Rosh Chodesh Adar:


K'shem shemishenichnas Av mematin b'simcha kach Mishenichnas Adar marbin b'simcha.

Is this an instruction or merely a statement of fact?

Just like during Av we are a little downcast. We usually do not wake up Tisha B'Av morning in a jolly mood. So to when Adar comes around we are in a more upbeat mood. The days are getting longer. The weather is warming. Spring is just around the corner. Life begins to look a bit more rosy.


Don't you all feel a bit happier during this season of rebirth?

Yosef Hatzadik wrote on 07 Mar 2011 23:20:


At first, I thought that the above does not fit with Rashi who says that it is because of the miracles of Purim & Pesach. Upon further reflection, it does seem to agree.

A questioner asked Rav miller Zt"l how to reconcile when the Torah & Scientists contradict each other?

"They usually don't," was the reply. "Lets talk about rainbows for an example. The Torah tells us that a rainbow comes when Hashem is angry at the world & is remembering the promise He made to Noach. The scientists say that it is a natural phenomena of the sun's rays bing split by the water vapor which is present in the air in the all the colors of the spectrum.

"How to reconcile them? The scientists are NOT saying why there is a rainbow, they are only describing how it happens. Why it happens is because of Hashem's shevuah. How does Hashem make a rainbow? What is Hashem doing? He makes the light shine through a prism. HE created the 'laws of Nature' that light, when shone through a prism, splits into many hues. It is all maasei Hashem!!

"Why is it happening NOW? Because it is needed as reminder/wake-up call at this present moment."


Same here.

While scientists might say that the 'springiness' that we feel in the air [& in our step] is due to the increased Vitamin D that is absorbed with the more direct sunlight, but Rashi is teaching us that this may be explaining the 'how' of the matter. The miracles of Purim & Pesach (which, Seforim explain, are repeating themselves on a spiritual basis annually) is the REAL reason why it occurs!

Parshas Vayikra:


Vayikra

Why the small Alef?

Without the Alef it reads: Vayikar.

Happenstance. Coincidence. By chance.

Insert an Alef. Insert Hashem - The Alufo Shel Olam (The Nobleman of The World)....

Now it is: Vayikra!!!

By invitation. By design. Premeditated according to God's Master Plan.



Vayikar Elokim el Bilaam(Balak 23:4)
Loshon arai, loshon g'nai, loshon tumas keri (Rashi)

Vayikar = Absence of recognizing that Hashem is in Control = A Disgrace = Tumas Keri!!!!


How can we combat that attitude?

By inserting an Alef!

Bring Hashem in to the picture.

It is ALL part of Hashem's Plan!!!

---

When Amalek made inroads in this matter,

Hayeish hashem b'kirbeinu im a'yin?

We failed to recognize Hashem's constant presence in all matters,

Asher Karcha baderech.

The result is Tumas Keri!




This may be why the letter Alef is missing from Hashem's Throne as long as Amalek's effect is in power....  (Yad al keis Kah - Ein kisso shaleim!)


_{(More on this Iy"h next week.)}

Yosef Hatzadik wrote on 10 Mar 2011 22:33:


Leaving this space to elaborate more on the above -  -  -  When time allows.

Parshas Vayikra:

V'hikrivu Hakohen. Afilu 'pereida' achasyavie. _(Rashi)

Even if someone sins often, even ONE time separating from an aveira brings him close to Hashem!

Parshas Vayikra:

Hashem has no problem accepting the stinky feathers in a Korban;

But NOT the parts with stolen food!


Low quality mitzvos are OK - just not nuchgemacht/copycat.

Our avodas Hashem should be genuine. Not just 'going the the motions' like every body else in the community.

Parshas Tzav:


Ka'asher assah hayom hazeh tzivah Hashem la'asos l'chaper aleichem. _(8:34)

Yosef Hatzadik wrote on 22 Dec 2010 22:01:


This is what the passuk says:
Ka'asher assah hayom hazeh tzivah Hashem la'asos l'chaper aleichem!!


An alternative pshat can be:

The way to do teshuva is by concentrating that TODAY should be clean! One Day At A Time!
Ka'asher assah hayom hazeh - to concentrate on my performance TODAY. This is what Hashem wants us to do. This will be l'chaper aleichem - our kapparah!

Taanis Tzibbur:


Yaazov Rasha darko v'ish aven machshavosav. _(Haftora)

It is not enough for the Baal Teshuva to refrain from physically doing aveiros, He must also control his thoughts!

We MUST stay away from any & all lustful thoughts!!!

Megilas Esther:


Vatosef Esther vat'daber lifnei Hamelech vatipol lifnei raglav vateivk vatischanen lo. _(8:3)

The gemara says that the word Hamelech in the megilla is referring to Hashem.

Esther wants to daven to Hashem.

First she needs to make sure that Hashem will listen to her, that Hashem is near her.


Hashem says about the Baal Gaava - a haughty person, "I and he cannot coexist in one place."

Kol haholech b'komah zekufa k'illui docheik raglei Hashechina - Whomever walks with an erect posture (i.e. an arrogant manner) it is as if he is compressing Hashem's 'feet'.

If Esther wants to be in Hashem's Presence she must ingrain the trait of humility.

Esther was sooooo humble, not only did she not 'walk erect', she fell before Hashem's 'feet'!

She totally negated herself before Hashem!!!



Vateivk vatischanen lo. Now, she is praying to Him! Her tefilos are reaching their targeted audience!!!

Megilas Esther:


Vashti was quite comfortable in immodest situations.

She did not learn Rav Falk's sefer, Oz V'hodor Levusha.

Yet she reached a point where she refused an immoral request.

Why?

Even she had her limit.

She did want to be publicly humiliated.

She didn't want to be seen with her tail.

She didn't want her tail to become public knowledge.

Do we want our tale to become public knowledge?

Let's Hit bottom while still on top!!!

Parshas Shemini:


V'assei ess chatascha v'ess olasecha v'chapeir ba'adcha uv'ad ha'am. _(9:7)

[quote="Dov]
Hashem led me to Fall with an [i]aveira [/i]so that I should realize how low I am & get a jolt. That is what got me into Recovery.
[/quote]
[quote Author=Steve (The Pickle)]
When my Recovery includes Step 12, I making my [i]aveira [/i]into a [i]zchus[/i]!

I wouldn't have been able to help others if I wouldn't have fallen myself!
[/quote]

[i]V'assei ess chatascha[/i] - Hashem led me to my Aveira,

[i]v'ess olasecha[/i] - to reach a way for me to rise up!

[i]v'chapeir ba'adcha[/i] - it will be a kappara for me...

[i]uv'ad ha'am[/i] - 'cuz I can now better help others out of their aveiros too!



[size=3pt]This is NOT a [i]heter[/i] for Carlbach. We CANNOT say this [i]l'katchilah[/i]!!![/size]

Parshas Sazria:


V'raahu hakohen v'timei osso.


Even the good guys gotta guard their eyes.


The Kohen will see it & it will defile him!

Parshas Sazria:


V'hinei hanega amad b'einav......v'hisgiro. _(13:5)

As long as he still has the negah in his eyes..... he is still shackled!!!!

He is still tamei!

Im ein ani li, mi li = I cannot rely on others to stop me (via PM, gchat or otherwise!)

But!!!

k'she'ani l'atzmi = when I am trying to do it all alone, all by myself,
mah ani = I am BOUND to fail

Parshas Sazria:


Uvayom har'os bo basar chai yitma. _(12:14)

Rashi explains this to refer to someone who had a negga which couldn't be viewed properly, if he becomes 'fleshier' (i.e. politically correct way of saying 'fatter') or in Rashis words, "k'gan shehivri v'naase rachav" & now it can be seen, it is now considered a negga and dealt with in accordance with the applicable halochos.


Our lesson from this:

Even thougha person made his cheshbon hanefesh, he took an inventory of his faults & failings, his resentments & fears, all his defect of character, and worked on them to the extent of his ability (& made amends where possible); as he progress in his recovery he ought to revisit his spiritual accounting. It is likely that in light of his new growth, certain aspect which weren't visible in the past may not be noticeable.

As a person progresses to greater hight he can afford to hold himself to a higher standard!




>>Step 10: "We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."<<