Kosher.com Ingredients of Inspiration

Ingredients of Inspiration Acclaimed author and storyteller Rabbi Yechiel Spero bring his stories to Kosher.com in this new series that will give you the dose of inspiration you need each week!

NSN in Atlanta, Day 4

NSN’s adventure in Atlanta concluded this morning as Nachum Segal, NSN General Manager Miriam L. Wallach and Yoni Pollak broadcast live from Beth Jacob Atlanta for Atlanta, Day 4. This morning’s program included interviews with representatives from the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, NCSY, Beth Jacob Atlanta, the Atlanta Jewish Times, Bnai Brith Jacob Synagogue in Savannah, GA, Torah Day School of Atlanta, Temima H.S. for Girls in Atlanta and Knesseth Israel Congregation in Alabama (KI).

SEHPARDIC HALACHA CENTER BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA YITRO 5779 Mob Rules: Does the Torah Sanction Vigilante Justice?

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BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA YISRO 5779 Creating Forbidden Images

The Gemara (Rosh Hashana 24, Avoda Zara 43) explains that this pasuk is the source for a prohibition not to create images of humans, celestial bodies (e.g. sun, moon), angels, and the Beis Hamikdash or its kelim (utensils). The Gemara distinguishes between 3-D images (bolet) and 2-D images (shakua – sunken or flat), but Rishonim dispute the parameters.

Reb Shlomo's Commentary on this Week's Torah Parsha - Yitro

Dear friends — We hope you enjoy this sneak preview of the soon-to-be published commentary of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach on Sefer Shmot. Please make sure to share this with all those who you think would appreciate it. Those That Change, Those That Don’t He heard of the splitting of the Red Sea and the war with Amalek (Rashi on Sh’mos 18:1) There are people in the world who never change. You can show them they are wrong but they just don’t care. There are those who can see the greatest tragedy in the world and not become one ounce deeper. G-d can also show them the greatest joy in the world, and nothing about their essence is touched or changed. Then there are people, whatever happens to them touches them so deep, they become different people. I don’t mean that you can’t recognize them, but something happened to them on the inside. Rashi says that after Yisro heard of the crossing of the Red Sea and about the war with Amalek, he decided he has to come and be with his son-in-law Moshe. What was it that touched him so deep?

OU TORAH YU TORAH and NAALEH.COM Awareness – Acceptance – Attachment By Shira Smiles

Adapted by Channie Koplowitz Stein Bnei Yisroel were finally out of Egypt. They had arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai where they were destined to receive the Torah. Although Hashem had obviously interacted with them before and had acted on their behalf, Hashem now instructs Moshe to make a “formal introduction”. In this introduction, Hashem is reminding Bnei Yisroel that He is not a stranger to them.; “You have seen what I did to Egypt, and that I have borne you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me.” This introduction is then followed by the terms of the covenant Hashem is now establishing with Bnei Yisroel. Our Sages see three stages of our relationship with Hakodosh Boruch Hu in this introduction. Each stage is interpreted by Rashi and then expounded upon by other commentators. The first stage, Rashi points out, is that Hashem is not really a stranger to Bnei Yisroel. You personally have seen what I have done to Egypt. It was not told to you by your parents. As Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch adds, Bnei Yisroel’s awareness of Hashem is not a matter of faith, but of actual experience. It is this same language, “You [yourselves] have seen…” that Hashem later uses to remind Bnei Yisroel of how He spoke to us personally at Har Sinai. In this way, our salvation from Egypt and our accepting the Torah are forever linked, by our personal awareness and witness to both. In both of these experiences, adds Rabbi Beyfus in Yalkut Lekach Tov, we saw the hand of God involved in our lives. This is knowledge we carry deep within our core and is the cornerstone of our religion. Therefore, it is commanded that we teach our children and all future generations about both these events, our leaving Egypt and our stand at Sinai, and mentioning both daily in our prayers. Both these events were part of the process of granting Heavenly existence to Klal Yisroel, adds Rabbi Schmeltzer in Heart of Emunah.

RABBI WEIN ON YITRO 5779

The fact that the Torah has seen fit to provide such a detailed narrative about the visit of the father-in-law of Moshe to the camp of Israel at the beginning of their sojourn in the desert of Sinai, teaches us a valuable lesson in life and human behavior. The truth is that all of us want to be validated by others. It is not enough that we believe in our cause or that we know what type of person or nation we want to be – it is necessary that others recognize this as well and express it to us and validate our emotions, policies and life values

RABBI WEIN On THE CURSE OF HABITUAL POVERTY

A recent report broadcast on Israeli radio detailed the fact that approximately 50% of all of those who declared bankruptcy and were eventually freed from the clutches of the creditors to whom they owed money, within a few years found themselves once again heavily in debt and living a life of moderate to abject poverty.

VBM The Beit Ha-mikdash and the Beit Ha-midrash By Harav Mosheh Lichtenstein

Thunder and lightning and a heavy cloud And all the people perceived the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the voice of the horn, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled, and stood afar off. And they said to Moshe: Speak you with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die. (Shemot 20:15-16) The people of Israel were standing before Mount Sinai, afraid that they would die. It was a frightening situation with thunder, lightning and a heavy cloud, and the people of Israel were terrified: And Moshe brought forth the people out of the camp to meet God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. Now Mount Sinai was altogether on smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. And when the voice of the horn waxed louder and louder, Moshe spoke, and God answered him by a voice. (Shemot 19:17-19)

VBM Two Aggadot Concerning the Giving of the Torah Harav Yaakov Medan

The (Relative) Height of Mount Sinai "A mountain of God is the mountain of Bashan" (Tehillim 68:16). R. Natan said: Since the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to give the Torah to Israel, Carmel came from Aspamia and Tavor from Beit Eilim… This one said: I was called Mount Tavor. It would be fitting for the Shekhina to rest upon me, for I am higher than all the other mountains, and the waters of the flood did not come down on me. And this one said: I was called Mount Carmel. It would be fitting for the Shekhina to rest upon me, because I was placed in the middle, and they crossed the sea over me. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: You have already been disqualified before Me because of your haughtiness! You are all disqualified before Me… All of the mountains began to thunder and to collapse, as it is stated: "The mountains quaked at the presence of the Lord" (Shoftim 5:5). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: "Why look you askance [tirtzedun]" (Tehillim 68:17)? Why do you wish to be judged [tirtzu ladun] with Sinai? You are all "mountains of peaks [gavnunim]" (ibid.). As it is stated: "Or crook-backed [gibben], or a dwarf" (Vayikra 21:20). "At the mountain which God has desired for His abode" (Tehillim 68:17) – I desire nothing but Sinai, which is lower than all of you, as it is stated: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit" (Yeshayahu 57:15). And it is written: "For though the Lord be high, yet he regards the lowly" (Tehillim 138:6). (Midrash Tehillim 68) This aggada describes various mountains – Tavor and Carmel – and the verse with which the exposition opens mentions also the Bashan (perhaps a reference to Mount Chermon). All of these mountains saw themselves as worthy candidates to be the mountain upon which the Torah would be given, but God chose Mount Sinai, the lowest of the mountains, precisely because of it lowliness and humility.

OU TORAH Yitro: The Four Stages of Ma’amad Har Sinai By Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

A wedding ceremony? Well, not exactly; but many sources in Chazal compare the events at Ma’amad Har Sinai to a marriage between God (the groom) and Am Yisrael (the bride). [See for example the last Mishnah in Masechet Taanit!] In this week’s shiur, as we study the numerous ambiguities in Shemot chapter 19, we attempt to explain the deeper meaning of this analogy, as well as the underlying reason for those ambiguities.

OU TORAH Parshas Yisro By Rav Moshe Twersky, HY"D

The fact that Yisro and Mishpatim – two of the parshiyos in the Torah that describe Matan Torah (the giving of the Torah on Sinai) – are read in the middle of the winter is quite advantageous. It affords us the opportunity to reassess our commitment to the mandates of the Torah well before the Yomtov of Shavuos. That said, it is appropriate to clarify and examine the purpose of Matan Torah. There is a well-known statement of the Gra in his commentary on Mishlei (22:19) which has aroused a great deal of curiosity amongst the later commentators. The Gra asserts that the goal of Matan Torah is to facilitate acquiring the attribute of bitachon (trust in Hashem). This seems to be a tremendous chiddush! One would certainly have thought that the primary aim of Matan Torah is to enable Jews to learn Torah, or perhaps to become fully-committed servants of Hashem. And, of course, these rationale are indeed true; yet, the Gra nevertheless singles out bitachon! Perhaps we can understand this as follows. Essentially, Torah is the declaration of ratzon Hashem, the will of the Almighty Creator of the Universe. It is our reference book, if you will, of the Divine will. What it is that Hashem wants out of this whole creation that He created. Torah is the guidebook of instructions for how Hashem wants us to act in this world. But not only in this temporal realm. Equally, it is the expression of the will of Ha’Kadosh Baruch Hu in all of the olamos, for every realm and level of existence that He brought into being and sustains constantly. Rav Chaim Volozhiner, in Nefesh Ha’Chaim (4:27), writes that the Torah travelled down through all the upper worlds until it was given to us as in its this-worldly version. Nevertheless, elaborates Rav Chaim Volozhiner, the Torah retains its essential purity and loftiness that finds expression in the higher worlds. One could thus sum up the basic definition of Torah with the phrase “Torah is ratzon Hashem”. In the higher, spiritual worlds, ratzon Hashem refers to Hashem’s absolute sovereignty. In our physical world, in addition to Hashem’s absolute kingship and control, ratzon Hashem is directed at us. Namely, in terms of the instructions it provides regarding the myriad specifics of how we are meant to utilize our free will to become the best servants of Hashem that we can possibly be. The fact that we don’t always perceive the ratzon Hashem in this world is a function of Hashem deliberately hiding His presence which creates a limitation on our perception of Hashem’s involvement in the world, which, in turn, ensures there will in fact be room for man to exercise his power of free will choice. So, in essence, as one internalizes the overarching missive of the Torah, he is in fact thereby becoming a baal bitachon, a person who trusts in Hashem. True Torah there cannot be without bitachon. Torah is synonymous with the reality that ratzon Hashem encompasses the entire world. Hashem is pulling the strings in every detail of this world and in all of the cosmos, and higher spiritual realms. In a very real sense, then, the basic message that the Torah conveys is that everything that happens to us is with an all-embracing hashgacha pratis (Divine providence). The Torah is one hundred percent, from the beginning until the very end, conveying ratzon Hashem. To not grow in one’s bitachon as one learns and upholds the Torah is to be missing out on an integral part of what Torah is all about. (Audio recording)

OU TORAH Yisro – Haschalos Kashos and Neged Ha’Har By Rav Moshe Twersky, HY"D

The day that Klal Yisrael arrived in Midbar Sinai was Rosh Chodesh, as Rashi explains on the spot. Matan Torah was not until the sixth of Sivan. So why are we being taught about “this day” – that Torah should have fresh newness every day just as on the day it was given – on a day that was not the day of Matan Torah?

OU TORAH Yisro 5779 By Rabbi Shalom Rosner

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YU TORAH Toronto Torah: Yitro 5779

Toronto Torah for Parshat Yitro 5779 includes articles on the parshah, renewal of the Sanhedrin, allocation of tribal land in Israel, Rav Eitam Henkin HY"D, the history of psak and more.

OU TORAH Yitro: The Seeker By Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb

This is the most shocking and astounding phrase in the entire Torah!” These were the words uttered, in Hebrew, by the aging and ailing rabbi who was visiting Baltimore for medical treatment, where I lived long ago. The rabbi was from Israel, where he was the revered and popular dean of a rather famous yeshiva. The treatment he needed was unavailable in Israel at the time, so he journeyed to the community where I was serving as a young pulpit rabbi.

OU TORAH Mount Sinai and the Birth of Freedom By Britain's Former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Covenant & Conversation: Family Edition is a new and exciting initiative from The Office of Rabbi Sacks for 5779. Written as an accompaniment to Rabbi Sacks’ weekly Covenant & Conversation essay, the Family Editionis aimed at connecting older children and teenagers with his ideas and thoughts on the parsha. Each element of the Family Edition is progressively more advanced; The Core Idea is appropriate for all ages and the final element, From The Thought of Rabbi Sacks, is the most advanced section. Each section includes Questions to Ponder, aimed at encouraging discussion between family members in a way most appropriate to them. We have also included a section called Around the Shabbat Table with a few further questions on the parsha to think about. The final section is an Educational Companion which includes suggested talking points in response to the questions found throughout the Family Edition.The splitting of the Reed Sea is engraved in Jewish memory. We recite it daily during the morning service, at the transition from the Verses of Praise to the beginning of communal prayer. We speak of it again after the Shema, just before the Amidah. It was the supreme miracle of the exodus. But in what sense?

RAV KOOK ON Yitro/Shavuot Part 3: Coercion at Sinai

The Torah describes the remarkable events that preceded the Torah’s revelation at Mount Sinai: “Moses led the people out of the camp toward God and they stood at the bottom of the mountain.” (Ex. 19:17) The Midrash interprets the phrase “bottom of the mountain” quite literally: the people were standing, not at the foot of the mountain, but underneath it. “The Holy One held the mountain over them like a bucket and warned them: If you accept the Torah — good. And if not — here you will be buried.” (Shabbat 88a) Would it not have been preferable for the Jewish people to accept the Torah willingly? Why does the Midrash teach that they were forced to accept it?

RAV KOOK ON Yitro Part 2: Breaking Bread with Scholars

When Moses’ father-in-law Jethro met the Israelites in the desert, he rejoiced when he heard about the rescue of the Jewish people from Pharaoh’s hand, and he brought offerings to God. “And Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to share the meal with Moses’ father-in-law before God.” (Ex. 18:12) The expression “before God” appears out of place here. In what way was this particular feast in God’s presence? The Talmudic sage Rabbi Avin explained: “To partake of a meal where a Torah scholar is present is like enjoying the splendor of God’s Divine Presence. After all, did Jethro, Aaron, and the elders of Israel eat before God? They ate before Moses! Rather, this verse teaches us that sharing a meal with a scholar [such as Moses] is like enjoying the splendor of God’s Presence.” (Berachot 64a) Rabbi Avin’s statement needs to be clarified. What is so wonderful about eating with a Torah scholar? Wouldn’t studying Torah with him be a much greater spiritual experience? And in what way is such a meal similar to “enjoying the splendor of God’s Presence”?

RAV KOOK ON Yitro Part 1: The Lesson of Mount Sinai

What does the name Sinai mean? The Talmudic interpretation is surprising — and somewhat shocking: “What is Mount Sinai? The mountain that brought enmity (sin'ah) upon the nations of the world.” (Shabbat 89b) What is the nature of this animosity? What does it have to do with Mount Sinai?

Aneinu Please Daven Critical

I received the following: Sadly my husband's grandmother, Shaindel Shayna Raizel bas Pesha Nechama, passed away today...Thank you for your tefillos

NSN in Atlanta, Day 3

NSN’s adventure in Atlanta continued this morning as Nachum Segal, NSN General Manager Miriam L. Wallach and Yoni Pollak broadcast live from Beth Jacob Atlanta for Atlanta, Day 3. This morning’s program included interviews with representatives from Beth Jacob Atlanta, the Atlanta Kollel, Charlotte Torah Center, Charelston’s Dor Tikvah, Jacksonville’s Etz Chaim Synagogue, American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Delta Airlines and more.

NSN IN ATLANTA, DAY 2

NSN’s adventure in Atlanta continued this morning as Nachum Segal, NSN General Manager Miriam L. Wallach and Yoni Pollak were back at the Young Israel of Toco Hills for Atlanta, Day 2. The program was originally scheduled to be broadcast from Atlanta Jewish Academy (AJA) but due to weather concerns the NSN team was back at the Young Israel. This morning’s show featured the weekly Yeshiva League Sports Update with Elliot Weiselberg, as well as, interviews with Atlanta Jewish Academy, Congregation Beth Israel in New Orleans, Brith Shalom Beth Israel (BSBI) in Charleston and The Kehilla of Sandy Springs. Meir Kay stopped by for an update on the production of the 2019 Kosher Halftime Show that will be airing this Sunday.

Aneinu Please Daven Surgery Soon

Please daven for a refuah shlema for Rabbi Shimshon Moshe ben Bat Zion Malka who is having surgery soon.

Aneinu Please Daven Icu

Please daven for Shira bas Chana Leah in critical condition in ICU sixteen year old 

NSN in Atlanta, Day 1

NSN is on the road in Atlanta this Week! Nachum Segal, NSN General Manager Miriam L. Wallach and Yoni Pollak began a week of programs from Atlanta, GA this morning, with a broadcast from the Young Israel of Toco Hills. The guest list for Atlanta Day 1 included Rabbi Adam Starr, spiritual leader of the Young Israel and Tova Warburg Sinensky, Yoetzet Halacha for the Young Israel, Mayer Fertig, Chief Communications Officer at the American Committee for Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, Rabbi Naftali Herrmann, the Orthodox Union’s (OU) Southeast Regional Director for Community and Synagogue Services, Rabbi Norman Schloss, Kosher Supervisor at the Coca Cola Company, Randy Gold, founder of JScreen, Eric Robbins, President and CEO at the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta and Ambassador Judith Varnai Shorer from the Consulate General of Israel in Atlanta.

Aneinu Tefillos Needed Critical

Please daven for Chaim Dovid ben Rivka. Situation very critical. Thanks

Collive.com and Chabad.org 5779 Kinus Hashluchos Banquet

Watch: Gala banquet of the Kinus Hashluchos with 3,000 Rebbetzins in attendance at the US Armory in Williamsburg. 3,000 Chabad-Lubavitch women emissaries and their guests will celebrate at the annual banquet, the culmination of a five-day International Conference of Women Emissaries. The broadcast of the evening at the US Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, aired live on COLlive.com.

Or Naava Please Daven

As many of you are aware, Rabbi Chaim Tuvia and Daphne Hanson's son, Yisroel Meir needs a refuah shelama. BH we have seen amazing yeshous and miracles. But we still have much to daven for. Rabbi Wallerstein and the entire staff of Ohr Naava kindly ask that everyone continue to daven and say Tehillim for Yisroel Meir ben Daphne Bruria. Daphne has specifically asked that everyone please concentrate and be extra careful while saying Asher Yatzar. In this zechus, may we see a complete Refuah Shelamah and share many Besoros Tovos.

SEPHARDIC HALACHA CENTER BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA BESHALACH 5779 Paying With Fire II: The California Wildfires Revisited

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BAIS HAVAAD ON THE PARSHA BESHALACH 5779 Practical Halachos of Techum Shabbos

Techum Shabbos dictates that one may not walk more than 2000 amos on Shabbos past his location (or his contiguous inhabited area) when Shabbos began. Traveling less than 12 Mil is derabanan. More than 12 Mil outside the techum is subject to machlokes: Some hold it constitutes an issur deoraisa based on the pasuk Others hold, that too, is only derabanan.

OU TORAH YU TORAH and NAALEH.COM Dough: Double and Delectable By Shira Smiles

After Hashem brought Bnei Yisroel out of Egypt, Bnei Yisroel traveled through the desert to reach the Promised Land, a journey that would last forty years. During that time, Hashem miraculously provided for all of the people’s needs, leaving them to spend all their time studying the holy Torah Hashem had gifted them. One of these miracles was the food they received, the mann/manna that rained down daily from heaven. But, like so many of the miracles this generation witnessed, the miracle itself contained different elements.

RABBI WEIN ON B’SHALACH 5779

This week the Torah introduces us to the miraculous heavenly food – the mannah that fell from heaven and sustained the Jewish people for 40-years during their sojourn in the desert of Sinai. This food had miraculous qualities; it could acquire whatever taste the person eating it desired, it produced no waste material, but it had a very limited shelf life. It could not be stored for the next day and rotted away if not consumed daily.

RABBI WEIN ON TEXTING

I must preface this piece of writing by stating that I am a technological dinosaur. I hardly ever use my cell phone except in emergencies and when I am visiting outside of Israel. I do not have a smart phone or even a kosher phone. I just have an old-fashioned cell phone that only makes and receives calls. Additionally, I admit that I never text; I do not know how it is done. And, in any event, my eyesight currently would not allow me to do so even if I wish to.

Trees, Israel and Geula Why is there a special New Year for trees? On Tu B'Shvat, the almond trees in the mountains of Israel begin to blossom, carrying a special message for the Jewish People... By Rabbi Lazer Brody

This time of the year, the trees are celebrating. On Tu B'Shvat in the Land of Israel, the deciduous orchards are coming back to life, with almond being the first to blossom. Not only do they celebrate the New Year for trees by vibrantly awakening from their winter slumber, but tradition tells us that the blossoming trees of the Land of Israel are the forerunners of the Geula, the full redemption of our people, speedily and in our days, amen… The trees are indeed privileged in that they merit their own special new year, the 15th of Shvat or "Tu B'Shvat". What makes them so special?

VBM TU BISHVAT The Almond Tree By Harav Yaakov Medan

I The almond tree, which during this very time of the year dons its white apparel, its "kittel," heralds the impending New Year, the New Year for trees. It represents its fellow trees, proclaiming the spring before its time: The almond tree rushes to blossom before the other trees. (Radak, Yirmeyehu 1:12) The period during which trees generally blossom is the month of Nisan: One who goes out during the days of Nisan, and sees trees blossoming, recites…. (Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayyim 226:1) And the Mishna Berura explains: During the days of Nisan – This is the usual situation, for it is ordinarily then that in the warm countries the trees blossom. (Mishna Berura 226:1) If, then, the almond tree is alacritous, and its flowering precedes Nisan by two months, this is no empty matter.

VBM The Song of the Sea By Harav Yaakov Medan

I. "The Great Hand" And Israel saw the great hand which the Lord did upon the Egyptians, and the people feared the Lord; and they believed in the Lord and in His servant Moshe. (Shemot 14:31) The Rishonim wondered what it was exactly that the people of Israel saw and how one can see the hand of God. Some concluded from here that God has in fact a body and a hand,[1] unlike the position of the vast majority of Jewish thinkers. This is how the Rambam – who vehemently opposed this exceptional view – describes the proponents of this view at the beginning of his Guide for the Perplexed: If they did not conceive God as having a body possessed of face and limbs, similar to their own in appearance, they would have to deny even the existence of God. The sole difference which they admitted was that He excelled in greatness and splendor and that His substance was not flesh and blood. (Guide for the Perplexed I:1)

VBM The Splitting of the Sea By Harav Yaakov Medan

I. "Speak to the Children of Israel, that they go forward" The following verses describe the well-defined division of labor between the various characters who played an active role on the shores of the Yam Suf: And the Lord said to Moshe: “Why do you cry to Me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward. And lift you up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it; and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground. And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them; and I will get Me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gotten Me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.” (Shemot 14:15-18) We will deal with the role of two of the active players: that of the people of Israel and that of God.

OU TORAH Beshalach: A Desert Seminar – All on the Way to Har Sinai By Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

Bnei Yisrael’s journey from Egypt to Har Sinai was certainly not easy. Instead of the anticipated cheerful ‘three day journey’, Bnei Yisrael endured several weeks of life-threatening situations – including lack of food & water, and military attacks by both Egypt and Amalek. Did something go wrong, or were all of these events part of God’s original ‘plan’? Furthermore, if these ‘tests of faith’ were indeed part of a divine ‘plan’ – did God really expect for Bnei Yisrael not to complain?

YU TORAH Toronto Torah: Beshalach 5779

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OU TORAH Beshalach – The Mahn and Its Incredile Significance By Rav Moshe Twersky, HY"D

Rashi brings the well known Chazal that this pasuk is reffering to the few mitzvos that Klal Yisrael was given already in Marah: Shabbos, Parah Adumah, and Dinin. The parsha that immediately follows this is parshas ha’mahn. After Klal Yisrael left Marah, moved on to Eilim, and then travelled to Midbar Sin on the fifteenth of Iyar, they complained about lack of food, and that is when they began receiving the mahn. It emerges, then, that the chronological order between Shabbos and the mahn is that they first got Shabbos, and almost a month later began receiving the mahn.

OU TORAH Beshalach 5779 By Rabbi Shalom Rosner

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OU TORAH Horse and Rider By Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb

Pharaoh was just the first. One way of looking at Jewish history is as a series of encounters with evil rulers. Pharaoh, whom we have been reading about these past several weeks, was just the first tyrant who persecuted us. Over the millennia, he was followed by Nebuchadnezzar, Haman, Antiochus, Titus, Hitler, Stalin, and others too numerous to mention.

OU TORAH The Divided Sea: Natural or Supernatural? By Britain's Former Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

Covenant & Conversation: Family Edition is a new and exciting initiative from The Office of Rabbi Sacks for 5779. Written as an accompaniment to Rabbi Sacks’ weekly Covenant & Conversation essay, the Family Editionis aimed at connecting older children and teenagers with his ideas and thoughts on the parsha. Each element of the Family Edition is progressively more advanced; The Core Idea is appropriate for all ages and the final element, From The Thought of Rabbi Sacks, is the most advanced section. Each section includes Questions to Ponder, aimed at encouraging discussion between family members in a way most appropriate to them. We have also included a section called Around the Shabbat Table with a few further questions on the parsha to think about. The final section is an Educational Companion which includes suggested talking points in response to the questions found throughout the Family Edition.The splitting of the Reed Sea is engraved in Jewish memory. We recite it daily during the morning service, at the transition from the Verses of Praise to the beginning of communal prayer. We speak of it again after the Shema, just before the Amidah. It was the supreme miracle of the exodus. But in what sense?

RAV KOOK ON Beshalach Part 2: The Inner Song of the Soul

The Talmud portrays Shirat HaYam, the Israelites’ song of thanksgiving at their miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea, as a song of young children and babies: “When the Israelites exited the sea, they wanted to sing. How did they sing? A young child was sitting on his mother’s lap, and a baby was nursing at his mother’s breast. When they witnessed the Shechinah , the young child lifted his neck and the baby stopped nursing, and they sang out, “This is my God and I will honor Him” (Ex. 15:2).” (Sotah 30b) Why did the Sages describe Shirat HaYam as a song breaking forth spontaneously from the mouths of babes?

RAV KOOK ON Beshalach Part 1: Innate and Acquired Holiness

On the banks of the Red Sea, with Egyptian slavery behind them, the Israelites triumphantly sang Shirat HaYam. This beautiful “Song of the Sea” concludes with a vision of a future crossing into freedom and independence — across the Jordan River, to enter the Land of Israel. “Until Your people have crossed, O God; until the people that You acquired have crossed over.” (Ex. 15:16) Why the repetition — “until Your people have crossed,” “until the people... have crossed over”? The Talmud (Berachot 4a) explains that the Jewish people crossed the Jordan River twice. The first crossing occurred in the time of Joshua, as the Israelites conquered the Land of Israel from the Canaanite nations. This event marked the beginning of the First Temple period. The second crossing took place centuries later, when Ezra led the return from Babylonian exile, inaugurating the Second Temple period. The verse refers to both crossings. In what way does each phrase relate to its specific historical context?

Collive.com Please Daven

Rabbi Zalmen Baras from Cincinnati was transferred this week to a hospital in Minnesota where he is undergoing medical treatment. Please say Tehillim. Message from the family of Rabbi Zalmen Baras: Rabbi Zalmen Baras (from Cincinnati) was transferred this week to a hospital in Minnesota where he is undergoing medical treatment. The doctors are doing their part, but we need to do our part in adding in Torah, Teffila and Tzedaka in his zchus.  Please take upon yourself an additional kvius in learning, a few additional kapitelach Tehillim daily, an amount of money to give to Tzedaka and/or any other hachlata for his refua.  The Rebbe's brocho to him will surely come true; let's take a part in materializing the brocho.  His full name is Chaim Shneur Zalmen ben Miriam. His Kapitel in 38. Please spread the word - each additional hachlata tova will surely have an impact.

Aneinu Tehillim Needed! Please Daven

Please daven for a former Chicagoan, Miriam bas Masha Ella who is very ill and needs tefillos for a refuah shlema. 

Fwd: [Aneinu] Wind Chill Advisory

Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy Note8.

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From: myysbyy via chicago-aneinu <chicago-aneinu@googlegroups.com>

Date: 1/24/19 12:44 PM (GMT-06:00)

To: myysbyy@aol.com

Subject: [chicago-aneinu] Wind Chill Advisory

Wind Chill Advisory Dear Neighbor, The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for Chicago. Wind chill values of 20 below zero to 30 below zero are expected to start this evening and last until noon on Friday. Cold weather is then expected to continue through the weekend. The combination of cold air and wind we will experience tonight poses a severe risk of frostbite and hypothermia. Please take all necessary precautions when leaving your home. Wear several layers of loose, warm clothing, and always keep your head, hands and feet covered when outdoors. Please also remember to check regularly on the well-being of friends, relatives and neighbors who live alone, especially the elderly and those with disabilities. The City has outreach teams on-duty during weather emergencies. These teams make home visits to check on the elderly and others who may suffer from extreme temperatures. Anyone needing assistance, or who is concerned about a neighbor, relative or friend, can call 311 to request a well-being check. Stay warm and stay safe.   Sincerely, Debra L. Silverstein Alderman, 50th Ward Address: 2949 W. Devon Avenue Phone: 773-262-1050 Fax: 773-381-2970 Hours: M-T 9am-4:30pm; F 9am-3:30pm Ward Night: Monday 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Facebook Twitter Website Copyright © 2019 Alderman Debra Silverstein, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up on our website, facebook, or other communication with our office. Our mailing address is: Alderman Debra Silverstein 2949 W. Devon Chicago, Illinois 60659

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