The
HINDA Institute
Helping Individuals Ascend
Monthly Newsletter
V O LU M E 3, I SSU E 3
D E C E M BE R 2015
K IS L EV -T EV E S 5 776
The following is excerpts from “Judaism from Above the Clouds—A
Handbook for the Wondering Jew” By Leibel Estrin. Reprinted with
permission.
The Torah
The word “Torah” is related to the Hebrew word horaah,
which means “instruction.” It teaches us how to live in a
holy way.
The Torah consists of five “books.” Beraishis “Genesis”
begins with Creation and describes the lives of the Patriarchs, Avrohom “Abraham,” Yitzchok “Isaac,” and Yaakov
“Jacob.” The second book is called Shemos, “Exodus.” It
describes the “birth” of the Jewish people through their
sojourn in, and liberation from Egypt. Shemos also contains the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. The third
book, Vayikra “Leviticus” describes the life of the Jewish
people in the desert and the service of the tribe of Levi in
the Mishkan, “Tabernacle.” The fourth book, Bamidbar
“Numbers” continues the journeys of the Jewish people
through the desert. The fifth book is called Devorim
“Deuteronomy.” It restates many events, and ends with the
death of Moshe, “Moses.”
The Torah contains 613 commandments that are incumbent upon each Jew. Fittingly, our sages state that the soul
has 613 “organs,” and the human body contains 613 parts.
The Torah is the means of establishing a relationship between the infinite wisdom of G-d and finite man. Most of
us know that Moses received the Ten Commandments on
Mount Sinai. But the fact is, he received the entire Torah.
It includes all five books, called the Written Law, as well as
the Oral Law that is required to explain them.
For example, Devorim contains the commandment to wear
“frontlets upon our eyes.” These are commonly known as
tefillin “phylacteries.” But the Torah does not tell us what
they should look like, how to make them, or how they
should be worn. There are other instances where the Torah
only hints to certain commandments. To complement the
written Torah, Moses received an entire body of
knowledge, the Oral Law, to fill in these “gaps.”
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi organized this information into the
six orders of the Mishna to prevent the information from
becoming lost throughout the Jews’ journeys in exile. Since
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi wrote in an abbreviated style, the
sages recorded their tradition of learning the Mishna in the
Gemara. Together, the Mishna and Gemara are called the
Talmud.
When people speak of the “Bible,” they are not only referring to the Torah and Talmud but to other sacred literature as well. In Hebrew, the Bible is known as the Tanach,
an acronym for Torah, Neviim (Prophets), Kesuvim
(Writings). Prophets consist of Joshua, Judges, Samuel,
Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, as well as 12 Minor Prophets. Kesuvim includes Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs,
Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, EzraNehemia, and Chronicles.
The Bible (Tanach) is a treasure house of Divine wisdom.
It teaches us the way that man should live and what happens if he follows his drives.
Words of Wisdom:
Ben Bag-Bag said: “Turn it over and turn it over (the Torah), for
everything is there. And look into it, and become gray and old over
it; do not stray from it; for you have no better standard of conduct
(Avos 5, Mishna 21)
The Torah is called peace, as it states, “Its ways are pleasant ways
and all its paths are peace.” (Mishlie 3:17)
There is no end to the Torah. Its measure is broader than the
earth and wider than the sea. (Iyov 11:9)
JEWISH STORY
By Rabbi Tuvya Bolton
This week's Torah portion, the last in the book of Bereshis,
tells of how Yaakov (Jacob) blessed his sons (from whom
would stem the twelve tribes) before he died.
In the course of the blessings he reproves Reuven and strips
him of the right to be king (Rashi 49:4) [for not stopping his
brothers from hating Yosef and for disarraying the bed of
Bilha (Rashi Gen. 35:22)].
Instead he gave the kingship to Yehuda (Judah) (49:9) because he saved Yosef by selling him (27:37) and saved Tamar
by admitting his sin (38:26).
But the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Lekuti Sichot #15 pg.439) notes
that this seemingly this makes no sense. Why did Yaakov
favor Yehuda over Reuven?! Reuven was much greater that
Yehuda both in regards to saving Yosef and in repentance!
Reuven wanted to give Yosef total freedom while Yehuda
actually sold him into captivity. And Reuven fasted and repented nine years for his sin while Yehuda was forced to
repent for a few moments in order to save Tamar.
So why did Yaakov take the kingship from Reuven and give
it to Yehuda?
In order to understand this, here is a story, (HaYdion, Kfar
Chabad 12.17.09).
Rabbi Avraham Hershberg, until his passing, was the chief
Rabbi of Mexico. Before the holocaust he was one of the
most successful pupils in Yeshiva (Torah Academy)
Chachme Lublin in Poland and just as the war began he
miraculously escaped from Europe to the U.S.
In America his talents didn't go unnoticed and soon after he
arrived he was offered a job as Rabbi of an orthodox community in Chicago but he said he would only accept if there
was a Yeshiva there where he could teach Torah.
But there was no such Yeshiva in Chicago at the time and it
didn't look as though there ever would be. So he asked
around and was told that the only one who could break the
spiritual ice of America was Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, the sixth
Rebbe of Chabad-Lubavitch.
Rabbi Hershberg traveled to Brooklyn, told the Rebbe his
problem and after a short pause the Rebbe declared "There
will be a Yeshiva in Chicago!"
The next day ten young Chassidim traveled to Chicago, established a Yeshiva and Rabbi Hershberg had a job and a
Yeshiva where he could teach Torah as well.
In 1950 Rebbe Yosef Yitzchak passed away and his son-inlaw Rebbe Menachem Mendel, became the seventh Rebbe
of Chabad. Rabbi Hershberg's connection to the new Rebbe
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was no less than to his predecessor. So when he got an offer
to be the Chief Rebbe of Mexico he asked for the Rebbe's
blessing and afterwards was always consulting the Rebbe for
blessings and advice.
Especially when he got an offer to visit hostages in Iran.
In 1979 the secular, pro-American regime of Iran was overthrown by a radical Islam government led by Ayatollah Khomeini. In the chaos that followed, Iranian students took
over the American embassy and held the fifty five staffmembers as hostages there for almost a year and a half.
How is this connected to Rabbi Hershberg? Well it seems
that even before the Islamic Revolution he had been very
involved in a massive secret program directed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe to smuggle thousands of Jewish children out of
Persia and give them Jewish educations in America and Israel.
So when the Red Cross got permission from the Iranian
government to send a group of clergymen to visit the embassy hostages, the Rebbe used his influence to get Rabbi
Hershberg included in the group.
Preparations were made and just before they left, Rabbi
Hershberg visited the Rebbe to ask for a blessing. He was
afraid. Iran wasn't exactly a safe place for foreigners, especially Jewish ones and he and his wife were worried that he
might not return!
But the Rebbe calmed him down. He told him there was
nothing to worry about and blessed him with success. But
he reminded him to be sure to light Chanukah candles.
Being that it was over two months before Chanukah, Rabbi
Hershberg was a bit puzzled. But he began to understand
when the trip was pushed off for sixty days.
They would arrive a day before Chanukah!
If it hadn't been for the Rebbe's admonition he probably
would have lit his Menorah in his hotel room every night.
But now, the first thing he did when they arrived was ask
permission to light a Chanukah Menorah in the besieged
embassy. He figured that for sure there was one Jew there.
Amazingly permission was readily granted and even more
amazing when they were face to face with the hostages and it
didn't seem there was even one Jew there, when he took out
his menorah suddenly six of them stepped forward and announced that they were Jewish!
If he hadn't brought in that Menorah many of them might
have never revealed their Judaism, perhaps not even to
themselves!
These poor Jews had been hostages for a long time and the
tension and uncertainty had definitely taking its toll. They
looked tired and miserable. But as soon as the first candle
was lit the faint yellow light spread over their faces and for
Volume 3, Issue 3
the first time since their captivity, they actually sang and
danced!
But that was just the beginning.
The next day Khomeini invited all these clergymen to participate in a massive public prayer with an attendance of almost one million people!
Rabbi Hershberg relates, "We were standing on a platform
with Khomeini and other important figures and I looked
out at the sea of humanity before us. Then, at one point in
the prayers everyone, all one million people, all dropped to
their knees and then put their heads to the ground. Everyone bowed down! That is, everyone except for me! I simply
never even considered doing it.
"Well, after the prayers two officials approached me and
told me that Khomeini wants to talk to me. I thought to
myself, that's it! At least I'll die for the sake of Judaism. But
then remembered the Rebbe's blessing and became calm. I
followed them with the greatest optimism and when I got to
Khomeini a few of his servants told me that he demands an
explanation as to why I didn't bow down.
"So I calmly approached him and explained in the most positive way that I could muster up that I'm a Jew and I don't
understand their prayers. Therefore I am not able to bow
down without knowing what they are saying and to whom
they are bowing.
"Well, he was really impressed with that answer, I think he
liked my simple straightforwardness and when I saw that, I
asked him if I could meet with him privately at some time.
"Miracle of miracles… he agreed! The next day we met in his
room and, after a short friendly conversation I asked him to
please be more kind to the Jews in his kingdom and he
promised to consider it.
"It was hard to believe how the Rebbe's blessing turned everything around. I don't know why Khomeini put me on that
stage with him but it was a miracle! It comes out that there
were either a lot of Jews in that huge crowd or the prayer
had been televised but my appearance on that stage made a
tremendous impression on all the Jews who saw it, and the
next day I heard that thousands of Jews packed the synagogues, many for the first time in their lives!
"Not only that, but Khomeini kept his promise! That next
Elul (the last month in the Jewish year) he passed an edict
saying that for the entire month Jews were allowed to break
the curfew and walk in the streets at 4 a.m. to their Synagogues for 'Slichot' (a series of early morning prayers said
before Rosh HaShanna)."
On the plane returning home Rabbi Hershberg began to
understand the greatness of the Rebbe. Not only did his
blessings come miraculously true above all expectations but
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even more, the Rebbe demonstrated a love and care for others that was even more miraculous:
When the Rebbe told him to light the Chanukah Menora it
put him in a positive state of mind that he could actually
illuminate the darkness of Iran. That is what gave him the
ability to speak to Khomeini with such certainty.
This answers our questions.
Reuven lost his right to be a king to Yehuda (and also lost
his right to the priesthood to the Cohanim) but didn't lose
his right as a firstborn.
The difference between being firstborn and being a King (or
a Priest) is that the former is a personal quality only for
one's self while the latter two are for others. The king lives
only to benefit the people and the Priest to teach and bless
them.
So too the achievements of Reuven versus those of Yehuda.
True, Reuven wanted to free Yosef, but in fact nothing concrete resulted. Similarly, his nine years of repentance had no
real result, in fact they had the opposite; they distracted him
from trying to save Yosef earlier.
Not so with Yehuda; his actions bore fruit. He actually saved
Yosef from death and later Tamar from the same fate.
Just like the Rebbe and Rabbi Hershberg in our story did;
they brought ACTUAL results that ACTUALLY saved others.
And because this quality of actually helping was lacking in
Reuven, despite his high spiritual level of being firstborn,
therefore he (and his offspring) were disqualified from being
kings or priests. And these responsibilities were given to
Yehuda (and the Cohanim)
This is a big lesson to us.
We should strive for personal perfection but we must help
OTHERS as well. Regardless of how small and weak we
think we are, (like Rabbi Hershberg against the entire Khomeini regime), we must always remember that even a small
light transforms much darkness. Especially when we have
help from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
By illuminating the world we do our part to save millions of
lives spiritually and even physically; our good deeds actually
hasten Moshiach who will put an end to all wars, strife and
suffering.
It's all up to us to do just ONE more good actual deed and
bring…
Moshiach NOW!
Reprinted from www.ohrtmimim.org
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Schneerson, of righteous memory, is to delivPlease make a request to your Chaplain er words of inspiration that arouse the soul to
that you would like a visit from a Rabbi repent on fast days.
NOTICES:
in January.
The fast begins around 5:30am and ends
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HINDA Family Division Connect your family member (parent, spouse, sibling, child etc.) Please put in the appropriate request to
with our Family Division! Please contact us your Chaplain in a timely manner.
for more information.
Tu B’Shvat January 25, 2016
Upcoming Jewish Observances:
10th of Tevet-December 22, 2015
In loving memory of
Mrs. Hinda Scheiman OBM
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On the 10th day of the Jewish month of Tevet, in the year 3336 from Creation (425
BCE), the armies of the Babylonian emperor
Nebuchadnezzar laid siege to Jerusalem. Thirty months later—on 9 Tammuz 3338—the city
walls were breached, and on 9 Av of that year
the Holy Temple was destroyed. The Jewish
people were exiled to Babylonia for 70 years.
The 10th of Tevet (this year, December 22,
2015) is observed as a day of fasting, mourning and repentance. We refrain from food
and drink from daybreak to nightfall, and
add selichot and other special supplements to
our prayers. The fast ends at nightfall or as
soon as you see three medium sized stars in
the sky.
More recently, 10 Tevet was chosen to also
serve as a “general kaddish day” for the victims of the Holocaust, many of whose day of
martyrdom is unknown.
An ancient Jewish custom, which was revived
by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel
Tu B’Shevat, the 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Monday,
January 25, 2016—is the day that marks the
beginning of a “new year” for trees. This is
the season in which the earliest-blooming
trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their
winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing
cycle.
Legally, the “new year” for trees relates to the
various tithes that are separated from produce grown in the Holy Land. These tithes
differ from year to year in the seven-year
shemittah cycle; the point at which a budding
fruit is considered to belong to the next year
of the cycle is the 15th of Shevat.
We mark the day of Tu B’Shevat by eating
fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the
bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. On this day we
remember that “man is a tree of the
field” (Deuteronomy 20:19), and reflect on
the lessons we can derive from our botanical
analogue.
Jewish Joke
Bud, from Texas, is on vacation in Israel and meets farmer Shlomo there. Bud asks Shlomo
what he does.
"I raise a few chickens," says Shlomo. “I'm also a farmer.”
“So am I. How much land do you have?” asks Bud.
“Fifty meters in front, and almost a hundred at the back.”
Now it was the turn of Shlomo to ask a question.
“You’re from Texas, so what about your farm?" asks Shlomo.
Bud tells him, "On my farm, I can drive from morning until sundown and not reach the end
of my property."
"That's too bad," says Shlomo. "I once had a car like that."