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| Friday, May 18, 2012 / 26 Iyar 5772 |
Titus!
By: Michael Winner
I’ve been pushing myself lately in my Hebrew. Now that I’m settled in the new community, and most people in our community don’t speak a word of English, I’ve been finally forced to use Hebrew more and more. When you live in Jerusalem, you’re not pushed at all, but here, being that I and my friend are the only full-blooded Americans in the community (some more are moving in soon), we have no choice but to adapt.
Adapting to the Israeli mentality, or at least outlook, is something we’ve done over the years. Therefore, we don’t feel outside “the box” in any way, it’s just been our language skills that have been holding us back.
This week, my wife dropped off Rochel Leah at a friend’s house and ended up staying there for an hour and a half speaking to the mother from Bnei Brak.
Just yesterday, I was on the bus back from Jerusalem, and had a forty-five minute conversation with a kibbutznik.
While, my vocabulary has not increased dramatically, I’ve found that I’m able to speak quicker and feel more comfortable in speaking. I also found that I’m forgetting English words, since I’ve been using the Hebrew version all the time. It’s an interesting transformation to be part of. Hopefully, it will continue to get better.
Okay, on to Torah!
“And you will dwell securely in your Land” (Vayikra 26:5)
Dr. Moshe Rothschild was once in Rome with R’ Yosef Kananeman, the Ponevezher Rav and founder of the famed Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak.
Once, when they were in a taxi, the rav continuously repeated over and over to himself, “I am going to settle the score with him once and for all.”
Naturally, Dr. Rothschild could not imagine who the rav was speaking about, since the rav would never speak about any person!
When the taxi neared the Arch of Titus, the rav asked the driver to stop. He then left the car, walked up to the arch and looked at the image of the Menorah being carried away by Roman soldiers with the words, “Judea is destroyed” written below.
He straightened his hat and clothing, and at the top of his voice, he cried, “Tirus, TITUS! Two thousand years ago you wished to obliterate the Jewish people and to leave no remnant of them. But heed my words, Titus: Who today knows who you are? When a person walks the streets of Rome and asks his children who Titus was, they do not even know how to pronounce his name correctly. Nothing is left of your heritage! Are there any people in the world who see themselves as the bearers of your legacy?
“I just arrived from Bnei Brak, Israel, the Land you wished to destroy. At this moment there are over 500 students sitting and studying the Torah, which you so badly wanted to make us forget. And that is only in MY yeshivah! There are hundreds of other yeshivos and Torah institutions all over the world, in which tens of thousands of people study Torah as well!
“You disgraced the Holy of Holies terribly, but I invite you to come now to the Kosel, the remnant of our Beis HaMikdash, and see how Jews stand there day and night bewailing its destruction, eagerly awaiting its rebuilding, and studying its structure and all the relevant laws about the service. That is the clearest possible sign that our Beis HaMikdash will be rebuilt speedily.
“You have been forgotten forever, and your name has been forgotten; but Judea will forever be, and will yet blossom!”
Perhaps, this “speech” is something we need to remember every time people come and attempt to sway us from Torah and mitzvos. It’s probably fitting to quote Mark Twain who put it so well:
“The Egyptians, the Babylonians and the Persians rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greeks and Romans followed and made a vast noise, and they were gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, and have vanished.
The Jew saw them all, survived them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities, of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert but aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jews; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?”
We know what the “secret” is… we just need to continue to live and learn it.
Have a great Shabbos!
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| Friday, May 11, 2012 / 19 Iyar 5772 |
Near Death Experience
By: Michael Winner
We just experienced a typical “Here’s how you survive in Israel” story.
Every 2 months, we need to pay property tax. Depending on how much you make, where you live, and how many children you have, each year, you’re able to apply for a discount. So, in January, at the earliest time possible, we went to the city hall and applied. We were told it would take 1 month for them to get back to us.
It’s now May and of course, we haven’t heard a thing.
Since government offices tend not to actually pick up their phones when you call, my wife had to go to city hall in person to see what’s going on. She was told by Yaffa, who’s in charge of discounts, that they have not yet gotten to our file and we will have to wait another month. Of course, we understand: She only works three days a week, each day for only half a day… it’s hard to get all that work done under such terrible time constraints (remember, it’s the Ultra-Orthodox wasting the tax money, not government employees …).
End of Part I.
Later that night, we went to the community bonfire for Lag B’Omer. It was held just three minutes away at the boys’ school and was really nice. My wife noticed a non-religious woman in jeans and a t-shirt watching the singing and dancing. She realized that it was Yaffa from Discounts. So, just to be nice, she went up to say ‘hello’. She opened up with “Hi, are you Yaffa? I’m Malka Winner, we met earlier today…” Yaffa grabbed my wife, gave her a hug and kiss, and said, “I LOVE watching all of you on Lag B’Omer! I really wish all of Klal Yisroel can have such a good holiday like this!” They schmoozed a little more and at the end Yaffa said to my wife, “Thank you for coming up to me… when you come next month, remind me we met here… I’ll take good care of you”
In Hebrew, we call this Protecia. If you want to get ANYTHING done here, you need it. It’s crazy how many times I’ve had to use friends’ protecia with different government offices or banks, just to get basic services taken care of.
Thankfully, we now have a friend in Discounts!
Okay, on to Torah!
“To provide you atonement” (Vayikra 23:28)
The months that preceded the Six Day War were full of tension for the Israeli public. They knew war was coming and they knew that the casualties were to be very high.
A student came to the Rosh Yeshivah of Ponevezh, Rav Shmuel Rozovsky, to ask him if he should leave Israel and return to his parents’ home.
“Stay in yeshivah,” Rav Rozovsky replied, “so that you do not miss out on great things”.
However, the boy’s parents were very persistent and pressured him to leave, which he did.
After the war, he returned and asked the Rosh Yeshivah, “What did I miss out on?”
“As I told you, you missed out on a lot. Every time a siren rang, it was like Yom Kippur. Never in your life will you have the opportunity to experience so many Yom Kippurs in such a short time.”
We learn that death provides atonement for a person’s sins. Rabbeinu Yonah (Shaarei Tshuva 4:4) writes that this atonement does not happen only when the soul leaves the body; it begins as soon as the person is gripped with the fear of death. So, whenever a person has a tangible fear of death that can serve as his teshuvah, if he uses it in such a way.
May we never have to experience such fear, but if we do, may it only be fear and may we use it for teshuvah.
Have a great Shabbos!
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| Friday, May 04, 2012 / 12 Iyar 5772 |
Thinking of Others First
By: Michael Winner
My wife was speaking to her mother the other day. Chaim, seeing this, asked if he could say ‘hello’. He gets on the phone and says, “Safta?? You wanna hear something funny? I went to gan (school) without underwear today! I just forgot to put it on!”
Three year old boys… ah…..
“And you shall love your fellow as yourself” (Vayikra 19:18)
Another story from Aleinu L’Shabei’ach in the name of Rav Yisroel Grossman, Rosh Yeshiva of Karlin in Yerushaliyim.
There was once a married couple who lived together without any problems. Unfortunately, out of nowhere, the wife lost her mind. It came to the point where the husband was simply unable to live with her any more, but he could not divorce her, since she no longer had the mind to accept a get. The beis din (Jewish court) agreed to arrange a heter meah rabbanim (a legal procedure which would allow him to remarry). However, before doing so, Rav Grossman went to consult the Chazon Ish.
What did the Chazon Ish respond? “From the description of the woman’s condition, it appears that it is possible for her to recover eventually. Imagine if she walks down the street and sees her husband with his new wife. She is liable to go insane, to the point that her life is endangered. Therefore, the only thing that can be done is to pray for her recovery”.
Trying to think of how our actions will affect others in the long-term is a mindset we should try to force ourselves to think in. When we think in such a manner, we can be rest assured that we will have far less strife in this world.
Have a great Shabbos!
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| Friday, April 27, 2012 / 5 Iyar 5772 |
Open to Criticism
By: Michael Winner
I can’t believe we found it.
There’s a kosher pizza place here!
Not necessarily a restaurant or a stand… but it turns out somebody makes pizza in their homes, using only hechsharim (kashrus certifications) that are used by the evil Ultra-Orthodox community, and sells it with free delivery.
Still, after hearing this originally, I was a tad weary. Who was this guy? Can he be trusted?
So, I did a little research and I found out he was somebody well known in the community, very frum, could certainly be trusted, and makes excellent pizza.
So, this Sunday, we decided to try it out. We called up, put in our order and an hour and a half later, we receive a phone call that he’s right outside.
I go outside with the kids and see a sfardi guy with a trimmed beard, blue shirt, sitting in a Bezeq (phone company) car, with my pizza. I stopped, looked at him, and said, “Bezeq?!?!? I had no idea who you were and I asked around the community about you! Everybody tells me, ‘Of course he can be trusted! He’s very learned and is yorei shamiyim (has fear of Heaven)’, and now, you’re telling me YOU’RE THE PHONE GUY???”
He broke out with a big smile and said, “Bezeq Pizza! Anything’s possible!”
And boy, was it good!
Okay, on to Torah!
“And the Cohen shall see him on the seventh day” (Vayikra 13:5)
When there is a question whether or not a person has been inflicted by the “skin infection”, called tzoraas, one of the first things he does is call a Cohen. Only the Cohen has the power to declare it tzoraas or simply a regular skin infection.
Why specifically a Cohen? Why not go to your local doctor? Because the Cohanim were the teachers of the nation and tended to be more in touch with the spiritual side. Not only would they look at the physical symptoms that the person was suffering with, but they would work with that person to see what the spiritual causes were that caused the tzoraas to form.
We see from here the importance of having a rav, rebbetzin, or somebody else of “higher spiritual caliber” to speak to during troublesome times. Obviously, that means we also need to be open to constructive criticism and to be accepting of the truth. With that, hopefully, we can internalize whatever spiritual message Hashem was sending us, and not only come away clean from our ”tzoraas”, but also come out a better Jew.
Have a great Shabbos!
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| Friday, April 20, 2012 / 28 Nissan 5772 |
Play Ball!
By: Michael Winner
I hope everybody had an enjoyable Pesach!
Ours was very nice. The Seder went until 1:30 am, and was a bit of a challenge this year with Rochel Leah and Chaim both being there. Now, each year, I have to adapt the Seder to fit both children’s needs, and in another two years, will have to adapt even more so with Tova. Chaim did the “Mah Nishtana”… or sort of; and Rochel Leah had an extensive “Plague Kit” that she made in school. I offered to hit them both, so they can feel the pain of Egypt, but for some strange reason they declined.
Over Chol HaMoed, we went to a local park for a picnic. The park is very well done with a small pool of water, man-made waterfall, complete with fish and frogs. Plus, lots of grass.
The next day, we took a small hike in one of the valleys near the home, where we saw a cow, a turtle, a snake, and a herd (?) of hyrax. Following that, my wife’s cousin and her husband and son came to spend the last days. We went to Kiryat Motzkin, where there is a nice zoo, and Acco to take a boat ride around the old city (if you like sleazy Arabs, go to Acco… if not… stick with the zoo).
Every morning, we had a nice sized breakfast outside and I got to go learn in the mornings before our afternoon activity. All in all, a really relaxing and enjoyable Pesach.
Okay, on to Torah!
I’m really enjoying the sefer, Aleinu L’Shabeach (please don’t get it, it’s a good source for me)…
“You are to sanctify yourselves” (Vayikra 11:44)
Rav Moshe Feinstein was once asked to come and test a class of children who finished learning a chapter of Gemara (I assume their first). When Rav Feinstein entered the room, the first thing he asked was, “My dear children, when you go home after a whole day of learning, what do you do?”
One child responded, “We play ball.”
“Very good”, responded Rav Feinstein, “You have to play ball. But you should remember that when you are playing, you should play like Yiddishe kinderlach, not like wild animals!”
The lesson here is clear. Everything we do, we need to do in a proper way. We cannot ‘let our hair down’ too much when relaxing, and must always remember that we are striving to be Bnei Torah. All the more so, when we are in active spiritual pursuits, such as davening and learning.
Have a great Shabbos!
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| Thursday, April 05, 2012 / 13 Nissan 5772 |
Singing Appreciation
By: Michael Winner
I’ve learned a few lessons over the years on how to successfully clean for Pesach without resulting in a divorce. Thankfully, my wife and I work well as a team and have both followed some basic rules to keep things as friendly as possible.
1. Have a competent rav who a) knows halacha well b) knows the various customs of the community c) knows you well d) is somebody both you and your wife trust. I, for example, had a whole slew of different questions this year; since we’re in a different location and a different kitchen (we have KOSHER SINKS!!!). One morning, I called my rav. He picked up the phone and grumpily said, “I don’t want to talk to you. I don’t want to waste these precious moments I have with my coffee with you. I’ll call you back in five minutes”. Five minutes later, he called me back; sounding a little more chipper (he’s addicted).
2. Have a vacuum. We never did until this year, since we don’t have carpeting. It seems that vacuums can be used for non-carpeting materials. What a time-saver!
3. Be organized and start cleaning early (duh!)
4. Make sure your wife is friends with somebody whose husband is a lazy bum and doesn’t help a bit. You’ll earn points right there.
5. Never answer your wife’s requests with a salute and a “Yavul, mon fuehrer!” Trust me on this one.
With these simple rules, Pesach is much easier.
In terms of our Pesach schedule, Frum.org will be taking a break next Shabbos. One, is because on Chol HaMoed I don’t have to work. Therefore, I have no interest in touching my computer, unless I need to. Also, since next Shabbos, is just a regular Shabbos for us in Eretz Yisroel and it’s the last day of Pesach for those outside of the Eretz; for the next few weeks, we’ll be one parsha ahead of you guys. So, it will give me an extra week to prepare something good, since I’ll follow the non-Eretz Yisroel calendar in this case.
Okay, on to Torah!
I heard an interesting shiur this year from Rav Barclay from Neve Yaakov (Jerusalem). He explained that the center of the Haggadah is not necessarily the story or the questions. It’s Hallel. It’s the song of praise and thanks that we give Hashem, right after we eat the meal. It’s unfortunately, also something we tend to speed through.
He said in the name of Rav Shlomo Brevda, that while strengthening our emunah, faith, in Hashem is a big part of the Seder, it is not the main point. Rather, the main point is to thank Hashem and to show our hakaras hatov (appreciation) for everything he did for us.
This explains (at least) two things about the setup of the Hagaddah.
The first is concerning what is going on for most of the Hagaddah between the Four Questions and the Matzah. The Haggadah takes the verses from the Torah concerning Bikkurim, and elaborates on each of the verses. These verses were said by a farmer when he bought his Bikkurim (first fruits) to the Beis HaMikdash. There, he read these verses which explain a brief ‘history’ of the Jewish people from the time of Avraham to our exodus from Egypt.
If we were to write the Hagaddah, we would focus on what actually happened in Egypt, going through all the parshos that dealt with the story. Why are we using Bikkurim as the main focus? Because, these verses were said in gratitude to Hashem by the farmer for everything Hashem gave him. The whole point of Bikkurim was to allow the farmer to show his appreciation.
We also see, shortly before we begin the first part of Hallel, the famous ‘song’ of Dayeinu. Why is Dayeinu placed here? Because, before we can praise Hashem for everything He has done for us, we need to enumerate all the things He has done for us. Only AFTER that, can we properly sing praises!
This year, let’s try to focus on our appreciation for everything Hashem has given us. He took us from the depths of Egypt and brought us to Eretz Yisroel. And even though we have been in exile for 2000 years, we are free today to live as Jews and to learn as Jews. We are living amongst material wealth that our ancestors have never seen. We are free to sit and learn Torah without persecution. We have homes, families, jobs, etc… we all have different levels of brachos, which we can count. This year, let us SING Hallel in full appreciation for everything He has given us.
Have a great Shabbos/Pesach!
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| Friday, March 30, 2012 / 7 Nissan 5772 |
Slaves in the Land
By: Michael Winner
Northern Israel is different than the center in many ways. It’s comprised of several different cities, each sporting the basics in life. However, there are plenty of villages, former kibbutzim, yishuvim, etc… that are Jewish, “Dru-ish”, or Muslim. Many times, you can’t get what you need (or it’s too expensive), so you can go to another city or village. For example, if you need good, yet cheap, furniture, there is a Druzy village fifteen minutes away from here. The only catch is you need a car. And that’s why cars are more ‘popular’ here than in the center.
Unfortunately, during the holidays, you get to see first-hand the spiritual level that we have sunken to. We live in a city of 50,000 people. Only the religious celebrated Purim. That’s IT! For Pesach, ONE of the major stores dedicated half an aisle for Pesach food. Yes, everybody is selling matzah, but that’s about it.
I did some research on what the rest of the community does for Pesach shopping and found out the solution. I rented a car from somebody in the kollel (great price, but expensive on the gas), and my wife and I drove one morning to Kiryiat Bialik, located in between Haifa and Akko. There is a huge store there that was packed with Pesach food and supplies, all for very good prices. Interestingly enough, they had no Arab workers. Rather, half of the employees were evil Ultra-Orthodox (who don’t work, remember), and the other half was completely secular. It was interesting to see everybody interact. In fact, many people came to me with questions about kashrus or store-related issues, thinking that I worked there.
All in all, it was a great shopping experience, for only 130 shekels for the car and gas, my wife and I had a nice driving date in the north without children, and we were able to buy products that we can’t get here.
Oh yes, before we begin: I’ve uploaded a Pesach gift for those interested. 20 MB of photos from the North (first 100 people only). Enjoy!
https://www.yousendit.com/dl?phi_action=app/orchestrateDownload&rurl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.yousendit.com%252Ftransfer.php%253Faction%253Dbatch_download%2526batch_id%253DM3BuTGt4SU9iR0w1SE1UQw
Okay, on to Torah!
This year I was able to get my hands on a new Haggadah, called “K’motzei Shelal Rav”, which is comprised of different dvrei torah from different sources throughout the Haggadah. I worthwhile investment if you’re looking for something new (Hebrew only).
Every Pesach, we say, “Now, we are here. Next year, in Eretz Yisroel. Now we are slaves. Next year, free men”. The Satmar Rav asks, why is this language “doubled”? Isn’t it granted, if next year we are in Eretz Yisroel, than we will be free men as well?
He cites the Targum Yonason that says on the first Pesach night, the Jews were “flown” to the future site of the Beis HaMikdash where they ate their Korban Pesach, and then they were returned to Egypt afterwards (I’m not too sure how to understand this one on a simple level: were they spiritually there? Physically there? Not important though for this discussion…). We see from here, says the Satmar Rav, that while the Jews entered Eretz Yisroel, they were still in Golus, in exile. So, it’s possible to be in Eretz Yisroel as slaves, hence we ask to be returned to Eretz Yisroel as free men.
We see it clearly today as well. Just take a brief look at the state of affairs. The modern State of Israel was created so Jews can “take care of themselves” and “have their own army” and to “be like the other nations”. Yet… we are limited to how we can “take care of ourselves”, by how we can use “our own army”, and unlike many other nations, we are at the whim of “other nations”. If Israel is attacked by Hamas, the world condemns Israel. If Israel wants to retaliate, they need to go get permission first from the US, England or France… FRANCE! Can you imagine!? Israel has to get permission from a country that signs a declaration of war and then flips over the paper and signs their surrender documents two seconds later! THIS IS FREEDOM??? To answer to a nation that eats SNAILS??? No… it’s not!
We are a nation that is in Galus. Whether you live in the US or in Eretz Yisroel, you live in Golus. And even if you are not physically in bonds, you are spiritually in bonds. That is why you have cities, full of people, in ERETZ YISROEL that can’t even celebrate the easiest or the most important holidays in the Jewish year. Because, while we beat our chests and say slogans like “Never again”, the reality of the situation is, we are in Golus. We might have access to Eretz Yisroel, but only as slaves, not as freemen.
May it be THIS year that we should return to Eretz Yisroel as freemen… free from the yoke of other nations and free from the spiritual yoke that is upon us.
Have a great Shabbos! |
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