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”
Tag Archives: Judaism
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”
Erev Shabbos Parshas Terumah 5781
A gitten erev Shabbos! This week’s parsha is Parshas Terumah. We receive here the measurements and directions for building the Mishkan and all the vessels used therein, including the altar, the Mizbeach HaNechoshes (The Copper Altar), as well as the original Menorah. At the very beginning of the parsha, we receive the mitzvah to giveContinue reading “Erev Shabbos Parshas Terumah 5781”
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”
Rosh Chodesh Adar 5781: The Joy of Blessing
A git choidesh! From tonight until Motzei Shabbos it is Rosh Chodesh Adar! There is a well-known statement from Chazal “Mi shenichnas Adar marbin b’simcha” (Who that enters Adar grows in joy). It is reasonable to ask how it is that we grow in joy in Adar? After all in sifrei Nigleh (works of exotericContinue reading “Rosh Chodesh Adar 5781: The Joy of Blessing”
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”
Erev Shabbos BeShalach 5781
A gitten erev Shabbos! This week’s parsha is Parshas BeShalach, which means it is Shabbos Shirah (Shabbos of Song). We cross the Yam Suf this week and finally escape Mitzrayim, and we go through the experience of the undrinkable, bitter water being rendered drinkable when Hashem grants Moshe a piece of wood that accomplishes thisContinue reading “Erev Shabbos BeShalach 5781”
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”
Yismach Lev 