Breslover Shoshanas Yaakov - Yosef Karduner Video

I'm not sure whether it's in stores yet, but Yosef Karduner just came out with a CD of Friday night Zmiros using traditional Breslov niggunim. It's great. I especially like "Azamer B'shvachin" which I've never been able to learn but IY"H I will now. It's also nice because it has a solo featuring Shul Rand. The only disadvantage of this CD relative to his awesome Breslever Melaveh Malka CD is that you can't play it during the Friday night Zmiros to assist in the learning process! I guess I'll just have to listen to it in the car till I can pick up on it...

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Purim Torah From Koheles For Today's Snow Storm

In New York, we have a lot of snow. It actually has been a big help to me bacause it gives me the chance to do a lot of law school work that I might have had to spend part of Purim working on. It just goes to show that Hashem has a purpose for everything, as it says in Koheles, "There is a time for everything under the heavens."

And the sefer goes on to say "eis le'ehov v'eis li'SNOW," which is quite apropos to our weather today!

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*This* Shall Be Done for the Man Whom the King Wants to Honor - Reb Itchie Mayer on Tetzaveh

Here is Reb Itchie Mayer Morgenstern's Torah on Parshas Tetzaveh, with English excerpt and full text in both English and Hebrew in pdf form. You can send an e-mail to this address to subscribe to receive Rav Morgenstern's Torah in your e-mail box every week.

This is the level that the tzaddikim reach—of throwing themselves heart and soul into their avodah, and at the same time feeling certain and utterly secure in the fact that everything is done by Hashem alone, without it being contingent on their effort at all. This is the level of the “crown of crowns”—כתר כל הכתרים—which has the initials ככ"ה, as in, "כָּכָה יֵעָשֶׂה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר הַמֶּלֶךְ חָפֵץ בִּיקָרוֹ"—“So shall it be done for the man whom the king wants to honor.”[1] The tzaddikim bind together the external avodah of effort with the internal avodah of serene dveikus which is the level of the fiftieth gate. Although they are constantly in the state of the fiftieth gate of prayer and dveikus, they do not fall into the danger of abandoning the effort of Torah study in its plainest sense. The oil is to be crushed “for the light, and not for the menachos.”

We see this dual state in Mordechai HaTzaddik. Inside, he was always in the state of, “And Mordechai knew all that was happening.”[2] He knew within himself that there is nothing but Hashem, and his every movement and thought was only directed in prayer and dveikus to his Creator. He knew that the battle is to be won, “not by might and not by power.” But that is the internal avodah. From outside, he donned sackcloth and ashes and threw himself into the avodah of self-sacrifice. And the two are not mutually exclusive; the light of dveikus is what gives the tzaddik the energy to burn with a continuous flame in his external avodos.

It was to this unification of avodos that Hashem referred when He commanded Moshe Rabbeinu, “And you shall command the children of Yisrael,” you shall bind for them the internal and external aspects of avodah. Like you, they must know that everything is done by Hashem alone, and He does not require our contribution. At the same time, the building up of the Shechinah does demand effort on our part, that we should “crush” ourselves for the sake of the Shechinah and the Torah. The fact that the tzaddik can hold both of these avodos together in his mind and intentions is not self-contradictory—both are needed for the completion of avodah. The external effort creates a vessel so that the freely-given light of Hashem can enter. “Those who blacken themselves for Me [with effort by going to learn early and diligently] will find Me.”[3] “Whoever blackens himself for the sake of Torah will merit to shine in the world to come.”[4]

[1] Esther 6:11
[2] Ibid., 4:1
[3] Mishlei 8:17
[4] Sanhedrin 100a; Zohar II:140a

CLICK HERE to get Toras Chochom on Tetzaveh.

CLICK HERE to get Toras Chochom on Tetzaveh in English.

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MoChassid Featured by Ohel - Beautiful Video

This is a very nice video for Ohel, a great organization. It features MOChassid and his recently adopted daughter. He really serves as a nice example for anyone considering Foster parenting.

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Hilarious Adar Dancing Antics at YU - Great Video!

I can't take it! These guys are hilarious. As kind of a sequal from their Finals Ruckus video last month, this was the "Marbim b'simcha" for Adar that some of the "Stollel" guys at YU introduced two days ago, on Tuesday at YU. Check out the instigator's introduction:

Since the initial first night rikud on Rosh Chodesh Adar outside the new Glueck beis midrash there hadn’t been much Adar spirit in the air of Washington Heights. With Purim just seven days away it was apparent that something had to be done.

I decided we would bring a giant speaker to Y.U. and position it in Garritanya’s room, conveniently located at the end of the hall in Morg facing Amsterdam Avenue and blast this new Purim Na Nach into the street in an attempt to bring great joy to the whole city.

Next, we needed to assemble a group of the biggest crazies that Y.U. has to offer to come and dance when the music would be played. The only way to do that would be to build up unfounded hype that something grand was going to take place in the street at that time. I put up signs, of course with the YU emblem attached, that there would be “A Gathering” on Tuesday on the corner of 186th Street at 12:15 . Everyone should just wait there and then react when something happened.

CLICK HERE to see the promotional flyer they used and read the full back-story. Gevaldig simcha'diker Yiddin.

I'm sure some of our precious and prickly bretheren will take issue such purported "holelus," but I say "Rock on!" Too few of us have simcha and geshmak in Yiddishkeit and we need all that we can get.

Hamsheich vaiter!

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Shabbos Table Stimulus Package - Shiur by R' Boruch Leff

Check out below for a shiur on "Spiritually Charging Your Shabbos Table" by Rabbi Boruch Leff for some ideas on making your Shabbos table more spiritual and holy:

CLICK HERE to get the shiur.

Also, check out the Two-for-One Special Aish Hatorah has for his books on how to connect more to Shabbos. Enjoy!

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Purim is Not Jewish Halloween! - Essay & Shiur on Purim by R' Boruch Leff

Click on THIS LINK to get a shiur by Rabbi Boruch Leff called "Purim is Not for Men Only." See also his essay on the topic, "Purim is Not a Jewish Haloween!":

The upcoming holiday of Purim is a real struggle. On the one hand, we know that the Arizal stated that Purim is an even holier day than Yom Kippur. Yom HaKippurim is Yom kePurim which means that it is a day like Purim, meaning Purim is greater. Purim is holier. Purim then is perhaps the holiest day of the year.

Is that how you feel on Purim? Do you feel more focused and closer to Hashem than you do on Yom Kippur? It’s very hard to experience Purim this way. After
all, no one gets dressed up as clowns on Yom Kippur. No one would ever mistake Yom Kippur with a Jewish ‘Mardi-Gras’ or describe Yom Kippur as a Jewish Halloween. But sometimes this is said about Purim. After all, that’s the way Purim appears externally.

I am fully aware that there are legitimate sources which justify all of the fun and frolic of Purim. The miracle of Purim occurred through hester panim, which means that Hashem directed the salvation in a hidden manner. The custom to wear masks and costumes (see Remo in Shulchan Aruch O.Ch. 696:8 for one source) is based on this.

I do not wish to be a party pooper. I love Purim parties. I do not say that the standard emphasis we have on cute mishloach manos, fun costumes, and even more fun Purim shpiels and parties are forbidden. I too have engaged in my share of them.

But I ask one question: is the way we celebrate Purim the ideal way to truly spiritually experience Purim? Is the way we experience Purim a testimony to the Arizal’s comment that Purim is a holier day than Yom Kippur? Should we spend more time on our Purim plays, preparing our costumes and delivering our creative mishloach manos theme or more time learning and davening on Purim?

When we learn the following I believe we will have our answer.

Rav Moshe Wolfson writes (Parshas Tezaveh, Emunas Itecha 5752) that the month of Adar is a special eis ratzon (a propitious spiritual time). He quotes the Zohar who says that the four months of Adar, Nissan, Iyar and Sivan are more favorable for prayer than any other time of the year. The Zohar writes that the entire month of Adar is on the same level as mincha on Shabbos Kodesh, a time of extreme spiritual power, when we say v'ani tefilasi lecha Hashem eis ratzon.

Furthermore, we find a remarkable halacha concerning tzedaka on Purim. "Whoever stretches out their hand on Purim should be given tzedakah" (Talmud Yerushalmi, Megilah 1,4) The Shulchan Aruch (694:3) paskins this. Whoever asks on Purim receives. Many sources (Toras Emes, Divrei Yechezkhel, Rav Mordechai of Lechovitch) say that this alludes to our prayers as well. Just as on Purim we give tzedaka to any supplicant in need, so too on Purim does Hashem give to all who entreat Him in prayer. Although Hashem listens to tefilos all year round, there are aspects of our tefilos that may prevent them from being answered. On Purim, however, we may be confident that our prayers will be answered and we will not be sent away empty- handed. We should recognize the power that sincere prayer has on this day, and utilize it to its maximum. Many seforim and rabbanim suggest that we rise early on Purim morning and daven slowly, with proper concentration.

This is said regarding tefila and Purim. There is another element associated with talmud Torah and Purim.
Purim is the holiday in which we express that HaKadosh Baruch Hu is with us even in hester panim. We do this through a full Kabalas Hatorah as Klal Yisrael did at the time of Purim. Rav Yaakov Weinberg, ztl understood that all of the mitzvos that we are required to perform on Purim relate to Matan Torah.

The mishloach manos and matanos l'evyonim exist in order to create achdus-unity which Klal Yisrael had and must have in order to accept Torah. We are part of an Am; not individuals. We realize that we must learn to appreciate everyone in the nation. Vayichan sham Yisrael neged hahar-k’ish echad b’lev echad.

This is the concept of 'Ezehu Chacham HaLomed Mikol Adam'- every person has something we can learn from and if we are true seekers of truth we will seek out truth wherever we can get it, even if it is from those we consider lower than us.
In order to accept Torah we must be extremely modest-this is why Moshe was the one who gave us Torah, he was the 'Anav Mikol Adam'. We have to realize
that we don't know everything and we are 'Lo yodim'- as in the mitzvah of drinking on Purim-ad de’lo yada. This is the only way we can accept the authority of Hashem and be’ mekabel Marus’ to Him. The explanation in the ad de’lo yada on Purim is that the only way we can be mekabel Torah is through being mevatel our daas to HaKadosh Baruch Hu. Just as in Naaseh Venishma, we need to become "Lo Yodim"-we do not know anything without HaKadosh Baruch Hu. We must re-accept the Torah on Purim in this way.

This explains why we are supposed to get drunk until we 'don't know' the difference between Mordechai and Haman. We must become 'lo yodim', eliminating all of our preconceived notions and make ourselves like a midbar, as Chazal say, in order to accept Torah. The Seudas Purim is a seudas hodaah, thanking HaKadosh Baruch Hu for bringing us close to Him to accept His Torah.

Rav Yaakov Weinberg explained that the lashon of Chazal is a person should be "Lebesumei". It does not say "Lihishtakurei". It does not mean that one should get drunk as if getting drunk were the goal. Rather, "Lebesumei" means to indulge, to enjoy, to be involved in physical pleasure with an ambiance. The drinking is an obligation to drink until you reach a level of Ad Delo Yada. . . But you do not have to get there. You just keep drinking and enjoying and if you happen to get to Ad Delo Yada you become exempt. This is why the Rambam says that you drink until you fall asleep and then you're 'Lo yada'. But you don't have to and you shouldn't get drunk until "Shichruso shel Lot". We see that the 'Lo Yada' is a status which comes before you are totally 'out of it' because you are still aware in general but just not aware of the difference between Haman and Mordechai. So one should drink and indulge but one should not just get drunk-it's the atmosphere that counts-'lebesumei'.

Having learned all this, we ask again how we can treat Purim as the holiest day of the year and yet emphasize Purim shpiels, cute jokes, and clowns? (Not to mention inappropriate drinking, smoking, and worse.)

I’ve worn silly costumes before on Purim. But have you ever seen a Gadol wear a silly costume on Purim? If we are trying to grow with passion on Purim, can we do it wearing a silly costume and engaging in the standard Purim fun fare? I wonder.
You are welcome to e-mail any comments or questions.

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The Mishkan of the True Tzaddik - Reb Itchie Mayer Morgenstern on Teruma

Here is Reb Itchie Mayer Morgenstern's Torah on Parshas Teruma, with English excerpt and full text in both English and Hebrew in pdf form. You can send an e-mail to this address to subscribe to receive Rav Morgenstern's Torah in your e-mail box every week. Sorry it's late. Server issues at the end of last week.

After the Jewish people sinned with the golden calf, Moshe Rabbeinu ascended to heaven to advocate on our behalf so that we would be forgiven. His appeal was what led to the command that we build the Mishkan toward which the Jewish people would have to contribute. The fundamental offering, however, is each person’s willingness to participate in the construction of Hashem’s dwelling place, a place for the honor of the tzaddik where Hashem’s presence will be revealed in the world. This is a fitting response to the sin that prompted the command for its construction, since the golden calf came about because the erev rav planted a seed of doubt among the Jewish people about Moshe’s return to them. “For the man Moshe who brought us up from Egypt, we know not what has become of him.”[1] The yetzer hara misled them so that they would assume that the tzaddik had died, but their reaction should have been to redouble their faith and seek out the Torah of the tzaddik that must have forever remained with his brother Aharon HaKohein and with his student Yehoshua. The hidden agenda of the erev rav was to convince the Jewish people that, after the true tzaddik leaves this world, he does not leave anything of himself behind. And the Jewish people fell into their trap.

Yet Moshe Rabbeinu worked to reveal that which rectifies this failing down through all the generations to come—the tikkun of the Mishkan. The Mishkan embodies the principle that even after the true and original revelation of the tzaddik is gone, his Mishkan remains to be discovered in the batei medrash of his followers and students throughout future ages. Even in the exile, the batei medrash that are miniature sanctuaries remain, and through them we can experience the fullest connection with the tzaddikim of previous generations. “Make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell within them”—not within it, but within them. Hashem’s light which is revealed by the true tzaddik will be revealed within each and every one of us.[2]

No one should make the mistake of thinking that if he lived in a prior age or was somehow a different person his spiritual task or situation would be significantly altered. “I am Hashem, I have not changed.” There is no difference between then and now; Hashem dwells within each and every one of us at every time, in every place. At every moment we have the ability to connect with the point of the tzaddik and the ultimate truth. We see this from the narrative of what precipitated the sin of the golden calf itself; there was a brief period when it seemed as though Moshe Rabbeinu’s light had gone out, and the Jewish people were tested. Would they seek out his light among Aharon and Yehoshua even though it didn’t seem to be of the same quality or magnitude? Yet every person at any time can tap into the light of the tzaddik if he only seeks it out, if he believes that all of the holy efforts that the true tzaddikim made have not gone lost, G-d forbid. He must trust that they can still help him to rectify himself and build the holiness of the Mishkan and reveal that Hashem does indeed dwell within him.

[1] Ibid., 32:1
[2] See the commentary of the Alshich on Shemos 25:5.

CLICK HERE for the full pdf of Toras Chochom.

CLICK HERE for the full pdf of Toras Chochom in English.

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Berchas "Modim": Thanking Hashem for the Little Things (Video/Audio Shiur)

Below is the link to the newest Video/Audio shiur by Reb Yerachmiel on Berchas “Modim” in Shemoneh Esrei. As a companion piece to last week’s shiur titled “Bechas Modim: Thanking Hashem for the BIG THINGS”, this week’s shiur is titled “Berchas Modim: THANKING HASHEM FOR THE little things”.

Torah Anytime Video Link

CLICK HERE to get the shiur by either left clicking to listen right now or right clicking and selecting "Save Target As" to download!

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Sefer Nachas Hashulchan - Shiur by R' Micha Golshevsky - Part 2

Rabbi Micha Golshevsky, who is a big talmid Chacham who I respect a great deal, has begun giving a shiur in the sefer Nachas Hashulchan. This shiur covers the sefer Nachas Hashulchan 1:2.

Click here for more information on the shiur and the sefer Nachas Hashulchan.


CLICK HERE to get the shiur by either left clicking to listen right away or right clicking and selecting "Save Target As" to download.

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Special Shout-Outs to Stollel & Ushi Weinberger

I was talking to my holy friend Rabbi Reuven Boshnack at Shalosh Sheudos after Shalosh Sheudos tonight at Aish Kodesh and he told me about some readers that I didn't know about. To be honest, I wasn't really sure I still had that many readers. I haven't posted very much original stuff in the last 6 months or so, and I was begining to wonder if my hits were just coming from google image searches. f

But tonight, he told me at the "Stollel's big wedding"™, he had an amazing time with the heiliger Stollel members and that they mentioned that they read "the Dixie Yid." Woo hoo! Shout-out to the Stollel! It's a kavod that you read this blog! (For everyone else, sample videos below)

And of course, I have to be makir tov to "the makor," the Jawboner Rebbe, who also, I hear tell, has laid his eyes on this site.

Also, I heard that even the newly bearded Reb Ushi Weinberger is a reader! Gevalt!

Now that I realize I still have some readers, I feel bad about being less active. I'll try to remedy that, IY"H, if I can. If anybody knows how to speed up a paper on § 363 all-asset sales and how to prevent effective violations of the absolute priority rule with what are essentially sub rosa plans of reorganization, I'd appreciate it!

And of course the classic:

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First Shiur on Sefer Nachas Hashulchan by Rav Micha Golshevsky

Rabbi Micha Golshevsky, who is a big talmid Chacham who I respect a great deal, has begun giving a shiur in the sefer Nachas Hashulchan.

According to Rabbi Golshevsky, Nachas Hashulchan is a concise work which connects every siman of the first three sections of Shulchan Aruch to the first Torah in Likutei Moharan. It's stated purpose is to show the great breadth of Likutei Moharan, which literally can enhance any aspect of Torah and divine service. He chose the first three sections of Shulchan Aruch since they all relate to our relationship with Hashem, (Choshen Mishpat is bein adam l'chaverio.)

He hopes to expand and share the beauty of this inspiring work, which is filled with chizuk and chidushim. It is very significent that in a few words he also explains b'kizur the relevant teachings of the Arizal regarding each halacha, also b'remez.

The first shiur was an intro to the sefer in general and and some of the first Torah of Likutei Moharan in particular.

CLICK HERE to get the shiur by either left clicking to listen right away or right clicking and selecting "Save Target As" to download.

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Amazing Elucidated Sourcesheet on Beis Yaakov of Izbitz by R' Reuven Boshnack

Reb Reuven Boshnack, (JLI Rabbi at Brooklyn College, therapist, and up-and-coming dayan) has put together a very nice sourcesheet on a piece from the the Beis Yaakov of Izbitz on Parshas Mishpatim. He's put it together in a very creative and thoughtful way.

It includes 1) the actual text of the Beis Yaakov, scanned, 2) a section called "Musagim," Concepts, which sumarizes the major concepts brought out by the Izbitzer in that piece, 3) the Izbitzer twist, showing how the the Izbitzer masterfully presents a concept in a way that we wouldn't have expected and 4) a section called "Practical Advice," which gives you a take-away point from the piece.

It's a great thing to learn with a child or Chevrusa. An amazing "study guide." Enjoy!

You can see that pdf HERE.

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Sfas Emes Shiur by Rav Baruch Gartner - Sunday Morning - Source Sheet pdf Available!

This Sunday at 10 AM Eastern, the Sfas Emes shiur by Rav Baruch Gartner, Founder and Dean of Yeshivas Derech HaMelech, will continue.

CLICK HERE for the source sheet for the shiur. Thank you to David Levy for distributing this!

Shiur Sunday morning available at http://www.torahchat.com/.

For more information on system requirements, etc., CLICK HERE.

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Theft of the Ox or the Sheep - Reb Itchie Mayer on Parshas Mishpatim

Here is Reb Itchie Mayer Morgenstern's Torah on Parshas Mishpatim, with English excerpt and full text in both English and Hebrew in pdf form. You can send an e-mail to this address to subscribe to receive Rav Morgenstern's Torah in your e-mail box every week.

Whenever the tzaddikim fall to the level of learning Torah not for its own sake, the result is that the simple people descend to the level of, “If a man shall steal an ox or sheep, and slaughter it, and sell it...”[1] The verse has a hidden meaning: that the yetzer hara snatches a person and places him under its power, and it “slaughters” him—the person sinks into the lusts of this world—and “sells” him—the person falls into the lust for money. Even though the person still appears to be studying Torah and praying, nevertheless he has been “sold” to a foreign people, to the lust for money and honor. The halachah demands that the thief “pay four or five times”—and this too has a hidden meaning. The “four” represents the dalet of the name Dovid, and the “five” stands for the yud of Yosef. When the yud is inserted into the dalet, it forms the letter hei, which equals five.

How is the fallen situation to be rectified? The tikkun is found through discovering the inner meaning of the laws pertaining to Jewish slaves, maidservants, and Canaanite slaves. The Jewish maidservant represents the world of Beriyah, the Jewish slave parallels the world of Yetzirah, and the Canaanite slave the world of Asiyah. Hashem instructed Moshe to deal with these souls from the lower worlds of BY”A and raise their lower and more external forms of avodah up to his own level of avodah in the world of Atzilus. The avodah of Asiyah—acceptance of the yoke of the commandments—that of Yetzirah—the emotions of Divine love and fear—and that of Beriyah—mental contemplation of Divine love and fear—all have to be vitalized and uplifted by the highest and innermost avodah of Atzilus and self-nullification that is the level of Moshe Rabbeinu.[2]

Most people only serve Hashem at the lower and more superficial level of BY”A, they “eat and drink,” and this is why they don’t even realize that the sitra achra has “made off with them” and caused them to forget [גניבת דעת is literally, “stolen their minds”] that there is a higher form of avodah of the world of Atzilus. But we learn in the deeper Kabbalistic works that there is a process known as the “development of the Partzufim,” which means that through development of the higher levels, the lower and more external levels are influenced for the good and also evolve. So even if a person has fallen at the lower levels, if he develops the higher level within himself that corresponds to Atzilus, he will find that he will be able to repair the damage that he caused in his personal worlds of Beriyah-Yetzirah-Asiyah.

[1] Shemos 21:37
[2] Derech Mitzvosecha, Mitzvas Yei’ud

CLICK HERE for Toras Chochom.

CLICK HERE for Toras Chochom in English.

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Women's Shiurim on the Mitzvah of Challah - Breslov Chassidus

Rebbetzin Yehudis Golshevsky is back with her series of shiurim on women's special mitzvos, according to Breslov Chassidus.

The following shiur, for women only, is on the mitzvah of Challah. Below are two shiurim on the fourth halacha in Likutei Halachos on Challah.

Click on the links below to get the shiur by either left clicking to listen online or right clicking and selecting "Save Target As" to download:

Challah 4.1

Challah 4.2

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Modim: Thanking Hashem for the BIG THINGS - Video/Audio Shiur

Below is the link to the newest Video/Audio shiur by Reb Yerachmiel on Berchas “Modim” in Shemoneh Esrei.

In this shiur Reb Yerachmiel discusses the words “Al Nishmosaynu Hapekudos Lach” through “Va’Tzoharayim”, in which we thank Hashem for the big things He does for us, including life itself, our souls and the miracles (“Nissim”) and wonders (“Nif’laos”) that Hashem performs for us — yes, us — on a constant and consistent basis.

Special Note: Reb Yerachmiel would like to reiterate his heartfelt hakaras hatov to Reb Benyomin Belsky for helping to make this shiur possible despite the more than two feet of snow this past Sunday evening. Tizku l’mitzvos to Reb Belsky and to all those who attended the shiur live!

Torah Anytime Video Link

CLICK HERE to get the shiur by either left clicking to listen right away or right clicking and selecting "Save Target As" to download the wav file.

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Very Cool Article by Journalist After Attending Her Baalas Teshuva Cousin's Chasuna

Rachel Leavitt, Politics Daily: Laughter, Self-Discovery, and a Transatlantic, Nine-Hour Haredi Wedding

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Moshiach's Torah and Shabbos - Rav Itchie Mayer Morgenstern on Parshas Yisro

Here is Reb Itchie Mayer Morgenstern's Torah on Parshas Yisro, with English excerpt and full text in both English and Hebrew in pdf form. You can send an e-mail to this address to subscribe to receive Rav Morgenstern's Torah in your e-mail box every week.

“Remember the Shabbos day to keep it holy. Six days shall you
labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is Shabbos unto Hashem your G-d,
in it you shall not do any manner of work; you, nor your son, nor your daughter,
nor your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger
that is within your gates. For during six days Hashem made heaven and earth, the
sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. It is for this that
Hashem blessed the Shabbos day and hallowed it.”[1]

Rashi explains: “‘And do all your work’—When Shabbos
arrives, it shall be in your eyes as though all of your work is done, so that
you do not remain preoccupied with labor.”[2]

Shabbos and the Torah of
the Future

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov taught that in the future, “on the
day that is entirely Shabbos,” the Torah of Atikah Sesima’ah will be
revealed.[3] As the verse says: "אָז תִּתְעַנַּג עַל הוי"ה"—“Then [in the
ultimate future] you will delight in [literally ‘upon’] Hashem-HaVaYaH.”[4] We
will delight upon HaVaYaH, which is the level of Atikah Sesima’ah.[5] This is
the main delight of Shabbos [and this verse is part of the extended kiddush of
the morning meal].

Reb Nosson of Breslov explains that the main element
of the sanctity of Shabbos derives from the Torah of Atikah Sesima’ah that will
be revealed and shine forth in the ultimate future. Although the Torah will
never be dispensed with, G-d forbid, and one should never think that the Torah
that we have now will ever be replaced, nevertheless the purpose of the arrival
of Moshiach is to reveal a “new Torah”—to help us fulfill the Torah completely.
Even now we can see that although Hashem commanded us to “be holy”—to sanctify
ourselves to an added degree within the limits of that which is permitted to
us[6]—nevertheless it is hard for us to find and follow a path that will lead us
to fulfill this commandment completely. Similarly, we find ourselves falling
short of fulfilling all of the Torah’s mitzvos perfectly, in all of their
detail, without ulterior motives. And even though Hashem planted tzaddikim in
every generation who provide us with guidance and instruction, still we feel far
from genuine avodah because the Soton exerts efforts to upend all the best
advice and intentions.

However, when Moshiach arrives he will be known
as Pele Yo’etz—“wondrous advisor”—[because his advice will achieve its purpose
fully].[7] Then we will see the fruition of the promise: “Behold, days are
coming, says Hashem, and I will make a new covenant with the house of Yisrael
and with the house of Yehudah. It is not according to the covenant that I made
with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of
the land of Egypt, for they broke My covenant, although I was a master over
them, says Hashem.”[8] This means that true guidance will be revealed that
cannot be “broken” by the sitra achra so that the Jewish people will be able to
fulfill the Torah’s commandments completely, and then they will attain an
everlasting redemption. This level corresponds with the holiness of the Shabbos,
because Shabbos comprises the letters תשוב:"וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ"—“And
you will repent/return to Hashem, your G-d.”[9] As Rebbe Nachman expressed it,
through observing the Shabbos, one draws the light of Moshiach and of repentance
upon himself.[10]

[1] Shemos 20:7-10
[2] Mechiltah
[3] Likutei
Moharan I:49
[4] Yeshayah 58:14
[5] Zohar I:219
[6] Vayikra 19:2 and
Rashi there.
[7] Yeshayah 9:5
[8] Yirmiyah 31:30-31
[9] Devarim 30:2
[10] Sefer HaMiddos

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Well Planned Simchas Chasan V'Kallah! - Video

Dedicated to Moshe and Hudi (Eisner) Lachman! :-)

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Hashem, We Love You More Than Life Itself- Video/Audio Shiur

Links to the audio & video of Reb Yerachmiel's shiur is below.

Below is the link to the newest Video/Audio shiur by Reb Yerachmiel on Berchas “Modim” in Shemoneh Esrei.

In this shiur Reb Yerachmiel discusses the words “L’Dor Vador” through “Ha’Misurim Be’Yadecha”, which provide a framework for reviewing a number of important yesodos of Yiddishkeit, but perhaps but none more important than the realization that: “Hashem- we love You more than life itself!”

As usual, this shiur is entertaining, deep and very le’maaseh for enhancing your davening and daily outlook on life!

CLICK HERE to get the wav file of the shiur by either left clicking to listen now or right clicking and selecting "Save Target As" to download.

Torah Anytime Video Link

I know I've used this video before, but this is a great nigun, and I love this video of these Israeli soldiers singing "Hakadosh Baruch Hu, anachnu ohavim otcha!," "Hashem we love you!." Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Animated Video - It's Always Easier To Stay Put Than to Go to the Next Level

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Uploaded by Esma-Movie.


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