Give Me Your Hebrew Name for Davening by Kivrei Tzadikim in Ukraine before Rosh Hashana

As many of you know, I am going to Uman for the first time for Rosh Hashana this year. I'm leaving on Sunday and will IY"H be traveling to five kivrei tzadikim on the way to Uman to daven.

If you would like me to daven for you and/or your family at the kevarim and in Uman by the tziyon of Rebbe Nachman, please leave a comment or e-mail me and I will daven for you IY"H, BL"N. Please also let me know what particular inyanim you need so I can daven for you regarding those things specifically.

Picture courtesy of yeshivaworld. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Please donate to my son's cheder by going to minivanraffle.org to buy a raffle ticket. The drawing for a new minivan, car, or $20,000 cash will be IY"H Chanukah time. $100 for 1 ticket. $360 for 5. Where the form says "Referred by," please write "Dixie Yid." Tizku l'mitzvos!

The "Yedidus" of Shavuos and Our Every Day- Audio/Video Shiur

In preparartion for Shvuos, below is the link to the video and audio of this week's shiur by Reb Yerachmiel Goldman on the topic of Yedidus, titled: The "Yedidus" of Shavuos and Our Every Day.

Video Link

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

Picture courtesy of Keli Ata. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Radiating, Not Just Requesting, Peace: Berchas "Sim Shalom" in Shemoneh Esrei- Audio/Video Shiur

Here is the next tefillah chaburah from Reb Yerachmiel Goldman, given at the Baltimore Community Kollel.

Below is the link to the video and audio of last week's shiur by Reb Yerachmiel Goldman on the topic of berchas "Sim Shalom" in Shemoneh Esrei.

Specifically, in this shiur Reb Yerachmiel condenses a number of vaadim from Rav Wolbe's "Alei Shor" on the topic of Patience, in an effort to inspire us to work on radiating and generating shalom, tovah, bracha, etc. toward others, even as we request it from Hashem for ourselves.

Video Link

CLICK HERE to get the wav audio file by either left clicking to listen now or right clicking and selecting "Save Target As" to download. Kol tuv!

Picture of Rav Wolbe courtesy of virtualgeuda.com. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Reb Yerachmiel's Shiurim on Modim D'rabanan

Below are the latest shiurim from Reb Yerachmiel Goldman, given at the Baltimore Community Kollel. Sorry for not posting these shiurim recently but Pesach and other factors interupted our normal shiur publication process.

Reb Yerachmiel is excited to publicize a new mini-series of video and audio shiurim on the topic of Shemoneh Esrei's Modim DeRabbanan. Below are three shiurm which cover the topic fully; with faith, feeling and flourish. Click on the video links to view the video. To download the audio, just left click the audio link to listen to streaming audio or right click on it and select "Save Target As" to download.

Shiur #1- Introduction to Modim DeRabbanan (4-11-10)
Video Link (Due to technical difficulties, this video will appear only as a black screen)
Audio Link

Shiur #2- Modim DeRabbanan- Upteitch Part1 (4-18-10)
Video Link
Audio Link

Shiur #3- Maintaining the Momentum- Modim DeRabbanan- Upteitch Part 2 (4-25-10)
Video Link
Audio Link

Picture courtesy of Yoram Raanan. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Reader Review of New Koren Sacks Siddur

A reader just got the new Nusach Ashkenaz English Sidur, translated by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks so I asked him for some feedback on how he liked it, especially with regard to the style of the translation and the reversal of the usual "right side Hebrew left side English" page layout. You can get the siddur HERE. Here's what my friend wrote:

"Something Old, Something New, Timeless Prayer for Every Jew"....

Got the new Koren Sacks siddur yesterday...Very beautiful book...First impressions are that I like it...I most like the way the prayers (some) are broken into stand-alone sentences - really helps with slowing you down and increasing kavana. Hebrew on left and English on right is quick to adjust to and for certain prayers it is easy to glance at English while reciting in Hebrew. For longer paragraphs (less familiar) I miss interlinear but for more common prayers I kind of have translation in my head. I look forward to simply reading the translation at some point separate from davening. Two ribbon markers is always nice... Overall for my first maariv and shacharit I like it alot - it usually takes me longer to get used to new siddur but not this time...not sure what verdict will be (if I use it all the time or switch back between interlinear). They did seem to include a couple extra harachamam's in bentching from prayer for state of Israel - which I guess is not a bad thing....

Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Preparing and Preserving Pesach With Prayer- Audio/Video Shiur

Below is the latest shiur from Reb Yerachmiel titled "Preparing and Preserving Pesach With Prayer"

Torah Anytime Video Link

CLICK HERE to get the shiur by either left clicking to listen to streaming audio or right clicking and selecting "Save Target As" to download the mp3 file.

Picture courtesy of collive. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

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!

Picture courtesy of rabbiair'sblog. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

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.

Hashem as “Tzur Chayeinu” - Video/Audio

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

In this shiur Reb Yerachmiel continues to explain the words of this bracha, with a special emphasis on the phrase “Tzur Chayeinu”, a description of Hashem as:

1) The Rock from which our bodies were hewn/Artisan of our bodies
2) The Rock from which our souls were hewn/Artisan of our souls
3) Our rock-solid foundation; the yesod of our lives
4) Our Castle; our Fortress; our Stronghold
5) The Rock in Whom we can seek, and find, safety and security

As always, this shiur is extremely deep and very le’maaseh for enhancing your davening!

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

Torah Anytime Video Link

Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Two New Shiurim on Berchas "Modim" - Video/Audio

Below are links to Video/Audio Shiurim of Reb Yerachmiel’s two newest shiurim on Berchas “Modim” in Shemoneh Esrei given to the Baltimore Community Kollel on 1-10-10 and 1-17-10. In these shiurim Reb Yerachmiel begins to teitch-up the words of this integral bracha.

As always, these shiurim are both extremely deep and yet very le’maaseh for enhancing your davening!

For the following audio links, left click to listen online or right click and select save target as to download:

CLICK HERE to download SHIUR #1. Video Link at Torah Anytime.

CLICK HERE to download SHIUR #2. Video Link at Torah Anytime here.

Picture courtesy of Circus Tent. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

The Many Meanings of “Modim” - Video/Audio Shiur

Baruch Hashem, below are links to the second part of a series of shiurim on the topic of berchas “Modim” in Shemoneh Esrei being given by Reb Yerachmiel at the Baltimore Community Kollel.

In this shiur, Reb Yerachmiel discusses the sugyah surrounding just one word– “Modim” – and its many meanings:

(i) Acknowledgement/Recognition
(ii) Thanks/Thanksgiving, and
(iii) Bowing.

Very le’maaseh shiur for enhancing your davening!

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

Video at Torah Anytime.

Picture courtesy of thefoundationstone. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

The Major Maalos of “Modim” - Video/Audio Shiur

Baruch Hashem, below are links to the first part of a series of shiurim on the topic of berchas “Modim” in Shemoneh Esrei being given by Reb Yerachmiel at the Baltimore Community Kollel.

Reb Yerachmiel open this shiur with a halachik pilpul designed to highlight of the unique importance of the brachos of “Avos” and “Modim” to Shemoneh Esrei, and concludes the shiur with a hashkafik analysis of what it means to say “Thank You” to Hashem and how that sincere expression of appreciation must also be accompanied by requests for more and more!

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

Video Link

Picture courtesy of Jerusalem On My Mind. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Will My Davening Ever Bring Such Nachas to the Aibishter? - Guest Post

A fellow newly discovered jblogger from Dixie wrote the following, but didn't want to post it under his own name because of the people involved in the story. But it's a nice reminder about what davening really means.

I just began reading Rabbi Twerski’s book, Twerski on Prayer. I have had it for awhile but just starting it. In the introduction, he writes about rote davening vs. real davening and recalls a visit to the Kosel where he felt he was really davening well and noticed a guy talking to the Abishter about his day and things that were important to him. the guy stopped in mid-sentence and said something like “oh, I told you that yesterday.” Rabbi Twerski then thought about how his davening was so ineffective compared to this yid who could just talk to G-d.

Last shabbos, some dixie-town alumni were back in town with their kids, one of whom has Downs Syndrome. I saw this on a the link from a blog you e-mailed to me, and had a similar experience to the one Twerski wrote about. This boy has no hesitation about singing out in shul and came up for the end of the service with his brother and for adon olam. His speech is barely understandable. And his singing, such as with Ein Kelokainu or Adon Olam for instance, produces loud sounds with an occasional syllable from which the listener can make out something familiar.

During Adon Olam, when all the kids go up, my youngest, the 5 year old, kept turning around to look at this family's son, who would wave him to turn back around. And then it hit me that these sounds that he was making were so pure, so real. Real davening. He was unconcerned about those people around him even though he certainly knows that he doesn’t sound the way the “regular” people sound, but he was not at all ashamed or uneasy. I had started having fancy thoughts of "tircha on the tzibor" vs. rachmanas on the family, but then it hit me. My davening may never penetrate so many gates, so quickly, and so innocently bring nachas to the Abishter.

Picture courtesy of Our Mendele. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Chanukah- Final Shiur of the "Al HaNisim" Series by Reb Yerachmiel

Below is a link to the audio presentation of the final part (3 of 3) of the Chanukah Mini-Series given by Reb Yerachmiel on Tefillos “Al HaNisim” and “Be’May Matisyahu”. Parts 1 and 2 can be enjoyed by clicking here.

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

CHECK FOR THE VIDEO OF THE SHIUR which will be available through Reb Yerachmiel's torahanytime.com page imminently.

Picture courtesy of salon.com. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Upteitch of Tefillas “Al HaNisim”- Part 2 - Video/Audio Shiur

Below are links to the Video and Audio presentation of Part 2 of a new Chanukah Mini-Series by Reb Yerachmiel on Tefillos “Al HaNisim” and “Be’May Matisyahu”. Part 1 can be viewed/listened to by clicking here.

CLICK HERE to get the Part 2 audio shiur by either left clicking to listen to streaming audio or right clicking and then selecting "Save Target As" to download.

OR WATCH THE TORAH ANYTIME VIDEO OF THE SHIUR BY CLICKING HERE.

Picture courtesy of atlasshrugs. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

“Al HaNisim” - Audio/Video Shiur

Below are links to the Video and Audio presentation of Part 1 of a new Chanukah Mini-Series by Reb Yerachmiel on Tefillos “Al HaNisim” and “Be’May Matisyahu”.

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

OR WATCH THE TORAH ANYTIME VIDEO OF THE SHIUR BY CLICKING HERE.

Picture courtesy of judaicaart.com. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Eyewitness To Moshiach - Video/Audio Shiur

In his latest shiur, Reb Yerachmiel focuses on Tefillas “Vesechezena Eineinu” in Berchas Retzay of Shemoneh Esrei in an effort to assist and inspire us not only to daven with more precisions and focus, but to merit being “Eyewitnesses to Moshiach”, bimhaira beyomainu.

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

Or watch the TorahAnytime video of the shiur by clicking HERE.

Picture courtesy of Color IL. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

V'Eshay Yisrael: Igniting the Fire-Offerings of Israel Even Today - Video/Audio Shiur

In his latest shiur, Reb Yerachmiel focuses on just two words in our precious Shemoneh Esrei: “V'Eshay Yisrael” in Berchas Retzay. Complete with a discussion of these words in halacha, hashkafa, and even what appears to be Kabbalah, this shiur is one that should not be missed by the heartfelt and serious davener.

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

Or watch the TorahAnytime.com video version of the shiur by clicking HERE.

Picture courtesy of hebraica.org. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Upteitch of Berchas Retzay in Shemoneh Esrei

In his latest shiur, Reb Yerachmiel explains the basic and deeper meanings and kavanos of on Berchas “Retzay” in Shemoneh Esrei and is sure to have a positive and practical impact on your daily davening.

CLICK HERE to listen to streaming audio. The downloadable audio file is too big.

Click on the following link to see the video of this shiur at TorahAnytime.com.

Picture courtesy of Young Israel of Huntington. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.

Berchas “Retzay”: Connecting to Korbanos - Audio Shiur

In his latest shiur on Berchas “Retzay” in Shemoneh Esrei, Reb Yerachmiel discusses the central role of korbanos (animal sacrifices given in the Bais Hamikdash) in both berchas Retzay and in Judaism’s past and future. In addition, Reb Yerachmiel presents a summary of the enigmatic subject of korbanos as understood by our rishonim and achronim, and concludes with a thought-provoking summary of the korbanos portion of our daily davening.

NOTE: Due to technical difficulties, there is no video available of this week’s shiur. Videos of Reb Yerachmiel’s recent shiurim as well as short audios on the weekly parshios ha’shavuah can been viewed/listened to on Torah Anytime using this link.

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

Picture courtesy of heichal hanegina. Click here to get Dixie Yid in your e-mail Inbox or here to subscribe in Google Reader.