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
Live: Sunday Night
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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Happy Minyan Newsletter - Kol Sasson
Parshios Emor | April 2010 |
Greetings!
This past week, on the 14 of Iyar, (also Pesach Sheini) it was the yahrtzeit of Rebbe Meir Baal HaNess. It is a "segulah" to give charity in his name and then ask HaShem for whatever help you (or others) need. May we all be answered speedily by HaShem in the merit of the great Tanna, Rebbe Meir Baal HaNess!
(Rebbe Meir's burial site in Tiveria.) |
The Legend of Rebbe Meir Baal HaNess (Gemara Avoda Zara, 18a-b):
He was called Rabbi Meir "Baal Ha-Ness" ("the Master of the Miracle") because of the following story.
Rebbe Meir was married to Beruriah, the wise daughter of Rebbe Chananiah ben Teradyon, one of the ten martyrs. The government ordered Rebbe Chanania's and his wife's execution for teaching Torah publicly. They decreed that his daughter (Beruriah's sister) should live a life of shame. She was therefore placed in a brothel.
Beruriah asked her husband to save her sister. Rabbi Meir took a bag of gold coins and went to the brothel disguised as a Roman horseman. When he discovered that Beruriah's sister kept her chastity he offered the money as a bribe to the guard.
The guard replied, "When my supervisor comes, he will notice one missing and kill me."
R' Meir answered, "Take half the money for yourself, and use the other half to bribe the officials."
The guard continued, "And when there is no more money, and the supervisors come - then what will I do?"
R' Meir answered, "Say, 'The G-d of Meir - answer me!' and you will be saved."
The guard asked, "And how can I be guaranteed that this will save me?"
R' Meir replied, "Look - there are man-eating dogs over there. I will go to them and you will see for yourself."
R' Meir walked over the dogs and they ran over to him to tear him apart. He cried, "G-d of Meir - answer me!" and the dogs retreated. The guard was convinced and gave him the girl.
When the group of supervisors came, the guard bribed them with the money. Eventually, the money was used up, and it was publicized what had happened. They arrested the guard and sentenced him to death by hanging. They tied the rope around his neck and he said, "G-d of Meir - answer me!" The rope tore, much to everyone's amazement. He told them the incident with R' Meir, and were themselves convinced of the power and greatness of the G-d of Meir. They let him go. The guard was saved.
From then on, according to the Chida, a tradition has remained that whenever a Jew finds himself (chas v'shalom) in any sort of crisis, he gives charity for the benefit of Torah students in Israel, and dedicates the charity in memory of R' Meir Baal Haness. He then says, "E-loha D'Meir Aneini" ("G-d of Meir - Answer me!") three times, and in that merit will hopefully have salvation from his crisis.
The Baal Shem Tov says that if one is in danger and is in need of a miraculous salvation he should give 18 gedulim (not sure of the modern day equivalent) for candles in the shul and say:
Ani minadder otan chai gedulim lineirot bishvil nishmat Rabbeinu Meir Baal HaNess, Elo-ha D'Meir Aneini, Elo-ha D'Meir Aneini, Elo-ha D'Meir Aneini. U'vichein Yehi Rotzon Milfonecha A-do-nai E-loheinu Ve-lo-hei Avoteinu kishem sheshoma'ta et tefilat avdecha Meir Vi'asita lo nisim viniflaot, kein ta'aseh imadi v'im kol Yisrael Amecha hatzrichim linisim nistarim v'nigla'im. Amen, Kein Yehi Rotzon. (Keser Shem Tov)
There is also a widely held custom / segulah from Bereishis Rabbah that when something is lost, a person should immediately promise to give some money to the tzedakah in the merit of Rebbe Meir Baal Haness and say the short prayer below, and then search for the missing object.Everyone I know who has used this to find lost (not stolen) items has been quickly successful in finding what was lost, B"H.
Wishing One and All a Shabbat Shalom, and a Happy Lag B'Omer!
Rachel |
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Happy Minyan News & Upcoming Events
*New Summer Schedule for Friday nights!
Baruch HaShem! We are the only Carlebach minyan in the world that has two minyanim for Friday Mincha / Kabbalat Shabbat in the summer. Both minyanim are at our regular davening location at the Karate Academy.
The early minyan will start at approximately 6:00pm and, the later minyan(after candle-lighting) will start at approximately 7:15pm.
The times will change every week or two according to candle-lighting times. Early minyan'ers should please be sure to be on time so that the second minyan is not delayed.
* Community Celebrations of Lag B'Omer -
This Saturday Night - Sunday:
There are several great Lag B'Omer events - both aound the city and in the valley - I am posting that seem best suited to most of our minyan.
*Special Tour of Chasidic Pre-War Europe:
Share Unforgettable Moments In Chassidic Jewish History...
Bear Witness To The Undying Spirit Of The Jewish People... May 3 - 11, 2010
Daven by the Kevorim of R' Elimelech of Lajensk, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz, the Chozeh of Lublin, the Koznitzer Maggid and others.
(FLYER)
*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 |
 Lag B'Omer, Shavuot and Kiddish Levanah: You should always have someone to tell your secrets
by Reb Shlomo Carlebach
My beautiful friends, I just returned from Yerushalayim, from the Holy City, from the Holy Wall, from everything holy and beautiful in our lives. And we are in the middle of counting, counting our days, counting life, counting beautiful things. I will share with you a little bit about Lag b'Omer, about Shavuot, and about Kiddush Levanah, the Blessing of the Moon.
My dear friend, the deepest depths of Yiddishkeit is that I am longing for so much and I am so broken that I don't have it yet. Yet I do have it. The Isbitzer says, if I need a hundred dollars it is because I don't have it. But for G-d, if crying for the Torah, if crying for Yiddishkeit, it is because I really do have it. You know friends, G-d gave us the Torah on Mount Sinai and the saddest thing in the world is that we had the arrogance to think that we had it. So we lost it. When Moshe Rabbenu broke the tablets, he gave us the Torah again and the Talmud says that both tablets, the whole ones and the broken ones, are lying in the Holy Ark.
We need both.
So basically the laws of the Torah which we receive on Shavuot are not enough to protect us from the Golden Calf. So G-d in His infinite mercy gives us broken tablets -the deepest secret of the Torah, the Torah of Rabbi Akiva and Reb Shimon Bar Yochai. He gives them to us before Shavuot, on Lag b'Omer. And then on Shavuot what we receive is even deeper than the secrets of the Torah, the utmost heavenliness and G-dliness of the Torah. The Gemara says that G-d always gives the medication before the disease. So every Shavuot there is always a possibility of making another golden calf. Maybe last year we did it, maybe we are still doing it. So Lag b'Omer is the day that G-d gave us the secrets of the Torah. You know what the secret is?
The secret is something that fills your heart so much, it fills you with longing, and it fills you with depth. A secret is like a little bit of light beyond vessels. Basically, when G-d created the world, G-d was hiding in the world. G-d is the biggest secret in the world. He is so obvious and yet so hidden. So G-d gives us the secrets of the Torah before Shavuoth. And every Lag b'Omer Reb Shimon Bar Yochai and Rabbi Akiva are giving over to us the deepest depths of the Torah. Reb Zadok Hacohen says, How do you know how much somebody loves you? When somebody loves you, they want to tell you all their secrets. You know what is living on Lag b'Omer? He gives us the deepest depths, how much the Torah loves us, how much we love the Torah. Lag b'Omer we are telling the Torah all our secrets and the Torah is telling us all the Torah secrets. Reb Akiva was longing all his life to give his life for G-d. He had such deep longing for G-d. He was ready to die for G-d, to show that the way that I love G-d is beyond vessels, deeper than everything in the world. A few days after Shavuot we are mekadesh levanah (sanctifying the moon).
Everybody knows that the moon receives the inside light of the sun. Everybody knows that during the day we take care of the outside. We work, we do business. The night is the inside. The Gemara says the night is for learning, especially secrets; the night is full of secrets. Do you know what secrets are? Secrets are: after you hear the secrets you still don't know them, there is so much more to them. The levanah, the moon, is so deep. The moon is always longing for more. When the moon is full, it is not satisfied. It knows there must be more in the world than just this light that fills it and it begins all over again. So we Yidden get together between the beginning of the month and the full moon to thank G-d for this new light. Every month the moon is new again; the sun is always the same. Inside people are always new. In other words, inside people are always so broken, but they are also always new.
My beautiful friends, I am inviting you all for Kiddush Levanah. The first Kiddush Levanah after Shavuot, whatever we didn't do on Shavuot, whatever we missed out, we can still do, because it is the month of Shavuot, the moon of Shavuot. It is the light of Shavuot.
You know, Shavuot night we are up all night. We are reading the beginning and the end of the every parsha and tractate. We are connecting ourselves to the beginning and the end because we know the beginning is in G-d's hands and the end is in G-d's hands. We pray and hope that we'll be able to do something in the middle.
The Talmud says: If all the oceans will be ink and all the leaves will be quills to write with, we still could not tell each other the holiness of that night.
And then that morning at dawn we receive the Torah with all our hearts. G-d is telling us, I am really your G-d and I am with you always, always. And you are my people. Let's be together that night, let's be together Lag b'Omer and let's be together at Kiddush Levanah. We should be together, my friends, every Shabbat and every YomTov. And I bless you that you should always have someone to tell your secrets.
Reprinted from Kehilat Jacob News, New York, 5751 |
"Tikkun Rachel" - Divrei Torah by Rachel Espana
 Public Service in Parshat Emor
Once upon a time, I thought (thanks to Gidget) that the Big Kahuna was the Hawaiian surf god. Now I know better. For the Jews, the Kahuna is rather the priestly status - being a Kohain (Cohen).
This week's parsha deals with several rules and restrictions of the Kahuna that, on the surface, are quite difficult for many people to relate to - Kohain and non-Kohain alike. In fact there are two areas of detailed restrictions that seem... well... very politically incorrect.
First we are told of three categories of women that a Kohain may not marry, even though a non-Kohain may. Those categories are 1) the "chalalah" - a daughter of a Kohain and a woman to whom a Kohain may not be married... 2) the "zonah" - a woman who has had forbidden relations, and also in this instance, a convert 3) the "gerusha" - a divorcee.
And then the next thing we learn of is all sorts of physical disabilities and conditions that a Kohain may not have if he is to serve in the Temple. For example, a Kohain serving in the Temple may not be blind (even in one eye), deaf, a hunchback, missing a limb... and even a temporary injury disqualifies him for service until it's healed, like a broken bone.
What is all this about? There are those who see all this as offensive - like what's "wrong" with a divorcee or convert specifically that they can't marry a Kohain? And what's "wrong" with someone with a physical disability that they shouldn't be given a chance to do even modified service in the Temple?
It seems to me that there's nothing "wrong" with them at all, but that these rules are actually a sign of G-d's great compassion and consideration for these special individuals. In order to understand what I mean, we must first look at who the Kohain is.
Kohanim are supported completely by the community. Their job is holy service, and their pay comes in the form of tithes. They don't even have an established area of land to settle within Israel as the other tribes do. They rely completely on the community for their homes, food, indeed their entire livelihood. The Kohain is the ultimate public servant.
The services the Kohain performs in the Temple are primarily for others. For example, Kohanim preside over individual sacrifices and perform all the communal sacrifices, too. They also are the conduit for G-d's blessing to the entire Jewish People through the Birkat Kohanim, the priestly blessing.
Living this kind of holy life, performing public service, means there's little room for ego. A Kohain must focus on the group, not on himself. Also, as a function of their job, Kohanim are very much in the public eye. Think of modern day public servants - the most obvious example being politicians. We know how much public scrutiny politicians endure.
These points should shed some light on the rules and restrictions mentioned above. Marriage to a woman with any special circumstances, like a woman who has endured a divorce or comes from a non-Jewish background, likely requires added care and consideration of her feelings and sensitivities. A Kohain may not be able to provide that, as he is focused so much on others. And with such a communal focus, it wouldn't work for a Kohain to serve if he needs special help or accessibility to the Temple due to a disability. Again, he could end up being neglectful of needs, which in this case are his own. Obviously, G-d would prefer the sensitivities of these different people be considered, not neglected.
And, in terms of the Kohain being in the public eye, it seems to be the ultimate kindness that G-d shields those who could be so vulnerable under scrutiny. If a Kohain married any of those types of women listed above, the public would undoubtedly learn of her background and discuss it. That would be very uncomfortable - even humiliating. Also if a Kohain who leads services were handicapped - even though it's not fair, it's likely that his condition would be the topic of discussion in the community, which is potentially very hurtful.
Now we see how a Divine command that at first seems discriminatory and mean can actually be very kind and considerate. Perhaps the mitzvot that seem most difficult to us to understand are the ones that are most compassionate. You never know.
Please HaShem, let us be very sensitive to others' feelings, be considerate of their individual circumstances and deal with others kindly. And HaShem, You ask us to be a Nation of Priests - a Mamleches Kohanim. So bless us all to move beyond our egos and be holy public servants like the Kohanim. Also, please return us all home to Israel and let us rebuild the Temple where all these rules really apply.
 Many Thanks in Emor
Four different categories of people have an obligation to show gratitude to G-d by bringing a Thanksgiving offering (Korban Todah) to the Holy Temple. The four categories of people are those who have: been saved from a major illness, been released from prison, crossed a vast desert, or a sea. In this week's Parsha, Emor, we learn that the offering - which is an animal (such as a cow) and 40 loaves of bread, must be consumed within a day. Thanksgiving offerings are in the general category of Peace offerings, which otherwise allow for more time to have them consumed. After all, these offerings are primarily consumed by the one bringing them - other offerings are primarily eaten by the kohanim. In any case, how can the Torah command us to give thanks with such an enormous offering when it is impossible for the grateful person to consume it all on time? The only way to make it work is to invite one's family and friends to partake in the meal. In this manner, one ends up publicizing the miracles that HaShem did for them for which they are grateful and offering thanks. G-d wants the world to know of Divine Kindness and all the miracles that happen daily.
Today, without the Temple, we still have an obligation to publicly thank HaShem for the miracles and salvations and kindnesses in our lives. This is mainly done through reciting a special blessing during a Torah reading, and making a meal with family and friends. The daily prayers come to replace the services in the Temple, and indeed, we recite chapter 100 of Tehillim (aka Mizmor L'Todah) in the morning in place of bringing a Thanksgiving offering. But that would imply that were the Temple in Jerusalem standing (may it be rebuilt soon), we would bring a Thanksgiving offering every day! Is that possible? The Sfas Emes, the great Rabbi of Gur, says that every day the Jewish People have survived in this long long exile is cause to celebrate and thank G-d.
May we see the Divine Hand in our lives and give thanks to G-d for all the good He bestows upon us daily. And through our publicizing of G-d's miracles and kindness, may the world come to know The One.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rachel
And with a heart filled with endless gratitude to HaShem for blessing me for 16 years now with happiness and "yiddishe nachas" beyond anything I ever imagined - I wish my precious son, Yosef Shea (may his light keep shining bright), a very Happy Birthday!
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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 Cong. 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
Did Moshe Get the Torah?
 Dear Friends,
Why was Moshe selected to get the Torah on the top of Mount Sinai, and
not you or me? The question itself is kind of mind blowing. It isn't
mine, it's Reb Shlomo Carlebach's. The answer takes us to the depths of
what it means every time we immerse ourselves in deep learning.
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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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