ENERGY OF THE WEEK – Changing Old Patterns
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Always remember – the purpose of the Mitzvos is for us to have a relationship with Hashem1.
Each different part of the year is an experience of a different part of that relationship2.
The unique experience of Elul is Tshuva, through which a person can "recreate himself" and thus merit a level of renewal in his relationship with Hashem3.
- See Mesilas Yeshorim Perek 18, where our fulfillment of the mitzvos is compared to the relationship of a father and his son. ↩
- See Yosher Divrei Emes Perek 51-52, where the essence of each Yom Tov is defined as being an experience of a different Middah of Hashem (k’v'yachol). ↩
- B’nei Yissaschar, Maamarei Chodesh Elul, Maamar Alef, ois vav. ↩
HALACHOS OF THE WEEK – Hadlokas Nairos, Siman 263
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Basic Halachos:
1) The custom is to light two candles in order to fulfill the Mitzva D’Rabbonon of lighting Shabbos candles (Shulchan Aruch seif alef). At the minimum a person must light at least one (Mishna Brura seif katan gimel).
2) The time to light is from the time of "Plag HaMincha" until the Shkiah (Shulchan Aruch seif daled). After the Shkiah one may not light (Shulchan Aruch siman 261, seif alef).
3) Both men and women have an obligation to light candles (Shulchan Aruch seif beis) [One per household]. It is a mitzvah that is incumbent upon the woman of the household to be mindful of – even more than the man (Ibid, seif gimel). One reason for this is, that by lighting the candles a woman rectifies in some small way the overall darkness in the world that was caused as a result of Chava having convinced Adam to eat from the prohibited fruit (Mishna Brura seif katan yud-beis).
4) The custom of the Sfaradim and Taimanim is to first say the brocha and then to light. The custom of the Ashkenazim is to light first, then to cover one’s eyes so as not to benefit from the light, to say the brocha, and then take one’s hands off their eyes and take pleasure in the light (Rama seif heh).
5) The brocha is "Baruch …Asher Kidishanu B’Mitzvosav V’tzivanu L’hadlik Ner Shel Shabbos" (Shulchan Aruch seif heh).
Not Such Well-Known Halachos:
6) The purpose of the candles is to light up the house so that a person take pleasure in his food and that he not stumble over anything in the dark. (Mishna Brura seif katan mem-alef). The optimum place to light is by the table where a person eats, but anywhere in the house that he lights and can receive the benefit of "not stumbling", is also an acceptable place to light and to recite the brocha (Rama seif yud, Mishna Brura seif katan mem-heh).
7) If one lights the candles in a place where he receives no benefit whatsoever, e.g. he lights in a corner of his house and then totally leaves that area to go to eat and sleep somewhere else, he cannot recite the brocha when lighting (Shulchan Aruch seif tes). It is also unacceptable to recite the brocha when lighting in such a place even though his intent is to afterwards move the candles to a place where he does benefit (Mishna Brura seif katan mem-ches).
8) One must receive some sort of pleasure from the candles once it is already nighttime (Mishna Brura seif katan lamed) or at his Shabbos meal (Mishna Brura seif katan mem).
Filed under Halacha of the Week | Tags: Hadlokas Nairos, Shabbos candles | Comment (0)
AVODAH FOR THE WEEK – Parshas Re’eh
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The way to best utilize this week is hinted to in the first word of the Parsha – "Re’eh": Reish, Alef, Heh.
Reish is the letter of Chochma – wisdom1.
Alef is representative of Hakadosh Baruch Hu2.
Heh represents this world, as the Gemora in Menachos says3: "Olam Hazeh [was created] with [the letter] Heh4.
Now is the time of year to use your Chochma (Reish) to find Hashem (Alef) in the world (Heh).
Read about the wonders of creation5; learn amazing insights in Torah; contemplate on your own Hashgacha, and discover Hashem in the world.
This is certainly a great way to use these days when many people find themselves traveling to different places, and it is an amazing step to take in preparation for the upcoming days of Elul and Tishrei.
- Sefer Pardes Rimonim, Sha’ar Haosiyos, perek kaf-gimel. ↩
- Osiyos D’Rebbe Akiva, Sefer Batei Midrashos, nusach alef. ↩
- 29b. ↩
- "Darash Rabi Yehuda Bar Rabi Iloiy…’These are the manifestations of the heaven and the earth "b’heborum" (Bereishis 2 – 1) – do not read this as (only) "b’heborum", when they were created; rather (read it) as "b’Heh bra’um", with the letter Heh they (everything in the physical heaven and earth) were created." (Menachos ibid). ↩
- Sha’ar HaBechina in Sefer Chovos Halevovos may be helpful to you in this area. ↩
ENERGY OF THE WEEK – Chodesh Av
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The essence of Av is in its name: Aleph-Beis.
Alef-Beis hints to "Alef-Binah"1.
"Alef- Binah" is a reference to the two levels of Abba and Ima.
This means for us, that during the month of Av we can sense to a greater degree the levels of Abba and Ima.
As we grow throughout our childhood, the fact that both Abba and Ima give us their support and guidance, is an invaluable component to our development as healthy adults.
Energy of the First-Half of Chodesh Av
Although it may be difficult for us at times to accept, the level of Abba fills a very important developmental need in our lives. Every human being has a need "to be disciplined", because without be guided and "shown the way" the course of life stands ominous and threatening before us.
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Ideally, Ima represents the warmth and the home base to return to and to be protected by – unconditionally.
In a positive way, Abba represents the role model of accomplishment in the world; he gives us encouragement and the inner strength to spread our wings and an ability to take on the challenges of a hidden world.
When Abba and Ima are united in their giving to us, we feel the most confident and secure that we can. Even the threatening parts of life are not so daunting, when we know that we have their united support. This is what takes place during the second half of Chodesh Av.
- Shabbos 104a. ↩
Bs"d by Rabbi Nachum Chaimowitz Another statement that one should just never say: 3. Never compare yourselves to any other couple. The person that Hashem has introduced and ultimately united you with, is someone who is exactly what you need in order for you to reach your highest level of completeness. Realize that [...]