunas Hashem&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Yiras Shomayim&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;refua sheleima&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;yeshuos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  and &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;zera shel kayoma&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;.  If you would like to sponsor a &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;shiur&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  in &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Eretz&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  Yisrael, please contact Rabbi Tal Zwecker at &lt;/font&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:tal.zwecker@gmail.com"&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;tal.zwecker@gmail.com&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;font face="Garamond, serif"&gt;  for further details, and he can help arrange this for you.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;br&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2017/02/blog-post.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-5427558935183091759</guid><pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2017 14:55:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2017-01-19T16:55:22.681+02:00</atom:updated><title>Sponsor the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh shiuron leil shishi in Eretz Yisrael!</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sponsor the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh shiuron leil shishi in Eretz Yisrael!&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;As we have been publicizing, many Tzaddikim teach that learning the sefer Ohr&lt;br&gt;HaChaim HaKodosh is a segula for parnossa, Emunas Hashem, Yiras Shomayim, refua sheleima, yeshuos and zera shel kayoma. If you would like to sponsor a shiur in Eretz Yisrael, please contact Rabbi Tal Zwecker at &lt;a href="mailto:tal.zwecker@gmail.com"&gt;tal.zwecker@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt; for further details, and I can help arrange this for you.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;i&gt;"The gates of heaven opened up and I saw G-dly visions, the Creator of the four corners of the earth, and I gazed and meditated upon that which I had permission to, and began to explain at the beginning of Hashem's holy words" Ohr HaChaim, Bereishis&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Praises For The Holy Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Rav Shlomo Gestetner, the Rav of the Gush Shmonim neighborhood in Yerushalayim, related the following story, which he heard firsthand from the yungerman who told it about himself:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;A Talmid Chochom living in Yerushalayim in the year tov shin nun ches had a son who lost his sight and became blind. The doctors could find no antidote or treatment to help him recover his failing vision, and his eyesight was lost.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The father of the yungerman went to the tziun of the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh on Har HaZeisim and davened there for a yeshua, taking upon himself to study and learn the sefer Ohr HaChaim. Not long afterward, his son's vision returned and he was healed with no medical intervention!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;After some time he heard of another yungerman who suffered from diabetes and was stricken with total blindness as a result! The Talmid Chochom hastened to the house of the poor yungerman and urged him to visit the tziun of the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh, to daven there and ask that his eyesight be restored so that he could take upon himself to learn the sefer Ohr HaChaim each week on the Parsha. At first, the yungerman was despondent and did not take this piece of advice seriously. Eventually, after constant prodding, he agreed and they set off together to Har HaZeisim to the tziun of the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh. There he prayed and cried from his heart that he merit a restoration of his vision, so that he could see and study the holy sefer Ohr HaChaim.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Upon arriving home, he was given a volume of the Ohr HaChaim. He opened it and was dumbfounded and amazed when he could see something faintly, as if in a fog! Where total darkness had prevailed, he now began to regain his vision little by little. The more he studied, the more his vision returned each day, the holy letters becoming clearer and more sharply defined, until he was able to see again normally just like everyone else. Today he sees completely normally, overjoyed with the gift of the light of life – the Ohr HaChaim.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Rav Meizlish, who recorded this story, adds: How true are the words of the sages of Venetzia who wrote in their haskoma that "whoever tastes of the honey of this sefer, his eyes shall shine and be enlightened, for just as it is named, it is the Ohr HaChaim – the light of life and all light dwells therein." (Shivchei Ohr HaChaim p. 22)&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Holy Lights Of The Ohr Hachaim&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"And she named him Moshe...because I drew him from the water" (2:10).&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh points out that in most cases in the Chumash where the Avos are given names, the reason for the name always precedes the actual naming. For example, in Bereishis 21:6 we learn that Yitzchok is given his name because of laughter, and only afterward is he named. Similarly, in Bereishis 25:26, the Torah tells us that Yaakov was holding onto Esov's heel, and that is why is called Yaakov. The same scenario repeats itself in the case of the Shevotim, first regarding Reuven (29:32) and then Shimon (29:33) where the reason for the name is given first. The exception to the rule is Moshe Rabbeinu, whose naming precedes the explanation for it.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Ohr HaChaim explains that perhaps because the Imohos, our holy matriarchs, were prophetesses and their Ruach HaKodesh revealed to them what they should name their offspring, they differed in this way from Bas Paro. Whereas they were able to discern the deep, spiritual essence of their children, they named them based on what they understood about their souls, whereas in contrast, Bas Paro could not understand Moshe's depth and what his name signified in relation to the great stature of his neshoma. In reality Moshe's name is exceedingly deep and great and holds many wonders, as is explained in the Zohar (III p. 276) and Tikkunei Zohar (Tikkun 69). Hashem is the One Who brings down names into this world and placed Moshe's name into her mouth. The reason she gave later for having drawn him from the water was only her mundane explanation, for she did not really know the true deeper divine reason for Moshe's name.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;"And she opened [the basket] and she saw the yeled (baby) and behold a naar (young child) was crying, and she had mercy on him and said, 'This is one of the Jewish children.' (2:6)&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Rav Moshe Franco, a talmid of the Ohr HaChaim in Livorno, records in Meor HaChaim the following teaching from the Ohr HaChaim on this pasuk: &lt;br&gt;Chazal say (Bova Metzia 59a) that the gates of tears were never locked. Whenever a person cries, from Heaven they have mercy on him. Asks the Ohr HaChaim: Why does the pasuk switch from yeled to naar? Shouldn't the pasuk should have said yeled, as it does in the beginning of the pasuk? But this pasuk hints at us all; when it says a young child – naar – it means us. Naar is Am Yisrael, as Hoshea says (11:1), "Yisrael is a young child and I love him." &lt;br&gt;And when we, Klal Yisrael, daven, cry and shed tears, then Hashem has mercy on us all from Heaven. In addition, if you daven, cry and shed tears, this is a siman (proof) that he is "one of  the Jewish children".&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2017/01/sponsor-ohr-hachaim-hakodosh-shiuron.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-7400880647153366726</guid><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2017 19:34:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2017-01-12T21:34:27.594+02:00</atom:updated><title>השיעור בסה"ק אור החיים</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;השיעור  בסה&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ק  אור החיים&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;נתנדב  ע&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;י&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt; &lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;הנדבנית  החשובה מרת&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt; &lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:54pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;אסתר  בת ליבא חיה&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;לעילוי  נשמת הוריה היקרים &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt; &lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;רב  יוסף בן רב צבי הירש ז&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ל  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt; &lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ליבא  חיה בת רב דוד ז&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ל  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ולגזונט  הצלחה ולפרנסה בריוח בנחת ובכשרות&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;אמן&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt" id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-294bab84-942c-4bf5-780b-41453d2f249c"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;OHR HACHAIM&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;[PERMANENT INTRO QUOTE] "The gates of heaven opened up and I saw G-dly visions, the Creator of the four corners of the earth, and I gazed and meditated upon that which I had permission to, and began to explain at the beginning of Hashem's holy words." Ohr haChaim Bereishis&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;PRAISES FOR THE HOLY OHR HACHAIM HAKADOSH&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;THE HOLIEST PLACE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;It is said in the name of Rav Meir Abuchatzeira zatzal of Ashdod that he used to say that the holiest most sanctified where tefilos are answered is the tzion of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh. Some say that the primary reason that Rav Yaakov Abuchaitzeira traveled to Eretz Yisroel was to daven by the tzion of the holy Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh. (Toldos Ohr HaChaim Intro.)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;SPECIALIZING IN PESHAT&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;I should point out that the commentary of the Ohr HaChaim is one of those specific commentaries that through Divine Guidance and Hashgacha Pratis was printed together with the Chumash like the commentary of Rashi. Therefore it is more connected to the simple plain meaning or peshat of the text more than other commentaries which were printed on their own. (Toras Menachem by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson Zatzal of Lubavitch)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;EVERY TIME A NEW TASTE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;Reb Moshe Weiss Zatzal was a chassid affectionately known as Reb Moshe Batlan (because he was always learning and studying and batel from work). He was an expert in the Ohr HaChaim and was always studying it would and delve into the sefer constantly. He was so attached to the Ohr HaChaim that he knew it by heart and would often quote it verbatim. He would also teach from it often adding his own comments, novel insights and chiddushim. When asked why he did not gather his comments and chiddushim and print them as a commentary to the Ohr HaChaim he answered: "What can I do? Everytime I learn the sefer Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh I find a new flavor and taste and so the explanations are new and different each time as well! The Sefer Ohr HaChaim can be studied in the manner of Pardes – Peshat Remez Derush and Sod, simple straightforward meaning, hints and allusions, sermons and exegesis and the secret of Kabbalah. Therefore why should I write a sefer when next time I study the sefer I will understand in a whole new and different manner, and taste in it a brand new other ta'am?!" (Ner HaMaarvi 429)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;THE HOLY LIGHTS OF THE OHR HACHAIM HAKADOSH – VAYECHI&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;YEHUDAH THE REDEEMER OF CAPTIVE SOULS TO ESTABLISH THE MONARCHY AND ROYAL DYNASTY OF BEIS DOVID&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;(49:9) Gur Aryeh Yehuda – Yehuda is like a lion cub:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;The Ohr HaChaim gives the following introduction in which he sets about to explain this pasuk:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;The first man, Adam HaRishon was like a tree whose many branches branched off in many directions. All holy souls that once came and will one day come from the side of kedusha are all branches from Adam's tree. When Adam sinned, the side of evil captured some of these holy souls. Tzadikim and Anshei Emes – men of truth in each generation seek out these captive souls to redeem them and save them from the clutches of evil. The holy nation of Yisrael, Am Hashem – G-d's people are constantly refining the world and daily trying to save these captives and redeem them. They do this using the holy source which Hashem planted within our nation, the Torah and Mitzvos. Sometimes when a holy soul becomes attached to an impure soul by force against her will, the holy soul can redeem the captive spark found in that impure soul as well, this is secret of why Shechem ben Chamor's soul cleaved in dveykus unto Dina bas Yaakov's soul (VaYishlach 33), because Dina's holy soul drew forth and pulled out the captive holy soul which was found in Shechem, our sages say (Arizal in these three sources: Likkutei Torah VaYishlach, Shaar HaGilgulim 36, Shaar HaPesukim VaYeitzeh) that this was the soul of Rav Chanina  ben Tradiyon as is hinted in by the acrostic his name spells Rechavas as in the pasuk there that land is Rachavas Yadayim – the land is bountiful and expansive for you to settle.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;Sometimes such a holy soul is born into the world in a foreign body, because the klippos and impure souls spawn so many numerous offspring and so such a holy soul can slip in there as well among their spawn and then the holy soul desires to walk on the path of good and righteousness, and this is the secret of the souls of the gerim and converts, who of their own volition come and convert desiring to attach themselves to the side of holiness. Sometimes the captor who holds such holy souls captive only allows them to go free if they are born into the world through sinful abhorrent unions, such as the holy soul of Rus who was from Moav, and the story of how Moav was born was an incestual sinful union as in the story of Lot. Notice how from Rus are descended the lineage of the kings of Malchus Beis Dovid and this comes from Moav who Chazal declare (Bava Kama 38b) that their sins were worse with more chuptza than Amon despite this greater sanctity comes from Moav. Now because Lot had greatness, his descendants were great, because even among evil and klippos there are levels of greatness each according to its stature. This can be seen clearly that among the nations there are royal families and pedigree of kings, some greater than others and some of lesser stature such as lords, dukes, barons and other lower castes and this demonstrates that there is a hierarchy even among the klippos.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;Now our sages call these final days the heels of Meshiach – Akvisa DeMeshicha (Sotah 49b), the secret here is that we are constantly refining the gross material and releasing captive holy sparks and when the final refinements have all been accomplished we will have reached the end or heel. Chazal called this the ekev or heel because it is the end or extremity of man's limbs. So that in the past great souls were refined, freed and redeemed, such as our great patriarch and forefather Avraham Avinu the first righteous convert, and Sarah Imenu, Rus the Moabite, and in later generations the souls of Shamaya and Avtalyon and Onkelos the Ger. Now although today in our times we also have righteous converts, today's gerim are of a smaller stature than those great tzadikim, because we have reached the end, the final extremity, the heel or akev. All the refinements are coming to an end and conclusion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:10pt"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;Now based on this introduction you can understand why Hashem sent an angel who forced Yehudah against his will to be with Tamar (Bereishis Rabbah 84) because through such a sinful improper union which was against the Torah, and because Yehudah was forced against his will, and he did not recognize Tamar as his daughter in law, this created the ability to redeem the holy souls of Peretz and Zerach which were held captive by the forces of evil. And how many tzadikim and the entire royal house of malchus beis dovid were their descendants. Only Yehudah whose lineage was royal and whose destiny was to give birth to kings could redeem such lofty souls in such a manner. By such an evil act (done unconsciously and by force) he was able to enter the realm of evil and redeem captives from evil.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;span style="font-size:14.6667px;font-family:calibri;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:400;font-style:normal;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline"&gt;This is what the pasuk means, says the Ohr HaChaim, before he lived with Tamar he was a Gur, a cub, afterwards he was uplifted to be an Areyh, a lion, because the souls he redeemed would rule as kings (like a lion is king). How did he merit this, asks the Ohr HaChaim? He answers that the continuation of the pasuk answers this question: Miteref Beni Alisa – from that Teref – from the prey that was captured and held captive which Yehudah redeemed, Alisa – he was uplifted to be the forefather of the royal dynasty of malchus beis dovid. These lofty holy souls were preyed upon and captured from Adam HaRishon's tree branches by the forces of evil after he sinned. Now through the story of Tamar you redeemed them, and thus you too are uplifted, because your descendants shall rule as kings and have royalty forevermore. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2017/01/blog-post.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-8681286911323440453</guid><pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2016 12:45:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2016-12-30T14:45:48.836+02:00</atom:updated><title>Please Daven for Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib ben Gitel Feiga</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div style="text-align:center"&gt;      &lt;font color="#0000ff"&gt;        &lt;span style="font-size:14px"&gt;          &lt;strong&gt;לקיים בנו חכמי ישראל!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Please Daven for Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib ben Gitel Feiga&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;      &lt;/font&gt;    &lt;/div&gt;    &lt;div style="text-align:center"&gt;      &lt;strong style="font-size:16px;color:rgb(0,0,255)"&gt; בעקבות החמרה במצבו של רבינו מרן רה&amp;quot;י הגראי&amp;quot;ל שטיינמן שליט&amp;quot;א &lt;/strong&gt;    &lt;/div&gt;    &lt;div style="text-align:center;font-size:16px;color:rgb(0,0,255)"&gt;      &lt;strong&gt;הורה מרן שר התורה הגר&amp;quot;ח קנייבסקי שליט&amp;quot;א&lt;/strong&gt;    &lt;/div&gt;    &lt;div style="text-align:center;font-size:16px;color:rgb(0,0,255)"&gt;      &lt;strong&gt; לומר לפחות שני פרקי תהילים לאחר תפילת מעריב ולהוסיף שעת   לימוד בליל שבת ולנשים הורה מרן להתפלל בשעת הדלקת הנרות לרפואתו של רבן של   כל בני הגולה שליט&amp;quot;א&lt;/strong&gt;    &lt;/div&gt;    &lt;div style="text-align:center;font-size:16px;color:rgb(255,0,0)"&gt;      &lt;strong style="color:rgb(0,0,255)"&gt;העתירו לרפואת רבינו אהרן יהודה לייב בן גיטל פייגא לרפו&amp;quot;ש&lt;/strong&gt;    &lt;/div&gt;    &lt;div style="text-align:center"&gt;      &lt;strong style="font-size:16px"&gt;        &lt;span style="color:rgb(0,0,255)"&gt;והן קל כביר לא ימאס תפילת רבים &lt;/span&gt;      &lt;/strong&gt;    &lt;/div&gt;  &lt;p style="margin:0px;font-size:0px"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height:15px;font-size:15px;display:block"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;div style="text-align:center"&gt;      &lt;div style="text-align:center"&gt;        &lt;span style="font-size:14px;color:rgb(51,51,51)"&gt;          &lt;strong&gt;*המרכז הרפואי &amp;#39;מעיני הישועה&amp;#39;:*&lt;/strong&gt;        &lt;/span&gt;      &lt;/div&gt;      &lt;div style="text-align:center;font-size:14px;color:rgb(51,51,51)"&gt;        &lt;strong&gt;החמרה במצבו של מרן ראש הישיבה הגראי&amp;quot;ל שטיינמן שליט&amp;#39;&amp;#39;א.&lt;/strong&gt;      &lt;/div&gt;      &lt;div style="text-align:justify;font-size:14px;color:rgb(51,51,51)"&gt;למרות שהחלים מדלקת הראות והשפעת מהן סבל ובימים האחרונים החל בהתאוששות,  חלה התדרדרות כללית במצבו הרפואי. &lt;/div&gt;      &lt;div style="text-align:justify;font-size:14px;color:rgb(51,51,51)"&gt;בהתייעצות   שהתקיימה בין המנהל הרפואי פרופ&amp;#39; מוטי רביד, מנהל טיפול נמרץ פרופ&amp;#39; אליהו   סורקין, מנהל המחלקה הפנימית פרופ&amp;#39; אילן בנק ורופאו האישי של ראש הישיבה,   פרופ&amp;#39; אברהם ויינברגר, הובעה דאגה רבה לשלומו של מרן מנהיג הדור.&lt;/div&gt;      &lt;div style="text-align:justify;font-size:14px;color:rgb(51,51,51)"&gt;יחד עם כל העם היהודי בארץ ובתפוצות מתפללים אנו להחלמתו המהירה והשלמה.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div class="gmail_signature"&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br&gt;Kol Tuv,&lt;br&gt;R&amp;#39; Tal Moshe Zwecker&lt;br&gt;Director Machon Be&amp;#39;er Mayim Chaim Publishing&lt;br&gt;Chassidic Classics in the English Language&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.chassidusonline.com" target="_blank"&gt;www.chassidusonline.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;a href="mailto:chassidusonline@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;chassidusonline@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;in Israel: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-58-322-1218&lt;br&gt;from US call VoIP: 516-320-6022 or &lt;span&gt;718&lt;/span&gt;-210-9732&lt;br&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;a href="https://telegram.me/CHASSIDUS" target="_blank"&gt;https://telegram.me/CHASSIDUS&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br&gt;Free Audio Shiurim &lt;a href="http://torahdownloads.com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-zwecker.html" target="_blank"&gt;http://torahdownloads.com/s-276-rabbi-tal-moshe-zwecker.html &lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;join the mailing list here: &lt;a href="http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim" target="_blank"&gt;http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br&gt;Author Page &lt;a href="https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48" target="_blank"&gt;https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003VH9D48&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2016/12/please-daven-for-rav-aharon-yehuda-leib.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-9156085516202914915</guid><pubDate>Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:08:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2016-12-15T19:08:21.193+02:00</atom:updated><title>Holy Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;"The gates of heaven opened up and I saw G-dly visions, the Creator of the four corners of the earth, and I gazed and meditated upon that which I had permission to, and began to explain at the beginning of Hashem's holy words"&lt;/i&gt; Ohr HaChaim, Bereishis&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;Praises For The Holy Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;i&gt;Illuminates the Soul and the Eyes&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;font size="2"&gt;Rav Avrohom of Slonim, mechaber of Yesod Ho'Avoda, writes in Be'er Avrohom that "the Zohar and the Ohr HaChaim illuminate a person's soul and his eyes...till this day the Chassidim study the holy Ohr HaChaim's commentary to the Torah on Thursday nights (Leil Shishi – Ohr LeYom Vov) and on Shabbos Kodesh at night."&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;i&gt;A More Appropriate Segula for our Generation Than the Zohar&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;font size="2"&gt;Rav Menachem Nachum of Shtefanesht felt that studying the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh is a more appropriate segula for our generation than the study of the Zohar, because as he explained, the Zohar illuminates the part of the soul called Neshoma, whereas the Ohr HaChaim illuminates those parts called Nefesh and Ruach. The part of the soul called Neshoma is so lofty that few individuals in our generation possess and attain that level at all, whereas all of us in this dor have a nefesh and ruach, making the Ohr HaChaim more fitting.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;i&gt;A Segula for Emuna Tehora&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;font size="2"&gt;A delegation of Chassidim once approached Rav Yaakov Yosef of Skver seeking advice for a certain bochur who had sfeikos be'emuna – doubts and skepticism regarding his faith and belief. The Rebbe advised them to study with him the sefer Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh. When they asked him if they should focus on those essays that deal with Yiras Shomayim specifically, he explained that they should study with him the entire sefer from start to finish.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;The Holy Lights Of The Ohr Hachaim&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Why Did Yaakov Send Actual Angels to Esov?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;i&gt;"And Yaakov sent out angelic messengers before him to Esov his brother, to the land of Seir, to the field of Edom" (32:4).&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;font size="2"&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh asks why the pasuk apparently needlessly points out that the messengers were sent out lefonov – "before him". He further asks why it is necessary to call Esov "Yaakov's brother" considering that this is a well-known fact, and why mention the detailed names of their destination as "the land of Seir, the field of Edom" (when it would have been sufficient to leave out any of these seemingly extraneous details.) What difference would there be to the messengers' mission had they gone there or elsewhere?&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Ohr HaChaim points out that when we answer the next question this will explain to us why all these details are necessary after all. The question is why Yaakov sent actual angels as messengers to Esov. Why use angelic beings for no apparent reason other than to relay a message to Esov? Surely any human being could do that just fine.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Ohr HaChaim answers that this is why the pasuk says lefonov – meaning that the &lt;br&gt;angels were there before him. By understanding that lefonov here means that the angels were right there, standing before him, rather than that Yaakov sent them "ahead of him", the Ohr HaChaim explains that Yaakov deduced that since these angels were standing "before him", he had every right to use them and send them on a mission. Furthermore, this mission was one that could not be carried out by mere human beings but only by angels. The pasuk therefore points out that the mission was to relay a message to Esov, a great and important person (see Bereishis Rabba 75). Had Yaakov sent simple people, perhaps Esov would have been unimpressed and not considered them worthy of an answer, or regarded their message as important in any way. Perhaps Esov would have attacked them straight away even before hearing what they had to say. Then he could have attacked Yaakov as a vulture sweeps down on his prey. Obviously, this is not the case with angels! By sending actual angels, Yaakov sought to frighten Esov and cause his heart to tremble from fear of the army of heavenly hosts, as Chazal say (ibid) that some of the terrifying angels were clothed in fiery flames and riding on horseback. This should have frightened Esov sufficiently to prevent him from harming Yaakov. The reason the pasuk points out that Esov was his brother is because Yaakov feared to go to war against his own flesh-and-blood relative because anyone of his own family had zechus avos, which might have protected Esov.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Ohr HaChaim explains another reason for sending actual angels: Angelic beings do not travel as we do. They are spiritual and the entire world is like their immediate vicinity,&lt;br&gt;likened to their daled amos (four cubits). Practically, this meant that by sending angels on a mission, Yaakov achieved a dual form of protection, because the angels never actually left him – they were lefonov – they stood before him. Even after having been sent to Esov, they remained standing guard over Yaakov; since they did not have to physically traverse any space to deliver their message, they were able to be in two places at the same time! They could reach the land of Seir and the field of Edom, Esov's home, before he even set out to approach Yaakov, allowing them to head him off – and simultaneously they would still be lefonov – standing before Yaakov and guarding him!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2016/12/holy-ohr-hachaim-hakodosh.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-5752172008443339541</guid><pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2016 19:33:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2016-12-08T21:33:39.195+02:00</atom:updated><title>OHR HACHAIM HAKADOSH</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;&lt;br&gt;"&lt;i&gt;The gates of heaven opened up and I saw G-dly visions, the Creator of the four corners of the earth, and I gazed and meditated upon that which I had permission to, and began to explain at the beginning of Hashem's holy words&lt;/i&gt;" Ohr HaChaim, Bereishis&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;b&gt;Praises For The Holy Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;i&gt;An Angel in White, Shining as the Sun&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;In one of his letters, the Chida describes the shining countenance of the holy Rav Chaim ben Attar, mechaber of the Ohr HaChaim HaKodosh, as follows:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"It was the night of Hoshana Rabba and our Rav was awake the entire night reciting the Tikkun. His countenance glowed like the light of the sun and brilliant rays shone from his&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;face, and he resembled an angel robed in white garmnents!"&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;i&gt;His Holiness, Miracles and Holy Name&lt;br&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Chida continues to praise him and says:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The Rav [the Ohr HaChaim] was well versed in performing miracles and our own ears heard many wondrous tales of the wonders and miracles he performed while alive and after his passing, for those who daven at his matzeiva and for those who swore oaths in his name. I heard from elders and Rabbonim and other sages of the East that he was a holy, G-dly man; he did not benefit from the honor of the Torah, nor did he draw a salary, nor was he supported by public funds. They threw him once into a pit of lions and he was saved after having spent a day and a night inside! He was exceedingly G-dly and holy; many swore in his name and all those who took his name in vain and swore falsely by it, died.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;The Holy Lights Of The Ohr Hachaim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Defeating the Yetzer and Reaching Heights of Prophecy&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;And Yaakov left Beer Sheva and went to Charan. He happened upon the place and lodged there because the sun had set, and he took from the stones of the place and put them around his head and he lay down in that place. And he dreamed, and behold there was a ladder set upon the ground, and its top reached heaven, and angels of G-d were going up and down it. And behold Hashem was standing over him...(28:10–13)&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;This entire episode can be interpreted to hint at the stages in a person's life:&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"And Yaakov left" – Yaakov refers to the soul, which leaves its place in the heavenly worlds. The soul is called "Yaakov" because the evil force of the yetzer clings tenaciously to our heel – okeiv.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"Be'er Sheva" – Be'er – this well alludes to the supernal chamber from which souls depart, known as the Be'er Mayim Chaim – wellspring of living waters. Sheva – this means an&lt;br&gt;oath, hinting at the oath each soul swears before departing the upper world, promising not to transgress the Torah (Nidda 30b).&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"He went to Choron" – Charan means "anger" and refers to the yetzer, which then enters the body as soon as we leave the womb (Sanhedrin 91b), as it says in Bereishis 4:7: "sin&lt;br&gt;crouches at the door". &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"He happened upon the place" – [Chazal teach that this means he established Maariv (Berochos 26b)]. This alludes to the fact that we must daven to Hashem, Who is known as&lt;br&gt;Mekomo Shel Olom, that he save us from the evil one and not leave us in the yetzer's clutches.&lt;br&gt;"And lodged there because the sun had set" – we must conduct ourselves this way our entire lives until the sunset of our days, as Chazal say in Avos Ch. 2: "Do not believe in&lt;br&gt;yourself until the day you die".&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"He took from the stones of the place" – Chazal say in the name of Rav Shimon ben Lokish (Berochos 5b) that a person should always encourage his yetzer tov – his good inclination – to overcome his yetzer hora – evil inclination. If he succeeds –good; if not, he should toil in Torah. If that does not work he should recite Shema, and if that, too, fails, he should remind himself of the day of death.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"The stones of the place" allude to the armament of Torah used against the evil one.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Toil in Torah is called the building blocks and foundation of the world – binyono shel olom, hence the allusion that the stones have to toil in Torah study. Another interpretation of the Ohr HaChaim is that the stones are like missiles to be hurled against the yetzer hora to defeat him and his allies and forces. As Chazal say (Sota 21a) – Torah study saves us from the yetzer, both when we are actively engaged in it and also once we have stopped learning.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"And put them around his head" – this hints at the second piece of advice given – to recite Shema when we lie down to sleep, as a device against the yetzer hora.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"And he lay down in that place" – this refers to the last piece of advice: to remember the day of death. Lying down refers to a person's final resting place.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;After employing all these forms of warfare we are guaranteed to defeat the yetzer.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;Once we succeed, the Ohr HaChaim reveals, we will merit a branch of prophecy – Hashem will reveal Himself to us in a dream (as we find in the dreams of Rav Elozor ben Aroch in the Zohar I 139 and Zohar Chodosh, Lech Lecha 25a).&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"And he dreamed, and behold there was a ladder set upon the ground, and its top reached heaven, and angels of G-d were going up and down it" – the ladder refers to the secret of our human soul, which leaves the body when we sleep. We know that the soul does not leave completely, which is why the pasuk says that its feet were planted on the ground, referring to the body. We can demonstrate this fact, since when a person is sleeping we can shake him awake. If his soul had completely departed, shaking his body would not cause the&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;soul to feel anything and it would not wake him up. "Its top reached heaven" – alludes to the fact that nothing can block us or stand in our way to reach spiritual heights; since the evil one has been defeated, the soul can reach the heavens.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;The angels of Hashem ascending and descending hint at the good deeds and mitzvos we perform, since each one creates an angel (Avos Ch. 4), causing heavenly lights to ascend and blessings to descend upon us as well.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;"Hashem was standing over him" refers to the prophecy of the revelation of the Shechina, as the Rambam teaches us (Hilchos Teshuva Ch. 5) that we are all muchshar – each one of us has a real potential for prophecy!&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;השיעור  בסה&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ק  אור החיים&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;נתנדב  ע&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;י&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt; &lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;הנדבן  החשוב כמר &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt; &lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:54pt" size="7"&gt;יצחק  פאריסער ורעיתו&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;לר&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ש  פרץ יעקב בן שרה ביילא&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font style="font-size:44pt" size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ישעיה  מאיר  בן מאטל&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;ולפרנסה  בריוח בנחת ובכשרות&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Narkisim, sans-serif"&gt;&lt;font size="7"&gt;&lt;span lang="he-IL"&gt;אמן  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPONSOR THE OHR HACHAIM HAKADOSH SHIUR ON LEILE SHISHI IN ERETZ YISROEL&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br&gt;As   we have been publicizing many tzadikim teach that studying and learning   the holy sefer Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh is a segula for parnasa, emunas   Hashem, Yiras Shomayim, refuah sheleima, yeshuos and zera shel kayama,   if you would like to sponsor a shiur in Eretz Yisroel please contact me   at &lt;a href="mailto:tal.zwecker@gmail.com" target="_blank"&gt;tal.zwecker@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt; for further details and I can help arrange this for you &lt;br&gt;&lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2016/12/ohr-hachaim-hakadosh.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-5263141840488830052</guid><pubDate>Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:54:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2016-07-29T17:54:12.277+03:00</atom:updated><title>PINCHOS MATOS BEIN HAMEITZARIM</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;b&gt;PINCHAS&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;ISH  YISRAEL&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;u&gt; – THE TRAGIC FALL OF THE &lt;/u&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;u&gt;NASI&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Rav Pintshe  of Piltz asks why the &lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt; calls Zimri &lt;i&gt;ish Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;;  how did a sinner merit such a lofty title? &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Rav Pintshe  tells in &lt;i&gt;Sifsei&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt; how the holy brothers, the  Rebbe Reb Melech of Lizhensk and the Rebbe Reb Zisha of Hanipoli  wandered together in self-imposed exile, drawing many of their fellow  &lt;i&gt;Yidden&lt;/i&gt; back to Hashem as &lt;i&gt;ba'alei teshuva&lt;/i&gt;. Once,  during their many wanderings, the two holy brothers encountered the  evil &lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt; in the guise of a large, black, demonic visage  that stood before them, towering as high as a wall, reaching from the  earth to the heavens, barring their progress. It warned them,  threatening that if they did not desist and separate from one another  and stop journeying and working together, then it would turn away  from all its other matters and instead concentrate all efforts  against them to cause them to stumble, heaven forbid! From then on,  the two &lt;i&gt;tzaddikim&lt;/i&gt; separated and never saw each other again.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Using this  story as a basis, the &lt;i&gt;Sifsei Tzaddik&lt;/i&gt; creates the following  formula: just as we see that the &lt;i&gt;yetzer hara&lt;/i&gt; was able to  ignore the rest of the world and instead concentrate all its efforts  in waging war against these two &lt;i&gt;tzaddikim&lt;/i&gt;, so can any &lt;i&gt;tzaddik&lt;/i&gt;  also take upon himself to battle the evil &lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt; alone.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Using this  deduction Rav Pintshe attempts to answer the difficult question: how  could Zimri have sinned so gravely? How is it that a &lt;i&gt;nasi&lt;/i&gt;, a  leader of the Jewish people, could stoop so low? The question becomes  even more difficult when we examine &lt;i&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;, who say that Zimri  was really Shlumiel ben Tzurishadai, the &lt;i&gt;nasi&lt;/i&gt; of the &lt;i&gt;shevet&lt;/i&gt;,  who, in turn, they say was actually Shaul ben HaK'naanis, which  makes him the son of Shimon, the son of Yaakov, and places him as one  who lived some two hundred and fifty years and who had actually known  Yaakov Avinu and seen his holy face! So if this was his identity,  wonders Rav Pintshe, how could he then commit such a crime?&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;He answers  based on the above deduction, that when Zimri, aka Shlumiel, saw his  fellow tribesmen falling like flies, dying and stricken because of  their failure against the &lt;i&gt;zenus&lt;/i&gt;, he took upon himself the  entire mission, to stand alone to wage war against the &lt;i&gt;yetzer  hara&lt;/i&gt;. Although his valiant efforts failed, nonetheless Hashem  rewards all creatures; our &lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt; therefore calls him &lt;i&gt;ish  Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;. His mercy was awakened to save his brethren. In order to  save Klal Yisrael he tried to enter the fray and take on the war  against the &lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt; alone. Surely he did them a favor, by  saving the lives of some Jews who would also have fallen prey had he  not engaged the &lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt; in mortal combat. But because he drew  all the evil to himself, he failed and could not withstand the test.  Still his efforts were rewarded and the pasuk thus calls him &lt;i&gt;ish  Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;, to teach us that he did not lose that merit – the  merit of having given himself for the benefit of Klal Yisrael…&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Perhaps  just as Rav Yehuda HaNasi, Rebbe, said of himself that the reason he  was superior to his fellows was because he at least merited seeing  Rav Meir, even from behind, perhaps Zimri, aka Shlumiel, also thought  that the merit of having gazed at the holy face of Yaakov would have  saved him from the temptation of &lt;i&gt;zenus&lt;/i&gt;, a desire that he  believed was far beneath him and far removed. Instead he thought the  difficult war would be against the &lt;i&gt;yetzer hara&lt;/i&gt; of the &lt;i&gt;avoda&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i&gt;zara&lt;/i&gt; of Pe'or. But he underestimated the &lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt; of  &lt;i&gt;zenus&lt;/i&gt; and that was his downfall.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;b&gt;MATTOS  – BEIN HAMETZARIM&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;MASHAL  UMELITZA &lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Rav Gedlaya  Schor, in &lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Gedalyahu&lt;/i&gt;, teaches us some important  lessons for &lt;i&gt;Bein Hametzarim&lt;/i&gt;, the time of the three weeks  between &lt;i&gt;Shiva Asar BeTammuz&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Tisha&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;B'Av&lt;/i&gt;,  when we remember and mourn the &lt;i&gt;churban&lt;/i&gt; – the destruction of  the &lt;i&gt;Beis Hamikdash&lt;/i&gt;. He quotes the &lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt; in &lt;i&gt;Eicha&lt;/i&gt;  (1:3): &lt;i&gt;kol rodfeha hisiguha bein hametzarim&lt;/i&gt; – "All who  chased her caught up to her and reached her between the straits."  The great &lt;i&gt;Maggid&lt;/i&gt; of Mezritch explains this &lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt; as  follows: "All who chase &lt;i&gt;Y"ah&lt;/i&gt; – all who chase after  Hashem, after the revelation of Hashem and His presence, can reach  and grasp Him – &lt;i&gt;bein hametzarim&lt;/i&gt;." Specifically in these  darker, mournful times, we can feel Hashem's presence and closeness  more and more than ever. But why is this? The &lt;i&gt;Maggid&lt;/i&gt; uses a  &lt;i&gt;mashal&lt;/i&gt; (also quoted by the &lt;i&gt;Noam Elimelech&lt;/i&gt;) to explain  how:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;A lowly  serf can never expect an audience with His Majesty!" laughed the  guards. Their horrible smirks leered at the poor farmer as their  jowls quivered and their fat, expansive bellies rumbled with laughter  and scorn. "Ha, ha, ha, what a fool! Be gone with you!" they  cried, as they jeered and turned away the simple farmer. He had  traveled to the capital to see his beloved ruler, the great king; how  was he to know that the castle was guarded by such rough guards at  the gates? &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;A kinder  court magistrate witnessed the ordeal and explained to the poor  farmer, "The king is extremely busy with royal matters at his  court. Why, even magistrates such as myself must make an appointment  weeks in advance to have a precious few moments of his time! He is  surrounded by guards, courtiers, and nobles. My suggestion to you is  to go back home, and perhaps when the king goes on his annual journey  surveying the countryside, you will be able to catch a glimpse of the  royal entourage!" &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;The  disappointed farmer thanked the magistrate and made his way back  home. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;When the  king did embark on his annual journey in his royal carriage drawn by  stately white stallions, the entourage passed through the simple  farmer's village. But on the rough country roads the carriage hit a  snag and one of the wheels broke. While the carriage was being  repaired by the local wheelwright, the king needed some lodgings, but  where to find a clean home in such a rough village? In the cold  winter, all the farmers' animals were indoors, the woodburning and  coal stoves filled the homes with soot, and the stench of the animals  was unbearable; the dirty straw and stinking filth was no place for a  king. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Just then  they passed by the farmer's homestead. He had prepared for the king  in advance, hoping for just such an opportunity. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Please,  Your Majesty, my home is poor but clean." &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;He had  cleared out all the animals, spread clean earth and sand on the filth  and brought new, soft, sweet-smelling straw. The house was shabby,  small, poor – but clean and pure. Wandering through such dirty and  smelly places, a small, clean corner was all the king could wish for.  Here he retired on the new, soft bed of straw after a hot, simple  meal of soup and freshly baked bread. The farmer was delighted at the  honor of having the king so close! &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;"&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Just  think! At the royal palace I had no chance even to glimpse his royal  visage – and here the king is my very own guest!"&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Similarly,  explained the &lt;i&gt;Maggid&lt;/i&gt;, normally when Hashem, the King, is in  His palace, it is difficult for most commoners to see Him or even  glimpse His glory. However, when wandering in exile, even the  simplest can merit an audience with Him!&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Bein  Hametzarim&lt;/i&gt; is such a time; the &lt;i&gt;Shechina&lt;/i&gt; is exiled from her  place in the palace and the &lt;i&gt;galus&lt;/i&gt; is felt most strongly; what  better time is there to catch up to the King?&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;The &lt;i&gt;Ohr&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i&gt;Gedalyahu&lt;/i&gt; also cites the teaching that &lt;i&gt;rav lach sheves  be'emek habacha&lt;/i&gt;, normally translated as "enough to sit in the  valley of tears." We can now understand it as "&lt;i&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt;  (which contains the same letters as &lt;i&gt;sheves&lt;/i&gt;) is greater (&lt;i&gt;rav&lt;/i&gt;)  in the valley of tears. The Rebbe Reb Bunim taught that just as  &lt;i&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt; is most lofty during these three weeks, so is the time  of &lt;i&gt;Mincha&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Shalosh Seudos&lt;/i&gt;. For especially that time  which, during the week, is a time of &lt;i&gt;din&lt;/i&gt; (harsh judgment), now  on &lt;i&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt; it is transformed into &lt;i&gt;raava deraavin&lt;/i&gt; –  the highest point, when the divine will is most revealed and great  divine mercy and compassion are awakened.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&lt;u&gt;Mattos –  Nedarim&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;So what can  we do to take advantage of all this? We cannot build the &lt;i&gt;Beis  Hamikdash&lt;/i&gt; ourselves, so what are we practically to do? He answers  based on the &lt;i&gt;Sefer Chareidim&lt;/i&gt; – let us build Hashem a  &lt;i&gt;mishkan&lt;/i&gt;, a sanctuary in our hearts! This is why we read  &lt;i&gt;parshas nedarim&lt;/i&gt; of &lt;i&gt;Mattos&lt;/i&gt; during &lt;i&gt;Bein Hametzarim&lt;/i&gt;.  The purpose of making a &lt;i&gt;neder&lt;/i&gt; is to draw closer to Hashem. The  closest possible is in the &lt;i&gt;Beis Hamikdash&lt;/i&gt;; we must awaken  ourselves to set aside a clean, pure corner for Hashem. What sanctity  and holiness can we take on? We may not be able to rebuild the &lt;i&gt;Beis  Hamikdash&lt;/i&gt; yet ourselves, but surely we can clean out and purify a  corner in our hearts where we can build Him a place, a sanctuary  while the King is wandering in exile, a place to rest during His  journey. &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;That place  is in our hearts.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;br&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הפרופסור  פרץ בבכי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;: &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;כיצד  הגראי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ל  ידע שערכתי ברית מילה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;?&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;A  CHASSIDISHA MAASAY FROM A LITVISHE GADOL &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="CENTER"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Original  Hebrew follows the English adaptation:&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;A  Russian professor of Mathematics declared his desire to study Torah  with a Yungerman. He was uncircumcised never having had his bris  milah, and he was married to a non Jewish woman. He emphatically  emphasized that while he was willing to study Torah it was on the  sole condition that his study partner, his chavrusa not mention nor  bring up these matters for they were not up for discussion.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;The  Yungerman approached Rav Shteineman and the Rosh Yeshiva told him, no  problem, study the Talmudic tractate of Gemara Bava Metiza Perek  Hazahav, and make no mention of either bris or his gentile wife.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;And  so it went, the professor was brilliant and quickly grasped the  material, he was learning so well that as they progressed he could  easily summarize the sugya, and even began asking question, giving  answers and recording novel chiddushim. All went well until. . .until  they reached the sugya known as Tagrei Lud. Here, no matter how many  times they reviewed the material, the professor failed again and  again to understand or grasp any of it. Frustrated he continued  reviewing on his own. He even went so far as to visit the Chevron  Yeshiva where he asked a student to teach and explain the sugya to  him, all to no avail.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Then  a thought entered the professor&amp;#39;s mind: Its the Orlah, my  uncircumcised foreskin is blocking me and preventing me from  understanding the sugya! He clandestinely contacted the organization  Bris Yitzchok and secretly underwent circumcision. Due to the pain  and discomfort of recovery he contacted his chavrusa and not telling  his study partner why, he asked that they push off their study  sessions while he recovered as &amp;quot;he wasn&amp;#39;t feeling well.&amp;quot;  Then once he recovered again they tackled the sugya of Tagrei Lud and  lo and behold, a miracle, the professor who could not grasp the sugya  not only mastered it, he began to offer new mathematics and  explanations until he had masterfully written up a summary of the  sugya.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;Overjoyed,  the two approached, Rav Shteineman to receive the Rosh Yeshiva&amp;#39;s  beracha on their success in learning. The yungerman introduced his  study partner as someone who wished to review his masterful  explanations of the sugya of Tagrei Lud, after the recitation which  Rav Shteineman lauded, the yungerman added: &amp;quot;This is the  chavrusa I had told the Rosh Yeshiva about previously the Russian  professor who has not yet had his bris.&amp;quot; Smiling, Rav Shteineman  turned to the stunned professor and declared a statement that shocked  him, &amp;quot;You have already had a bris!&amp;quot; The professor burst  into emotional tears and asked, &amp;quot;How could the Rav know, its a  secret I havent yet told anyone, I got a bris and then I understood  the sugya, it inspired me so much and suffused me with such kedusha  that I even left my non Jewish wife. How did you know?&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;Simple,&amp;quot;  explained Rav Shteineman, &amp;quot;It is impossible for an Arel, an  uncircumcised Jew to grasp Torah such as this, if you have mastered  it so, it is clear you must be mahul - circumcised!&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"&gt;&lt;img name="graphics1" src="http://storage.hidabroot.org/Graphics/Modules/News/Pics/77025_tumb_750Xauto.jpg" align="LEFT" border="0" height="379" width="576"&gt;&lt;br clear="LEFT"&gt;&lt;br&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הסיפור  הבא מובא בספר &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;כאיל  תערוג&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;וסופר  על ידי אחד מתלמידיו של מרן הגראי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ל  שטיינמן שליט&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;א&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="LEFT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.hidabroot.org/article/211329"&gt;http://www.hidabroot.org/article/211329&lt;/a&gt;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;נעמה גרין &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;-  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אתר הידברות&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אני  אברך שלומד עם יהודים שעדיין אינם שומרי  תורה ומצוות&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;באחד  הפעמים הגיע עולה מרוסיה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;שהוא פרופסור למתמטיקה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;וביקש להצטרף לשיעורי  התורה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;בשני  תנאים&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;: &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הוא  לא מהול עדיין&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ומבקש  שלא ידברו אתו על ענין זה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;וכן הוא נשוי לגויה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ומבקש שלא ידברו עמו על  זה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;באם  אתם מסכימים לתנאים אלו&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אמר היהודי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אשמח להצטרף לשיעור&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;מוסר  השיעור ניגש למרן הגראי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ל  ושאלו מה לעשות&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;תשובתו  של מרן היתה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;: &amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;תלמד  אתו פרק &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הזהב&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;בבא מציעא&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ואל תדבר אתו שום דבר על  מה שאינו חפץ&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;מוסר  השיעור והפרופסור החלו ללמוד את הפרק  עליו הורה הרב שטיינמן&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הוא היה מוכשר גדול&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הבין וקלט יפה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;וכך למדנו כמה שבועות&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;בעל  המעשה ממשיך בסיפור&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;:  &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;עד ששבוע אחד הגענו  לסוגיא של &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;תגרי  לוד&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;וכהקדמה  לסוגיא אמרתי לו אתה הרי מתמטיקאי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;וכנראה מאוד תהנה ממנה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;התחלנו ללמוד&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אך הוא לא קלט&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;כך חזרנו פעם שניה ושלישית&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אך הוא לא הצליח לקלוט&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;והיה לו צער גדול מזה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;השיעור הסתיים&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הפרופסור חזר לביתו&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;נסה ללמוד בעצמו את הסוגיא  שוב ושוב&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ולא  הצליח להבין&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;בצערו&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;נזכר הפרופסור כי מוסר  השיעור הזכיר את ישיבת &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;חברון&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;בה לומדים התלמידים גם  בשעות הלילה המאוחרות&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הוא החליט לנסוע לישיבה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ואולי שם יסבירו לו את  הסוגיא&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הפרופסור  הגיע לישיבה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ביקש  מאחד הבחורים שילמד איתו&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הם החלו ללמוד&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הבחור הסביר לו את הסוגיה  פעם אחר פעם אך הוא לא הבין&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;למחרת  הגיע יום השבת&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;במהלכה  ניסה שוב הפרופסור ללמוד ללא הועיל&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הערלה מפריעה לי להבין  את הסוגיה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;חשב  הפרופסור&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;והחליט  לבצע ברית מילה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ממשיך מוסר השיעור ומתאר  כיצד התגלגלו העניינים&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ביום  ראשון פנה לארגון &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ברית  יצחק&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39; &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;שמתעסק  בבריתות לאנשים מבוגרים&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;וארגנו לו באותו יום ברית&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;לאחר מספר ימים הגיע יום  השיעור&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הפרופסור  התקשר והודיע למוסר השיעור כי הוא אינו  מרגיש טוב ועל כן לא יגיע&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;יצוין כי הוא לא סיפר מעולה  על ברית המילה שערך&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;בשבוע  שלאחר מכן&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;למדו  השניים שוב את סוגית תגרי לוד&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אך ראה זה פלא&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הוא הבין את הסוגיה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;וקלט היטב את החשבונות  והיו לו קושיות ותירוצים עד כדי חבורה  שלימה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;השתוממתי  מאוד למראה עיניי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;:  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;לפני שבועיים לא הבין כלום  וכעת הוא מבין כל כך טוב&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;מספר מוסר השיעור וממשיך&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הפרופסור אמר לי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;:  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אתה ודאי מתפלא מה קרה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;...  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;הרגשתי שהערלה מפריעה לי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ועשיתי ברית מילה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;שבוע לאחר הברית הרגשתי  קדושה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ועזבתי  את אשתי הגויה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;זוהי  הסיבה שאני מבין את הסוגיה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;למחרת&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;נסעו השניים בהתרגשות  לביתו של מרן הגראי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ל  שטיינמן לתפילת ותיקין&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;לאחר התפילה נכנסו למרן&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ומוסר השיעור אמר למרן כי  האיש שלידו רוצה לומר לו &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;חבורה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;בענין &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;תגרי  לוד&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;#39;. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;מרן  הגראי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ל  האזין בקשב לסוגיה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ולאחר מכן העיר מוסר  השיעור&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;: &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;זה  האיש שדיברתי אודותיו לפני כחודשיים&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;שאינו מהול&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;.&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in" align="RIGHT"&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;שמע  זאת מרן הגראי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ל&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;חייך ואמר לפרופסור&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;:  &amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אתה כבר מהול&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;בתגובה פרץ הפרופסור בבכי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;,  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ושאל את מרן כיצד הוא יודע&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;.  &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;השיב מרן הגראי&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ל&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;:  &amp;#39;&amp;#39;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;אי אפשר להבין סוגית תגרי  לוד כשיש ערלה&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;, &lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Tahoma"&gt;ואם  הצלחת להבין את הסוגיה ברור שאתה מהול&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Georgia, serif"&gt;&amp;quot;...  &lt;/font&gt;  &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2016/07/pinchos-matos-bein-hameitzarim.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-1185656169716562339</guid><pubDate>Fri, 22 Jul 2016 01:27:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2016-07-22T04:27:27.883+03:00</atom:updated><title>PARSHAS PINCHOS</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;a name="_GoBack"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;font size="4"&gt;&lt;b&gt;PARSHAS  PINCHAS&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;u&gt;SPLIT SOULS – THE INNER CONFLICT&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;The &lt;i&gt;Avodas Yissachar&lt;/i&gt; asks what  is hinted at by the &lt;i&gt;mesora&lt;/i&gt; that traditionally the letter &lt;i&gt;vav&lt;/i&gt;  in the word &lt;i&gt;shalom&lt;/i&gt; (25:12) is to be split in half. The word  &lt;i&gt;shalom&lt;/i&gt; is of course read as usual; there is no discernible  difference in the traditional way we read &lt;i&gt;shalom&lt;/i&gt; – the &lt;i&gt;keri&lt;/i&gt;  remains the same as always. Yet the &lt;i&gt;kesiv&lt;/i&gt;, the written word  &lt;i&gt;shalom&lt;/i&gt; here, is traditionally different, as the &lt;i&gt;vav&lt;/i&gt; is  split. What does this teach us?&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;The split symbolizes the internal  conflict we all face when serving Hashem. We all know the truth: we  have sinned at times, sometimes we fail and falter, and many times we  have not served Hashem properly, transgressing against Him and His  laws of our holy Torah. So we feel broken, ashamed, and lowly. We  know that humility leads to true &lt;i&gt;yiras shamayim&lt;/i&gt; (fear of  Hashem). However, teaches the &lt;i&gt;Avodas Yissachar&lt;/i&gt;, we would do  well at lowly times such as these to remember the teaching of the  &lt;i&gt;Tiferes&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Shlomo&lt;/i&gt; of Radomsk on the &lt;i&gt;maamar Chazal&lt;/i&gt;,  &lt;i&gt;Pesachim&lt;/i&gt; 64, that &lt;i&gt;ein maavirin al hamitzvos&lt;/i&gt;, which  means literally that we don't pass over mitzvos. But the &lt;i&gt;Tiferes&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i&gt;Shlomo&lt;/i&gt; understands this to mean that when a &lt;i&gt;mitzva&lt;/i&gt;  comes to hand not only should you not let the opportunity pass you  by; you should also not remember your &lt;i&gt;aveiros&lt;/i&gt;. Rather, push  those thoughts aside; focus not on past mistakes but on future  accomplishments and achievements! This is what the broken &lt;i&gt;vav&lt;/i&gt;  symbolizes; it is our brokenheartedness due to past misdeeds.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;The &lt;i&gt;Avodas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Yissachar&lt;/i&gt; also  cites the holy Kozhnitzer &lt;i&gt;Maggid&lt;/i&gt; that teaches us that the  &lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt; in &lt;i&gt;Bamidbar&lt;/i&gt; 19:2 – &lt;i&gt;asher ein bo mum asher lo  ala aleha ol&lt;/i&gt; – "that has no blemish and has born no burden,"  can be read to mean that whoever does not recognize that he has  blemishes and has made mistakes, cannot become elevated and his  &lt;i&gt;tefillos&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;mitzvos&lt;/i&gt; do not ascend to Hashem.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;We need a balance. This is the balance  of the &lt;i&gt;keri&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;kesiv&lt;/i&gt; of &lt;i&gt;shalom&lt;/i&gt;. On the inside,  the &lt;i&gt;kesiv&lt;/i&gt;, we are broken like the &lt;i&gt;vav&lt;/i&gt;; on the outside  we never give up, continuing to serve Hashem with joy. This is true  &lt;i&gt;shalom&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;shleimus&lt;/i&gt;!&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;The &lt;i&gt;Nesivos Shalom&lt;/i&gt; says that one  of the explanations of the sin of Klal Yisrael at this time was that  they all stood mourning and crying outside the tent. He cites the  &lt;i&gt;Sabba Kadisha&lt;/i&gt; of Slonim who explains that this grave sin of  the &lt;i&gt;klal&lt;/i&gt; was &lt;i&gt;yeush&lt;/i&gt; – hopelessness and despair! They  had given up; they thought their sins were so bad, that they had sunk  so low, that there was no way back, heaven forbid. This is when the  &lt;i&gt;yetzer hara&lt;/i&gt; is strongest: when a &lt;i&gt;Yid&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;chas veshalom&lt;/i&gt;  falls into despair and says, "I give up – there is no hope!"  Then he falls even lower to worse sins!&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;The &lt;i&gt;Sabba Kadisha&lt;/i&gt; of Slonim  taught the meaning of the &lt;i&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;: &lt;i&gt;mussar Hashem beni al  timas&lt;/i&gt;, which literally means "My son, do not hate or disparage  the &lt;i&gt;mussar&lt;/i&gt; of your father." The &lt;i&gt;Sabba&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;Kaddisha&lt;/i&gt;  read this as: "The best &lt;i&gt;mussar&lt;/i&gt; lesson from Hashem is – you  are my son; I shall never disparage or hate you!" Even after the  worst of sins, says Hashem, you will always be My child.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;With such a message of hope we will  overcome the evil &lt;i&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt; and rise up to serve Hashem with joy,  &lt;i&gt;Amen&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;b&gt;MASHAL&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;&lt;u&gt;THE BETRAYAL OF THE SECRET WEAPON&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;There was once a soldier in the king's  army who had a secret weapon. The king had granted him a precious  weapon of such power and might that he alone was entrusted to  safeguard and wield it in battle. What did the soldier do? He went to  war; but once he had crossed over into enemy territory all his  best-laid plans were foiled.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;There he was ambushed by the enemy. The  enemy was cunning, crafty and…beautiful and enticing. The enemy had  sent a female soldier to lure and capture the king's soldier. The  soldier was ensnared and betrayed the king. He handed over his secret  weapon – the king's prized treasure, into the hands of the enemy!  Although he was captured and held as a prisoner of war, he was  eventually redeemed and brought back from captivity. Yet his judgment  was not only to be court-martialed, he was sentenced to death for his  betrayal, for handing over the king's secrets to the enemy!&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style="margin-bottom:0in"&gt;The Slonimer &lt;i&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;, in &lt;i&gt;Nesivos  Shalom&lt;/i&gt;, asks why Klal Yisrael were collectively blamed and  punished for the actions of an individual (Zimri). He answers that  their collective sin was the failure of &lt;i&gt;hakaras&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i&gt;chet&lt;/i&gt; –  the failure to recognize the calamity and gravity of the sin in their  midst. Which grave sin was this? Licentious behavior by a leader of  the generation with a non-Jewish woman. What is so grave about this  sin as opposed to others? Why does this crime outweigh others in its  weight so that it brings about collective punishment as harsh as a  plague that killed so many? The &lt;i&gt;Nesivos Shalom&lt;/i&gt; explains that  relations with a gentile woman are tantamount to taking the king's  secret weapon, the sparks of holiness, and handing them over to the  enemy. The penalty is death for such a grave crime, a betrayal of the  King Himself.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2016/07/parshas-pinchos_22.html</link><thr:total>1</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-573661761256935353.post-3305262433774306643</guid><pubDate>Thu, 21 Jul 2016 12:47:00 +0000</pubDate><atom:updated>2016-07-21T15:47:56.310+03:00</atom:updated><title>PARSHAS PINCHOS</title><description>&lt;div dir="ltr"&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;HEAR NO EVIL&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;LeOzni&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Mishpachas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Ho'Ozni&lt;/i&gt; – To Ozni, the Oznite family  (26:16). &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;Rashi&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; – this is Etzbon&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:  bold" lang="EN-GB"&gt; (mentioned in &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Bereishis&lt;/i&gt; 46:16)&lt;b&gt;.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Shela&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt; learns a &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;moshol&lt;/i&gt; from these words. He asks why &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rashi&lt;/i&gt; equates Ozni with Etzbon. What&amp;#39;s  the connection? He teaches us a &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;mussar&lt;/i&gt;  lesson based on a play on words. &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;  teach (&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Kesubos&lt;/i&gt; 5b) that man&amp;#39;s fingers  were created shaped so that they fit perfectly in our ears. Why? So that he can  place them in his ears and prevent himself from hearing anything negative. &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rashi&lt;/i&gt; therefore compares Ozni to Etzbon:  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Ozen&lt;/i&gt; means "ear" and &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Etzba&lt;/i&gt; "finger". Thus, the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;, based on &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Rashi&lt;/i&gt;, is seen as a &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;moshol&lt;/i&gt;  telling us to team up the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Ozen&lt;/i&gt; with  the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Etzba&lt;/i&gt;: if you wish to prevent  yourself from hearing something &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;ossur&lt;/i&gt;,  stick your fingers in your ears!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;WELCOME TO THE FAMILY&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;LeYetzer&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Mishpachas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;HaYitzri&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;LeShillem&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Mishpachas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;HaShillemi&lt;/i&gt; – To Yetzer, the Yitzrite family,  to Shillem, the Shillemite family (26:49).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Chofetz&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Chaim&lt;/i&gt; used to say that this &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt; teaches us &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;mussar&lt;/i&gt; by way of a &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;moshol&lt;/i&gt;.  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Yetzer&lt;/i&gt; refers to the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Yetzer&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Hora&lt;/i&gt;, the evil inclination to sin, and &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Shillem&lt;/i&gt; refers to the acquisition of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;shleimus&lt;/i&gt;, perfection, righteousness and good. The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt; warns us that &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;LeYetzer&lt;/i&gt; – whoever chooses to listen to his &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Yetzer&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Hora&lt;/i&gt; – &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Mishpachas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;HaYitzri&lt;/i&gt; –will have no problem finding a large family to take him  in, a family of sinners, and others who chase after their passions and desires  to do evil. The opposite, however, is also true: LeShillem – whoever decides to  pursue the path of righteousness and straightforwardness and become whole and  pure – &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Mishpachas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;HaShillemi&lt;/i&gt; – he is welcomed to the  family of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Tzaddikim&lt;/i&gt;, righteous people  who all share the same desire to grow in &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Avodas&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;. As &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt; tell us: &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;BeDerech&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;She'Odom&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Rotzeh&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Leylech&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Molichin&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Oso&lt;/i&gt; – a person is led upon whichever path he chooses.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;MAGGID&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;AD KAN – TILL HERE AND NO FURTHER&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;Rav Elimelech Biderman tells a story:&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;"&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;,  I am worthless," complained a dejected, despondent &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;bachur&lt;/i&gt; before the Steipler &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Gaon&lt;/i&gt;,  "I have no connection left to &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Torah&lt;/i&gt;  or &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Avodas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;. The evil one has ensnared me in his net and I cannot fight anymore."  The poor &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;talmid&lt;/i&gt; sat there deflated  and and explained why he felt this way: "I am constantly fighting my &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;yetzer&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;hora&lt;/i&gt; and I am defeated again and again; I never win!" "Never?"  wondered the Steipler. "Do you honestly never succeed? Can you truly say you  never win at all?" "Well, maybe just sometimes – once in a while," admitted the  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;bachur&lt;/i&gt;. "Well," concluded the  Steipler, "if so, your way is clear; don't look back at your failures at all – instead  focus only on your victories. This will console you, and this is how you will  slowly rise back up." The Steipler bolstered his words by pointing out how many  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;seforim&lt;/i&gt; illustrate the process of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;teshuva&lt;/i&gt; by prescribing various methods  to atone for past misdeeds. "However, the greatest &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;tikkun&lt;/i&gt; one can effect," asserted the Steipler, "is to say to  yourself, '&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;AD&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;KAN&lt;/i&gt; – stop! Till here did I stumble – but no further. From this  point on, I will get up and strengthen myself.' This is the greatest &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;tikkun&lt;/i&gt; you can do!"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;SEGULA&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;SHEMIRAS EINAYIM&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Arizal&lt;/i&gt;  teaches us that in the scheme of the head, the months of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Tammuz&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Av&lt;/i&gt; correspond  to the eyes. This is the secret of the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt;  in &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Eicha&lt;/i&gt; (1:16), &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Eini&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Eini&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Yorda&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Mayim&lt;/i&gt; – "My eye runs constantly with water", referring to the 17&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;  of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Tammuz&lt;/i&gt; and the 9&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Av&lt;/i&gt;. It is no coincidence that in the  summer months of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Tammuz&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Av&lt;/i&gt; we have a special obligation to  safeguard and sanctify our eyes more than at any other time of year.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;A &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;bachur&lt;/i&gt;  once came to the Gerrer &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;, the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Bais&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Yisrael&lt;/i&gt;,  and complained that he had visited a &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Mekubal&lt;/i&gt;  who had told him terrible things. "The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Mekubal&lt;/i&gt;  told me," he said, "that I have a lot of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Ayin&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Horas&lt;/i&gt; that I must rid myself of!" The  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt; calmed him and answered him  thus: "Let me explain to you the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Gemara&lt;/i&gt;'s  statement (&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:  bold"&gt;B&lt;/span&gt;ava&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Metzia&lt;/i&gt; 107b), that  'ninety-nine out of a hundred die because of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Ayin&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Hora&lt;/i&gt; (the evil eye)  and one of natural causes'. What &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Chazal&lt;/i&gt;  meant by &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Ayin&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Hora&lt;/i&gt; is that they died because they did not sufficiently protect  and safeguard their eyes!" Concluded the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;The Zlotshuver &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Maggid&lt;/i&gt; once observed that no other organ in the human body is as  delicate as the eye. Take one single grain of sand and place it on any organ,  nothing negative will happen. However, place just one single grain of sand in  the eye…! The reason for the exalted position of the eyes is because the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Shechina&lt;/i&gt; Herself rests on our eyes and,  because they are a vehicle or dwelling place for Her, just one grain of sand or  dirt can injure them!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;The Biala &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;, author of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Chelkas&lt;/i&gt;  Yehoshua, had very poor eyesight in his later years. Eventually, during the  last six years of his life, his right eye ceased to function, and his left eye  saw only very dimly. His grandson related how, one &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Shabbos&lt;/i&gt; morning, the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt;  awoke before dawn, as was his custom, and asked for a &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt; so as to recite the morning blessings of &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Birkas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;HaTorah&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Keriyas&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Shema&lt;/i&gt;. When his grandson said it was still  too dark to see, he went into the next room with his grandfather's &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt;, and, by the last light of the  guttering candles, turned pages till he reached the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Berachos&lt;/i&gt; in the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt;.  He asked the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt; if he would like  to sit by the candles, yet the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt; demurred,  saying it was unnecessary. After saying the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Berachos&lt;/i&gt;,  the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt; turned a few pages, recited  the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rambam&lt;/i&gt;'s Thirteen Principles of Faith  and began reciting &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Shema&lt;/i&gt; – all from  the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt;, as his &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;minhag&lt;/i&gt; was to daven only from a &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt;. His grandson, however, couldn't  help but notice that as he gazed at the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt;,  it was so dark that he couldn't make out a single word. He wondered if his holy  grandfather was simply gazing at the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt;,  because it was his &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;minhag&lt;/i&gt; to &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;daven&lt;/i&gt; only from a &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt;, yet not actually reading anything, being that his eyesight  was so poor. Afterward, he took the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt;  and checked by the remaining candlelight and – lo and behold – the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Siddur&lt;/i&gt; was turned to the correct page  for &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Shema&lt;/i&gt;. He approached the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Chelkas&lt;/i&gt; Yehoshua and asked him, "&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Zeida&lt;/i&gt;, how can you see? I am younger  than you and my eyesight is better, yet I cannot read in this darkness! How do  you do it?!" The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt; took his &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;einikel&lt;/i&gt;'s hands in his holy ones and  said to him, "When you guard your eyes all your life, all the &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Devorim&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;She'bikedusha&lt;/i&gt; shine!" (&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Kedushas&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Einayim&lt;/i&gt; Chap. 15, #126)&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;The Modzitzer &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Rebbe&lt;/i&gt; writes in &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Divrei&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Yisrael&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Klalei&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Oraisa&lt;/i&gt; #&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Hay&lt;/i&gt;): The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;pasuk&lt;/i&gt; says in &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Sefer&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Shmuel&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Aleph&lt;/i&gt; (16:7): &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;HaAdam&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Yireh&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;La'Einayim&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Va'Hashem&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Yireh&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;LaLevov&lt;/i&gt; ("Man sees with the eyes but &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt; sees into the heart"). The word &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Levov&lt;/i&gt; is an acronym whose &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Roshei&lt;/i&gt;  &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Teivos&lt;/i&gt; (initial letters) spell: &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Lechem&lt;/i&gt;, &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Beged&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Bayis&lt;/i&gt; (Bread,  Clothing and Home). These items symbolize all the needs of a person. If a  person takes care guarding his eyes, &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Hashem&lt;/i&gt;  will take care of providing for all his physical needs, seeing to it that he  lacks nothing, has bread to eat, clothing to wear and a place to live.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Ra'avad&lt;/i&gt;  writes in &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Ba'alei&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;HaNefesh&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Sha'ar&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;HaKedusha&lt;/i&gt;) that the  first protective fence that a person must erect around himself is to safeguard  the eyes. Whoever protects his eyes protects his heart as well.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-GB"&gt;The &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Yerushalmi&lt;/i&gt;  (&lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Berachos&lt;/i&gt; 1:5) promises us that &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;HaKodosh&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:  normal"&gt;Boruch&lt;/i&gt; &lt;i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"&gt;Hu&lt;/i&gt; declares: "If  you give Me your heart and your eyes, I know that you are Mine!"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;/div&gt;  </description><link>http://www.chassidusonline.com/2016/07/parshas-pinchos.html</link><thr:total>0</thr:total><author>tal.zwecker@gmail.com (Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker)</author></item></channel></rss>