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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Purim & The Month of Adar
- The Month of Adar
In the Book of Creation (Sefer Yetzira, Chapter Five and see Ramak) there is a list of psychological dimensions, each is attached to a different month. Every month is characterized by a different dimension on which to focus our work in a particular aspect of our personality. The aspect mentioned in relation to the month of Adar is laughter.
What is laughter? In the tractate Avodah Zarah (3, b) we learn "Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Rav: The day has twelve hours. In the first three - God sits and studies Torah; the second - He sits and judges the whole world; In the third group of three hours – He sits and feeds the entire world, from the horns of an Oryx to nits; In the fourth - He sits and plays with the whale as is said (Ps. 104, 26) "The whale you created to play with".
This passage shows that God revealed the gradual unfolding of reality as divided into four stages. The first stage is the initial contact between G-d and the creation in which the reality is the Torah, the order of the world. In the second stage, the relationship with God is revealed by the law, the ability to lead actual life directed by the Torah. In the third stage the Divine leadership is expressed by caring for the material needs of all creatures. In the fourth part, the last three hours, the peak of the relationship and connection between the Divine plan and the world is revealed. A connection called "Livyatan" (whale). The Maharal (Chidushey Agadot) explains that the whale's name is from the root of "livui" (escort), reflecting a matter of escort or connection. The peak in a relationship is laughter. When a person feels full identification with a particular content, laughter appears (laughter in the sense of happiness and not of hedonism). This is the reason that laughter is the broadest common denominator for all humanity. There is no faster way to connect with people other than through laughter. Laughter is related the most to the natural feelings and desires of a person. Laughter is an expression of full compatibility between the desires, of connection between people.
The Book of Creation also states that Adar's special letter is "Kuf" - ק. Tractate Bava Batra (58, a) teaches that the "a person to the Divine Presence is like a monkey ("Kof") to a person". We can look at a monkey as a negative element, but we can also see a positive element. The lower element of a monkey is external behavior, of "mimicking like a monkey", such as the Hebrew expression "Maase Kof B'alma" (mere act of a monkey) (Rosh, Gittin, b) that describes something empty and trivial. However, there is also a elevated mimicry in which we try to imitate G-d. "As He is compassionate, you also should be so" (Pesikta Zotrta, Re'eh). This call for "monkeyness" is our desire to become like the Creator, to reach a state of connection, a complete comparison of our will with the will of God. This is the month of Adar.
The month of Adar is the month of a great, great effort to compare our will with the will of God. "They received the Torah again in the days of Ahasuerus". At Mount Sinai Am Yisrael were forced to receive the Torah, but in the month of Adar they accepted it in their own will. Therefore, in Adar laughter can appear. The month of Adar has a glittering of the World to Come. "Then our mouth will be filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing". A glittering from that era when we will laugh the same laugh of absolute identity with the words of G-d.
"They will laugh at a life full of intense and ongoing pleasure, an immense flood from G-d's light, and will savor from His goodness. The laughter that G-d laughs with the righteous in the World to Come. The laughter that G-d’s hand will lead, the laughter resulting from the Divine Pleasure being open and exposed.This is very glorious". (Ein Aya, there)
Rabbi Haggai Lundin
Family and Society There Will Not Be A Civil War!
(Told to the students of the Hesder Yeshiva in Holon)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
