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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The High Holidays
- Rosh Hashana
But, just as in courtship, there is a special passion which precedes the actual ceremony, & so we dispense with some of our precious sleeping time even before RH arrives, in order to recite the Selichot prayers. Among the most poignant of these prayers is the "Aseh L’ma’an…." section which pleads with G-d: "If we do not have the merit to be forgiven, then do it because You are good; do it in the merit of our holy ancestors; do it in the name of all those who went through fire & water, persecution & pogrom & gave their lives for You; do it for the sake of the innocent children who never committed a sin."
I suggest that if we slightly adapt this Tefila, using its same style & approach, we might be able to self-motivate ourselves & intensify our Yamim Noraim pleas to the Almighty. We should turn the prayer around; instead of us talking to G-d about what HE should do, we should rather be listening to other voices that speak to us, to our souls, & tell us what WE should be doing:
Aseh L’Maan Ha’Sabim; HaBubbe V’HaZayde: Do it for the sake of our grandparents & great-grand-parents. They may hardly have known us, or perhaps never even met us, but they prayed for & dreamed of having grandchildren who would make them proud, who would carry their name & bring honor to it. They knew that all they accomplished, everything they stood for, would come to naught if we, years after their passing, rejected their values & failed to live up to their standards.
Aseh L’Maan Ha-Horim: Do it for the sake of our parents, who took care of us when we were helpless, who raised us, loved us, guided us, sacrificed everything for us. All their hopes & dreams reside in us, in our behavior & in our success; how CAN we – how dare we - let them
down?
Aseh L’Maan Ha-Y’Ladim: Do it for the sake of our children. They look up to us, they respect us, we are the model & example they crave to follow - even if they seem rebellious. If we falter, if we do not continually strengthen our ties to Hashem, how can we expect THEM to maintain their own connection?
Aseh L’Maan Atzmeynu: Do it for our own sake. For when all is said & done, WE are the prime recipients, the main beneficiaries of a closer union with G-d. It will enrich our lives, connect us to our glorious past, and bring us much bracha.
Shana Tova!
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)
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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
