Shlisssel Challah

See my guest posting on Shlissel Challah from last year at A Simple Jew.

Sanzer Rov Stories

See Heichal Hanigena for stories of Reb Chaim of Sanz ZY"A on his yartzeit.

Breslov Telephone Shiurim

You can hear shiurim over the phone, free of charge from Otzrot Breslov. There are shiurim in English, Hebrew and Yiddish. Featured Rabbonim of the previous generation include Reb Levi Yitzchok Bender ZT"L and Reb Tzvi Aryeh Rosenfeld ZT"L. Some of the other featured Rabbonim include Rabbis Yaakov Meir Shechter, Moshe Kramer, Noson Libermensh, Avrohom Weitzhandler, Chaim Kramer, Noson Maimon, Ozer Bergman, Shlomo Gottlieb, Shlomo Goldman, Dovid Sears, Moshe Weinberger (of Aish Kodesh) and Lazer Brody. ( These are the ones that I'm aware of. There are others and more will be added.)

 

In the USA 718-855-2121

 

In Israel 02-995-0000

 

Breslov Telephone Shiurim

You can hear shiurim over the phone, free of charge from Otzrot Breslov. There are shiurim in English, Hebrew and Yiddish. Featured Rabbonim of the previous generation include Reb Levi Yitzchok Bender ZT"L and Reb Tzvi Aryeh Rosenfeld ZT"L. Some of the other featured Rabbonim include Rabbis Yaakov Meir Shechter, Moshe Kramer, Noson Libermensh, Avrohom Weitzhandler, Chaim Kramer, Noson Maimon, Ozer Bergman, Shlomo Gottlieb, Shlomo Goldman, Dovid Sears, Moshe Weinberger (of Aish Kodesh) and Lazer Brody. ( These are the ones that I'm aware of. There are others and more will be added.)

 

In the USA 718-855-2121

 

In Israel 02-995-0000

 

Spend Shavuos In Mezibuz

I was sent the following by Rabbi Tal Moshe Zwecker. It sounds like a great opportunity.

 

The Holy Ba'al Shem Tov is buried in the Ukraine in Mezibuz we are
planning on trying to organize a trip together with the Clevelander
Rebbe Shlit"a on Shavous to the Holy Baal Shem Tov in Mezibuz on his
yarzeit.

If you would like to join us please email me tal.zwecker@gmail.com or
call me at 054-842-4725 or 02-992-1218 in the USA voip 516-320-6022.

Even if you cant join us and cant send in a donation send me a kvitel
as I did in Lizhensk ALL kvitels will be taken regardless.

If you would like to send us your kvitel a note with requests for
health blessings and parnassa etc. with your name and mother's name
and details together with your tax deductible contrbution mail it to:

Mosdos Cleveland 11 Har Sinai St Ra'anana Israel

The Rebbe Reb Melech and other tzadikim explain that a donation or
pidyon helps the kvitel be accepted however again all kvitels will be
accepted and taken happily to the holy Ba'al Shem Tov.

Thanks
Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
www.chassidusonline.com
tal.zwecker@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022 / 212-461-0035

The Most Exquisite Kiddush Cup

The halachic works bring down that one should bring out his most beautiful dishes for the Pesach seder. The choice of cup to use for the mitzva of the four cups of wine is usually a nice silver one. It was therefore somewhat strange that Reb Chaim Halberstam of Sanz, the Divrei Chaim, used to use a glass cup on Pesach for the seder. People attributed his choice of a glass cup to deep mystical reasons, such as saying that like this he can see the wine and have all sorts of kavonos, etc. His grandson, the Bobover Rebbe, used a silver cup for the seder. Someone asked him why he was using a silver cup for the seder, if the custom of his grandfather was to use a glass one. He replied that his grandfather had no such custom to specifically use a glass cup, and the reason he used a glass one was the following. It was well known that the Divrei Chaim was exemplary in the mitzvah of tzedaka, and would give away every cent he had daily, and especially before Pesach. Surely, said the Bobover Rebbe, his grandfather sold his silver in order to give the money to some poor families that didn't have their basic necessities for Yom Tov. Therefore, he used the cheapest cup he could use for the seder, a glass one. That indeed was the most exquisite kiddush cup that the finest artisans could never craft.

Emergency Maos Chitim Campaign for Tzfas

Likutei Mohoran 201 says that the word מצת is an acronym for צדקה תציל ממות (Tzedaka saves from death). The Mishna Berura says the reason why we have a special mitzvah of tzedaka by Pesach, Maos Chitim – Kimcha D'Pischa, is that one has to feel, "cheirus" freedom on Pesach. Therefore, especially for Pesach we try to make sure that the needy have food and clothes for Yom Tov so they can feel "freedom". Perhaps, that is also the reason why צדקה תציל ממות is formed specifically from the word מצת. Since Pesach is the most desperate time, as the Mishna Berura says, and one needs to feel freedom, therefore it is alluded to by the word מצת.

One special organization that raises funds for Maos Chitim – Kimcha D'Pischa for the people of Tzfas is Eizer L'Shabbos. The orginazation is run by Rabbi Binyamin Rosenberg (he is known to many as "Binyamin HaTzadik), who I know personally. Rabbi Rosenberg works tirelessly to make sure the poor of Tzfas will have food to put on their tables. The situation is desperate in Tzfas; I believe there are over 800 families that need their assistance. I saw Rabbi Rosenberg several weeks ago in the USA, collecting funds. I saw him again recently and he said that due to the overwhelming need, he had to prolong his stay in the USA to raise the proper funds. See Eizer L'Shabbos's website to donate. You can also see videos and other information about their activities.

Lev Tov & A Broken Heart

See my guest post on "Lev Tov" and "broken heart" at A Simple Jew.

Pesach Links

Here are a few things written last year for Pesach:

 

Pesach Segulas

 

How to Destroy Mazikim

 

Segula to Protect from Chometz

 

Segula for Parnasa - Nasi of Zevulan

Nasi of Zevulan: Segula for Parnasa

13 Adar Links

As usual, A Simple Jew has several great postings today. Here are a few:

 Purim In The Rebbe's Court

"With Royal Garments"

Elevating Thought

Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky Advice on Davening for the Terminally Ill

Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky zy'a said at the levaya of someone who died of a machlah that davening that a person with a machla that has no known cure be healed would entail a revealed miracle which we are usually not worthy of. A hidden miracle, however, we can be worthy of. Therefore, we should daven that a cure should be "found" and it will look "natural". Purim is the story of hidden miracles that looked "natural". The following is based on an email that a reader sent me regarding this.

 

In addition to learning Torah and the prayers we do on behalf of those in need of a refuah, let's Daven to Hashem that He reveal to us the cures for all the various diseases. "Hashem prepares a cure before sending a disease". (Megila 13b). Therefore a cure must already exist in nature and is just waiting to be discovered."

For example: Please Hashem, reveal to us a cure for colon cancer.

 

*Based on a thought brought down in "Reb Yaakov" (Mesorah Publications).

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PURIM IS AN "Eis Ratzon" so if possible, please take a moment to put a pruta (25¢) into

Tzedakah and say a prayer that we should find a cure for all the terrible machlahs.

Noam Elimelech in English Now Available

Mipeninei Noam Elimelech

As the Rebbe of all Rebbes and the recognized third-generation leader of Chassidus, the Noam Elimelech is revered for his holiness and brilliance. His profound sefer of Torah elucidations has been diligently studied for centuries. But how many can truly understand his lofty teachings? In this groundbreaking, first-ever English rendition of selections from the Noam Elimelech's classic sefer, Rabbi Moshe Tal Zwecker has opened the world of chassidus - the world of the Noam Elimelech to the English speaking public. With essays based on the weekly parashah and various appendices, including his famous "tzeitel katan" and his stirring "prayer before prayer", every one will be deeply moved and inspired by this important and profound work.

 

It is available at a special discount now at Targum Press in honor of the yartzeit of the Rebbe Reb Elemelech of Lizensk.

Segula of Tanis Esther

The Kav Hayoshor (Chapter 97) brings down that the Magid revealed to the Beis Yosef (Magid Meisharim Vayakhel) an additional reason for Tanis Esther. There is a mitzvah to eat and drink on Purim, and all the drinking and merriment can cause one to sin if not done properly. Therefore, Hashem has us fast the day before Purim as a segula to protect us from sin, and the Satan and Lilis have no power to be mekatreg and bring us to sin. When one says in the selichos "shema tefila veha'aver tefila", he should have in mind that he shouldn't come to sin, chas v'Sholom through eating, drinking or Simchas Purim. May we all be zoche to real Simchas Purim.

Segulas for Taanis Esther, Shabbos Zachor and Purim

Segulas for Taanis Esther, Shabbos Zachor and Purim

Antidote to Amalek

The Maor Veshemesh teaches us how to destroy Amalek; through Ahavas Yisroel. He proves it from the encounter with Amalek. תִּמְחֶה אֶת זֵכֶר עֲמָלֵק can be interpreted to mean: "erase זֵכֶר from עֲמָלֵק", meaning, take away זֵכֶר, which has the numerical value of 227, and subtract it from עֲמָלֵק, which has the numerical value of 240, and you get 13. Now, 13 is the numerical value of אהבה and אחד. When we are like "one" and have love for each other, then we can destroy Amalek. When there is "love" between 2 Jews we have אהבה twice, which equals 26, the numerical value of Yud-Kei-Vav-Kei – the Name of Hashem which represents Rachamim.

 

At the end of Parshas Beshalach, we have the story of Amalek attacking Klal Yisroel. It says:  וְהָיָה כַּאֲשֶׁר יָרִים משֶׁה יָדו וְגָבַר יִשְׂרָאֵל וְכַאֲשֶׁר יָנִיחַ יָדו וְגָבַר עֲמָלֵק- "And when Moshe raised up his hands, Israel was victorious, and when he lowered his hands, Amalek was victorious." The Mishna (Rosh Hashona Chapter 3) explains this means: כל זמן שהיו ישראל מסתכלין כלפי מעלה ומכוונין את ליבם לאביהם שבשמיים היו מתגברין – "all the time that Israel Upwards and concentrated their hearts to their Father in Heaven they were victorious." Why does it need to say מסתכלין כלפי מעלה "that they looked upwards" and ומכוונין את ליבם לאביהם שבשמיים - "they concentrated their hearts to their Father in Heaven"? When it says Moshe Rabbeinu raised his hands, it means he raise his "koach", which was his great humbleness and love for every Jew. (The Arizal (I think) explains that the value of the word יד, hand, is 14. Two hands would then be 28, the value of the word כח, strength.) So, the saw the nation saw this and wanted to emulate it. When it says מסתכלין כלפי מעלה it means that they looked at the מעלות, "the good points", of their fellow Jews, and then they were able to direct their hearts to Hashem.

 

By looking at the "Ma'alos", the good points, of Klal Yisroel, we have the "Ahava" and the "Echad" necessary to destroy Amalek.

FFBs: How to be a BT

See my guest posting over at A Simple Jew - FFBs: How to be a BT.

The gist of the article is to try to find ways to perform mitzvos with more zeal and enjoyment.

Emergency Tzedaka Campaign

Emergency Tzedaka Campaign for the people of Tzfas

Searching for Family Minhagim

See A Simple Jew for a great post on searching out family minhagim.

Learning Kabbala

See Dixie Yid: Learning Kabbala