Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Parshiyos Zos HaBracha, Beresheis and Yom Kippur

An important warning to my readers about tracking and computer security:

The following explains how Google and Facebook tracks you every move on the computer and gathers all sorts of information about you. They then supply you only with what you want to do, hear, watch, etc. Now what happens if you want both sides of an argument to make up your own mind without them? Advertisers are supplied information about you. Did you know that RP of Hollywood, FL likes this or RP in the Modiin area likes Gefilte Fish or Parve or Kosher and is not a big fan of devil worship or witchcraft? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOE1HFEL8XA

After I learned about all the tracking from Google Chrome and search, I reinstated Firefox and they have this site that prevents tracking cookies. What is not there business is not their business and I don’t like monkey business. https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/trackmenot/

Yom Kippur and sensible behavior
Of the things forbidden on Yom Kippur is all manner of Melacha, eating & drinking, wearing sandals aka leather shoes, washing and marital relations in order to afflict ones soul. However, two years ago, I developed foot problems that arches alone could not solve. I decided to wear sneakers with arches and walk to a Schul very close by. For approximately a month I was in pain every step. The Torah does not require this! I did not know the consequences of my action. Since then on Tisha B’Av and Yom Kippur I wear leather shoes with my Teflon ankle supports.
Each year I warn diabetics, cancer patients, heart, kidney and other patients to consult their physician if they are permitted to fast. (Preferably an Orthodox Jewish MD who has some understanding of the nature of the disease.) Now if the person enters a state of feeling worse than her/she ever felt on a fast day then he or she should try to eat or drink less than a Shuir aka less than a small Kiddush Cup of water or less than the bulk of an egg in increments of 9 minutes for drinking and 9 minutes for eating. However, if one is very ill on the fast he is his own Doctor and Rabbi he uses his discretion and if he must break the fast then he should.

THE GIFT OF YOM KIPPUR by Rabbi Weisz condensed from http://www.aish.com/print/?contentID=48971056&section=/tp/i/ky

That is why God gave us Yom Kippur. On this one special day, God allowed us to step out of our ordinary selves and gave us a glimpse of our true connection to Him, and allowed our representative, the High Priest, to become self-aware on the level of Neshama. This allowed us to return to our origins, to temporarily resolve our conflicts, and to be able to push out the things separating us from God.

Now we can easily comprehend the difference between the confession of the penitent, and the confession we utter on Yom Kippur. In the confusion of ordinary life, when we are not self-aware on the level of Neshama, changing of character and self-definition is an extremely difficult process. To attain the levels of sincere regret and firm resolution never to return to past misdeeds - the necessary concomitants of all character change - are extremely arduous tasks. Therefore, Teshuva is extremely difficult to attain, and the penitent must reach very lofty spiritual levels on the basis of his own efforts.

On Yom Kippur - when we are offered a glimpse of our origins and the confusion of self-definition is largely eliminated - the rejection of all our negatives becomes a matter of course. We are able to push out all our sinful activities as being truly unreflective of our true selves, because we are provided a glimpse of who we really are. Thus the confession of Yom Kippur is simply that we have sinned. We regret our inequities and can truly resolve never to return to them not through our own efforts, but through the clear vision of ourselves that the holiness of the day provides.

Isaac's twins, Jacob and Esau, attained this total clarity of self-definition on their own, through freedom of choice. Jacob defined himself as a Neshama - a wholesome man, totally consistent and whole and free of contradictions. Esau declared, "Look I am going to die," thus openly defining himself as a creature of this world only, a man of the field.

During the rest of the year we lose the clarity of vision that allows such sharp definition, but on Yom Kippur, this original distinction between Jacob and Esau reestablishes itself. This then is the secret behind the idea of the "scapegoat."

The loss of the Temple and the sacrifice of the "scapegoat" does not mean that we have entirely lost Yom Kippur. But as we inhabit a world of action rather than spirit, we are always hampered by an inability to translate our thoughts into deeds. Today, Yom Kippur still helps us to attain the spiritual level of true teshuva.

VeZos HaBracha
Due to the Proximity of Simchas Torah to Shabbos Beresheis this year I thought it advisable to go straight into Parsha Beresheis. Only to say Chazak-Chazak-v’NitChazak

Revised Prayer List: MEN: Asher ben Malka, Avraham ben Devorah, Zvi Yechezkel ben Leah, Shalom Charles ben Gracia, Naphtali Moshe ben Tziporah, Yoel ben Esther, Zev ben Rachel, Adin Yisrael ben Sarah, Yehonatan ben Malka, Aharon ben Rishol, Yacov David ben Gittel Chaya, David Zvi ben Sara Leah

Baruch Dayan Emmes Chanan ben Shlomit: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4131068,00.html I knew him personally from 38 years ago and on a number of occasions he was an inspiring leader and dedicated for the sake of Heaven.

Women: Karen Neshama bas Esther Ruth, Chaya Melacha Rachel bas Baila Alta, Zvia Simcha bas Devora Yached, Bryna bas Gina Sara, Rachel bas Chana, Feige Rachel bas Taube, Hodaya Nirit bas Mazel, Pearl bas Feige Rivka, Leah Nikia bas Bertha Sarah, Dora bas Dorit, Rivka bas Idit.

Please add Moria Ester bat Hadas to your Tehillim prayers. She is a 3 year old who just started chemo for liver cancer.
Parsha Beresheis
Certain non-Jewish beliefs creep into our society some based on our Torah and other from fairy tales over the years. Since we are in Beresheis let us start with the so-called Original Sin. 1:27 And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. 28 And God blessed them; and God said unto them: 'Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creeps upon the earth.' How the non-Jews confused the sin of disobedience with the Mitzvah of being fruitful and multiply is beyond me.
5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begot Methuselah. 22 And Enoch walked with God after he begot Methuselah three hundred years, and begot sons and daughters. 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years. 24 And Enoch walked with God, and he was not; for God took him.
First of all Chanoch is a father in the scheme of things. He was righteous and now the Agadda has a little about him except that he was righteous one of the commentaries has him going up to haven like Eliyahu HaNovi. Another has him turning into an Arch Angel named Metalon.
6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2 that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives, whomsoever they chose. 3 And the LORD said: 'My spirit shall not abide in man forever, for that he also is flesh; therefore shall his days be a hundred and twenty years.' 4 The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.
Nephilim have the root in Hebrew for falling.
There is a small Medrash on this with the names of two Angels and a dispute if we are talking about humans such as Pharaoh was considered a god and up until 1945 even the Emperor of Japan. So even among the Sages there was a dispute in tradition if it was two fallen Angels or human ruler’s children. They supposedly produced giant men. But we have to take things in proportion for the bed of Og who was a Giant was: Devarim 3:11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of the Rephaim; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbah of the children of Ammon? Nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. The bed’s length was 13.5 feet to 9 meters length depending if you go according to the Standard for Generations or that of the Chazon Ish. Now my own bed is 7 feet or 2.1 meters in length and 5 feet 2.5 inches aka 1.6 meters wide and a king size bed is even larger for the average man in width 6 feet or 1.8 meters and Og had 6 feet also or according to the Chazon Ish instead of 1.8 meters 2.0 meters or less than 7 feet. Now Golyad was about 9 feet tall who was slain by the 5 foot 2 inch David so this is not far from the real world we live in. Would it be too far-fetched to think that with the fruits and vegetables before the flood occurred the ground was more fertile. Having more minerals and perhaps a better genetic make-up it was possible for the combination of food and internal genetics that such people grew to be taller than Golyad by perhaps a foot or so. If one looks at the tallest man in the world in the Guinness Book of Records one sees that he needs supports to help him around as the human skeleton has its limits. Discounting this and assuming that their muscles were terrifically fit, it would place these Giants as slow but fearsome warriors. Who has the guts to go against a person 3 to 4 feet or a 1 meter and more higher than you in hand to hand battle?
While the Goyim make a big deal out of this story between Rashi, the Medrash and Kabbala there are perhaps 10 sentences or less on the subject so worrying about this or going into this deep is strange worship aka Avoda Zara. This has no real future reflection on the redemption and the spiritual ascension of mankind.

There is another example of Goyim going after a Fairy Tale that never made a non-Jewish Bible and yet millions believe it: "Three Wise Men" appear nowhere in the non-Jewish Bible, and none are ever mentioned visiting baby Yeshu in a Bethlehem manger! Or the one that even the Church suppressed that young child Yeshu made clay pigeons and they flew away. There are hundreds of these little non-Jewish tales that are not canonized.

And HE created something from nothing. Professor Stephen Hawkins and colleagues need a Universe condensed into the size of a pea for the Big Bang and from the Kabbala and ordinary Torah and Talmud we only need nothing. The Sages only told Alexander the Great so and so much about creation (Tractate Archin) and afterwards stopped as they were afraid that there would be too many questions such as what was before and what will be after. The fact of the matter is that the LRD reigned alone for an unspecified period. He then created the Angels and consulted within HIS INTELLIGENCE, the attributes (Sefiros).

HE created the Torah as his blueprint for the four words mentioned in Kabbala – Beira, Yetzira, Asiah and Atzilus. The first one was the creation state and the second one the practical state that we are in today. The next world occurs when man evolves to a higher level and finally the last state when in reality heaven and earth are one and the purpose of creation fulfilled. For from my humble understanding the creation of the physical world was made to be raised up to the spiritual world. Not everything we do or want is easy to give up to rise higher and higher. As we say in the blessing Asher Yatza that a human being is created with many openings and interior vessels which are hollow and opened from the interior out. If one of them would be blocked or remain open we could not exist even an hour. The process of breathing, sneezing, eating and other bodily functions are necessary to exist at this stage in the physical world. Let me have the pleasure of a runaway spiritual imagine and speculate on the theme but not without Talmudic backing. In a higher world the processes might occur by osmosis and less waste elimination and breathing too by osmosis and procreation like two amoebas coming together to merge and separate with an offspring almost instantly – this is based upon a Gemara with Rabban Gamliel who said that within a day one could procreate in the future like a Caper Bush. In truth I do not know how the future spiritually humans will be and if there will be physical changes or that we will return to the Zohar description of Adam and Chava with the ability to see from one end of the world to the other and talk directly to HASHEM perhaps not face to face but similar to Moshe and the Burning Bush.

So mankind and creation have a forward direction in the world of Kabbala. The question is how we improve enough to bring about the Moshiach. Then after that to improve enough to resurrect the dead and finally improve enough to turn the world into Gan Eden but our main worry now is to repent for Yom Kippur and to prepare for the holidays so all the best for a healthy, happy and financially secure sealing in the book of life.

Halachos from Danny Schoemann
On the 3rd of Tishrei Gedalya ben Achikam was killed. After the destruction of the first Bet HaMikdash, Nebuchadnezzar appointed him Governor over the remnants of the Jews in Land of Israel . Once Gedalya was killed then they too were exiled or murdered and the land became desolate. (Some say that Gedalya ben Achikam was killed on Rosh Hashanah and the fast was deferred till after Yom Tov.) This tragic event is the reason that Sunday was a fast day. - since we could not fast on the third of Tishrei as it was Shabbat. The fast begins Sunday at dawn and ends at nightfall. Pregnant and nursing mothers are exempt from fasting. Anybody who isn't healthy shouldn't fast. When in doubt, consult your LOR (Local Orthodox Rabbi). Children are not allowed to fast. Those who are not fasting should limit their food intake to the bare minimum; only bread and water if possible. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:2, 9 Many Rabbis allow eating and drinking as normal for those who do not fast especially for the reason Danny mentioned.
There's a Mitzvah to by happy on Jewish Holidays and therefore one must eat two Yom Tov meals; one at night and one during the day. (Seudas Shlishi - the 3rd meal - is only eaten on Shabbat and is not required on Yom Tov.) Each meal starts with Kiddush over wine and two Challos (loaves of bread) and should include meat and other delicacies.
It's also a Mitzvah to ensure that others are happy:
- Children should be given treats
- Wives should get new clothes and jewelry according to one’s budget
- Men should be served meat and wine
In order to prove that the extra expenses are for Yom Tov and not simply for self-indulgence, one must ensure that the poor and needy are also supplied with their Yom Tov needs; invite them over for meals and donate generously to reputable charity funds before Yom Tov. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 103:3, 5, 9

Yom Kippur does not atone for misdeeds done against fellow-Jews unless one first asks them for forgiveness. One should be careful to repay all overdue loans before Yom Kippur; after which one can beg for forgiveness for the delay. If one is being asked for forgiveness one should not be stubborn nor vengeful; rather one should be forgiving, the same way one hopes that Hashem will be forgiving of our sins. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 131:4

There is a Mitzva in the Torah unique to Yom Kippur: afflicting oneself. To fulfill this Mitzva properly one should keep in mind that the Yom Kippur restrictions are a fulfillment of this 25-hour long Mitzva. This Mitzva includes the following prohibitions:
- On Yom Kippur one may not eat nor drink, even when Yom Kippur is on Shabbat, like this year. If fasting will affect your health, contact a doctor and a Rabbi for instructions.
- On Yom Kippur one may not bathe; one may not even get wet unnecessarily. Upon awakening and after relieving oneself one can wash until the knuckles. Before Birkas Cohanim, the Cohanim wash until their wrists.
- On Yom Kippur no anointing is allowed. This includes perfumes and deodorants.
- On Yom Kippur one may not wear leather shoes.
- On Yom Kippur one may not have marital relations.
All the above are forbidden from candle-lighting on Erev Yom Kippur (Friday afternoon, this week) until after Havdalah some 25 hours later.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 133:1
The Rabbi’s Ramblings before Yom Kippur
This week I received two msgs; that Rabbi Steinerman and Rabbi Eliyashiv were ill. Too much worrying about Am Yisrael caused this. Rav Steinerman had foot problems for praying so hard. Yours Truly also had his foot collapse from standing 45 minutes straight during Mussaf on the first day and developed a nervous stomach too. Rabbis don’t worry so much about themselves but for Am Yisrael. We have a government that can afford to pay port workers five times as much as doctors in the public sector until 800 doctors resigned their posts after over a half year of stalled negotiations on the part of the government. We have our priorities all mixed up. I got an internet invitation to some pub somewhere by a Jewish Chap Erev Yom Kippur (Thursday Night) for a night of drinking, singing and dancing. 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain: 'Where is Abel thy brother?' And he said: 'I know not; am I my brother's keeper?' Yes each of us is part of Am Yisrael and each one is important to turn to HASHEM and our purpose is to make the world not only a better physical place but a better spiritual place. It is pleasing to the ear to listen to the Nobel Prize Committee award many Jews the prize considering our small numbers less than half a percent of the world’s population. But our job is to be Yeshaya 42:6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and have taken hold of thy hand, and kept thee, and set thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the nations; 49:6 Yea, HE says: 'It is too light a thing that thou should be MY servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the offspring of Israel; I will also give thee for a light of the nations, that My salvation may be unto the end of the earth.' 60:2 For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but upon thee the LORD will arise, and HIS glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And nations shall walk at thy light, and kings at the brightness of thy rising. So to enlighten the nations with medicines, physics, chemistry, peace, economics is nice but the REAL LIGHT, THE TRUE LIGHT IS A SPIRITUAL LIGHT.
My brothers, sisters and distant cousins wake from your slumber. Take a good physical look in the mirror whom you are, at your bank statement and then delve deep internally on your TRUE DEEDS the Mitzvos and the Maasim Tovim that you did in the past year. Visiting the sick or phoning the sick, comforting the mourners, charity, comforting and helping your spouse when he/she is down and out or ill or fatigued. I heard that Mexico is now offering a two year and no more marriage contract. Come on and get real not only for this world but for the next. What are we doing with temporary fixes and parts that break down in short order? I can understand upgrading to a new technology from an old 486 or Pentium I computer which have become obsolete but from an I-Phone 4 to an I-Phone 4S instead of 5 brings on disappointment what do we expect the world on a plate? Take a good hard look within on Yom Kippur as you make your private confession before HASHEM. Judaism does not need Rabbis to confess to we need no middlemen but look within and improve yourself. Set realistic goals for yourself do not try unrealistic idealistic goals for one will fail. If one learns one Commandment a day for less than two years he will know all the Commandments but if one tries to learn 50 a day he will fail unless he learned them over and over again for years upon years. Trust in a kind Father and King who will do unto you Tzeduka V’ Chessed and save you!
An easy and productive fast to all!
Even what was the Atheist left is beginning to repent: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4130512,00.html
Inyanay Diyoma
To cut or not to cut the Israeli Defense Budget - Iran says yes, Hezballah says yes, Syria says Yes, Hamas says yes. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4128306,00.html
In the meantime the US gets hold of a major terrorist http://www.debka.com/article/21350/
Algorhythms are watching you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOE1HFEL8XA
Four years ago Biden called for the release of Pollard now he is taking the fall for Obama and Secretary of Defense too: http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2011/10/leon-panetta-echos-obamas-anti-israel.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YidWithLid+%28YID+With+LID%29
This is beautiful: http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=240472
Turks gone wild: http://www.debka.com/article/21352/
Hezballah, Syria and Iran http://www.debka.com/article/21356/
Anybody read about the Yeti in the 1953 Britannia there were pictures of his footprints and rumors of a capture of one who decayed so badly that in India's heat it had to be destroyed http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/10/04/russian-and-us-scientists-gather-to-hunt-down-yeti/?test=latestnews for history read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yeti
Anti-Semitism in the wall street protest – oh I forgot only a right-winger like myself can be a fascist pig full of hatred for mankind and not concerned for the world: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/youre-a-bum-jew-jewish-man-berated-by-wall-st-protester-told-to-go-back-to-israel/
Dry Bones expresses the Israeli view point: http://drybonesblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/obama-pollard-jews-and-joe-biden.html#.TolXRBKfeAI.facebook
A non-politician makes dollars and cents and Obama cannot call him a racist. http://www.examiner.com/historic-americans-in-national/hermanator-math-9-9-9 http://www.examiner.com/historic-americans-in-national/herman-cain-part-2
May you be written and sealed in the book of life, health, happiness and an honorable income.
Rachamim Pauli