Torah

Discussing topics on Orthodox Judaism.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Holocaust-

People are asking me: "If G-d exists, then why did the holocaust happen, why didn't he stop it?"
I'm not saying that I know this answer, or anything like that. I just heard an interesting insight recently.
If we look in Vayikrah (Leviticus) chapter 26, we might be able to see an answer for this. About two hundred years ago was when Jews started to take Judaism a LOT less seriously (when the reform movement started). In that chapter in the Torah, it sort-of warns us about this type of thing.
26:

14 But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and will not do all these commandments;

15 and if ye shall reject My statutes, and if your soul abhor Mine ordinances, so that ye will not do all My commandments, but break My covenant;

16 I also will do this unto you: I will appoint terror over you, even consumption and fever, that shall make the eyes to fail, and the soul to languish; and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.

17 And I will set My face against you, and ye shall be smitten before your enemies; they that hate you shall rule over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.

18 And if ye will not yet for these things hearken unto Me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins.

19 And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass.

20 And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield her produce, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruit.

21 And if ye walk contrary unto Me, and will not hearken unto Me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.

22 And I will send the beast of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your ways shall become desolate.

23 And if in spite of these things ye will not be corrected unto Me, but will walk contrary unto Me;

24 then will I also walk contrary unto you; and I will smite you, even I, seven times for your sins.

25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute the vengeance of the covenant; and ye shall be gathered together within your cities; and I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.

26 When I break your staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver your bread again by weight; and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.

27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto Me, but walk contrary unto Me;

28 then I will walk contrary unto you in fury; and I also will chastise you seven times for your sins.

29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.

30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your sun-pillars, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols; and My soul shall abhor you.

31 And I will make your cities a waste, and will bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours.

32 And I will bring the land into desolation; and your enemies that dwell therein shall be astonished at it.

33 And you will I scatter among the nations, and I will draw out the sword after you; and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste.

34 Then shall the land be paid her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye are in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and repay her sabbaths.

35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall have rest; even the rest which it had not in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

36 And as for them that are left of you, I will send a faintness into their heart in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a driven leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as one fleeth from the sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

37 And they shall stumble one upon another, as it were before the sword, when none pursueth; and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.

38 And ye shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.

39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

40 And they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, in their treachery which they committed against Me, and also that they have walked contrary unto Me.

41 I also will walk contrary unto them, and bring them into the land of their enemies; if then perchance their uncircumcised heart be humbled, and they then be paid the punishment of their iniquity;

42 then will I remember My covenant with Jacob, and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.

43 For the land shall lie forsaken without them, and shall be paid her sabbaths, while she lieth desolate without them; and they shall be paid the punishment of their iniquity; because, even because they rejected Mine ordinances, and their soul abhorred My statutes.

44 And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break My covenant with them; for I am HaShem their G-d.

45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their G-d: I am HaShem.

46 These are the statutes and ordinances and laws, which HaShem made between Him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.

Prayers that should be said daily 2-

שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלהֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד:

Shema Yisrael A-donai E-lohenu A-donai Ehadd

- בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוד מַלְכוּתו, לְעולָם וָעֶד:
Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto LeOlam Va'ed
וְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת ה' אֱלהֶיךָ. בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁךָ וּבְכָל מְאדֶךָ:
וְהָיוּ הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה אֲשֶׁר אָנכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּום (יפסיק מעט) עַל לְבָבֶךָ:
וְשִׁנַּנְתָּם לְבָנֶיךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ בָּם. בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ:
וּקְשַׁרְתָּם לְאות עַל יָדֶךָ. וְהָיוּ לְטטָפות בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ:
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזֻזות בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ:
VeAh'avta Et A-donai E-lohecha Bechol Levavecha U'bechol Nafshecha U'bechol Meodecha VeHayi Had'varim Ha'Eleh Asher Anochi Mitsavecha Hayom Al Levavecha VeShinamtam LeVanecha VeDivarta Bam Bishvtecha BeBetecha Ub'lechtecha BaDerech U'Bshavecha U'bKumecha U'Kshatam Le'Ot Al Yadecha VeHayhu LeTotofot Ben Enecha U'Ktavtam Al Mezuzot Betecha U'Bisha'ar echa
וְהָיָה אִם שָׁמעַ תִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶל מִצְותַי אֲשֶׁר אָנכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם הַיּום. לְאַהֲבָה אֶת ה' אֱלהֵיכֶם וּלְעָבְדו בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶם וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁכֶם:
וְנָתַתִּי מְטַר אַרְצְכֶם בְּעִתּו יורֶה וּמַלְקושׁ. וְאָסַפְתָּ דְגָנֶךָ וְתִירשְׁךָ וְיִצְהָרֶךָ:
וְנָתַתִּי עֵשֶׂב בְּשָׂדְךָ לִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ. וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ:
הִשָּׁמְרוּ לָכֶם פֶּן יִפְתֶּה לְבַבְכֶם. וְסַרְתֶּם וַעֲבַדְתֶּם אֱלהִים אֲחֵרִים וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוִיתֶם לָהֶם:
וְחָרָה אַף ה' בָּכֶם וְעָצַר אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלא יִהְיֶה מָטָר וְהָאֲדָמָה לא תִתֵּן אֶת יְבוּלָהּ. וַאֲבַדְתֶּם מְהֵרָה מֵעַל הָאָרֶץ הַטּבָה אֲשֶׁר ה' נתֵן לָכֶם:
וְשַׂמְתֶּם אֶת דְּבָרַי אֵלֶּה עַל לְבַבְכֶם וְעַל נַפְשְׁכֶם. וּקְשַׁרְתֶּם אתָם לְאות עַל יֶדְכֶם וְהָיוּ לְטוטָפת בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם:
וְלִמַּדְתֶּם אתָם אֶת בְּנֵיכֶם לְדַבֵּר בָּם. בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ בְּבֵיתֶךָ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ בַדֶּרֶךְ וּבְשָׁכְבְּךָ וּבְקוּמֶךָ:
וּכְתַבְתָּם עַל מְזוּזות בֵּיתֶךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶיךָ:
לְמַעַן יִרְבּוּ יְמֵיכֶם וִימֵי בְנֵיכֶם עַל הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר (יבטא היטב את העין) נִשְׁבַּע ה' לַאֲבתֵיכֶם לָתֵת לָהֶם. כִּימֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל הָאָרֶץ:

VeHayah Im Shamoah Tishmehu El Mitsvotai Asher Anochi Metsaveh Ete;chem Hayom LeAhavah Et A-donai E-lohecha Bechol Levavechem U'bChol Nafshechem VeNatati METar Arsechem BeIto Yoreh U'Malkosh VeAsafta DeGanecha VeTiroshecha VeYitsarecha VeNatati Esev BeSadecha LeBehhmtecha VeAchalta VeSava'ata HiShamero Lachem Pen Yifteh Levavchem VeSartem VaAvadetem Elohim Acherim VeHistachavetim LaHem VeH`arah Af A-donai BeChem VeHa'Adamah Lo Titen Et Yevulah Vavadatem Meherah Me'ak Ha'aretz HaTovah Asher A-donai Noten Lachem VeShamrtem Et D'vari Eleh Al Levavechem VeAl Nafshechem U'Keshartem Otam Al Yadchem VeHayhu Letotofot Ben Enechem UlMidetem Otam Et Benechem LeDaber Bam BeShivtecha BeBetecha U'Blechtecha BaDerech U'Beshachbecha U'BKumecha U'Ktavtam Al Mezuzot Betecha U'BeSha'arecha LeMa'an Yibuh Yemechem VeYemeh Benechem Al Ha'adamah Asher Nishbah A-donai Latet LaHem KeYemeh HaShamayim Al Ha'Aretz

וַיּאמֶר ה' אֶל משֶׁה לֵּאמר:
דַּבֵּר אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם וְעָשׂוּ לָהֶם צִיצִת עַל כַּנְפֵי בִגְדֵיהֶם לְדרתָם. וְנָתְנוּ עַל צִיצִת הַכָּנָף פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת:
וְהָיָה לָכֶם לְצִיצִת וּרְאִיתֶם אתו וּזְכַרְתֶּם אֶת כָּל מִצְות ה' וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אתָם. וְלא תָתוּרוּ אַחֲרֵי לְבַבְכֶם וְאַחֲרֵי עֵינֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם זנִים אַחֲרֵיהֶם:
לְמַעַן תִּזְכְּרוּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֶת כָּל מִצְותָי. וִהְיִיתֶם קְדשִׁים לֵאלהֵיכֶם:
אֲנִי ה' אֱלהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר הוצֵאתִי אֶתְכֶם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לִהְיות לָכֶם לֵאלהִים. אֲנִי ה' אֱלהֵיכֶם:
אֱמֶת:
- ה' אֱלהֵיכֶם אֱמֶת:

VaYomer A-donai E-l Moshe Lemor Daber El Beneh Yisrael VeAmarta Alehem VeAsu Lahem Tsitist Al Kanfeh Bigdehem LeDorotam VeNatenu Al HaKanaf Petil Techelet VeHayah LaChem LeTsitsit U'reitem Oto U'Zechatrem Et Kol Mitsvot A-donai Va'Asitem Otam VeLo Taturu Ah`areh Enechem Asher Atem Zonim Ah`arehem LeMa'an TeZ`keru et Kol Mitsvotai VeHeyetem Kedoshim LeE-lehchem Ani A-donai E-lohechem Asher Hotseti Et'chem Me'Erets Mitsrayim LeHeyot LaChem LeE-lohim Ani A-donai E-lohechem Adonai Elohechem Emet

Prayers that should be said daily 1-

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְותָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל דִּבְרֵי תורָה:

Baruch Ata A-donai E-lohenu Melech HaOlam Asher Kideshanu BeMitsvotav VeTsivanu Al Divrei Torah

וְהַעֲרֵב נָא ה' אֱלהֵינוּ אֶת דִּבְרֵי תורָתְךָ בְּפִינוּ וּבְפִיפִיּות עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל. וְנִהְיֶה אֲנַחְנוּ וְצֶאֱצָאֵינוּ וְצֶאֱצָאֵי צֶאֱצָאֵינוּ כֻּלָּנוּ יודְעֵי שְׁמֶךָ וְלומְדֵי תורָתְךָ לִשְׁמָהּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', הַמְלַמֵּד תּורָה לְעַמּו יִשְׂרָאֵל:

VeHa'arev Nah A-donai E-lohenu Et Divrei Toratecha BeFeenu U'Befifiot Am'cha Bet Yisrael VeNeyeheh Anah`nu VeTsetsa'enu VeTsetsa'eh Tsetsa'enu Kulanu Yode'ei Shemecha VeLomdei Toratecha Lishmah Baruch Ata A-donai HaMelamed Torah LeAmo Yisrael

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם, אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר בָּנוּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים וְנָתַן לָנוּ אֶת תּורָתו. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', נותֵן הַתּורָה:
Baruch Ata A-donai E-lohenu Melech HaOlam Asher Bah`ar Banu Mikol Ha'Amim VeNatan Lanu Et Torato Baruch Ata Adonai Noten HaTorah
וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֶל משֶׁה לֵּאמר:
דַּבֵּר אֶל אַהֲרן וְאֶל בָּנָיו לֵאמר כּה תְבָרְכוּ אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. אָמור לָהֶם:

VaYidaber A-donai E-l Moshe Lemor Daber El Aharon Ve'el Banav Lemor Ko Tebarechu Et B'nei Yisrael Amor LaHem

יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ:
יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ:
יִשָּׂא ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלום:
וְשָׂמוּ אֶת שְׁמִי עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַאֲנִי אֲבָרְכֵם:

Yevarechecha A-donai VeYishmerecha

Ya'er A-donai Panav Elecha Vih`unekha YIsah A-donai Panac Elecha VeYasem Lecha Shalom

VeSamu Et Shemi Al B'nei Yisrael Va'ani Avarechem

Halacha Yomi 82-

The Qabbalah speaks with praiseworthy about those that say "Pitom HaKetoret" (Zohar, Prashat VaYiksra 218b).

D'var Torah, Pinh`as-

In the Midrash Tanh`uma(Siman 7) it speaks about the daughters of Ts'lafh`ad complaining to Moshe about their father's land.
If they wouldn't have complained would have they gotten the land?
No.
A brief Mashal (parable).
A man goes to the doctor with NO money (very sick), complains and wines, and finally after a while the doctors gives in to treat him.
The next man goes in with a similar illness, and has a little amount of money- about a fourth of the money he needs. The doctors refuses him, and the man leaves.
We see from this complaining- that we must put effort in to what we do.
"HaLomed Torah MeOni Sofo LiLomadah MeOsher- one who leans Torah from poorness, he will end up leaning it from wealth."(Prikei Avot)
The commentaries explain it to mean with "poorness- to be poor in knowledge", and "wealth- to mean being wealthy in knowledge".
Effort is very important, especially for Torah!

Friday, July 2, 2010

Halacha Yomi 81-

One should recite "Shir LaMa'alot Esah Enai..." before "E-l-0-h-a-i Netsor" (Tsiporen Shamir 2:31).

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Halacha Yomi 80-

A person, that accidentally skipped an add-on in prayer- that one doesn't repeat, he may not start over another prayer (Kitsur Shulhan Aruch-Yalkut Yosef 107:1).