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The
Happy Minyan Schedule for This Shabbat
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Friday, 6/19
Plag HaMincha
(early Candle lighting):
6:36 pm
Candle lighting:
7:49 pm
Mincha:
6:15 pm
and
7:45 pm
followed by
Kabballat Shabbat and Maariv
Saturday, 6/20
Shacharit:
9am - 12:00pm-ish
followed by our special monthly Shabbos Mevorchim Kiddush Lunch
Mincha:
7:30 pm
followed by
Seudah Shlishit and Maariv
Havdallah from:
8:52 pm
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Weekday Shiur on Likutei Moharan - presented by Reb Yedidyah Blanton
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Our own Reb Yedidyah Blanton teaches lessons from Likutei Moharan, the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov
Every Sunday night
8:00pm - 9:30pm
at Reb Shalom Yakov Mann's home:
1037 South Sherbourne Dr.
LA 90035 (between Olympic and Whitworth)
(There is no charge for this class!)
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Awesome Phone Shiur
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Listen to the deepest Torahs and stories from the teachings of
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and Izshbitz, from the book "Lev HaShamayim" - given over by
Rabbi Nossen and Rebbetzin Channah Schafer in Boston
Live: 9 pm - 10:00 pm EST
Call (641) 715-3300
Conf code: 818022#.
Recorded: Listen anytime! Each class is recorded and available until the next shiur, which will replace it.
Playback Number: (641) 715-3412
Access Code: 818022#
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Always in Our Prayers
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Please daven for the immediate
safe return of
Gilad (ben Aviva) Shalit;
Zachary (ben Miriam) Baumel;
Tzvi (ben Penina) Feldman;
Yehuda (ben Sarah) Katz;
Ron (ben Batya) Arad
and
Guy (ben Rina) Hever
as well as for the safety and success
of all of Israel's soldiers,
and the immediate release of Yehonatan (ben Malka) Pollard.
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Kol Chevra |
"Kol Chevra" is an
organization that is dedicated to perpetuating the legacy of Shlomo Carlebach that annually publishes a compendium for Reb Shlomo's Yahrtzeit (16 Cheshvan) with memoirs and recollections on how Reb Shlomo influenced and inspired the lives of the "Chevra"; memorial pages of those whose lives were motivated, awakened and exalted by Reb Shlomo; announcements of life cycle events; insights, writings and recordings of original work of the "Chevra" who are carrying on the legacy of Reb Shlomo by developing new commentary and relevancy to his life and works.
So here's the latest from Kol Chevra:
Announcing the beginning of the new 15th Issue of Kol Chevra:
Moments, Tikun, and Vision
Dedicate your articles, we want to give our chevra honor!!
Please send memories and stories of Reb Shlomo, your Torahs, Reb Shlomo Torahs, poetry, Reb Shlomo photos...
Donations welcome for mazal tov announcements (with photos, especially babies!!!), condolences, ads, artwork.
Keep articles short, 2-3 pages, and please send them right away!!
Add a little blurb about yourself, so we all get connected!!
Don't hold back, give nachos to the Rebbe!!
Thank you,
Emuna
emunawitt14@yahoo.com
emuna.witt@rebshlomo.org
050-862-9040
This fabulous compendium is read by hundreds of Reb Shlomo "Chevra" all over the world - hope you pick one up in the fall, and even better, hope you are able to contribute to it as well.
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Happy Minyan Newsletter - Kol Sasson
Parshas Shelach |
June 2009 |
Greetings!
Since this week we read about the Promised Land, the Land of Israel, I include below some of Reb Shlomo's words on the Holy Land:
ERETZ YISRAEL: THE HOLINESS OF THE LAND AND OF ITS PEOPLE
from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Brooklyn, NY 5746.
Everybody knows that Eretz Yisrael has all kinds of
(holinesses), First of all, it has kedushas avos (holiness of our
ancestors) - Avraham, Yitzhak and Yaakov - G-d gave them the land. Then
there is the kedusha of klal Yisrael, of all Israel. And then, Eretz
Yisrael itself is holy.
The
Midrash says something beautiful. We don't
find Eretz Yisrael mentioned until Avraham Avinu. 'There is a teaching
from Reb Leibele Eiger. He says, until I meet the girl I love the most,
I don't need a special place. When I meet the girl I love the most, I
want a very special place to be in with her. He says, until Avraham,
G-d was never so close to anyone to need a special place. But, when
Avraham appeared on the scene, then G-d wanted a place where He could
speak to Avraham. I want to say this a little bit differently. Imagine,
I have a place that is my favorite place and I am not going to show it
to
anyone. I'll only show it to the girl I love the most. So, basically,
Eretz Yisrael is the land from which the Ribbono Shel Olam (G-d)
doesn't ever remove His eyes. He showed Avruham Avinu that place.
Everybody asks, "Why did G-d forgive us for the Sin of the Golden Calf
and didn't He forgive us for the Sin of the Spies?" Imagine, I love a
girl very much. She says I'm no good. I can forgive her, I can
understand. But, imagine if I show her the place that I love the most
and she says that it's a disgusting place! This I can't forgive. This
means that she is not connected to the depths of my soul. When we said
the calf is G-d, G-d forgave us. But, when G-d showed us the place G-d
loves the most, and we said it's no good, that He can't forgive.
Reprinted with permission of Connections Magazine.Copyright (C) 1986 Congregation Kehilat Jacob (Transcribed by Ritka Haut)
May we all be blessed to see the greatness of the gift G-d has given us, by giving us the Holy Land of Israel.
Wishing One and All a Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov,
Rachel Espana
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Happy Minyan News & Upcoming Events
* Summer Schedule for Friday night!
We have two minyanim for Mincha / Kabbalat Shabbat at our regular davening location:
An early minyan will start at around 6:00pm and, a later minyan (after candle-lighting) will start at around 7:30pm. Early minyan'ers should please be sure to be on time so that the second minyan is not delayed.
* 2 Benefit Concerts for Sharon Asher:This Motzei Shabbat, Shulamit Rosner and her sister Liz will sing (women exclusively) at the home of Rabbi Aaron Parry:
12757 Mc Cormick St., Valley Village, CA 91607
Called for 9:30 PM
Minimum donation please - $18.00
We are raising money to help Sharon pay for uncovered expenses in her treatments for a refuah shleima.
Ladies, if you would like to perform, call me!
We want to enjoy your talent!
Shulamit Rosner: 626 222-3678Sharon's full name for davening is:
Shaindel Feiga bat Baila Eeta* Sarah Gordon's invitation to meet with a mekubal:
Rabbi Yirsael Burd from
Jerusalem is in LA offering consultations,readings and blessings. He will be
here untill Wednesday the 24th June. The Rabbi has been counceling people,offering
guidance and advice regarding parnassa, shlom bayis,health etc for many
years. His readings from various sacred texts are
incredibly accurate and have helped thousands of people around the
world.
To book an appointment, please call Heshy at
323 462-8550. I highly recommend him. Fee is by donation
only.
Rabbi Yirsael Burd from
Jerusalem is in LA offering consultations,readings and blessings. He will be
here untill Wednesday the 24th June.
* Tzeischem L'Shalom:
How will our minyan survive without Beth Plotkin?Well, we're not really sure, but we know Am Yisrael is better off for her choice to go learn in Israel. On one level, we wish she wouldn't go, but really - we all wish we were going with her!
Mazel Tov Ira Caplan on your 2 year fellowship that has taken you to Israel, too!
And Mazel Tov to Yael Weisz on her graduation from 8th grade, and has now joined her family, our beloved friends the Weisz's in Jerusalem.
May we all soon merit to meet up in Yerushalayim, with the coming of moshiach, where we will certainly lead the singing and dancing in the Happiest Minyan, in the Beis HaMikdash!
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Parshas Sh'lach Lecha - the Holiness of the Land and Good Vision
- Rav Sholom Brodt, Rosh Yeshiva of Simchas Shlomo
TOVAH HA-ARETZ M'OD M'OD: THE LAND IS EXTREMELY GOOD
To See The Tree Of Life -
In Moshe rabbeinu's instructions to the spies, one of the things he
says to them is "ha-yesh bah eitz, im ayin? v'hit'chazaktem u'lekachtem
mi'pri ha'aretz..." - Are there trees in the land, or not? Make
yourselves strong and take of the fruit of the land.
The word 'eitz'- tree, appears here in the singular, so the holy
Zohar says that Moshe Rabbeinu was alluding to the Eitz Hachayim - the
Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is in Eretz Yisrael. Moshe was concerned
about how the spies would be looking at the holy land for this would
determine whether or not they would merit to 'see' the Eitz Hachayim.
To 'see' the Eitz Hachayim means to see clearly that Hashem is
conducting everything that is happening in Eretz Yisrael. But should
they not see the Eitz Hachayim - "im ayin - if not - if you only see
the natural chain of events, and G-d's leadership is concealed from
you, then, v'hitchazaktem - you better make yourself strong in your
faith in Hashem and know that even in the concealment it is Hashem who
is conducting everything, it is Hashem who is keeping everything alive
and watching over every detail.
The Chidushei Hari"m says that if the spies had seen themselves
as Moshe's emissaries, they would have succeeded in their mission, for
his merit would have given them the strength to strengthen themselves
in their faith. Instead they saw themselves as the emissaries of the
people, and so they were only able to see the concealment of nature and
not beyond the concealment. By connecting ourselves to Hashem and to
the tzadikkim and seeing ourselves as their emissaries in this world,
we will merit completing our life goals and missions successfully.
SEEING THE GOODNESS OF ERETZ YISRAEL: CALEV AND YEHOSHUA
"The land which we traveled through, 'latour ohtah' to spy it out,
tovah ha-aretz m'od m'od, the Land is very very good." Calev ben
Yefuneh and Yehoshua ben Nunn (Bamidbar 14:7)
Calev and Yehoshua were the only two spies who saw that "the Land is
very very good." Reb Leibeleh Aiger zt"l explains that though they were
the only two whose eyes were open to seeing what this mission was all
about, nevertheless, they were the 'good root' of the entire group and
of the entire nation, since the twelve spies represented the whole
nation. Two people can look at the same thing and yet each one sees it
and comprehends it differently. Ten of the spies looked at Eretz
Yisrael from their own personal perspectives. But Yehoshua and Calev
who retained their attachment to their root and essence, were able to
see the truth of truth.
The Zohar says that Yehoshua had 'supernal help'. Reb Leibele explains
this to mean that he took the attitude that no matter how big and
powerful the people of the land may be, all this is of no consequence
for nothing can get in the way of Hashem's will.
Calev, although he did not receive any special blessing from Moshe, as
Yehoshua had, nevertheless was able to see the truth of the truth,
because at each step along the way he was praying to Hashem to
enlighten his eyes and to keep him focused on the real purpose of this
mission. He prayed to see only that which Hashem wanted him to see, and
to understand what Hashem was showing him and why He was showing it to
him. And even when he did not understand he did not for one moment
forget that he was that he was an emissary on a Divine mission.
Reb Leibeleh says something awesome. As we all know this story of the
spies is in a sense the most tragic story of the Jewish people, and to
this very day we are still suffering because of it. Yet, says Reb
Leibeleh there is something very great in this story of the sending of
the spies- who were after all sent by Hashem's command to send them.
Yes, it's true that this command differs from all others in that it was
not as direct- still it says in the Torah "Hashem spoke to Moshe
saying: Send unto yourself men that they should scout the land which I
Am giving to the Children of Yisrael..." The rebellion was tragic. Great
men, 'tzaddikim' turned away from Hashem and inspired a rebellion. Yet
Hashem ultimately responded to Moshe Rabbeinu's prayer , saying, "I
have forgiven as you spoke." [Bamidbar 14:20]
The awesomeness of this story says Reb Leibeleh, is that Hashem was
appeased to forgive the nation, because at the root we remained
connected to holiness. As much as we may mess up, and even when we mess
up badly, so long as at our roots we remain somehow connected to
'kedusha' it is possible to 'fix' and to 'sweeten' the judgment. Calev
and Yehoshua were the 'good root' that maintained our connection to
'kedusha'. [Toras Emes parshas Shlach]
TOVAH HA-ARETZ M'OD M'OD - M'OD M'OD HEVEI SHFAL RUACH
The holy Lechovitcher Rebbe said that the phrase "Tovah ha-aretz m'od
m'od - the land is very very good," alludes us to the teaching in
Ethics of The Fathers [chap. 4], "M'od m'od hevei shfal ruach - very
very much be of humble spirit." This means to say that Eretz Yisrael
belongs to those who are humble. One who is haughty and boastful cannot
see how precious Eretz Yisrael truly is. This is the land in which the
Shechinah dwells. Sadly, since the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash,
may it be rebuilt quickly in our days, the Shechinah is also in exile;
yet here in Israel a Jew can experience and see Godliness more so than
anywhere else even today, provided that he is humble.
Mar Ukvah teaches that concerning the one who speaks 'lashon harah',
G-d says, "Ein ani v'hu yecholin ladur ba-olam - he and I cannot live
together in the world." Some say that it is concerning the haughty
person that G-d says this. (Erchin 15b)
"R. Johanan said in the name of R. Simeon b. Yohai: Every man in whom
is haughtiness of spirit is as though he worships idols; it is written
here, Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord,
and it is written elsewhere, Thou shalt not bring an abomination into
thine house." (Sotah 4b)
ON SEEING
Our master the holy Baal Shem Tov taught: A man can see awesome things
in this world, but he himself blocks his eyes from seeing, with his
little hand.
On another occasion the Baal Shem Tov explained to his students, just
like a tiny coin held close to the eye, can entirely block out your
view of the enormously huge sun, similarly your view of the physical
world can block your view of the spiritual world. The Raabad in his
sefer "Ba-alei Hanefesh" says, "Open your eyes and see the image of
your Creator."
Reb Shlomo ztz"l, once taught us:
"The Talmud teaches: "Said Rabbi Binyamin, everyone is considered blind
until Hashem opens their eyes." Everybody is blind until G-d makes you
see, you can stand next to the thing you are looking for all your
life... all your life, [but] you don't see it unless Hashem opens your
eyes.
You can stand next to your soul mate for 100 years and unless Hashem
opens your eyes... it is possible to stand next to the person who loves
you the most, and you don't even know it.
What'll happen when Mashiach is coming? You know what'll happen when
Mashiach is coming... G-d will open our eyes... G-d will open our
eyes... G-d will open the eyes of nations, and they'll look at each
other and they'll say, "Crazy... you're my best friend.... you're my
best friend...you're my best friend."
Opening up eyes, gevalt is that deep... gevalt is that deep! You know
you can go to Yerushalayim, you can stand by the gates of heaven, you
can stand in the place where G-d's presence is shining in the deepest
deepest way, more than in Paradise, and unless G-d opens your eyes you
don't see anything... you don't see anything."
Reb Shlomo also taught that there is an enormous difference between
seeing with 'prophetic eyes' and seeing with 'Moshiach eyes'. To see
with prophetic eyes means that you are looking at someone and gathering
information about them, you are discerning who they are, what they are,
you are evaluating them and making predictions based on the
information. Seeing with Moshiach eyes means to look at a person and to
see their depths without being distracted by what you see on the
exterior. You can see your soul mate, but if you are not looking at him
or her with Moshiach eyes, you won't realize that you are looking at
your soul mate.
"LIR'OT" TO SEE VS "LATOUR" TO SPY, TO SCOUT, TO EXPLORE
What do we see? How do we perceive? What is the difference
between seeing and spying? How are we being perceived in the eyes of
the world, and most importantly in the eyes of Hashem? How do we see
ourselves? What do we see when look at ourselves and at each other?
Would that we have good eyes and good vision, b'ezrat Hashem. Would
that we understand the power of sight and seeing, would that we see
with holy eyes.
Twice in our parsha it says "U're'eetem" and you shall see.
Moshe Rabbeinu instructs the spies, "U're'eetem et ha-aretz" and you
shall see the land." At the end of the parsha in the mitzvah of tzitzit
it says "U're'eetem oto u'zechartem et kol mitzvot Hashem va'aseetem
otam, and you shall see it [the blue thread] and you shall remember all
the mitzvot of Hashem and you shall do them."
We also find the use of a related verb in this week's
Parsha, "latour" to spy, to scout. In the parsha of the
'meraglim', the spies, we find: "Hashem spoke to Moshe saying. Send forth men, if you please,
"ve-yatouru" and let them spy out the Land of Canaan, that I am giving
to the Children of Israel." [13: 1-2]
In the portion at the end of our parsha, in the mitzvah of
"tzitzit" -- the fringes that we are to attach to the four corners of
our garments, [that have four corners or more], we once again find the
verb "latour" -- to spy, as it says:
"And you shall see it [the blue thread] and you shall remember all the
mitzvot of Hashem and you shall do them. "Ve'lo tatouru acharei
levavchem ve'acharei eineichem... and you shall not explore after your
hearts and after your eyes, after which you stray... and you shall be
holy unto Hashem your G-d." [15: 39]
Our eyes are very precious and sensitive organs that
according to the Kabbalists were given to us to help us see inside our
selves. Just like we need to protect our eyes physically, so too we
need to protect them spiritually. I once heard in the name of the
Ramcha"l that it is in our eyes that are souls are most visible. If we
are not mindful, our eyes can easily become the 'spying instruments of
the yetzer-harah. As Rashi says, "the eyes see and the heart desires
and then the body acts." One can go astray ever so subtly.
Being aware of how you are looking at people and at your
daily surroundings is a good indicator of your spiritual condition at
any given moment. When you walk down the street do you readily make eye
contact, or do you avoid it? Do you notice if you are looking with
love, acceptance and blessing in your eyes, or is there pain, jealousy
and anger in them? They say, "Looks can kill." Or, "If looks could kill
I'd be dead by now." We say, "Looks can give and restore life!" Yes we
really do need to protect our eyes. This is the concept of "Shmirat
ha-Eynaiim - guarding the eyes."
CONNECTING DEEEPLY WITH ERETZ YISRAEL
The essence of this week's parsha and the coming month is about
connecting deeply with our holy land, Eretz Yisrael, both physically
and spiritually. In the midst of all the concern pertaining to Eretz
Yisrael, surely everyone is asking, "Is there anything I can do about
it?" The answer is YES!
First and foremost, we all have to affirm our trust and faith in Hashem
and that we care deeply about this holy land that Hashem promised our
ancestors and that it is His will that we should live in and serve Him
here in this holy land.
Our survival and success here in Eretz Yisrael is in Hashem's hands,
but we have to do all that we can do- tshuva, prayer, tzedakkah, and
'gemilut-chassadim' - acts of loving kindness and active involvement on
behalf of Eretz Yisrael.
We need to sincerely express our concern to Hashem for the well being
of Eretz Yisrael. Pray for Hashem to inspire us and our leaders with
the necessary knowledge and wisdom to do what is right. Seeing that we
love Eretz Yisrael and care deeply for her will arouse the nations to
respect Hashem's gift to His people, and our special relationship to
Eretz Yisrael. May Hashem answer all our prayers l'tovah. Amen.
THE SIN OF THE MERAGLIM
The children of Israel had approached Moshe Rabbeinu and
expressed a desire to send spies, "v'yachperu -- and they shall spy out
[literally...dig] the Land of Canaan" before entering the Holy Land*.
Hashem granted permission for this expedition, but as we learn in this
weeks' parsha, the outcome was and still is tragic. *[See Deut. 1:
22-46, which complements the two chapters devoted to this event in our
parsha, Bamidbar 13-14]
Forty days later the spies returned. Ten of the twelve
spies presented a report that incited panic and rebellion. The
remaining two spies, Calev and Yehoshua tried to reassure the nation
that we can get the land, that we do not have to fear the nations
inhabiting the land, because no matter how strong they may be, "for
their protection has been removed... and they said to the entire
congregation of the children of Israel, the land which we traveled
through, latour ohtah-- to spy it out, the land is very very good." But
the people did not listen to them and instead were swayed by the lashon
harah of the spies. They cried and they mourned and they went into a
panic even unto wanting to go back to Mitzrayim. They aroused Hashem's
wrath and brought down dire consequences upon themselves their children
and upon all future generations. That night was the "Tisha b'Av", the
ninth of Av. The 9th of Av came to be the most tragic date of Jewish
history.
The commentators ask how did such a terrible tragedy come
about? What is even more puzzling is that the spies, as explained in
Rashi, were actually 'tzadikkim' - holy and righteous people. Who would
expect that 'tzadikkim' would foment such a tragic rebellion against
Hashem's plan? What was their mistake?
The spies were holy tzadikkim, righteous people, until they
committed this grave sin and they certainly had great faith in Hashem.
Strangely, their sin came about because of the righteousness and wisdom.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains that the spies erred because
of their desire to always be close to Hashem. They knew that upon
entering Eretz Yisrael, life was going to change radically, that our
supernatural heavenly existence in the wilderness would not continue.
In the wilderness we lived around the Mishkan - the
dwelling place of the Shechinah. The Presence of the Shechinah was
evident both in the Pillar of Fire and the Pillar of Cloud. The 'clouds
of glory' surrounded us. Even the food we ate was heavenly - 'mannah'
from heaven. Hashem was our focus of attention while our physical needs
were taken care miraculously, and thus we were able to spend our days
in prayer, study of the Torah and devotion to Hashem.
However upon entering Eretz Yisrael all this would change;
we would now have to plough, plant, sow and reap; we would have to get
very involved with the 'eretz' - matters of earthly existence. Eretz
Yisrael was and is a very blessed land, its fruits and produce were
extraordinarily large and there was great abundance and we were going
to be very wealthy.
The spies were fearful that because of our involvement with
the physical and the mundane we would lose our spiritual connection
with Hashem; they were fearful that we might come to think that we are
mature and independent beings, no longer in need of Hashem. Better,
they thought, that we don't enter the Holy Land, for the physicality of
the land consumes the spiritual life of its inhabitants. And so, they
reasoned, Hashem did not really want us to get involved with 'the
land', with the physicality of life? And so they chose to speak lashon
harah against Eretz Yisrael.
But that is exactly what Hashem wanted and desired. It is
Hashem's will that we make this world into a dwelling place for Him.
Our task is to bring heaven down to earth and to raise our earthly
existence to heaven, to reveal the Divine in the physical [which is
even greater than the revelation of the supernatural] and thereby
elevate it. Though their understanding was great, the spies
nevertheless made the mistake of not realizing that this was not the
place for rational understanding. When connecting to Hashem's 'ratzon',
to His will, we are entering into a deeper than mind connection with
Hashem, for 'ratzon' will, is deeper much deeper than that, deeper than
all of one's rational understandings of Hashem and His Mitzvot.
The miracle of Israel is that this is the place where
Hashem wants us to be and to live together with the Shechinah. Here in
this land Hashem wants us to do our part in revealing the Presence of
Hashem in this world, the lowest of all worlds; to reveal that this
world is nothing but the outer manifestation of the ever present Divine
words of creation.
ENTERING INTO ERETZ YISRAEL - AND THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL MITZVOT
The Lubavithcher Rebbe zt"l often taught that the essence
of each parsha, is contained in the name of the parsha. Although the
name of each parsha is always taken from the first or second opening
verse, these names were not chosen randomly and merely for convenience
of reference, they actually do contain the essential teaching of the
parsha that relates to every other part of the weekly parsha. For
example, said the Rebbe, just like the entire ocean is present in each
drop of water, so too the entire parsha relates to the name of the
parsha. Thus the Rebbe asks, 'what is the relationship between the
story of the meraglim [the spies] entering the Land of Israel and the
rest of the parsha which contains a number of mitzvot.' The mitzvot,
after all are meant to be kept through the generations, while the story
of the meraglim is seemingly just an episode in the history of the
Jewish people!
The Rebbe explains that this story, which is the story
about entering into Eretz Yisrael - the 'land' of Israel, contains
essential teachings that pertain to the performance of all mitzvot.
A basic concept in fulfilling Hashem's commandments is the
knowledge that, since the mitzvot are Hashem's mitzvot, then it is a
sure and certain thing that it is in our capability to fulfill them,
for Hashem does not ask of us anything that is beyond our capabilities.
Hashem gives us the strength to fulfill the mitzvot.
In addition to knowing this we are taught, "Ain somchin al
haness," we do not to rely on miracles, even in the fulfillment of
mitzvot. Indeed, an essential aspect in the fulfillment of the mitzvot
is to do them in as natural a manner as possible, for in this way we
are accomplishing G-d's Will that we "make for Him a dwelling place in
the lowest of all worlds." Therefore it was necessary for [and G-d
allowed] us to send the spies into the Land, to discover the 'natural'
ways of ascending to, and acquiring the Land of Israel. [I.e. it would
not be right to have said simply, "G-d told us to go into the Land, so
then let's just go and G-d will take care of everything!" It was
important that we should send the spies to discover the 'naturally'
best entry points, to know where the water and food supplies are to be
found, which cities are the strongest, which are the weakest etc. etc...
This is the process of drawing G-dliness into the physical realm -
making a dwelling place for Ha
shem in the physical world.]
The story of our entering into the "Holy Land" - pertains
to the fulfillment of all mitzvot, in general. Concerning the awesome
greatness of Eretz Yisrael, the Torah tells us that it is the "Land
that Hashem your G-d cares for, the eyes of Hashem your G-d are always
therein, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year."
(Devarim 11:12.) The supernal Divine Providence in Eretz Yisrael is
exceptional, it is both inner and revealed - G-dliness can be 'felt'
even within the 'physicality' of the Land, in a more revealed manner
than anywhere else in the world. Our purpose in entering Eretz Yisrael
is to draw revealed holiness and G-dliness into the physical Land. And
this too is our underlying task in every mitzvah, to make for Him a
dwelling place in this lowest of all worlds. Therefore, though Hashem
is beyond all 'worlds', beyond time and space, He nevertheless, so to
speak lowered Himself to us and gave us mitzvot that are performed in
time and space. In this way we
are enabled to elevate ourselves and the 'world' to G-d.
This also explains the choice of the ambiguous phrase "Shlach
lecha" - send unto/for yourself, which implies as Rashi says, that
Hashem was not commanding us outright to do so. Given that we are not
to rely on miracles, should Hashem then not have commanded us outright
to send the spies? The Rebbe explains, that this aspect of service -
elevating the mundane to Hashem, in order for it be accomplished in a
complete manner, requires that we should have the space to come forward
to Hashem in doing something that we were not commanded to do. To reach
beyond the level of 'mekabeyl' - the level of being a receiver only,
and to reach the level of 'mashpiah' - the of being a giver as well,
requires that we should be able to something in the fulfillment of the
commandments, that we were not actually commanded to do.
Now we understand not only why the story of the spies
entering into the Land of Israel precedes the mitzvot in the parsha; we
also understand why this instruction was given such an ambiguous
manner! Entering the Land is to draw the kedusha of Hashem into the
'land', into the physical. Sending the spies, is to seek out the ways
of drawing this holiness into the most 'natural' ways of this world.
The sending of the spies without formally being commanded to do so,
represents the goal of Torah and mitzvot - to elevate the lower realms
to the supernal.
ENTERING ERETZ YISRAEL AND ENTERING SHABBOS:
THE SECRET OF KABBALAT SHABBAT
Entering into Shabbos is similar to entering into Eretz Yisrael. Just
like we had to leave the wilderness and enter into the Holy Land, so
too each week we leave the existence of the weekdays and enter into the
holiness of Shabbos. By observing Shabbos we are witnesses proclaiming
that there is a Creator, who created the world which belongs entirely
to Him, and that He is ever present and watching over His creation. The
question arises; how do we get out of the consciousness of weekdays
into the holiness Shabbos, especially if we have already gotten trapped
in the weekday life?
This is the secret of the Kabbalat Shabbat services. After we finish
the last Mincha Service of the week before sunset on Friday afternoon,
we start Kabbalat Shabbat. This service consists of seven Psalms: first
we sing [and dance] the first six of these, which correspond to the six
days of the week. Then we sing "lecha dodi', and this is followed by
the seventh Psalm: Mizmor shir l'yom haShabbat, the song of the Sabbath
day.
The first of these, Psalm 95, begins with an invitation to dance and
sing unto Hashem: L'chu N'rannenah L'Hashem, and it ends with a warning
not to repeat the mistakes that our ancestors made the wilderness, for
it caused them to be stuck there for forty years and never making it
into Eretz Yisrael. . Why do we start the Kabbalat Shabbat in this way,
and why do we encounter this admonition just as we are about to enter
into Shabbos?
Do you think that you are trapped in weekday consciousness? You think
you can't get away from it? There is only one-way Reb Shlomo zt"l used
to say. Get up and dance, sing and sing and dance your way into Shabbos
for the Gates of Song are next to the Gates of Tshuvah; this the way
home, back into the Holy Shabbos. You think you can't sing and dance?
Ask a friend to bless you and connect you to the World of Neginah song.
See yourself in the World of Song and SING! But remember entering
Shabbos is like entering Eretz Yisrael, it requires faith in trust in
Hashem. It requires a willingness to leave the familiarity and
spirituality of our wilderness existence, a willingness to leave the
world of doing and to enter into the world of being.
 May all of Am Yisrael be blessed to have deep faith in Hashem and in
his tzaddikim and tzaddkanios and in the coming of Moshiach and the
'geulah shleimah, bimheira' Amen.
Wishing you kol tuv b'ahavah ubivracha
Sholom |
 What You See Is What You Get In Parshat Shelach -
And The Month Of Tammuz
There's a fascinating self-help book called "Getting the Love You Want", by Harville Hendrix, PhD. It's about love and relationships, of course, and based on the title, you'd also think it's a how-to book. Yet in fact, the author points out that the title is a statement of reality - we get the love we want. The depth of that concept is better understood by reading the book, but the main thought is that whatever we are searching for (subconsciously) is what we are attracted to or what we attract.
A similar idea can be applied to the old saying of "what you see is what you get". While colloquially it means that things are as they seem, maybe it can also mean that whatever you perceive is what comes to you in life. Your view of the world will be reflected in and reinforced by your circumstances.
In this week's Parsha, Shelach, we read the tragic story of the Meraglim, the 12 representatives who went to check out the Land of Canaan (aka Israel) before the Jews entered it. The Meraglim claimed that they wished to see what the land was like - the terrain, the natural resources, the inhabitants, etc. - to get an idea of how to go about taking it over and settling there once they all arrived. It was meant to be a short trip, just to work out logistics, and that would in turn reassure the Children of Israel that their transition into the Holy Land would be smooth.
What actually happened is quite the opposite: Ten of the twelve Meraglim came back with such dramatic and daunting reports that the entire Jewish People cried out in despair. The Meraglim described giant inhabitants of the land who, they determined, were far too formidable an enemy for the small Jewish nation to contend with. All the people panicked and wept, saying that it would've been better to have just remained in Egypt than be destroyed upon entering Israel. The result of this reaction was a 40-year sentence to wander the desert. All the adults, those who had been slaves in Egypt, were now doomed to die in the desert rather than enter the Promised Land. The slave mentality remained with them despite their freedom. It was only this mindset which could limit their ability to conquer the Land of Israel, not any real threat. And it was therefore this mindset that precluded this generation's entry into the land. A new generation would have to emerge - one of faith and confidence.
One of the most telling parts of the report of the Mergalim was when they stated regarding those who were dwelling in the land "...we were, in our eyes, as (small as) grasshoppers; and thus we were in their eyes." (Shemot 13:33) Our Sages marvel at the second part - that they claimed to know what the inhabitants thought of them without even having spoken to them. But that is not really wondrous bearing in mind the first part - that they considered themselves as small as grasshoppers. They felt small, so they assumed they were small in the eyes of others. Their self-perception must be true for others as it was true for them.
And here comes the idea of what you see is what you get:
Prior to sending out the Meraglim to the Land, the Children of Israel physically saw many miracles. They saw the 10 Plagues in Egypt, the Splitting of the Sea, the Revelation at Mount Sinai, Mannah from Heaven.... Surely, the G-d Who made these miracles could assist them in dealing with giants once they arrived in Israel. After all, it was the Promised Land. G-d would keep His Word. Only they slave mentality that lingered made all this logic irrelevant. Or more to the point, it made all the miracles invisible. All they could see was their weakness, their smallness. This is why the Meraglim and the people fixated on the perception that the inhabitants were overwhelming giants. And what they saw is what they got. They really couldn't make it into Israel now. They really were too small.
The next Jewish month (coming this week) is Tammuz. According to the Sefer Yetzirah, every Jewish month corresponds to a tribe and a part of the body. Each month is another opportunity to tap into the essence of each tribe and the energy of each body part, and bring healing to those areas of our lives. The tribe for Tammuz is Reuven, whose name means "see the difference between". The part of the body that relates to Tammuz is the eyes. The mistakes of the Meraglim began with their eyes. Instead of seeing the blessings and all that is waiting for them in Israel, they saw their fears and shortcomings. The tikkun - spiritual fixing - for this month is choosing to see the miracles around us rather than just seeing further evidence of our view of life.
May G-d bless us all with eyes to see - to see goodness in others and in ourselves, and in our Land. And as Reb Shlomo Carlebach taught in the name of the Ishbitzer - may we all look at each other with "mashiach eyes" - with eyes that see not how little people may be, but how great they can be. Those are eyes that will see mashiach, may that be soon!
Good Shabbos, Good Chodesh!
Rachel |
 David Sacks teaches every Sunday at 10:30 am
at Mogen David, 9717 W. Pico Blvd
You can also listen to David Sacks online anytime by down- loading his Torah on iTunes, or you can read some of his best articles - check out his fantastic site Spiritual Tools for an Outrageous World.
Why is Life So Confusing? - Garden of Eden Part 6
Dear Friends,
Why is life so confusing? To answer (one part) of this giant question we take a look at another question - is the Torah written in chronological order, or not? Factor in now that we ourselves are compared to Torah scrolls
and that Judaism (unknown to many people out there) actually believes
in reincarnation, and now we have a very interesting ingredients for a
talk that begins back in the Garden of Eden and goes straight back into
our daily lives.
Have a Great Week,
David Sacks
www.torahonitunes.com |
About Happy Minyan - Los Angeles
Please join us for davening every Shabbat!
Friday night: (Summer time) Early services begin at 6pm. Regular Mincha begins at candle-lighting time, followed by Kabballat Shabbat and Maariv.
Saturday morning: David Sacks' class begins at 8:30am, followed by Shacharit at 9am, then Torah reading and Musaf. There is a Kiddush after davening at around 12pm.
Saturday afternoon:
Mincha and Seudah Shlishit are usually around an hour and a half before
Shabbat ends and followed by Maariv and Havdallah at the conclusion of
Shabbat.
We also meet for davening on all major Jewish holidays.
The Happy Minyan is located at
the Karate Academy
9218 West Pico Blvd (at Glenville)
Los Angeles, California90035
Good Shabbos! Good Shabbos!
The Happy Minyan
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