Sunday, August 31, 2008

FROM RABBI SHANDALOV

Some important reminders





1. The "Worldwide Bracha Initiative" is tomorrow (1 Elul,
5768--September 1, 2008). Please do your best to recite as many
Brachot as possible with proper Kavana and pronounce the words
clearly.

2. Tonight, August 31, 2008, at Maariv, we begin to recite L'David at
the conclusion of Maariv. It is then said daily after Shacharit
(Nusach Ashkenaz) or Mincha (Nusach Sefard) and again after Maariv.

3. On Monday, we begin to blow the Shofar after Shacharit daily
(except for Shabbat) until the day before Erev Rosh Hashana.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

WORLDWIDE BERACHA INITIATIVE MONDAY

Brachot...Brochos...Blessings. Whatever you call them, we recite them
for so many different reasons. We say Brachot before we eat, after we
eat, for lightning, for learning Torah and for dozens of other
reasons.

One danger in reciting so many Brachot is that, very often, the
reciting of these Brachot becomes a matter of rote. All too often a
Bracha is swallowed even more than the very food that one is eating!
Occasionally, one may forget to recite a Bracha or one will not be
certain if, in fact, he even recited a Bracha.

we have begun the month of Elul. The month of Elul is a
month in which we are to begin awakening within ourselves a feeling of
change, renewal and Teshuva. With the onset of Elul, we are to perform
serious acts of introspection. I am suggesting that on the second day
of Rosh Chodesh Elul (i.e., the first day of Elul) , which will
correspond to September 1, 2008, there be a concerted effort by Jews
ALL OVER THE WORLD to concentrate on each and every Bracha made that
day.

By doing so, Jews all over the world will join together to THANK
HASHEM for His myriad of blessings that He has bestowed on each and
every one of us. IMAGINE! One singular day wherein everyone pays
attention to his/her Brachot. A day where everyone says them clearly
and slowly. A day where those who may not be very careful with
reciting brachot are propelled to do so.

In the zechut of heightened awareness of making Brachot even if only
for that one day (but hopefully more) may Hashem help all of us to do
a total and proper Teshuva.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Please continue your prayers for Yisroel Noah ben Hinda, Rabbi Noah
Weinberg.

Your prayers are helping! Here's an update from his son, Yehuda:

Dear Aish Hatorah Family,

It's always easier to update you when things look a bit better. And

even though it's been a while since the last update, I preferred to

wait for better news to share.

My father, the Rosh Hayeshiva shlita has gone through a difficult
time

in the last few weeks. The doctors are satisfied with the situation

that the Rosh Hayeshiva finds himself in with this disease in his

lungs and although the condition is stable, nonetheless the condition

still exists and requires a lot of medical attention.

The Rosh Hayeshiva is still going through with chemo therapy

treatments and unfortunately it weakens him very much. One of the

results of him being weak was that last week he had a bout of

dehydration and needed to be hospitalized for a few days. However, as

I said, B"H in the last few days he's feeling better and getting

stronger.

We're still far from having our Rosh Hayeshiva back to "normal" and

according to the doctor's forecasting, it might take a while. Please

continue to pray for my father, the Rosh Hayeshiva, our Rebbe, that
he

should have a complete refuah shelamah and that he should be able to

go back to having his former strentgh restored because as he is
always

telling me " We have so much to do".

Thank you all for all your love and concern.

Yehuda

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, shlita, Rosh Hayeshiva of

Yeshiva Torah Ohr, was brought to the hospital over Shabbat after he
fainted and was unconscious for several minutes. He is said to have
not been feeling well since Thursday. The public was asked to pray for
the health of Harav Chaim Pinchas Ben Yosefa.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

WORLDWIDE BRACHA INITATIVE

Brachot...Brochos...Blessings. Whatever you call them, we recite them
for so many different reasons. We say Brachot before we eat, after we
eat, for lightning, for learning Torah and for dozens of other
reasons.

One danger in reciting so many Brachot is that, very often, the
reciting of these Brachot becomes a matter of rote. All too often a
Bracha is swallowed even more than the very food that one is eating!
Occasionally, one may forget to recite a Bracha or one will not be
certain if, in fact, he even recited a Bracha.

Very soon, we will begin the month of Elul. The month of Elul is a
month in which we are to begin awakening within ourselves a feeling of
change, renewal and Teshuva. With the onset of Elul, we are to perform
serious acts of introspection. I am suggesting that on the second day
of Rosh Chodesh Elul (i.e., the first day of Elul) , which will
correspond to September 1, 2008, there be a concerted effort by Jews
ALL OVER THE WORLD to concentrate on each and every Bracha made that
day.

By doing so, Jews all over the world will join together to THANK
HASHEM for His myriad of blessings that He has bestowed on each and
every one of us. IMAGINE! One singular day wherein everyone pays
attention to his/her Brachot. A day where everyone says them clearly
and slowly. A day where those who may not be very careful with
reciting brachot are propelled to do so.

In the zechut of heightened awareness of making Brachot even if only
for that one day (but hopefully more) may Hashem help all of us to do
a total and proper Teshuva.

Friday, August 15, 2008

BARUCH DAYAN HAEMES

Thursday morning, 13 Av, 3:00 am, Hashem took back our Rochie(Yocheved Chaya Rochel bas Esther Malka), claiming his, and what was most precious to us. Words cannot describe....

ובלע המות לנצח
"And Hashem will swallow death forever and will wipe the tears from upon every face."

When will this darkness end...

Friday, August 8, 2008

TISHA BAV(DONT FORGET ABOUT OU WEBCAST)



The fast of Tishah B'Av begins this evening(motzi shabbos) at sunset.

Some of the fast's mourning practices--such as refraining from Torah study other than texts related to the events and nature of the fast day(some opinions say if it will cause bitul torah you can learn what you want on shabbos) --are observed beginning from midday today.

Finish eating by sunset. After nightfall say, "Blessed is He who distinguishes between the holy and the mundane." No Havdalah tonight, but light a candle and recite the fire blessing. Havdalah is recited after the fast (omitting the candle and incense blessings).missed the live webcat dont worry you can still see the recorded ou tisha bav webcast here

Two Approaches to Torah Study



The next installment of Memorializing the Murdered through the Teachings of their Master.

ROVING RABBIS

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