Segulas

As we enter into a long Shabbos/Rosh Chodesh/Chanukah/their New Years weekend, this may be my last post for a few days. If it's going to be up there on top for a few days, I guess it had better be good. I'll give it my best shot.

At the onset of WWI (and it obviously applies at all times), the Chofetz Chaim wrote in one of his letters:

"There are people who seek segulos and amulets, or self-flagellation and fasting, to atone for their sins. They are willing to spend thousands on them, each person, according to his personal means and how desperate he is.
Instead, they should regularly pronounce Amen Yehei Shemei Rabba with kavanah, since this can be done easily, and it is a segulah for all salvations - both for the individual and the community. One should encourage others to do this mitzvah, and consistently do it himself, rather than waste his money on external segulos that don't help and won't succeed, and which sap his strength for nothing. A wise man will take these words to heart."

I'd like to consider myself a wise man, so I am trying to do my part.
There are so many tzaros in the world. Everyone has them. Let's focus on the positive and what we can do to help turn things around, "Amen Yehei Shemei Rabba".

Chanukah laining???

Why is it that on Chanukah in America (Chutz Laaretz) we lain that day of Chanukah, broken into two aliyos, and the next day, so that we have three aliyos, and in Eretz Yisrael we lain that day of Chanukah three times? The answer is not Sfeika D'Yoma, does anybody have any idea what IS the answer???

What are they teaching, Part II

As masmida hinted in her comment, the answers can easily be found. One is written openly in the pasuk, the other is clear in rashi. Isn't it sad that guys know obscure gemara references but not a simple pasuk and rashi?
How many of us know Seinfeld and sports trivia better than Torah trivia?
That was really the point of the post. Not the question itself.

Now here's what I really want to know, did nobody else comment because:
A) they didn't know what to say.
B) they were embarrassed because they didn't know the answer
C) those are the only four people that read my blog
D) all of the above
E) none of the above

What are Yeshivas teaching our children?

Friday night at the shabbos table, after some delicious food and zemiros, it was time for parsha and with it, torah trivia. I asked what I thought was a simple question, but I knew based on what and how schools teach these days, that nobody would get the answer right, and if they did it would definitely take some time. So here's the question..... What are the names of Yehuda's two fathers-in-law?
I am not referring to the medrash that the shevatim married their sisters.
If you do, that would make three fathers-in-law for Yehuda.
What's the answer and why don't more people know the answers quicker?

Out of respect to those trying to guess, please post comments here but e-mail me the answer if you think you have it.

Chanukah and doughnuts

Here it is Chanukah and I am reminded of Chanukah in Israel. Beautiful Chanukiyas lit in every doorway. Caramel doughnuts from Geula.... mmmmmmm those yummy caramel doughnuts.
Why can't we get them in New York? If we can, PLEASE let me know where.

Happy Chanukah

I'm not really focused enough to type a whole blog but something to think about.....

Isn't it sad how chanukah is the holiday that we celebrate not falling under the influence of the yevanim and yet it's the holiday that has taken on the most from the "yevanim" around us?

Nothing intelligent

My mother always told me, if you have nothing intelligent to say, don't say it.

Good Shabbos!

Toldos/Tolds/Tldos/Tlds

Over the last few weeks the word "toldos" appears in almost every parsha and is written in a few different ways. In Parshas Chayei Sarah, when discussing the generations of Yishmael, it is written Tlds, no vavs. In Parshas Toldos, when discussing Yaakov and Eisav it's written Tolds. First vav is there, the second isn't. In Parshas Vayishlach, when discussing the generations of Eisav, and in this week's parsha, Parshas Vayeshev, when telling us what happened to Yoseif, it is written Tldos. Second vav only, no first. Only in Parshas Breishis when discussing the heaven and earth is it written Toldos with both vavs. This made me think. Why the differences?
My thought was that shamayim and aretz were perfect, Hashem created them and they remained true to him for all eternity, therefore it had both vavs.
In the case of Parshas Toldos, I thought that being that Yitzchak was a tzadik, and even though Yaakov was, but being that Eisav wasn't, the first vav is there, but not the second, meaning that the present is there, but the future is incomplete.
By the generations of Eisav, the second vav is present because although Eisav was a rasha, he did have a navi that came from him, Ovadia, and therefore there is no present but some future, but Yishmael had no redeeming qualities, not he himself, nor in future generations, and for that reason he didn't merit either vav.
The Toldos in this week's parsha, relating to Yoseif is the one that threw me.....
Well, my Rav pointed me in the direction of a sefer called Kvoda Shel Torah. Lo and behold, I was pretty close.
He brings down that the Toldos in Breishis, relating to heaven and earth has both vavs because the letter vav represents life and when heaven and earth were created the malach hamaves did not yet exist and therefore that toldos is full. There is only one other place in tanach where toldos is written with both vavs. Can anybody guess where? OK, I'll tell you. At the end of Megillas Rus, when discussing the generations of Peretz the son of Yehudah it is written with both vavs, becuase there it is talking about the generations leading up to David Malka D'Mshicha and ultimately Tchiyas Hamaisim, hence both vavs.
The toldos by Noach (I had originally forgotten about that one) and the one in Parshas Toldos has the first vav because there was a perpetuation of torah values through those generations.
Eisav did not have the perpetuation of torah values, but at the end there will eventually be "V'Alu moshiim bhar tziyon lishpot es har eisav" which leads to the ultimate geula, similarly, the story with Yoseif, although it wasn't a good situation at the time, later on it became good, therefore it has the second vav, but not the first. Finally as I said with Yishmael, no redeeming qualities, no vavs.

The Human Body

The human body and its idiosyncrasies is pretty amazing. I received the following in an e-mail:

How Smart is Your Right Foot?

This is so funny that it will boggle your mind. And you will keep
trying at least 50 more times to see if you can outsmart your foot,
but you can't.

1. While sitting at your desk, lift your right foot off the floor
and make clockwise circles.

2. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your
right hand. Your foot will change direction.

I told you so ...... And there's nothing you can do about it!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

In addition, although I am right handed, I can only snap with the fingers of my left hand, not my right.
Oh, my left ear also hears better, but I think I have an explanation for that.

That's just a few examples of my idiosyncrasies. I'm sure everybody has some.
All part of the wonders of Hashem's creation.

Gift Giving

Where did the concept of gift giving on Chanukah originate?

Did we get the idea from THEM? Or did they get the idea from us?

The fact that the two gift giving "holidays" occur at the same time of year, makes it fairly obvious that one got the idea from the other. The question is which way did it go?
I don't think the gift giving is intrinsic to either holiday, so if anybody has insight, please let me know.

Guilt

I wish someone could explain guilt to me. I am not talking about having committed a crime or a sin, and then feeling guilty. I am talking about work related guilt.
A friend of mine made a Bar Mitzvah recently and was at work the day before the Bar Mitzvah because he "felt guilty" not coming in to work. Shouldn't he have felt guilty not being home helping his wife? Is it just me or are people's priorities totally warped. There are so many people that don't take the full alotment of their vacation time because they feel guilty. I don't understand that "logic". It's like your boss telling you that your salary is X and you saying, nah, I feel guilty, give me less. has THAT ever happened?

All I know is, nobody on their deathbed, ever said "I wish I had spent more time at the office"

Help me understand.

Cartoons

What happened to cartoons over the years? I remember watching cartoons as a kid and even as an adult I appreciated them.
Bugs Bunny was brilliant. A cartoon that adapted history and culture into a medium that targets kids was a stroke of genius. Kids can watch the cartoon and learn about opera or George Washington and not even realize that they are learning.
The Flintstones used such creativity. The way the utilized all different types of animals pre-historic or otherwise to mimic advances of modern day technology.
Even the animaniacs had what to contribute.
I find ALMOST no educational or redeeming quality in today's cartoons. They may be humorous at best, but I do not find them educational or even creative in any way shape or form.
If anything they are very violent and not in a funny way like the road runner was.
I miss my old cartoons.

Simple Pleasures II

Over the last twenty four hours or so I have been surfing blogworld and noticed something. Almost every blog that I have read lately has either been about "simple pleasures" or about something sad, depressing or frustrating. Maybe it's the season. The winter and it's short days have been known to get people down. Maybe it's just life that has a tendency to get to people.
Then a thought occured to me. Many of us have spent the last few days working on this task of coming up with simple pleasures. Perhaps it's just me, but I think we all missed the boat.
We were working on this list because we got tagged by a "friend" and felt compelled to come up with five things. Spent time wracking our brains to come up with five. What's really the point of this exercise? Give us something to do? Try and get to know our fellow blogger? With rare exception I don't see how it's possible to really get to know someone based on their five pleasures.
I think the ultimate purpose was so simple and right in front of our faces, and forgive me if you realized this and it was just me that didn't, but I think it was meant to serve a much greater purpose.
Inevitably, into every life some rain must fall. We will all have sad, depressing, upsetting or frustrating times. I don't know of a living soul that hasn't. When those times come and we are having a rough moment, THEN it's time to focus on the simple pleasures. The little things that already exist in each of our lives that make us happy. If thinking about those things isn't enough, go out and do them. Snuggle with your child. Hold a newborn baby. Drink your coffee, tea, or hot chocolate. Eat your pizza, shwarma or sushi. Sing your lungs out. etc etc etc
Do the things that make you happy and help get you out of your sad or rotten mood.
That's what I tend to do when I get down.

Don't forget..... mitzva gedola lihyos b'simcha..... TAMID.

Simple Pleasures

I was given an assignment should I choose to accept it, that being to "name five simple pleasures that I like most, then pick people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use five things that someone else already has." I normally don't actually do these things, but I was warned that if I didn't I would be cursed and my children would be born with three heads, etc etc etc. Much appreciated Prag and LRH.
I haven't read too many peoples lists, so here goes and I hope I am not copying.

1. Lying in bed and snuggling with my daughter

2. Making a friend smile or laugh, especially when they are in a bad mood.

3. Receiving an unexpected phone call or e-mail from a good friend or relative.

4. Completing a difficult assignment, i.e. computer program (I was once a computer geek, no comment as to what I am now), or (let me try and sound frum) figuring out a nice pshat (see my previous post, "nature vs. nurture").

5A. Drinking hot chocolate in front of a fireplace on a cold wintery day.

5B. Putting on a warm article of clothing fresh out of the dryer.

I wonder if #5A and #5B are seasonal. In this weather, though, who can blame me.

I think all of my regular readers have already been tagged, but if you don't think you have been yet, now consider yourself tagged.

Nature vs. Nurture

This argument has raged on for years, and although my take is that neither side is 100% correct, I believe there is a hint in this week's parsha to the torah's opinion of which carries the greater weight (care to guess which way?).
After the story with Reuven and Bilhah, the Torah enumerates the children of Yaakov and concludes the description with the words, "Aileh Bnai Yaakov asher yulad lo b'Fadan Aram". Less than ten pesukim later, after telling us of the sons of Eisav, the Torah concludes the description with the words, "Aileh Bnai Eisav asher yuldo lo b'Eretz Knaan". Two almost identical pesukim, less than ten pesukim apart. In my opinion, it beggars explanation.
I looked it up in many seforim and haven't found an answer, but l'fi aniyus daati (IMHO) the following is the explanation....
The torah is telling us that the children of Eisav had the privilege to be born in Eretz Yisrael, a holy land filled with spirituality and close proximity to Yitzchak Avinu. Yet, they turn out to be wicked rshaim like their father, because that was the upbringing that they had. On the flip side, the children of Yaakov were born in Padan Aram, a land that we have already been taught was void of holiness and spirituality and in whose proximity did they grow up? Lavan. Yet, they turn out to be tzadikim like their father, because that was the upbringing that THEY had.
I think that even explains why by the shevatim, it uses the term yulad (singular) whereas by Eisav's children it uses the proper term yuldu (plural). Because the shevatim were tzadikim, k'ish echad, b'lev echad, whereas the children of Eisav each one was his own individual rasha.

As parents we have a tremendous responsibility to raise our children and raise them properly. I heard a beautiful pshat on the end of last week's parsha, Vayetze. Yaakov lifts a rock and then tells his "brothers" to lift rocks as well. Rashi points out that who were his brothers? His sons, the shevatim. Lesson #1, Yaakov was close with his sons like brothers and most importantly lesson #2, First Yaakov lifted the rock. He didn't just tell them what to do. He led by example. We don't realize how much our children copy and emulate us. We need to focus on that and do the right things ourselves and hopefully our children will learn from our good traits, as well.

Ma Nora Maasecha Hashem

We live where we live and we work where we work (very profound, I know). Generally, all we see is what's in those areas and possibly in between. After seeing these same things day in and day out, of course we take them for granted.
As I mentioned, I was on vacation last week and had the opportunity to travel. Not only did it afford me the ability to rest and relax a bit, but it provided me with a new opportunity to see things that I have never seen before.
Hashem's creations are magnificent. We have to make the opportunity and take the time to appreciate them.

Gone fishing!

How many other phrases can you come up with for, "on vacation", which is where I am now.

Have no fear, I will be back to blogworld relatively shortly. Stay tuned. I already have a "real" vacation inspired post in mind.

Killing Two Birds With One Stone

This week's parsha starts with the pasuk, "Vayetze Yaakov MiBe'er Sheva, Vayelech Charana", meaning "And Yaakov left Be'er Sheva and went to Charan". Chazal ask why the repetitive language.
Harav Soloveitchik (the Rav) gives what I think is a beautiful answer. If we look at the end of last week's parsha, we see that Rivka tells Yaakov that Eisav wants to kill him and "Kum Brach Lcha" meaning "Run Away". Then Yitzchak after his first ever publicized conversation with Rivka (that's for another time) tells Yaakov, "Kum leich Padena Aram" meaning "Go to Padan Aram (Charan to find a wife)"
The Rav explains, with one action, Yaakov accomplished two things. He listened to both his mother and his father with the one action. That's what the Torah is teaching us.
Kibbud Av Va'Aim is one of the most difficult mitzvos out there. In the zchus of Yaakov Avinu, good luck to one and all.

Lion King Quotes

I'm too tired and snowy to think this week, so I decided to post some of my favorite quotes, from one of my favorite movies, The Lion King. Feel free to add your favorite quotes as well:

[Woken by Simba] Sarabi: Your son is awake. Mufasa: Before sunrise he's YOUR son.

Young Simba: Hey, Uncle Scar. Guess what? Scar: I despise guessing games. Young Simba: I'm going to be King of Pride Rock. Scar: Oh Goodee. Young Simba: My dad just showed me the whole kingdom. And I'm gonna rule it all. Heheh. Scar: Yes, well forgive me for not leaping for joy. Bad back, you know. Young Simba: Hey Uncle Scar, when I'm King, what'll that make you? Scar: A monkey's uncle. Young Simba: You're so weird. Scar: You have no idea.

Zazu: Checking in with the morning report. Mufasa: Fire away. Zazu: Well the buzz from the bees is that the leopards are in a bit of a spot. And the baboons are going ape over this. Of course, the giraffes are acting like they're above it all... The tick birds are pecking on the elephants. I told the elephants to forget it, but they can't. The cheetahs are hard up, but I always say, cheetahs never prosper...

Shenzi: Look, boys! A king fit for a meal!

Timon: Who's the brains in this outfit? Pumbaa: Uh... Timon: My point exactly.

Pumbaa: Kid, what's eatin' ya? Timon: Nothing! He's at the top of the food chain!

And perhaps my all time favorite line .....

Mufasa: Don't turn your back on me, Scar! Scar: Oh, no, Mufasa. Perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me. Mufasa: [shouts] Is that a challenge? Scar: Temper, temper. I wouldn't dream of challenging you. Zazu: Pity! Why not? Scar: Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share. But, when it comes to brute strength... I'm afraid I'm at the shallow end of the gene pool.

Snow

I woke up this morning and there was only one thing on my mind..... I need more sleep. Then I looked out the window and saw the most beautiful sight. The first snow of the season. Reflecting back now, it was a perfect snow. There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning and seeing such a pretty white blanket of snow on the ground. Especially on a morning such as this, a Sunday, when you don't have to fight the traffic that the snow created. What made today's snow so perfect is that there was just enough snow to create this beautiful serene setting, and enough that it all melted by the end of the day so that we didn't have to shovel.
On this first night of saying V'Sain Tal Umatar, here's my wish and tefilla that all snows of this season should mirror this one.

Love

One of the 613 mitzvos is to love Hashem. "V'Ahavta es Hashem". We say it twice a day (minimum) in shema. The question is how? Who is our role model?
The amazing thing is that the answer is right there in front of us. All we have to do is look at the bracha immediately preceeding shema both in shachris and maariv. The bracha starts with Ahavas Olam or Ahava Raba Ahavtanu Hashem Elokainu.
The key before even attempting to love Hashem, is to know and recognize that Hashem loves us. If we look a little bit more closely, we can ask the question of "why?" We (I don't know about you, but this definitely applies to me) sin before Hashem just about every day in some way shape of form, and yet, Hashem truly loves us unconditionally. Sure, we are sometimes , punished for our actions, but even that is a sign of the love. It is there to help us correct our mistakes. If Hashem didn't love us, he wouldn't care or bother with punishing us. Think for example how you would react if your child or one close to you, ran into the street without looking. If you didn't punish the child, you wouldn't be doing your job as a caring loving parent.
What an amazing concept. What an amazing blueprint for us to learn how to love.
Good Shabbos!

Chanoch Lanaar Al Pi Darko

I had originally planned on a different post for today, but listening to the Torah reading this morning, I had a change of heart. Stay tuned.....

The torah in this week’s parsha teaches us in reference to Yaakov and Eisav, “Vayigdalu Han’arim”, the boys grew up.

I would never say the following on my own, (ok, I would, but not as it relates specifically to our avos) but Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (yes, that makes twice this week that I’m quoting him) explains that perhaps what went wrong with Eisav is that both he and Yaakov were raised the same way. By grouping the two together when the torah says “han’arim”, it implies that they both received the exact same education and upbringing. Had he received more indivualized attention and education perhaps he would have turned out differently.

All I can say is “WHOA”. Your thoughts?