Our Purpose: Love

At times it is easy to forget our purpose in this world. In the work Pardes Rimonim, by Rabbi Moshe Cordevero, we are given a beautiful reminder within his description of the order of the Sefiros. He writes there that before the iniquity of eating from the Tree of Knowledge, the sefirah of Malchus satContinue reading “Our Purpose: Love”

Sukkos: The Joy of Faith

On Sukkos, we say in the nighttime Kiddush that it is זמן שמחתינו, the time of our joy. The Zohar HaKadosh when talking about this special Yom Tov describes the sukkah as צלא דמהימנותא, the shade of emunah/faith. Seeing that the main mitzva of the full seven days of Sukkos is the dwelling in aContinue reading “Sukkos: The Joy of Faith”

Importance of Fulfilling Mitzvos in Their Time

Hashem loves when Yidden do mitzvos in their proper time. Chazal teach us this in Maseches Pesachim in relation to giving the korban Pesach in its proper time on Pesach rather than waiting until Pesach Sheni. Over there is a wonderful discussion as to when we push off giving korban Pesach until Pesach Sheni withContinue reading “Importance of Fulfilling Mitzvos in Their Time”

Erev Shabbos Parshas Mishpatim 5781

A gitten erev Shabbos and a git choidesh! This week’s parsha is Parshas Mishpatim, and it is also Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Adar. This is the first parsha in which the focus changes from describing events to Hashem giving us mitzvos. In the beginning of the parsha we learn the mitzvos related to the eved IvriContinue reading “Erev Shabbos Parshas Mishpatim 5781”

Impact of Our Actions

The Zohar HaKodosh speaks very often of t’shuva and how important it is, along with the great power this carries to affect change for the one who returns to Hashem and the sweetening of judgments that occurs. In Parshas Mishpatim, Raya Mehemna, the Raya Mehemna speaks of how each part of one’s t’shuva process impactsContinue reading “Impact of Our Actions”

Sweet Geirim

Rebbe Nachman teaches that there are 24 batei dinim that are rendering judgement upon the world. When a pidyon is given, a Tzaddik is able to sweeten all the judgments that come out from these batei dinim. However, sometimes, it may not be possible to sweeten these dinim (judgements). The key way all the dinimContinue reading “Sweet Geirim”

Lail Tu B’Shvat: Producing Fruit

Tonight we celebrate Tu B’Shvat. There is no Tach’nun by Shachris in the morning according to the Shulchan Aruch, and it is a common minhag in Klal Yisroel to eat different kinds of fruit. The Ateres Tzvi would have many people by his tish and give out lots of new fruit for everyone to makeContinue reading “Lail Tu B’Shvat: Producing Fruit”

Motzei Shabbos Parshas Bo 5781

A gitte voch! In Parshas Bo we receive the mitzvos of Pesach and Pidyon HaBen in the midst of our Geulah. What follows is from what was said by seudas shlishis. This is a fascinating part of the Torah if you sit and think of it. Amidst all the plagues, and the freeing of KlalContinue reading “Motzei Shabbos Parshas Bo 5781”

Sadness and Happiness: Accomplishments in Avodas Hashem

In the Sefer Ner Mitzvah V’Torah Ohr, in the section called Shaar HaYichud by the hailige R’ Dov Ber from Chabad, known as the Mittler Rebbe zt’l, we can learn an amazing Sod (secret) in avodas Hashem. In all Torah we can learn how to better serve Hashem, but this particular piece is amazing. TheContinue reading “Sadness and Happiness: Accomplishments in Avodas Hashem”

Erev Shabbos Voero 5781

A gitten erev Shabbos! This week’s parsha is Parshas Voero, the second Shabbos of Shovevim. For those unfamiliar, Shovavim is the period of time between Parshos Shemos to Mishpatim. In Kabbistically based Judaism it is a great time for cheshbon nefesh (self-evaluation) and teshuva (return to Hashem). This week we start the process of theContinue reading “Erev Shabbos Voero 5781”