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 /
Jeff Mann's home:
1037 South Sherbourne Dr.
LA 90035
(between Olympic & Whitworth)
(There's 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 Reb Shlomo Carlebach and the Izshbitzer, from the book "Lev HaShamayim" - given over by Rabbi Nossen and Rebbetzin Channah Schafer in Boston
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Call (641) 715-3300
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Recorded: Listen anytime! Each class is recorded and available until the next shiur, which will replace it.
Playback Number: (641) 715-3412
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Happy Minyan Newsletter - Kol Sasson
Parshas Vayechi |
January 2010 |
Greetings!
An interesting custom of wishing you a Happy New Year today:
Rabbi Sholom Hecht of Hecht's bookstore on Coney Island in Flatbush,
NY, was privilaged to have had many private talks with the Lubavitcher
Rebbe. One time Rabbi Hecht had a talk with the Rebbe on the morning of
January 1st. At some point during the talk the Rebbe told him "Happy New
Year". Rabbi Hecht was very surprised. The Rebbe then told him that
Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev used to tell his congregants "Happy
New Year", and it's based on Kapitel 87 verse 6 in Tehillim where it
says "Hashem Yispor Bichsov Amim.." "Hashem will count in the register
of people..."
Wishing You a Good Shabbos, and Happy New Year
Rachel
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Happy Minyan News & Upcoming Events
*Shalom Zachar for baby Schneider!
David (Dudi) and Tzipi Schneider are happy to announce the birth of a baby boy (Wednesday night)! The Shalom Zachar will take place this Friday night at 1613 S. Beverly Dr. (corner of Beverly Dr. and Monte Mar). All are welcome!
*Rav Shimon Green this Shabbos!
We are honored to have Rabbi Shimon Green, Rosh Yeshiva of Bircas HaTorah in the Old City of Jeruslaem, speaking in our minyan this Shabbos morning!
*Happy Minyan Sisterhood - Save-the-date(s):
2/30/09 Shabbat Shira/Tu Beshvat - Sisterhood Sponsored Kiddush Lunch Ladies (and Gentlemen, too! Why not?!): Please send in your contributions if you want to be a part of our annual kiddush sponsored by the Sisterhood.
Motzei Shabbat 3/13/09 Haapy Minyan Sisterhood Fundraiser "Vina, Bina, & Gevina - Cirque in the Hood"
This Sisterhood event was very successful last year and
B'ezrat HaShem should be even better this year!
WE NEED EVERYONE"S HELP!
Donations for the Raffle are very important.
Even small items are great - we can pair them with other items to make beautiful themed gift baskets.
*Become a Member of the Happy Minyan!:
It's not too late to pay
for Happy Minyan Membership!
(In fact, it's NEVER too late to make a contribution and support our minyan! Be sure to pay for membership if you haven't yet! And please also be sure to send in your pledges from Yom Kippur and Simchas Torah. You can also make arrangements to pay in installments if that will help you give back to the minyan that is so happy to give to you!)
 To pay via Paypal, click here:
Or mail your checks to:
P.O. Box 16002, Beverly Hills, CA 9020 * Mazal Tov: to Tzipi and Dudi Schneider on the birth of a baby boy; and from last week... to Yair and Aravah Treister on their marriage; Cathy and Lowell Reinstein on their marriage; and Yosef and Malka Venouziou on their marriage - all on the same day!; to Daniel and Azriella Jankovic on the birth of a baby.
*Happy Birthday: Shaul Pablo Casados, Laurel Cline, Deborah Klein, Reb Naftali Citron, and Jessica Tabak!
* Refuah Shlaimah: Shalom ben Elisheva (Sacha Shalom Louza), Yedidya ben Chana (Yedidya Blanton), Shaindel Feiga bat Baila Eeta (Sharon Asher)
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Vayechi - 5770
- Rav Sholom Brodt, Rosh Yeshiva of Simchas Shlomo
The 'Closed' Parsha
At
the beginning of the parsha Rashi alerts us to its unusual opening.
Parsha means a portion or a section of Torah. Each weekly parsha is
made up of many smaller portions, and each is called a parsha. In the
sefer Torah you can distinguish between one parsha and another by the
open space between them. The size of this open space varies in length.
A "parsha p'tucha" is an open parsha, i.e. there is an open space in
between that parsha and the previous one. However our parsha, parshas
Va'yechi, is a "parsha stumah" a 'closed parsha', i.e. there is no open
space between the beginning of our parsha and the end of the previous
one. Why is this so?
Rashi
brings us two reasons for this: "This is because once our father Yaakov
died the eyes and hearts of Israel were 'closed' because of the misery
of the bondage, for they [the Egyptians then] began to subjugate them.
An alternate explanation: Because Yaakov wished to reveal the End to
his children and it was concealed [closed] from him" (Bereishis Rabbah)
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Secrets of Jewish Living
Va'yechi-
he lived. Most of today's parsha learning is about living a true and
exalted life even in the midst of hardships. Wherever you are today, I
hope first of all that you have much to celebrate. I also hope that our
learning will inspire all of us to reach even higher, to reach for a
taste of true life and supernal delight- for a taste of Olam Ha'bah- a
taste of the world to come here in Olam Ha'zeh- this world.
The
following piece, from the sefer Torat Emet, the collected teachings of
Reb Leibeleh Eiger zt"l, is connected to the teachings about the
opening of Parshas Va'yechi, which is known as a parsha stumah- a
closed parsha. For an easier understanding see the related teachings,
which can be found further on in the collected teachings of previous
years.
The
last verse in last week's parsha says, "[The children of] Yisroel dwelt
in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they took hold of it
and they were fruitful and multiplied exceedingly." While the opening
verse of this week's parsha begins with, "And Yaakov 'lived' in the
land of Egypt for seventeen years." It is between these two verses that
there is no empty space in the Torah, and thus, it is called a parsha
stumah- a closed parsha.
Many
of the Chassidic commentators focused their attention on the phenomenon
that Yaakov and his children were prosperous and fruitful in the land
of Egypt, the country in which G-d's presence was most concealed. The
basic lesson derived is that one can actually live a life of holiness
in the midst of tremendous hardship and spiritual darkness. The Zohar
teaches that this is the reason there is no break between the end of
last week's parsha and the beginning of this week's. In other words, by
taking hold of the circumstances, rather than getting lost in them, we
can learn how to grow, be fruitful and multiply, even in the most
severe spiritual conditions. This is what Yaakov Avinu and his children
accomplished in their lifetimes, even in Mitzrayim- the spiritual
narrows of Egypt. Having done this the Torah continues and says, "vayechi
Yaakov"- Yaakov lived in the land of Egypt, for that is true life:
mastering your circumstances instead of being mastered by them.
Reb
Leibeleh continues to expound on this theme by bringing the following
verse, "The offering [desirable] to G-d is a broken spirit, a contrite
and broken heart, G-d you do not disdain" (Psalm 51:19). The Talmud
also teaches that seeing broken vessels in a dream is a sign that your
prayers have been accepted. Reb Leibeleh relates the broken vessels to
Yakov Avinu's life experiences. Yaakov Avinu, in particular, went
through many tests and oppressions of kinds that would sour anyone's
heart, such as having to flee for his life from his brother Eisav, the
deceit of his father-in-law Lavan, the abduction and rape of Dina and
the loss of Yosef. He lived through all this in order to teach future
generations the essence of Jewish living in this world. If one has to
'chas v'shalom', [may Hashem have compassion upon us and bless us with
peace always] live through obstacles and experience brokenness, there
is a way to use them and elevate them. Obstacles are there so that we
should rise above them. Concerning brokenness - remember what the
Kotzker Rebbe (who was Reb Leibeleh's Rebbe) said, "There is nothing
more whole than a broken heart!"
Maybe
you remember that as a child you had a favorite toy. When you were
playing with it, it filled your heart so much that you didn't pay any
attention to anyone else, you didn't care to share it with anyone and
you didn't mind being alone. And then one day the toy broke and no one
could fix it for you and you cried and cried; your heart was broken- it
was broken-open; and now there was room for something even better. This
illustrates the concept of 'hamtakas hadinim' - the sweetening of
judgments.
The
Zohar says that ultimately, Yaakov merited to receive a small taste of
olam habah here in this world because he had reached a level where his
physical reality was totally purified by all the obstacles, tests and
brokenness he lived through. He became entirely spiritual, living in
exalted delight.
Being that Yaakov is Yaakov Avinu - our father Yaakov, the spiritual
inheritance he gave each of his descendents is the knowledge and
capability not to fall into despair as a result of life's hardships and
brokenness. Our father Yaakov taught us how to use each lack and
hardship to refine ourselves and our aspirations, to open ourselves up
to coming closer to Hashem, and enhance our service of Hashem.
Hashem's
intentions are always for the good. Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev
explained the Talmud's teaching (Megillah 13b) "Hashem yisborach brings
the healing before the infliction," to mean that the point of the
infliction is to break the small vessel so that it can be enlarged to
receive the greater salvation. Though he might think otherwise, it is
"Better to teach the needy how to fish rather than to give him a fish."
consider that he would be better off if you would just give him. We're
not talking about retribution. We're talking about transferring the
experience of a lack and hardship and using it positively. We're
talking about elevating the experience to acquire deeper sensitivity,
increased skills and enhanced awareness. Who is the smarter scientist,
is the one who knows the answers or is it the one who 'knows' the right
questions? Ask any intelligent kid and they will immediately tell you
it's the one who has the questions. Through the losses we experience
and the lacks we are aware of, we slowly learn that we still have much
to learn and to grow. Ultimately we can and hopefully we will merit
life in the world to come - which is the greatest of delights- which is
continuous pleasure, a delight to which none other can compare.
The
essence of the Jewish soul in this world is to constantly be yearning
for a deeper and closer connection to Hashem. Consequently we are aware
and concerned about that which is still lacking in our service of G-d.
And if one does not feel any lack in his service, if he completely
satisfied with himself and with the way things are, it is a sign that
his soul has not yet been purified, chas v'shalom. In this case, one
ought to throw oneself on the ground, begging G-d to give him the
consciousness to sense his lacking, and to help him break his heart so
that he should merit to come closer to G-d. Yaakov Avinu, alav
hashalom, is the source of this pathway.
What
will be when we finally get to that place of supernal delight and
pleasure? The Rabbis teach us on the verse, "'I [G-d] will walk [with
you] in your midst,' I [Hashem] will take a walk with you in Gan Eden.
Does this then mean that you will not tremble in G-d's presence? From
the end of the verse which says, 'and I will be Elokim unto you,' we
learn that even in that world of supernal delight we will continue to
be aware of G-d's greatness and power and we will tremble in His
Presence."
Says
Reb Leibeleh, simply speaking, going for a walk means to enjoy the
pleasure strolling with your loved ones in beautiful gardens and
orchards after eating and drinking. Such walks are parables to life in
'the world to come', our ultimate desired goal and destination after
completing our journey in this world. For then the Tzaddikim will not
be lacking anything good. Nevertheless, the fear and awareness in
conscious awareness of G-d will be upon their faces.
In
our present time, the holy Shabbos is 'mei'ayn olam habah' - a taste of
the world to come. On Shabbos we eat and drink and experience the
delight of Shabbos. I frequently used to see Chassidim going for walks
after their Shabbos meals. Now that Reb Leibeleh has revealed the
secret of the parable, it seems to be a good idea to adopt this Shabbos
custom, and while walking with your loved ones and friends, let's try
to imagine walking with Hashem in Gan Eden.
The Greatness of Rachel Imeinu - Our Mother Rachel
At
the beginning of this week's parsha - Va'yechi Yaakov - Yaakov 'lived',
we see Yaakov Avinu making his last preparations before leaving this
world. First he arranges for his burial, requesting of Yosef to swear
to him that he will bury him in the Me'arat Hamachpeilah in Chevron,
where his ancestors, Adam and Chavah, Avraham and Sarah, Yitzchak and
Rivkah were buried. Yosef took the oath and then Yaakov blessed him and
his children. Soon after we read:
Bereishis
48:7: And I, when I came from Padan, Rochel died unto me in the land of
Canaan, on the road, when there was yet a stretch of land, before
coming to Efrat. I buried her there on the road to Efrat, which is Beis
Lechem.
Concerning
the last verse (48:7) in which Yaakov recounts where he buried Rachel,
Yosef's mother, Rashi explains that Yaakov was excusing himself to
Yosef for not having brought his mother to burial in Chevron:
Rashi: "I buried her there."
"And I did not carry her even to Beis Lechem in order to bring her to a
[settled] land, and I know that you have resentment toward me. But,
know that it was by the word [of G-d] that I buried her there so that
she might help her descendants when Nevuzaradon would send them into
exile and when they would pass by way [of her grave] Rochel would
emerge from her grave and cry and beseech mercy [from G-d] for them, as
it is said: "A voice is heard in Ramah, Rochel is weeping for her
children, etc." And G-d answers her: " 'There is reward for your toil,'
says G-d, 'for your children will return to their border.' Yirmiyahu 31
It
was Hashem's who informed Yaakov to bury Rachel just outside Bit
Lechem. Surely Yaakov wanted to bring her to burial in Chevron, but
Hashem told him not to do so because that is what Rachel wanted.
Like the mother who does not wish to enter into her home until all
her children are in first, Rachel Imeinu, our mother Rachel remained
outside the Land of Israel. She knew prophetically that it would be a
long time before all her children would come home, and so she chose to
remain outside of Israel and weep bitterly over the exile of her
children. She refuses to be comforted:
Yirmiyahu 31:14 Thus saith the LORD: A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she
refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.
And finally Hashem promises her that her children will come home.
Yirmiyahu 31:15 Thus saith the LORD: Refrain thy voice from weeping,
and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the
LORD; and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 16 And there
is hope for thy future, saith the LORD; and thy children shall return
to their own border.
We
see that it was Rachel Imeinu's choice to remain outside as Hashem
says, "for thy work shall be rewarded." Says the Lubavitcher Rebbe,
this is the greatness of Our Mother Rachel: she was well aware of the
importance and holiness of being buried in Eretz Yisrael, probably no
less than Yaakov Avinu, who insisted, that Yosef take an oath swearing
that he will make sure to do so. Nevertheless, she chose to give up on
achieving her highest level in holiness, to be buried together with her
husband Yaakov in the Me'arat Hamachpeilah in Eretz Yisrael, for
thousands of years, for the benefit of her children. (Likkutei Sichos
30, p.239)
We wish you a wonderful Shabbos and Kol tuv b'ahavah ubivracha
Sholom |
"Tikkun Rachel" - Divrei Torah by Rachel Espana
Let's Make a Deal In this week's parsha, Vayechi,
Yakov blesses his sons, the Twelve Tribes of Israel. One of the twelve sons,
Zevulun, is blessed to be a successful sea merchant. The next son mentioned,
Yissachar, is blessed to be patient and to have the strength and endurance of a
donkey in order to study the Torah. According to our tradition, Yissachar and
Zevulun struck a very good deal with each other based on their blessings.
Zevulun would provide (monetarily) for all of Yissachar's worldly needs while
Yissachar studied all day. In return, Zevulun would receive the same spiritual
reward as Yissachar in the World to Come.
There is a sweet lesson in
partnership we can learn from this. Some people are better at sitting and
studying, some are better at going out and doing. If we come together with our
brothers and sisters and contribute our strengths to compliment each other, we
can become together very powerful and productive people.
Also, there is another lesson here
for each of us about finding our priorities. What's more important - your body
or your soul? You can't live properly without either, right? Well, then you
could ask what should we value more and spend more time tending to - our body
or our soul?
The answer is both.
We're in this physical world with
material needs for a reason. If we were meant to be only pure souls, HaShem
wouldn't have given us bodies. If we didn't have a body, we'd have no way to
pray, no way to read Torah... no way to smile at someone and no way to lend
someone a hand. The opportunities which make life so meaningful for us wouldn't
exist if we had no bodies.
Of course if we were only physical
and had no soul - what would be the point of anything? Why bother cooking,
cleaning, eating, sleeping, if there's no greater purpose? Why bother with
anything if there's nothing beyond the world we see?
The physical world gives us
opportunities to grow. The spiritual world gives us a sense of meaning and
purpose. What the deal that Yissachar and Zevulun made teaches us is that we
all need to strike a deal within ourselves for ourselves.
May all who preserve our ancient
heritage by immersing themselves in Torah study - may they all be blessed with
the physical means to continue in their holy work. May all who engage in the
labor of this material world - may they be fulfilled knowing they are working
for a greater and meaningful purpose. May we all find the balance within
ourselves between the body and the soul.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rachel
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 David Sacks
teaches every Shabbos morning
at 8:30am at the Happy Minyan,
and every Sunday morning
at 10:30 am at Congregation 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.
What is God Telling Us? - Coincidences and You
Dear Friends,
Four amazing "coincidences" happened to me this week. I've been trying
to wrap my brain around this subject for quite a while now and bring
you fresh info from the never ending search to decode life.
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About Happy Minyan - Los Angeles
Please join us for davening every Shabbat!
Friday night: Mincha begins around 10 minutes after 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 20 minutes before candle-lighting time 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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