בס״ד

6 Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the LORD of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and beside Me there is no God.

19 God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: when He hath said, will He not do it? or when He hath spoken, will He not make it good?

VAYIKRAH / LEVITICUS 26:44-45

44 And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.

45 But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.


Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Tehilim 71:8-9: אל תשליכני לעת זקנה - DO not cast me off in time of old age

(Psalm 71:8-9: My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise, and with Thy glory all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength faileth, forsake me not.)

Yimaleh fi tehilatecha My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise
Yimaleh fi tehilatecha My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise
Yimaleh fi tehilatecha My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise
Kol hayom tifartecha And with Thy glory all the day.


Al... la la la....
Al tashlicheni le'et zikna Cast me not off in the time of old age;
Kichlot kochi al ta'azveni when my strength faileth, forsake me not.
Kichlot kochi al ta'azveni. when my strength faileth, forsake me not.


Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Shabbat with Songs and Stories - שבת עם שירים וסיפורים

First two videos are in Hebrew yet it shows the sanctity of Shabbat and the Shabbat home.

At the beginning of Shabbat, one is welcoming the Shabbat Queen into one's home.

Shabbat the Queen part 1 - שבת מלכתא חלק א

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx-jVyPM5HI

Shabbat the Queen part 2 - שבת מלכתא חלק ב

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-5SgvRywNg


THE LAWS FOR SHABBAT
Here are links to some books that touches different aspects and details of the law as well as handy booklets that have the text required to be used on Shabbat

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAWS OF SHABBOS/SHABBAT - 3 Volumes

Description of each volume:
The Shabbos Kitchen - Hilkhot Shabat Ba-Mitbah: A Comprehensive Guide to the Preparation of Food and Other Kitchen Activities on Shabbos/Sabbath or Yom Tov /Jewish Festivals

Radiance of Shabbos - The complete laws of the Shabbos and Festival candle-lighting, Kiddush, Lechem Mishneh, meals, Bircas HaMazon, and Havdalah.

Sanctity of Shabbos: A comprehensive guide to the laws of Shabbos and Yom Tov as they apply to a non-Jew doing work on behalf of a Jew.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Shabbos Home - A comprehensive halachic guide to the laws of shabbos as they apply throughout the home

HANDY BOOKLETS:
The Family Zemiros - Grace after meals, Kiddush and Sabbath songs translated and annotated and more.

The NCSY Bencher - A book of prayer and song

How to Light the Shabbat Candles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqZSfEtAVmk
Gimme a Break: Shabbat (Hashem's gift of Shabbat to the Jewish People)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UHOhxhRB-A

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Iggeret HaRamban - אגרת הרמבן

אגרת הרמבן

שְׁמַע בְּנִי מוּסַר אָבִיךָ, וְאַל תִּטּוֹשׁ תּוֹרַת אִמֶּךָ

תִּתְנַהֵג תָּמִיד לְדַבֵּר כָּל דְּבָרֶיךָ בְּנַחַת לְכָל אָדָם וּבְכָל עֵת, וּבָזֶה תִּנָצֵל מִן הַכַּעַס, שֶׁהִיא מִדָּה רָעָה לְהַחֲטִיא בְּנֵי אָדָם. ְוְכֵן אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, כָּל הַכּוֹעֵס כָּל מִינֵי גֵּיהִנָּם שׁוֹלְטִין בּוֹ, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר הָסֵר כַּעַס מִלִּבֶּךָ, וְהַעֲבֵר רָעָה מִבְּשָׂרֶךָ, וְאֵין רָעָה אֶלָא גֵּיהִנָם, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר וְגַם רָשָׁע לְיוֹם רָעָה.

וְכַאֲשֶׁר תִּנָצֵל מִן הַכַּעַס תַּעֲלֶה עַל לִבְּךָ מִדַּת הָעֲנָוָה שֶׁהִיא מִדָּה טוֹבָה מִכָּל הַמִּדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר עֵקֶב עֲנָוָה יִרְאַת ה' : וּבַעֲבוּר הָעֲנָוָה תַּעֲלֶה עַל לִבְּךָ מִדַּת הַיִרְאָה, כִּי תִתֵּן אֶל לִבְּךָ תָּמִיד, מֵאַיִן בָּאתָ, וּלְאָן אַתָּה הוֹלֵךְ, וְשֶׁאַתָּה רִמָּה וְתוֹלֵעָה בְּחַיֶךָ, וְאַף כִּי בְמוֹתָךְ, וְלִפְנֵי מִי אַתָּה עָתִיד לִיתֵּן דִּין וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן, לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ הַכָּבוֹד, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר הִנֵּה הַשָׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָׁמַיִם לֹא יְכַלְכְּלוּךָ, אַף כִּי לִבּוֹת בְּנֵי אָדָם, וְנֶאֱמַר הֲלֹא אֶת הַשָׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲנִי מָלֵא נְאֻם ה' וְכַאֲשֶׁר תַּחְשׁוֹב אֶת כָּל אֵלֶּה, תִּירָא מִבּוֹרְאֶךָ וְתִשְׁמוֹר מִן הַחֵטְא, וּבְמִדּוֹת הָאֵלֶּה תִּהְיֶה שָׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקֶךָ, וְכַאֲשֶׁר תִּתְנַהֵג בְּמִדַּת הָעֲנָוָה לְהִתְבּוֹשֵׁשׁ מִכָּל אָדָם וּלְהִתְפָּחֵד מִמֶּנּוּ (מהשי"ת) וּמִן הַחֵטְא, אָז תִּשְׁרֶה עָלֶיךָ רוּחַ הַשְׁכִינָה, וְזִיו כְּבוֹדָהּ, וְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם הַבָּא:

וְעַתָּה בְּנִי דַע וּרְאֵה, כִּי הַמִּתְגָּאֶה בְּלִבּוֹ עַל הַבְּרִיוֹת, מוֹרֵד הוּא בְּמַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם, כִּי מִתְפָּאֵר הוּא בִּלְבוּשׁ מַלְכוּת שָׁמַיִם, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר ה' מָלָךְ גֵּאוּת לָבֵשׁ וגו'. וּבַמֶּה יִתְגָּאֶה לֵב הָאָדָם, אִם בְּעוֹשֶׁר, ה' מוֹרִישׁ וּמַעֲשִׁיר, וְאִם בְּכָבוֹד, הֲלֹא לֵאלֹהִים הוּא, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר וְהָעוֹשֶׁר וְהַכָּבוֹד מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, וְאֵיךְ מִתְפָּאֵר בִּכְבוֹד קוֹנוֹ.
וְאִם מִתְפָּאֵר בְּחָכְמָה, מֵסִיר שָׂפָה לְנֶאֱמָנִים, וְטַעַם זְקֵנִים יִקַּח. נִמְצָא הַכֹּל שָׁוֶה לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם, כִּי בְאַפּוֹ מַשְׁפִּיל גֵּאִים, וּבִרְצוֹנוֹ מַגְבִּיהַּ שְׁפָלִים, לָכֵן הַשְׁפִּיל עַצְמְךָ וִינַשְׂאֲךָ הַמָּקוֹם


עַל כֵּן אֲפָרֵשׁ לְךָ אֵיךְ תִּתְנַהֵג בְּמִדַּת הָעֲנָוָה לָלֶכֶת בָּהּ תָּמִיד

כָּל דְּבָרֶיךָ יִהְיוּ בְּנַחַת, וְרֹאשְׁךָ כָּפוּף, וְעֵינֶיךָ יַבִּיטוּ לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ וְלִבְּךָ לְמַעְלָה, וְאַל תַּבִּיט בִּפְנֵי אָדָם בְּדַבֶּרְךָ עִמּוֹ, וְכָל אָדָם יִהְיֶה גָּדוֹל מִמְּךָ בְּעֵינֶיךָ, וְאִם חָכָם אוֹ עָשִׁיר הוּא, עָלֶיךָ לְכַבְּדוֹ. וְאִם רָשׁ הוּא, וְאַתָּה עָשִׁיר אוֹ חָכָם מִמֶּנּוּ, חֲשׁוֹב בְּלִבְּךָ כִּי אַתָּה חַיָּב מִמֶּנּוּ וְהוּא זַכַּאי מִמְּךָ, שֶׁאִם הוּא חוֹטֵא הוּא שׁוֹגֵג וְאַתָּה מֵזִיד:

בְּכָל דְּבָרֶיךָ וּמַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתֶיךָ וּבְכָל עֵת, חֲשׁוֹב בְּלִבָּךְ כְּאִילּוּ אַתָּה עוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי הַקָדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וּשְׁכִינָתוֹ עָלֶיךָ. כִּי כְּבוֹדוֹ מָלֵא הָעוֹלָם, וּדְבָרֶיךָ יִהְיוּ בְּאֵימָה וּבְיִרְאָה כְּעֶבֶד לִפְנֵי רַבּוֹ, וְתִתְבַּיֵּשׁ מִכָּל אָדָם, וְאִם יִקְרָאֲךָ אִישׁ אַל תַּעֲנֵהוּ בְּקוֹל רָם, רַק בְּנַחַת כְּעוֹמֵד לִפְנֵי רַבּוֹ:


וֶהֱוֵי זָּהִיר לִקְרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה תָמִיד אֲשֶׁר תּוּכַל לְקַיְמָהּ, וְכַאֲשֶׁר תָּקוּם מִן הַסֵּפֶר, תְּחַפֵּשׂ בַּאֲשֶׁר לָמַדְּתָּ אִם יֵשׁ בּוֹ דָּבָר אֲשֶׁר תּוּכַל לְקַיְּמוֹ, וּתְפַשְׁפֵּשׁ בְּמַעֲשֶׂיךָ בַּבֹּקֶר וּבָעֶרֶב, וּבָזֶה יִהְיוּ כָּל יָמֶיךָ בִּתְשׁוּבָה:


וְהָסֵר כָּל דִבְרֵי הָעוֹלָם מִלִבְּךָ בְּעֵת הַתְּפִלָּה, וְהָכֵן לִבְּךָ לִפְנֵי הַמָקוֹם בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְטַהֵר רַעְיוֹנֶיךָ, וַחֲשׁוֹב הַדִּבּוּר קוֹדֶם שֶׁתּוֹצִיאֶנּוּ מִפִּיךָ, וְכֵן תַּעֲשֶׂה כָּל יְמֵי חַיֵּי הֶבְלֶךָ בְּכָל דָבָר וְדָבָר וְלֹא תֶחֱטָא, וּבָזֶה יִהְיוּ דְּבָרֶיךָ וּמַעֲשֶׂיךָ וּמַחְשְׁבוֹתֶיךָ יְשָׁרִים, וּתְפִלָּתְךָ תִּהְיֶה זַכָּה וּבָרָה וּנְקִיָּה וּמְכֻוֶּנֶת וּמְקֻבֶּלֶת לִפְנֵי הַמָּקוֹם בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶאֱמַר תָּכִין לִבָּם תַּקְשִׁיב אָזְנֶיךָ:

תִּקְרָא הָאִגֶּרֶת הַזֹּאת פַּעַם אַחַת בַּשָׁבוּעַ וְלֹא תִפְחוֹת, לְקַיְּמָהּ וְלָלֶכֶת בָּהּ תָּמִיד אַחַר הַשֵׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ, לְמַעַן תַּצְלִיחַ בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ וְתִזְכֶּה לְעוֹלָם הַבָּא הַצָּפוּן לַצַּדִּיקִים, וּבְכָל יוֹם שֶׁתִּקְרָאֶנָּה יַעֲנוּךָ מִן הַשָׁמַיִם כַּאֲשֶׁר יַעֲלֶה עַל לִבְּךָ לִשְׁאוֹל עַד עוֹלָם אָמֵן סֶלָה:



Iggeret HaRamban - The Ramban's Letter http://www.pirchei.co.il/specials/ramban/printabl.htm

Hear, my son, the instruction of your father and don't forsake the teaching of your mother (Mishlei 1:8). Get into the habit of always speaking calmly to everyone. This will prevent you from anger, a serious character flaw which causes people to sin. As our Rabbis said (Nedarim 22a):Whoever flares up in anger is subject to the discipline of Gehinnom as it is says in (Koheles 12:10), "Cast out anger from your heart, and [by doing this] remove evil from your flesh." "Evil" here means Gehinnom, as we read (Mishlei 16:4): "...and the wicked are destined for the day of evil." Once you have distanced yourself from anger, the quality of humility will enter your heart.This radiant quality is the finest of all admirable traits (see Avodah Zarah 20b), because (Mishlei 22:4), "Following humility comes the fear of Hashem."

Through humility you will also come to fear Hashem. It will cause you to always think about (see Avos 3:1) where you came from and where you are going, and that while alive you are only like a maggot and a worm, and the same after death. It will also remind you before Whom you will be judged, the King of Glory, as it is stated (I Melachim 8:27; Mishlei 15:11), "Even the heaven and the heavens of heaven can't contain You" -- "How much less the hearts of people!" It is also written (Yirmeyahu 23:24), "Do I not fill heaven and earth? says Hashem."

When you think about all these things, you will come to fear Hashem who created you, and you will protect yourself from sinning and therefore be happy with whatever happens to you. Also, when you act humbly and modestly before everyone, and are afraid of Hashem and of sin, the radiance of His glory and the spirit of the Shechina will rest upon you, and you will live the life of the World-to-Come!

And now, my son, understand and observe that whoever feels that he is greater than others is rebelling against the Kingship of Hashem, because he is adorning himself with His garments, as it is written (Tehillim 93:1), "Hashem reigns, He wears clothes of pride." Why should one feel proud? Is it because of wealth? Hashem makes one poor or rich (I Shmuel 2:7). Is it because of honor? It belongs to Hashem, as we read (I Divrei Hayamim 29:12), "Wealth and honor come from You." So how could one adorn himself with Hashem's honor? And one who is proud of his wisdom surely knows that Hashem "takes away the speech of assured men and reasoning from the sages" (Iyov 12:20)!? So we see that everyone is the same before Hashem, since with His anger He lowers the proud and when He wishes He raises the low. So lower yourself and Hashem will lift you up!

Therefore, I will now explain to you how to always behave humbly. Speak gently at all times, with your head bowed, your eyes looking down to the ground and your heart focusing on Hashem. Don't look at the face of the person to whom you are speaking. Consider everyone as greater than yourself. If he is wise or rich, you should give him respect. If he is poor and you are richer -- or wiser -- than he, consider yourself to be more guilty than he, and that he is more worthy than you, since when he sins it is through error, while yours is deliberate and you should know better!

In all your actions, words and thoughts, always regard yourself as standing before Hashem, with His Shechinah above you, for His glory fills the whole world. Speak with fear and awe, as a slave standing before his master. Act with restraint in front of everyone. When someone calls you, don't answer loudly, but gently and softly, as one who stands before his master.

Torah should always be learned diligently, so you will be able to fulfill it's commands. When you arise from your learning reflect carefully on what you have studied, in order to see what in it that you can be put into practice. Examine your actions every morning and evening, and in this way every one of your days will be spent in teshuvah (repentance).

Concentrate on your prayers by removing all worldly concerns from your heart. Prepare your heart before Hashem, purify your thoughts and think about what you are going to say. If you follow this in all your daily actions, you will not come to sin. This way everything you do will be proper, and your prayer will be pure, clear, clean, devout and acceptable to Hashem, as it is written (Tehillim 10:17), "When their heart is directed to You, listen to them."

Read this letter at least once a week and neglect none of it. Fulfill it, and in so doing, walk with it forever in the ways of Hashem, may he be blessed,so that you will succeed in all your ways. Thus you will succeed and merit the World to Come which lies hidden away for the righteous. Every day that you shall read this letter, heaven shall answer your heart's desires. Amen, Sela!

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