MAIMONIDES- *Drunk *real singing *above suspicion *value of a Mitzva *World to come guarantee. etc.

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"It was taught in the Academy of Elijah, 'Whoever studies halachot (laws) is assured of a share in Olam Haba - the World to Come.”'

At the conclusion of Tractate Niddah the text reads, "Whoever studies halachot daily”. Rabbi Shneur Zaman of Liadi (1745 – 1813) defines halachot as "clearly adjudicated laws of practical application." This refers to clear and definitive rulings that are of practical relevance.

This is actually explained by Rashi (1040 – 1105) in connection with a eulogy for someone who used to “study halachot.”

Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon, 1138-1204, known as Rambam and/or Maimonides is one of the world’s greatest philosophers and codifier of Jewish law. Rabbi Moshe was also a physician to the court of the Saladin, and was requested to attend the needs of Richard the crusader.

The following, are the actual words of this great man, healer of the soul, from his magnum opus Mishneh Torah / The strong Hand. Guidance to live a purposeful virtuous life. These words are eternally valid since they are drawn from the eternal infinite wisdom of the Torah.

Drunkenness or Joy in serving G-d.

When a person eats, drinks, and celebrates on a festival, he should not let himself become overly drawn to drinking wine, mirth, and levity, saying, "whoever indulges in these activities more is increasing [his observance of] the mitzvah (commandment) of rejoicing." For drunkenness, profuse mirth, and levity are not rejoicing; they are frivolity and foolishness.

And we were not commanded to indulge in frivolity or foolishness, but rather in rejoicing that involves the service of the Creator of all existence. Thus, [Deuteronomy 28:47] states, "Because you did not serve G-d, Your Lord, with happiness and a glad heart with an abundance of prosperity." This teaches us that service [of G-d] involves joy. And it is impossible to serve   G-d while in the midst of levity, frivolity, or drunkenness.

Shevitat Yom Tov - Chapter Six Hal. 20

Song including the name of G-d is – “Service (serving - worshiping) to G-d”.

Their service was to guard the Temple. Among [the Levities], there were gate-keepers who would open the gates of the Temple and close its doors. And there were singers who would accompany the sacrifices with song each day. [The latter concept is derived from the exegesis of Deuteronomy 18:7]: "And he shall serve in the name of G-d, his Lord, as all of his Levite brethren." Which service involves [invoking] the name of G-d? I would say: song.

When were songs recited? At the time all the communal burnt offerings, the peace offerings brought on Shavuous, and the wine libations were brought. Song was not recited over the freewill burnt offerings that the community would bring for "the dessert of the altar," nor on the wine libations that are brought independently.

Klei Hamikdash - Chapter 3 Hal. 2

Even the High Priest – must always act above suspicion.

When the person entered (the room to donate)  to set aside the funds, he should not enter wearing a garment in which he could hide money, nor wearing shoes or sandals, nor wearing tefillin or an amulet, lest the people suspect that he hid funds from the chamber underneath them when he set aside the funds. And they would talk to him [continuously] from the time he entered until the time he departed, so that he could not place [a coin] in his mouth.

Even though all these safeguards were taken, a poor person or someone who craved money should not [be appointed to] set aside these funds. [In this way,] the matter will not arouse suspicion, thus [fulfilling the advice of Numbers 32:22]: "You shall be blameless before G-d and before Israel."

Shekalim - Chapter Two Hal. 10

The value of commandments is ONLY because of who is the commander.

When a person covers the blood (of a wild animal or fowl slaughtered), he should not cover it with his feet, but instead with his hands, a knife, or a utensil, so that he will not treat it with disdain and regard the mitzvoth with scorn. For the (act of the) mitzvoth (commandments) in and of themselves are not worthy of honor. Instead, [the honor is] due He, blessed be He, who commanded us to observe them and [thus] saved us from groping in darkness and thus granted us a lamp to straighten crooked paths and a light to illumine the upright ways. And so [Psalms 119:105] states: "Your words are a lamp to my feet and a light for my ways."

Shechitah - Chapter 14 Hal. 16

Jacobs Dream. The power to bring the miraculous into our down to earth daily lives.

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Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER Power.

Jacob left Beer Sheba and set out for Charan. When he arrived, he realized that he had unwittingly passed Mount Moriah (the future home of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem), where his father and grandfather had prayed, without praying there himself. In order to rectify this apparent affront to his forebears' conduct, he turned around and retraced his steps in the direction of Mount Moriah.

G-d made the sun set early and Jacob prayed to G-d and spent the night there.

To protect himself from wild animals, Jacob took some of the stones of that place and placed them around his body and head. G-d miraculously transformed them into one stone. Jacob had a dream: He beheld a ladder standing firmly on the ground and sloping diagonally upward, its top reaching up toward heaven: its base rested in Beer Sheba and its top was above Beth El.

Upon it, behold, the angels of G-d who had accompanied him on his trip thus far, were ascending back toward heaven, for they were not permitted to leave the Land of Israel, and other angels, who were designated to accompany him while he was outside the Land of Israel, were descending.

And behold; G-d was standing over him, to guard him during his sojourn in Charan. He said: "I am G-d,

G-d of Abraham your forebear, and G-d of Isaac. I will give the land upon which you are lying to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread out powerfully to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south, and all the families on earth will be blessed through you and through your descendants.

You do not need to fear Esau or Laban, for I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land, for I will not neglect you until I have fulfilled what I have promised Abraham concerning you.”

Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "G-d (Y H V H) is truly present in this place, yet I was not aware of it.” He became afraid, and said. "How awesome is this place! This is none other than Mount Moriah, the future site of the House of G-d (ELOKIM),and thus, this is the gateway through which prayer ascends to heaven”, passing through the heavenly Temple, which is figuratively situated 'above' the site of the physical Temple.

Why Did Jacob describe the place as one where G-d (YUD Hai VOV Hai) was present, AND then call the place, the future home of G-d (ELOKIM), using two different names for G-d?

The name for G-d, Elokim, is the name used when G-d created the world. “In the beginning, Elokim created….. “The measured, finite characteristics of nature, is the product of Elokim which conceals G-dliness. The predicted patterns of nature fool a person into thinking, life is guaranteed once it’s all figured out.

Today, because of science more and more people foolishly feel a lack in the need for faith in G-d, since science and the study of nature have all the answers.

Miracles, expressed by the name (Y H V H) shatter the myth that Doctors or financial gurus have all the answers. The out of the norm occurrences that no one expected, openly display the constant control and influence G-d retains over nature and all that is in the world.

G-d in truth, is not limited to either the patterns of science and nature, or when He desires to change course, He doesn’t necessarily have to split the red sea, or create a totally unnatural phenomenon.

A higher and more powerful G-dly act, is when G-d does an unexpected act, a miraculous occurrence, within the boundaries of nature. All of a sudden, circumstances change as they do often and the situation miraculously and unexpectedly changes for the good.

This last mode of behavior, was the normal, regular, miraculous, daily routine that took place in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, that Jacob was experiencing that night in his dream.

While everything in the Temple was measured, and made of a specific material, they behaved in totally unnatural ways. Ribbons would turn colors on their own on Yom Kippur, smoke would always go up to heaven like a pillar notwithstanding the winds. Hundreds of thousands of people would comfortably fit in the lobby of the Temple and so on.

On that miraculous night when the sun set early (unexpectedly), Jacob who was sleeping on this holy & G-dly place, saw and experienced the great miraculous powers of G-d (Yud Hai VOV Hai) and knew so, as it manifested itself within his dream and the nature of the land he was on. The two forces of G-d became ONE.

Everyone can access the spiritual powers and super natural blessings of G-d in the study of Torah, and on the very other extreme, we all have an obligation to acknowledge the physical world of nature around us.

Jacob, as the father of all twelve tribes, the entire nation of the Israelites, was setting the tone and giving each one of us the power and possibility to absorb, welcome and merge, the awareness and energy of the miraculous infinite G-dliness (Y H V H) in our world and lives, by doing G-ds commandments in this physical materialistic world, so MIRACLES would be within the natural framework of our regular everyday mundane lives.Share

**The SECRET. How to get one’s own prayers answered, QUICKLY.

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Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER Power.

Abraham traveled south after the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were punished by G-d.The King of Gerar, Avimelech, summoned Sarah to his Palace. Because Abraham identified Sarah as his sister, Avimelech saw nothing wrong in taking her for himself.

At Sarah’s request, G-d made it impossible for anyone in the Kings palace to violate her. In addition, G-d came to Avimelech in a dream and told him Sarah was a married woman. G-d assured Avimelech, Abraham would know prophetically his wife was not violated and would pray for him and his household that their health is returned to them.

Avimelech made amends by gifting Abraham and Sarah with much cattle and valuables, and Abraham prayed for Avimelech and his household to be cured.

Immediately after this story in the Bible, G-ds book of wisdom and instruction tells us Sarah was remembered by G-d and miraculously conceived.

The commentator Rashi tells us, that from the order of Sarah conceiving, after the prayers of Abraham for Avimelech, we are taught, “whoever pleads for mercy for someone, and can use that exact need themselves, they get answered first.”

Now, we know Abraham and Sarah were already promised by G-d to miraculously in their old age beget children and parent a great nation. All this, even without the story and experience between Sarah and Avimelech.

How did the story and encounter with Avimelech accomplish anything more, than what was already promised and assured by G-d Himself ???

The very simple answer is the following. The promise to Abraham by G-d was already a number of years old, and had still not been fulfilled. It was only after Abraham prayed for Avimelech the Torah makes a point to immediately tell us Sarah conceived.

Therefore it becomes pretty obvious the lesson the Bible (G-d) is teaching us: Even if there is a promise from G-d Himself, it is still helpful and necessary for prayer to bring about the results sooner rather than later.

The act of praying and opening up ones heart to connect with the source of all that is, and that can be, accelerates the fulfillment of those needs.

Prayer for the sake of someone else, is so powerful, that G-ds promise did not materialize until Abraham prayed for Avimelech, and it was only then, that his own need was immediately granted.

Prayer, is a commandment in the Bible. As Maimonides writes, “the obligation of this commandment is that a person prays and requests his wants from G-d, when he feels the need.”

When a person needs something himself, and he is also aware that this same need is lacking and desired by his friend, he could rightfully quote Jewish law that says, “your own life always takes precedence”, and perhaps, the proper thing would be to focus first on one’s own needs.

The above mentioned story is teaching a fundamental aspect in the principle in love for another, that he/she is concerned and praying for someone else even when he/she himself needs the same matter, and finds the time and energy for the other even before and at the expense of their own needs!!

When the other person is so important to him to the point where he is more concerned for the other than even his own self, the overabundance of good energy that is generated as a result of this act, gives him/her first and foremost the benefits of this extraordinary kindness of charity and he/she is answered first.

The mechanics of this is such that it doesn’t even matter, even if the only reason he is praying and concerned for the other is because he knows how valuable this is in the eyes of G-d, and all his energy towards the other is really only so that he gets the benefits of this prayer for himself first.

There is no question, that doing this effort for the altruistic reason of truly being there for another remains the purest form and the most valuable.

The MIRACLE of success. Trump & the elections. &..Mud baths...

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Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER Power.

Leonardo da Vinci, was fascinated by the idea that nature, holds solutions to engineering problems that have eluded human ingenuity. Humans, Leonardo wrote, “will never devise any invention more beautiful, nor more simple, nor more to the purpose than Nature does; because in her inventions nothing is wanting and nothing is superfluous.”

At least two of Silicon Valley’s tech billionaires, suspected names are Elon Musk and the Bank of America, are convinced we live in the Matrix. They are secretly funding scientists to help break us out of it. Some of the world’s richest and most powerful people are convinced that we are living in a computer simulation.

The argument is, that by some unknown mechanism, what we see is only a function of what truly and really exists.

The universe is way too accurate to have evolved merely by chance.

It’s a shame Leonardo didn’t use the term G-d, as the credit for all that is so precise and intelligent in this universe.

Same also for all the billionaires. Save your money. The answer to your hunt is, G-d.  Yes yes, I know people are afraid to use that word and name”G-d” because then it obliges them to consider G-ds reality, and what follows are our responsibilities toward Him.

The Holy Baal Shem Tov (1690 – 1760) taught that everything a person sees or hears is intended for that person. It’s a message from G-d to assist the person in fulfilling his mission in this world, all part of THE plan.

The Baal Shem Tov further taught, that Divine Providence extends to even the most inconsequential detail in this universe. Since G-d fills the ENTIRE place and there is no place void of His existence, and since He is the reason for every existence, it logically follows that whatever happens in a person’s life is meant to be, intentional.

I would like to share with you my own personal “take home” message from the recent elections.

This was a very long and protracted campaign. Mud and dirt being slung all around, enough to fill a couple of Olympic size pools. As we were heading into the home stretch there where all these professional “scientific” polls, professionals in political science, pundits and gurus for the most part projecting one particular winner. People were defecting from the one party as an act of protest over its candidate. It was a mess and didn’t look good at all.

Well, the race was still going on in full swing and all of a sudden we had all these wiki leaks coming out revealing all kinds of ethical lapses of judgement, exposing the security of this country, quid pro quo with some of the worst human sacrilegious countries and much more.

All of a sudden, a new bomb was set off to the favor of the candidate who couldn’t even get the support from his own party. Most likely, if not for that gift “from heaven”, through whichever medium it reached the media, the winner was pushed over the edge, probably more out of disgust for the other candidate, and won.

Everyone, I mean everyone was working against the final winner, and in the end he WON!!!
The lesson.

The first paragraph in the code of Jewish law is, “do not be embarrassed, and don’t cower before those who ridicule you.”

When you have a mission to perform, a journey to take, a goal to reach, don’t melt before all the naysayers. Be confident and proud of who you are and where you are heading.

And here is the most important lesson. Never ever give up hope in the infinite possibilities G-d has, to change the course of things. Our sages teach us, “even if a sharp sword is resting on the throat of a person, never ever become despondent.”

Our duty is to keep on trying and trying, putting one foot in front of the other, and if it is meant to be, G-d can & will make it happen, perhaps and many times after we have proven ourselves, at the last second of the race.

Our sages teach us. The reason why the Bible tells us the stories regarding our forefathers Abraham, Isaac & Jacob is so that we know, they paved the way and set the example to overcoming tests, struggles and challenges. Their lives each one of them was filled and saturated with hardships and they succeeded in overcoming them. As our forefathers, they instilled within us the strength for perseverance and success at the final end.

Our focus must be on taking one day at a time with absolute faith and trust in G-ds wisdom and kindness. He, has granted us the strength and all the necessary tools to succeed. Each one of us in our own individual and unique missions.

The surface is the lie, most people are satisfied to live with!! Experience benevolent design ...in every aspect of life..

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Upon returning home from Kotzk,  Reb Leibel Eger was asked by his father, Rabbi Shlomo, what he had learned in Kotzk. Reb Leibel replied: I learned three things; a man is a man, and an angel is an angel;  if a man wants it enough, he can be higher than an angel; and that G-d created the Beginning (Bereishis), just the Beginning. Everything else, He left up to man to complete.

A person can sometimes think: How can I be expected to improve the world through my own effort when G-d created it just as it is. Why am I responsible to help the poor and the hungry? If G-d made it the way it is, there must be a reason to leave it, just as it is!  If G-d made it as it is, perhaps I should go along and support status quo!!  The answer is in the words of creation itself.

It doesn’t say in the  Bible, “….what G-d created and DID”. It says,” …What created to BE DONE”. The ultimate intention G-d had and expects of human beings is “….to be done… “  We must search for those areas that are waiting for our input, and through our effort we fulfill the purpose of creation, (and receive the remuneration and blessings that come with this accomplishment).

The strength and ability is given to every individual, through his/her own effort to improve that which is lacking and bring his surroundings to perfection, “under the sovereignty of G-d”.

The first step in improving the world in its unfinished state is right there in the first few words of the Bible – Beraishis Bara Elokim…..”In the beginning”, we must reveal the G-dliness that exists in the heavens and in the earth. 

Whether its “spiritual” in the heavens, or physical and materialistic on “earth”, revealing the G-dliness in everything uncovers and peels away the element that is restricting holiness and full blessings.  The surface we are forced to live with in our existence is just that, superficial and no more than skin deep. The surface is the lie, most people are satisfied to  live with!!

One sure way of accomplishing this, is by starting the day with our prayers, and meditating on how down to the smallest particle, G-d is involved. Otherwise, how would anything operate with such incredible design and precision??

The more one is in tune with the pure spark of G-dliness within the universe, down at the level which is deeper than sub atomic, deeper than the quantum level, once a person connects with the deep truth that it is all G-d Himself, a person will personally experience the security of benevolent  design and goodness that is in every aspect of one’s life. 

The greatest assistance in being able to succeed in this quest comes by observing the Shabbat. “And Elokim ended on the seventh day….” 

While the entire week we are forced to work with and together with worldliness, that day of Shabbat is when Elokim, the force of restrictedness is  withdrawn and we get a chance to vacation in an oasis of time, in peace and tranquility. No lying world. A day with the source of creation Himself.

Shabbat when experienced as dictated by our Holy Torah affords a person the opportunity to refresh his mindset, recharge his physical, emotional, and psychological batteries together with his/her family, so the coming week is even more successful and accomplishing than the past week.

Come join our classes and learn more how YOU can actually discover & experience all of the above.

Who are YOU. A tiger or a Human being? Parable - Story.

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Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is Super Power.

Many of us have plenty time to think and to read thanks to the hurricane. There couldn’t be a better time to reflect on our lives than during this period of time, the ten days of repentance as we prepare for Yom Kippur.

If the hurricane, can be appreciated and seen with such reverence, fear and respect, how much more so G-d who is surely stronger than this ONE creation of His!!

The Dubner Maggid (1740 – 1804)  Rabbi Jacob ben Wolf Kranz of Dubno was a Lithuanian (Belarus)-born preacher (maggid) famous for his fables or parables designed to teach or illustrate an instructive lesson based on Jewish tradition.

Most Jews, are awakened or at the very least have a small pinch of urging in their soul when we enter this period of time on the calendar. It may even be a thought like, “who would I be fooling if I where to go to synagogue on this very special day”. “Praying in the synagogue and taking this day seriously is no more than living the life of a hypocrite.”  And they may very well decide to stay home or worse yet, waste the day by living another very regular ordinary and mundane day.

To this, The Dubner Maggid offered the following parable.

Once, there were two brothers who wanted very much to see a certain pair of tigers in a very special holding. They saved the money and after arranging for the visit they took all their savings and made the journey.

They checked in to the park and were waiting for their guide at the entrance when they happened to overhear a strange conversation that took place between what appeared like two animals.

It wasn’t long before the guide took them in to the park and guided them to the other side of the huge cage which contained these beautiful cats. The guide was extremely detailed in his description of these two precious and almost extinct animals and motioned to the tigers and they both let out a special sound unique to this breed.

The two brothers looked at each other, they both recognized the sound and in incredulity said at the same time to each other, it was these two animals talking like human beings not too long ago!!

They immediately confronted to zoo reserve guide and shared with him their suspicion. “These tigers are not tigers at all, they are human beings dressed like tigers!”

The zoo guide immediately took them off to the side and told them quietly.

Listen, these two tigers are exactly what you see the entire year, every single day of the year. They are tigers. You just happened to get lucky, and on the one day of the year they change their suits for fresh suits, you happened to hear and see them in a different form.”

Everyone understands that if these two tigers where able to act and speak like a human being for even one moment, they were NEVER animals and are ALWAYS human beings.

As beautiful as it is to be a rare breed tiger, there is no question there is so much more in being a human being, no matter the opportunities there may be to act like a rare breed tiger. Nothing, can be compared to belonging to G-d as His choice nation and people.

When it comes any time of the year, and in particular a time when the Prophet Isaiah says, “seek G-d when He can be found, call Him when He is close by”, and we feel a little G-dly, a little guilty, a little yearning in our soul for more G-dliness, for more attachment with our faith for more connection with our people, this isn’t the anomaly. THIS IS WHO WE REALLY ARE, THAT WE COVER AND HIDE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

If we can feel even the slightest bit inspired, this is our sign from G-d that our souls are like none other, our souls haven’t extinguished yet G-d forbid, and there is lots of hope. With enough fanning of the inner G-dly flame, and spiritual nourishment during these many Holidays throughout the month, we don’t have to settle for anything less in our lives.

The Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to clean our slate and begin a brand new chapter in our relationship with G-d, and the G-d inside each once of us. If we were granted only one such chance in our lifetimes we would be so lucky, how much more so when it is coming up in just a few days for all of us.

May G-d grant us all a Sweet New Year. The intelligence and strength to use out our lives productively, for the purpose we were placed here to begin with.