Refuah-Shelayma.org

Parshas Chayei Sarah

Naffers — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 03:36:25 +0000

In this week’s parsha Sarah dies. Based on the way that her age is written (one hundred years and twenty years and seven years) we learn that all her years were equal in their goodness. This however is very difficult to understand, certainly the time that she was kidnapped by Pharaoh then again by Avimelech was not equal in goodness to the times of happiness. Also for 90 years she was childless and her greatest desire was to have a child. How can we say that the years spent waiting was equal in goodness to the time that she had her son? This is a great praise of Sarah, she knew that all that happened in her life was decreed by HaShem and therefore was for her benefit and good. Therefore through any incidentthat may have seemed negative she never lost her composure and they all seemed good to her (which in truth they were). Let us try to take a lesson from the outlook on life that our Foremother had and face all that happens in life with equanimity and the knowledge that although it may seem bad, it is ultimately for our good.

Tuesday Newsletter: October 26

Naffers — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:34:40 +0000

After Eve gave Adam to eatfrom the Tree of Knowledge through which death was brought into the world, Adam named Eve. One would expect that the name he would give her would reflect that she caused death to exist. The name he gave her Eve (Chava) means mother of all life. Although he could have looked at the negative side of his wife, he chose to view the positive, in that she would bring all people into this world. We can take a lesson from this when we view our own spouses, or anyone else we come in contact with, or situations we are dealing with, or even the world at large. Let us try to focus on the positive, and make ourselves and the world around us better for it.

Rosh HaShana 5771

Naffers — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:19:06 +0000

Over the course of Rosh HaShana we invoke the merit of the Akeida (the binding of Yitzchok by Avraham his father as a sacrifice) many times. We are taught that we should be constantly striving to reach the great levels reached by our forefathers. Although we will never have the same scenario and test that was given to Avraham and Yitzchok in the Akeida, we may have comparable ones. There are times when one has a choice to do what HaShem wants from us, to keep the Torah and mitzvos in very difficult times. We are to try to emulate Avraham in that we should try to serve HaShem regardless of the circumstances, or tests that may come our way. If we are determined to live our lives in that way we are certainly entitled to call upon the merits of the forefathers.

Parshas Nitzavim - Vayelech

Naffers — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:05:21 +0000

In this week’s parsha the Moshe gives his final speech to the Jewish Nation. He instructs us how best to live for all time. He tells us that times will come when not all Jews are keeping the Torah, and each one of us will have times when we are not keeping it the way that we should (each of us knows what we could and should do better). Then we will have an awakening, and he tells us that we should know, “for it is very close to you, this thing, in your mouth and heart to do it” this is referring to teshuva, returning and coming close to HaShem. How are we to understand that it is very close, which would imply easy, when we know that at times it may be quite difficult? Because all it takes is that first step, in our mouths, just to say that we want to be better. Following that our hearts will feel that which we spoke with our mouths, than we have to do it. When we try we receive divine assistance, all that is needed is that first sincere step.

Parshas Ki Savo

Naffers — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:19:44 +0000

In this week’s Parsha there is a posuk “This day HaShem commands you to keep the mitzvos”. The yetzer horah often will tell us that although we certainly must do the mitzvos, today there is not time or is inconvenient and tomorrow we will get a fresh start and begin keeping all the mitzvos and do teshuva, and do all the right things. When tomorrow arrives, it is often the same thing, day after day. The Torah tells us, do it today, do not put it off until tomorrow. Another ruse of the yetzer horah is to tell us that it is too much to take on to keep the Torah for the rest of our life! We are therefore told that we are commanded for today, one can certainly keep the mitzvos for today, then tomorrow we will worry about tomorrow!

Parshas Ki Seitzei

Naffers — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:08:34 +0000

In this week’s Parsha we learn the mitzva of “maakeh” (fence). When a person has a roof, porch or balcony that is accessible, we are commanded to put up a fence so that no one can fall off. The posuk says “when you build a new house put up a fence for your roof”. The Ben Ish Chai interprets this very poignantly for the month of Elul (the current month, the month before Rosh HaShana during which we try to do teshuva and repent). A person is a house for HaShem to dwell in, when we do teshuva and become closer to G-d we are considered as new, so it is as though we have built a new house. We are told to put up a fence, so as to insure that we do fall back into our old sinful behavior. May we all be successful in doing teshuva and keep the ground that we have gained and continually grow greater and greater.

Parshas Shoftim

Naffers — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 00:31:27 +0000

In this week’s parsha we are commanded to “Establish for yourself judges and enforcers at all your gates that HaShem your G-d has given to you”. A gate is something that has entrance or exit capabilities, the gates of a person therefore would be the five senses as they allow information into the person, and the power of speech which allows it to leave the person. We are commanded to set up guards for ourselves so that we judge what it is that enters our mind, making sure that it is pure and worthy to do so, as well as judging what it is that we say. We must also try to set up for ourselves ways to ensure that we do only what we deem appropriate, else the judgement will have no chance of being followed.

Parshas Re’eh

Naffers — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:20:48 +0000

In this week’s parsha we learn the laws of a “maisis” one who attempt to lead others astray and convince them to worship idols. The punishment for this rasha and the way we deal with him is the harshest and most severe that we find in the entire Torah. Rav Simcha Zissel used to point out that this person although very evil did not actually convince anyone to do anything wrong, and even still solely for the attempt he is punished so harshly. If we try to bring others close to HaShem the reward for it will be immeasurable and we will reap the benefits for all eternity.

Parshas Va’Eschanan

Naffers — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 02:32:42 +0000

In this week’s Parsha Moshe tells the Jews that we are blessed because we have the Torah. There are many times in a person’s life when he has to make a decision. At times we are unsure what to do and it may be difficult, if we could ask HaShem what to do and He would tell us that would be fantastic. We who have the Torah have the solution to any issue that may arise in life. Besides for the mitzvos and avairos that are contained within it which instruct us how to behave in all situations, there is advice for anything that exists. For example, in investing the Torah advises splitting ones money into thirds, (real estate, movables, and savings) so that one will always have what to fall back on if one doesnt work. This applies to each individual and to the nation as a whole as well. We are truly a fortunate people to have been given the Torah, HaShem’s gift to us.

Tisha Ba’Av 5770

Naffers — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:56:02 +0000

Today is Tisha Ba’Av the Jewish day of mourning. There have been innumerable tragedies that have occurred to our people on this day throughout the millenia of our history. We mourn the loss of the two Bais Hamikdash that were destroyed on this day among many other terrible events. There is a chapter in Tehillim that describes the destruction and it begins, a Song to Asaf. The Gemara asks why is it called a song? It should be called an elegy (mournful poem)!! The Gemara answers that since HaShem took out His anger (so to speak) on sticks and stones (the Bais Hamikdash) and did not destroy us as a people we sing a song. Although Tisha Ba’Av is a day of mourning, it is also a day of hope, a day of recognition of our existence. After all we have been through as a Nation we are still around and this is the greatest miracle in our history. Let this be the last Tisha Ba’Av as a day of mourning and let next year be a day of joy!!