[Sefer-torah-network-news] The Sefer Torah Network Newsletter,
Vol. 1, Number 17
Moshe Burt
mosheb at sefer-torah.com
Fri Mar 5 07:00:54 EST 2004
Sefer Torah Network News
Volume 1, Number 17
5 March, 2004
Shalom Friends;
Welcome to the 17th edition of the Sefer Torah Network News list. --
The Special Purim Edition.
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>The Sefer Torah Recycling Network
continues to be active on various fronts despite a major Netscape
crash and ISP connection problems as well as a few other foibles
resulting from severe underfunding. However, there are a few
noteworthy developments to report in The Sefer Torah Network News
list.
I'm pleased to announce that the Sefer Torah transferred by the
Goldstein family of Queens, NY will be placed in Givat Nof Harim
hilltop community of Yishuv Eli in the Shomron IY'H during the last
week of March. Please watch the <http://www.sefer-torah.com>website,
this newsletter, other Israel-oriented email lists, Arutz-7 etc. for
up-to-date news as to the day and time of the Hochnossis Sefer Torah
celebration and transportation to get you there and back. Please
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/givatnofharim.html>click here to view
pictures from the small Transfer Ceremony which took place on Monday,
19 January, 2004 at the Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem as well as from my
recent Shabbos in Givat Nof Harim.
The Sefer Torah Recyclng Network expresses it's great appreciation to
the Goldstein family for their kindness in providing a Sefer Torah
for a needy location in EretzYisrael.
The community of Givat Nof Harim, east of Eli in the Shomron,
consists of 35 families and has been without a Sefer Torah for a
number of years. We look forward placement of the Sefer Torah upon
completion of the repairs and to a big Hochnossis Sefer Torah
celebration sometime in March IY'H.
I hope to see many of you at theHochnossis Sefer Torah celebration,
including those currently living in Chutz L'Aretz who happen to be
visiting Israel at the time of the celebration.
Please note that The Sefer Torah Recycling Network has entered into
affilation with CDTorah.com which markets hundreds of Torah lectures
and shiurim on standard audio CDs. Now you can help The Sefer Torah
Recycling Network with a click-thru from
this<http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0> newsletter, or from
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>The Sefer Torah Recycling Network website
to the <http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0>CDTorah.com site
and order audio CD's of shiurim given by notables such as Rabbi
Yitzchok Berkowitz, Rabbi Akiva Tatz, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, Rabbi
Noach Isaac Oelbaum Rabbi Herschel Schachter, Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz
and more.
The Sefer Torah Recycling Network is still offering a number of
frameable Sefer Torah posters to all who donate $180 or more to the
project.
These Sefer Torah posters provide donors with incentive and yet
another opportunity to impact on the heavenly scales by making needy
locations Mokomot Torah and promoting Torah study. We are asking
people to help us raise the necessary funds for the restoration of
two Sifrei Torah slated for placement in needy locations here in
Israel.
A Sefer Torah poster makes a beautiful livingroom centerpiece
picture. The Sefer Torah poster has a brown Mantel on either side and
the 247 Amudim on a blue background.
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/torah1.htm>Click here to view a partial
scan of the poster.
While they last, those donating $180 or more will receive a full
Sefer Torah poster including all 247 Amudim. Supply of these posters
is limited so, please make your donation NOW!!
Please note that the site has undergone some subtle alterations
designed to make the message to the viewer more focused and directed.
We have placed both the
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>ArtScroll.com
and the <http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0>CDTorah.com
sites, with their special directed links, in a more prominent
position on the front page and on other pages on the site while
changing the positioning of other links and by adding an automatic,
one-button method of subscription to this newsletter.
These special directed links, both on the site and in this
newsletter, enable you to help The Sefer Torah Recycling Network to
raise funds while purchasing
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>S'forim,
<http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0>CDs and keeping up with
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/ASIN/TAL>The Daf
Yomi.
Those wishing to subscribe after reading this edition of the
newsletter may do so either by clicking on the
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>website and placing their email address
on the email address line and clicking the submit button or by
following the subscription instructions at the end of this post.
A special page has been added to the site which will deal with an
issue of crisis proportion which is near and dear to my heart --
halachic issues regarding Kohanim.
We are currently in process of promoting The Sefer Torah Recycling
Network to Shuls and Jewish Day Schools with websites and email
addresses throughout the US, Canada and elsewhere.
Raising the necessary funds for two restorations of Sifrei Torah for
Homesh and the kehilla on Bat Ayin is presently THE central focus of
The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. So far, the project has
thankfully received donations from many sponsors but is still far
short of the funds necessary to defray these restoration costs.
(approximately $ 7,500 still needs to be raised)
It is vital that The Sefer Torah Recycling Network receive
seed-funding as well as ongoing cash donations and a constant influx
of Sifrei Torah. We seek philanthropists who recognize the need for
an ongoing clearing house where Sifrei Torah can be donated or
acquired, restorations completed and placements of Sifrei Torah made
in needy locations throughout EretzYisrael.
In this way, The Sefer Torah project will become an active, ongoing,
serious organization which solicits and receives donations of Sifrei
Torah, or acquires S'forim for cash for placement in needy locations
throughout Israel. In the process, such donations will avail ongoing
employment to needy Sofrim to repair and restore posul Sifrei Torah
for placement in the growing number of needy locations in Israel
which request help in acquiring a Sefer Torah.
Toward the bottom of this newsletter, please read the brief
descriptions of many more such locations throughout Israel currently
either without their own Sifrei Torah or lacking sufficient number of
Sifrei Torah. This same information is available by clicking on
"About The Sefer Torah Recycling Network" page of the website which
will provide a history of the project as well as details on the
various needy organizations.
I ask all of you to please help publicize The Sefer Torah Recycling
Network, thereby opening up further possibility of donations of
Sifrei Torah and/or funds. I am asking that subscribers pass this
edition of the Sefer Torah Network News list to their friends and
relatives via email with an invitation to subscribe themselves.
(subscription instructions are below.) Perhaps you would also
consider printing out hardcopies and posting the Sefer Torah Network
News to your Shul's Bulletin Board and/or suggesting a link on your
Shul's email list to The Sefer Torah Recycling Network,. Please
note that the embedded links may not show up as such on the forwarded
copy. However, the URLs will show up next to the words of the links.
Additional newsletter subscribers = more traffic to the site = more
financial donations, that potential Philanthropic Angel and potential
Sefer Torah donors.
Subscribers, if you have not already viewed the Arutz-7 story of
several months ago, the Article is entitled, "Recycling Torah Scrolls
To Israel". (It can be read by clicking on the underlined words.)
The Sefer Torah Recycling Network has also received coverage recently
in The Jewish Press and in The Capital News (formerly Daf Shemesh).
Hopefully, with your help and IY'H additional publicity, the
exposure, subscribership and Donations of funds and Sifrei Torah will
grow in the weeks and months to come as a result of both initial and
ongoing efforts.
Continued wishes for a Sweet year and enjoyable reading of the Sefer
Torah Network News list.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
Founder and Director
***************************************************************************************************
Items of Note in this Edition of theSefer Torah Network News .
-Shabbos in the Givat Nof Harim Community of Yishuv Eli
-Spotlight on two locations slated to receive Sifrei Torah
-The Mother of ALL Press leaks; Now Running for Prime Minister of Israel ...
-Parsha Tetzaveh -- Where's Moshe??
-Inspiring Sefer Torah Stories from Around the World
-Locations in need of their own Sifrei Torah
-Up Close and Personal ; Kehilla Beis Tefillah, Ramat Beit Shemesh
***************************************************************************************************
Please visit the
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>ArtScroll.com
Website and help support The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. A
portion of all purchases from the ArtScroll.com website will support
the project's mission - only when you click on this link:
ArtScroll.com.
Sefer Torah Network News selections for this newsletter; The
Schottenstein Edition Talmud, The Aryeh Kaplan Anthology Set / 2
Volume Slipcased Set, By Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan and Rabbi Berel Wein's
Pirkei Avos: Teachings for Our Times.
Please note that you can now place a Standing Order of the Daf Yomi
Size Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud and receive every volume of
the Daf Yomi Size Schottenstein Talmud as they are Published and help
support The Sefer Torah Recycling Network at the same time.
****************************************************************************************************
Tehillim for Recovery from Illness
Please see that tehillim is said for the following individuals;
Moshe Shlomo ben Michal
Moshe Shlomo is a little over 1 year old. There were complications
at birth which have resulted in slowness in coordination and motor
development.
Aliza Channa Devorah bat Malka.
Aliza is 12 years of age. She is receiving Chemo-therapy treatments
for cancer in Hadassah Childrens hospital. She had complained of
pain in her right shoulder. Doctors found a tumor and she was
diagnosed a few months ago. Please pray hard for her refuah
shleimah. This request came to me from her grandparents who live in
the U.S.
Menucha Mendel Yehudit Rut bat Chaya Zelda;
A widow from London who became ill during a visit to EretzYisrael and
who is currently recovering from her illness in London. Please pray
hard for her refuah shleimah.
And please Daven for Good Health for Yehonatan ben Malka (Jonathan
Pollard) and for his speedy release from American incarceration and
his return to his beloved homeland, Eretz Yisrael.
****************************************************************************************************
Shabbos in the Givat Nof Harim Community of Yishuv Eli
On Friday, 30 January, 2004, I travelled via autobus #474 and arrived
on about 2 PM in the afternoon. My contact, Yo'av Amir, the Shul's
Gabai, picked me up at the Kikar at Yishuv Eli's main entrance.
After a cup of tea, he took me on a tour of the neighborhood as well
as a driving tour of the hilltop communities which surround the main
Yishuv and which are part of the Yishuv. The views from the Givat
Nof Harim are fantastic. From there, you can see the surrounding
Yishuvim -- Ma'alei Levona, Shilo, Rachele and even Tapuach.
I took numerous pictures during Friday afternoon of the view from the
hilltops, the Main Yishuv, the Beit Knesset -- inside and out, the
Gan and a converted railroad car which serves as a visitor's center
and is located between the main Yishuv and the hilltop communities.
Pictures of the community andYishuv Eli will be forthcoming IY'H, by
the next edition of this newsletter.
I received wonderful, warm hospitality (and great food) throughout
Shabbos, having my meals with 3 different families -- Friday night
with Yo'av and his wife and baby, Shabbos lunch with a another member
of the Shul's Va'ad and Seudat Shlish't with a 3rd family. The
community is extremely warm, close-knit and very S'niyut.
Davening was nice and the Rav ( Rav Mordechai Haas) is soft-spoken,
s'niyut, yet a big Talmud Chacham. Rabbi Haas teaches during the
week in a Yeshiva in Jerusalem. He makes himself available
throughout the week, via cellphone, to answer Shi'alot for not only
the Givat Nof Harim community, but of the entire Yishuv. He gives a
Shiur on Friday night after Davening as well as on Shabbos morning
before laining and just after Mincha for about 20 minutes. I'm told
that Rabbi Haas and his Rebbetzin have 12 children.
The people in Givat Nof Harim are serious in their learning.
Discussions throughout Shabbos were very stimulating. The people
are, for the most part, young in their 20s and 30s, yet very
grounded, mature, serious and sincere. The Rav has lived in Eli for
7 years and was among those who began the community. And when he
moved to the community, he brought others to the community as well.
The Rav spent his childhood in "Bnai Brak" and then learned at
"Mercaz-Harav".
The Shul was built within the last two years. It is nice, although
not fancy. The people live simply and with S'niyut and the Shul is
in keeping with their derech.
****************************************************************************************************
Spotlight on two locations slated to receive Sifrei Torah (with your help!) ;
Homesh, in the Shomron (Sameria) region of Eretz Yisrael amd is
located amongst a group of communities including Kedumim, Elon Moreh,
Shavei Shomron, Einav, etc. which are in close proximity to the Arab
cities of Shechem, Kalkilya, etc. The Yishuv has many Russian olim
who have become Ba'al Teshuva in addition to many Dati families who
have moved there in recent years from other locations. Upon
completion of the restoration of a Sefer Torah donated by a family
in Baltimore, its placement in Homesh will be fulfillment of a nearly
5 year old promise to Rabbi Yehoshua Schmidt. I met Rav Schmidt, the
Rav of both Yishuv Shavei Shomron and Yishuv Homesh, while living and
doing Ulpan on Shavei Shomron.
The second Sefer Torah, once funds are raised and the restoration
work is completed, will be placed in a Kehilla of Yishuv Bat Ayin
which is located in Gush Etzion. It will be the recipient of a Sefer
Torah donated by a student of the School of Safrus located there.
Just a few words on Bat Ayin. I visited there recently for the first
time in many years. The Yishuv has grown 10-fold in the 9 years
since The Sefer Torah Recycling Network placed it's first Sefer Torah
there in 1995. It was more beautiful then I remember it. Hopefully,
I will go there for Shabbos in the near future and will have more to
write then.
In order to complete the restorations of these Sifrei Torah for
placement in these two locations, $7,500 remains to be raised.
Please know that your sponsorship donation or purchase of a S'forim
or Judaica products via clicking from the ads on The Sefer Torah
Recycling Network homepage, the About The Sefer Torah Recycling
Network page or the Judaica Page is an act of helping to unify Jewish
neshamot of those who have touched, kissed and lained from these
Sifrei Torah throughout their lives with those yet to touch, kiss and
lain from them during their extended future life. By donating or
through purchasing via the ads on the site, you are taking positive
action to possess Eretz Yisrael.
In these days where talk abounds about dismantlements, unilateral
withdrawals and the like, and this talk is seen as a display of
weakness discrediting our Divine, eternal legacy of possession of
Eretz Yisrael, your donation insures that needy locations become
Mokomot Torah and under the protection of Shemayim. Please make
your donations by check or paypal -- NOW!
******************************************************************************************
Press Leak!! Press Leak!! Press Leak!! Press Leak!!
Flash!! Flash!! Flash!! Flash!!
Flash!!
Exclusive Report!! Exclusive Report!! Exclusive Report!!
In a decision which will reverberate through Israel and world Jewry,
a well-placed, unnamed Senior official of Agudas Yisrael has broken
an exclusive story on the upcoming Purim announcement of
<http://www.beistefillah.org>Rav Chaim Zev HaLevy, Sh'lita of
Jerusalem/Ramat Beit Shemesh --i.e. that he has tossed his Black Hat
into the ring as a Candidate for the Offices of Prime Minister of
Israel and both Chief Rabbis.
Rav HaLevy, Sh'lita is dismayed and angered by those who seek a
return to conditions of pre-1967 which, coincidentally, was the year
when the Crock Pot became envogue throughout the
world.<http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/family/recipe/dony58slowcook/dony58slowcook9.html>
Rav HaLevy, Sh'lita is running on a platform "An Insert for every
Crock Pot", thereby making Hatmana legal according to the psak of Rav
Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Zt'l. Further, he will act to compell strict
enforcement of the Rama's Mitzvah " to store food for Shabbos in a
manner that will retain its heat so that there will be hot food to
eat on Shabbos, for hot food is something which is an honor and a
delight of Shabbos. " (Mishnah Berurah, Hilchos Shabbos, Simon
257.8<49>)
Further, Rav HaLevy will press for fulfillment of the dictates of
Hilchos Shabbos, namely, that L'Kavod HaShabbos, Cholent shall be a
mandatory staple of Shabbos lunch in every home. As enunciated years
ago by the Rama, "Whoever does not trust in the words of the Sages
and forbids eating hot food on Shabbos may be suspected of being a
heretic."
Rav HaLevy will also pronounce henceforth, that the Rama in Hilchos
Shabbos 329:6 be adhered to."You can't obey the Rama when it comes to
Cholent, and ignore him in more weighty matters--more weighty,
indeed, even than Cholent."
In addition, Rav HaLevy, Sh'lita will make a major policy statement
in which he will endorse Israel's immediate annexation of lands with
sizeable Jewish Populations -- Lakewood, Borough Park, Flatbush,
Queens and Monsey.
And finally, he will announce the contestants in the 2004 World
Series; the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox. Hallel
(without Bracha) will be made mandatory upon the final out of the
final game and will be sung by "Duaf of Memphis."
*****************************************************************************************
Sponsorship Donation Program
Lifting Neshamot through Donations of Funds/Sifrei Torah
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>Flash:
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/torah1.htm>Special Incentive gift for
those Sponsors donating $180 or More*
Why not donate a paragraph, or a section or the reading from your Bar
Mitzvah, marriage, or some other family event.
Principals and Administrators of Religious Day Schools, Talmudei
Torah and Yeshiva High Schools; The
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/sponsorship.htm>Sponsorship Donation
Program to help restore Sifrei Torah for placement in needy locations
in Israel makes an excellent Chinuch and Tzedakah project for your
students and their families. Friends, please recommend it to
principals and adminstrators for inclusion in their educational
programs.
Please send me an email stating your level of sponsorship, and what
you seek to sponsor. More information is also available on our
website. Making a donation, whether a financial donation made
through a program such as
the<http://www.sefer-torah.com/sponsorship.htm>Sponsorship Donation
program, or via the donation of a Sefer Torah, can cause the
elevation in Shemayim of the Neshama of the niftar loved one or close
friend.
Please keep this thought in mind as you consider a donation to The
Sefer Torah project.
Sefer Torah $ 6,000 25,000 NIS
1 Sefer;
i.e. Sefer
Breish't $ 1,800 7,200 NIS
1 Parsha $ 180 (10 x Chai) 720 NIS
(40 x Chai)
1 Amud $ 54 ( 3 x Chai) 216 NIS
(12 x Chai)
1 Posuk $ 10 36
NIS (2 x Chai )
2 Posukim $ 18 ( Chai) 72
NIS (4 x Chai)
3 Posukim $ 36 ( 2 x Chai) 144 NIS
( 8 x Chai)
Why not donate posukim, amudim or the Parsha of your Bar Mitzvah,
Marriage, or some other family Simcha? Wnen donating in this way,
please send me an email stating your level of sponsership, what
Posukim, Amud, Parsha, etc. you seek to sponsor and your method of
payment; by check, see directions in method #2 (listed in the "You
can help in five ways" section shown below) or via paypal (see next
line).
In the USA;
To receive a USA tax receipt, donors should make their checks out to
"Congregation Ahavas Torah Tzedakah Fund." Please note on both the
memo line of the check and on the envelope that the check is for:
"Mark Burt & Sefer Torah Recycling Network." Be sure to include your
address. Upon request, a tax-deductible receipt for your donation
will be mailed to you. Mail checks to:
Congregation Ahavas Torah Tzedakah Fund,
1425 Rhawn Street,
Philadelphia, Pa. 19111.
In Canada;
To receive a Canadian tax receipt, donors should make their checks
out to "JBRASS" (BN#864426911RR0001). Please also enclose a note as
well as mark the envelope that the check is for "Mark Burt & Sefer
Torah Recycling Network." Be sure to include your address. Upon
request, a tax-deductible receipt for your donation will be mailed to
you. Mail checks to:
The Sefer Torah Recycling Network,
46 Meadowbrook Road, Apt. 6,
Toronto, Ontario, M6B 2S6
Canada
In Israel;
Donors in Israel can donate by contacting 067-305-497 or emailing
Moshe Burt <strnetmb at yahoo.com> or <mosheb at sefer-torah.com> for
mailing information.
Sponsorship Donors can make an Online donation via paypal. Simply
copy the email address; <mosheb at sefer-torah.com>, then click on the
<https://www.paypal.com>paypal link, and paste the copied email
address onto the "Recipient's email" field.
All donors participating in the Sponsorship donation program will
receive an attractive, frameable commemorative certificate in
recognition of their kind donation.
*The Sefer Torah Recycling Network has gained access to a limited
number of Sefer Torah posters. Those donating $180 or more will be
sent one of these posters which is frameable. It makes a beautiful
livingroom centerpiece picture. The Sefer Torah pictured has a brown
Mantel on either side and the 247 Amudim on a blue background.
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/torah1.htm>Click here to view a partial
scan of the poster.
While they last, those donating $180 or more will receive a full
Sefer Torah poster including all 247 Amudim.
****************************************************************************************************
Check out the Updated Sefer Torah Recycling Network website and see
all of the new bells, whistles and features which provide you with
all necessary information about the project from lists of needy
locations to Rabbinic Approbations.
****************************************************************************************************
Divrei Torah
Parsha Tetzaveh -- Where's Moshe??
By Moshe Burt **
In this week's Parsha Tetzaveh, two questions arise. Why does
Moshe's name not appear in the entire Parsha?? And why, when
drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages is normally frowned upon
in Torah, are we permitted to become sooo drunk that we don't know
Haman from Mordechai?
Rabbi Wagensberg has, in his Shiurim, brought a number of sources who
gave possible explanations for the absence of Moshe's name from the
Parsha. The Ba'al HaTurim, for instance, stated that Moshe's name is
absent because of his response to Hashem after Cha'it HaEigel. At
that time Hashem stated his intention to destroy B'nai Yisrael and
start again creating a people from Moshe's seed. Moshe responded
that "If you do not forgive their sin, blot me out from the book
which you have written." (Midrash Says, Sh'mos, Tetzaveh, P.273)
"The Midrash Says" goes on to state that "A Tzaddik's words must take
effect (even if the condition attached to them is not fulfilled).
Hashem consequently erased Moshe's name from Parsha Tetzaveh."
(Midrash Says, Sh'mos, Tetzaveh, P.273)
The Gr'a, it is said, stated that during the week of Parsha Tetzaveh,
Moshe was niftar and we commemorate his Yahrtzeit. For that reason,
Hashem has omitted Moshe's name from the Parsha. However in Biblical
Times in Eretz Yisrael, Torah was read in a 3 year cycle and not a 1
year cycle. It's not possible that the Great Vilna Gaon would have
overlooked this point. Obviously, something else is at work here.
It is also said that since, by the Burning Bush, Moshe seemingly
hesitated about accepting the Leadership of B'nai Yisrael, this
parsha where we talk about the Vestments of the Kohen Godol, is where
Hashem's manifests Moshe's hesitation. Aaron and his sons are
mentioned often and with prominence regarding their annointment,
their clothing and their respective service in the Beit HaMikdash.
It seems as if parsha Tetzaveh is dedicated to Aaron HaKohan.
In speaking about the dialogue between Hashem and Moshe Rabbeinu ater
the Chait HaEigel, it is said that Moshe Rabbeinu was praying and
pleading for the lives of B'nai Yisrael when he asked Hashem to
remove him from his book. Rabbi Wagensberg constrasts Moshe Rabbeinu
after the Egel with Noach before the Mabul (The Flood) where it is
said that he didn't Daven sufficiently for his generation. He
continued by saying that after the Mabul, when Noach Davened to
Hashem asking that there never again be such a Mabul, that Hashem
accepted the Tefillah and told Noach that the world would never again
be destroyed by a flood. Rabbi Wagonsberg then offered the
possibility that as a Gilgul of Noach -- Moshe Rabbeinu's Tefillah on
behalf of B'nai Yisrael was Tikon Olam for Noach's lack of Tefillah.
Rabbi Wagensberg then spoke about Purim and why Purim is the one day
where are we permitted to drink wine, etc. to excess. Normally, we
are commanded to avoid wine, etc. except where we elevate Hashem's
name such as by Kiddush or a L'Chaim. We are taught control
regarding drinking wine as with other physical activities. In Torah
we learn about Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron who died bringing
an unsolicited offering to the Kadosh Kadoshim after having drank
wine. We also learn about the Elders who ate and drank at Matan
Torah and who were killed and replaced by different Elders (the
former Jewish taskmasters who felt the pain of Pharoh's whip). And
we also learn about the Nazir who witnessed Sota and made a Neder of
abstinence. Why then on Purim we are encouraged to drink until we
don't know Haman from Mordechai?
Rabbi Wagensberg said in the name of the S'fas Emmes as well as most
commentators that in the time of Moshiach, the major Chaggim --
Pesach, Shevuot, etc. will become secondary to Purim which will
become the Major Yom Tov. Some commentators hold that Yom Kippur
will also remain a Major Yom Tov. In fact, the Ari'zal refers to Yom
Kippur as Yom Kippurim -- like Purim. So whereas, on Yom Kippur we
fast, on Purim we have a Seudah, drink and are merry.
He made an equation regarding Purim by speaking of the two methods
that on deals with negative impulses -- Itkafia and Ithafcha.
Itkafia refers to dealing with the Yetzer Hora by way of waging full
all-out, take no prisoners war on the Yetzer Hora. Itkafia is like
going 15 rounds in "the squared circle" with the Yetzer Hora. For 14
rounds, you've battered him around the ring, off the ropes, had him
in the corner (Oh, I can still hear Howard Cosell!!) and had him on
canvas a number of times. By the end of the 14th round, the Ole'
Yetzer Hora is blooded and starting to resemble Chuck (the Bleeder)
Wepner who's been decked more times than Carter's got peanuts. And
yet, after 14 rounds, you've gotten arm-weary and fatigued because
Y-H has been playing "rope-a-dope" Ali-style with you. And so, in the
15th round, Ole Yetzer Hora get up off of the canvas and decks you
for the count.
The second means of dealing with the Yeitzer Hora is Ithafcha.
Ithafcha refers to dealing with the Yeitzer Hora by trying to entice
him with Torah -- by showing him how great and meaningful Torah is.
By using this method, when you are having an "off-day", the Yeitzer
Hora is raring to go -- he wants to learn and do Torah. Rabbi
Wagensberg equated these two techniques with the posuk in Sh'ma which
states; "Place these words of Mine upon your hearts.." What's it
mean "upon your hearts?"-- Plural. It means both your Yetzer HaTov
and Yeitzer Hora.
Rabbi Wagensberg equated Yetzi'at Mitzrayim -- HaMakat Choshech -
Plague of Darkness where 4/5ths of B'nai Yisrael died because of
their lack of Emunah and Har Sinai where the Mountain was held over
their heads when they were asked to accept Torah -- with the method
of Itkafia. He then equated the coming of Moshiach and the Ge'ula
Shlaima, when all negative traits will be removed and the Yetzer Hora
inspired and converted to doing good, with Ithafcha.
An example of the method of Ithafcha was presented; the case of King
Achashverosh,who hated the Jews more than even Haman, but who turned
from Rah to Tov toward the Jews.
So why do we drink on Purim?? Rabbi Wagensberg seems to indicate
that we don't really know how each person works. How a person acts
when drinking will give a strong indication of what the character of
the person is. If a person, when drinking, becomes nasty, cruel,
etc., he is seen as having the characteristic of Itkafia -- forcing
himself to be someone out of character with who he really is.
Whereas another person who drinks may become sorrowful or regretful
that he may not have done sufficient Mitzvot, etc. We drink so that
even the bad becomes good and that we don't know if we are blessing
Haman or Mordechai.
Rabbi Wagensberg returned to speaking about why Moshe Rebbeinu is not
mentioned in the Parsha. Moshe's name was not removed out of
punishment or out of fulfillment of a curse. The fact that Moshe
Rabbeinu's name is removed or concealed from our Parsha was the
result of Hashem's eulogizing him. Moshe was selfless in wanting the
Leadership, the Kahunah to be given to his brother Aaron, who was
older and who was the reigning Navi. Moshe Rabbeinu, the Gilgul, the
Tikon Olam of Noach, turned negative energy to positive energy and
rose to the highest spiritual level.
Moshe was not openly mentioned in Parsha Tetzaveh but rather
concealed -- Nistar. Parsha Tetzaveh has 101 posukim. And, if you
count the inside, concealed letters of Moshe's name (Mem, Mem; Shin,
Yud, Nun; Hay, Aleph), You find Mem = 40, Yud = 10, Nun = 50 and
Aleph = 1. Hashem, it seems, omitted Moshe's name from the Parsha
not out of anger for Moshe but out of anger at B'nai Yisrael who were
far beneath Moshe's level of Selflessness and Spirituality.
And so, this Purim, we must strive to raise ourselves up to be worthy
that Hashem's Shechina will reside eternally within all of us and so
that all that is Nistar shall be revealed.
But we must strive and aspire to reach the high level of perfection
of Mitzvot, of Chessed, of Tzedakah, of Ahavat Chinom for our fellow
Jews on all levels -- personal, business, learning, etc. If we will
ALL intensify our Derech and our other Mitzvot so each day we are
accepting Yiddishkeit as if we were all Ger'im and as if Yiddishkeit
were brand new, then we'll be zocha to have our Tefillah reach
Shemayim, unimpeded, ungarbled. As Rabbi Moshe Ungar would say each
Thursday evening at his Gemara Shuir back in Phildelphia, in "the old
country", that then we'll be zocha to demand, compel Hashem to do
"what he wants to do, to bring us the Moshiach and the Ge'ula
Shlaima, bim hay v'yameinu -- speedily, in our time", like Achshav --
IMMEDIATELY, Chik Chuk, Meiyad, Etmol!!!
**This Parsha HaShevua includes and is built around thoughts from a
Shiur given by Rabbi Aba Wagensberg. Rav Wagensberg squeezes a lot
into a one hour Shiur, often bring citings and points faster than I
have the ability to write or later recall. Therefore, it should be
said here that the points that I bring from Rav Wagonsberg's Shiur
are as I received, relate to and understand them.
***************************************************************
Another Innovation from The Sefer Torah Recycling .Network;
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/SimchaVort.htm> SimchaVort
Do you need help in developing a word of Torah for your Simcha?
If so, SimchaVort can help. Kindly send an email to
<mosheb at sefer-torah.com> telling me what the Simcha is, who it's for
and what Parsha it's in. In exchange for your kind donation to
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/sponsorship.htm>The Sefer Torah Recycling
Network, I'll be glad to help with ideas. For an example, please
click on <http://www.sefer-torah.com/SimchaVort.htm>SimchaVort. .
****************************************************************************************************
Donors in the US, please make tax deductible donation checks out to
"Congregation Ahavas Torah Tzedakah Fund", with a note on both the
Memo line of the check and on the envelope "Mark Burt & Sefer Torah
Recycling Network" and mail to "Congregation Ahavas Torah Tzedakah
Fund", 1425 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19111. Be sure to
include your address. Upon request, a tax-deductible receipt for
your donation will be mailed to you.
Donors in Canada, please make your tax deductible checks out to
"JBRASS" (BN#864426911RR0001) and mail to; "The Sefer Torah Recycling
Network", 46 Meadowbrook Road, Apt. 6, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6B
2S6. Please mark on the envelope (and if possible attach a stick'em
memo to the check) saying "Mark Burt & Sefer Torah Recycling
Network." Upon receipt, a tax-deductible receipt for your donation
will be mailed to you.
Donors can make an Online donation via<https://www.paypal.com>
paypal. Simply copy the email address; <mosheb at sefer-torah.com>,
then click on the <https://www.paypal.com/>paypal link, and paste
the copied email address onto the "Recipient's email" field.
****************************************************************************************
Inspiring Sefer Torah Stories from
Around the World
<http://www.jafi.org.il/arts/2003/oct/1.htm>"I Brought the Torah
Scrolls with Me From Syria!" - The story of how a Syrian Jew
smuggled Torah Scrolls into Israel.
<http://cbsnewyork.com/mideast/mideast_story_021174152.html>The Sefer
Torah which Flew on the Columbia. The Story of the Torah scroll which
accompanied Israel's Astranaut, Ilan Ramon OBM on that fateful
Columbia Shuttle Mission.
A Sefer Torah Story from "GUARDIAN OF JERUSALEM" the life and times
of Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld is entitled
<http://www.innernet.org.il/archives/guardian.htm>"Solving The
Crime." Click on the link and arrow down to the story.
<http://scheinerman.net/judaism/stories/justice.html>"Purchasing
Justice" - between rich and poor, by Rabbi Scheinerman. A lesson
for all of B'nai Yisrael.
Sifrei Torah in Iraq
In surfing the net looking for pertinent sites related to Sifrei
Torah, I stumbled upon this site, which has apparently been inactive
since fall, 2002. It is called<http://www.dangoor.com/scribe.html>
"The SCRIBE" . You can view the site and it's interesting stories by
clicking on the title.
More Sefer Torah Stories
I feel that this inspiring story written by Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn
which appears on the Jewish World Review website bears repeating. It
is entitled <http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0403/sole.html>
"Healing a trampled sole".
But Rabbi Krohn's story is not the only such Holacaust Sefer
Torah/Shoe story. The Amcha (Israel Center for Holacaust Survivers)
site features another such story,
<http://www.amcha.org/Survivors_Stories.html> "My Shoes", by Rachel.
Click on the link and arrow down to the story.
*******************************************************************************************
Did you know that you can now help in five ways to assist in
locating donors of Sifrei Torah and raising funds to accomplish our
mission?
1/ Talk to your friends, relatives and acquaintances about The Sefer
Torah Recycling Network and about the many needy communities in Eretz
Yisrael who do not possess their own Sifrei Torah. Many Shuls have
aging Congregations and Sifrei Torah in their Aron HaKodesh laying
idle, not being lained from. Many active Shuls have excess Sifrei
Torah which are not in use due to restoration work needed or because
the Shul has newer Sifrei Torah. These S'forim, if in Kosher or
restorable condition, are desperately needed by communities in
EretzYisrael who do not have the financial resources to acquire new
Sifrei Torah and would greatly appreciate the donation of a used
Sefer Torah.
2/ Donors in the US, please make tax deductible donation checks out
to "Congregation Ahavas Torah Tzedakah Fund", with a note on both the
Memo line of the check and on the envelope "Mark Burt & Sefer Torah
Recycling Network" and mail to "Congregation Ahavas Torah Tzedakah
Fund", 1425 Rhawn Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19111. Be sure to
include your address. Upon request, a tax-deductible receipt for
your donation will be mailed to you.
>>>NEW<<<
Donors in Canada, please make your tax deductible checks out to
"JBRASS" (BN#864426911RR0001) and mail to; "The Sefer Torah Recycling
Network", 46 Meadowbrook Road, Apt. 6, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6B
2S6. Please mark on the envelope (and if possible attach a stick'em
memo to the check) saying "Mark Burt & Sefer Torah Recycling
Network." Upon receipt, a tax-deductible receipt for your donation
will be mailed to you.
3/ Donors can participate in a
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/sponsorship.htm>Sponsorship Donation
program.
4/ Donors can make an Online donation via<https://www.paypal.com>
paypal. Simply copy the email address; <mosheb at sefer-torah.com>,
then click on the <https://www.paypal.com/>paypal link, and paste
the copied email address
onto the block called "Recipient's email".
5/ The Sefer Torah Network currently has affiliations with
<http://www.artscroll.com/linker/sefertorahnetwork/home>Artscroll and
<http://www.soncino.com/search.asp?REFERER=SeferTorahNetwork>Soncino
publishers, <http://www.cdtorah.com/index.jsp?ref=32&a=0>CDTorah.com
and
<http://www.ahuva.com/store/search.asp?REFERER=SeferTorahNetwork>Ahuva
Judaica whereby subscribers to the Sefer Torah Network News list as
well as surfers to the <http://www.sefer-torah.com>The Sefer Torah
Recycling Network website can now help finance the project's mission
simply by purchasing S'forim, Torah lecture CDs or Judaica from these
publishers and Judaica Suppliers. All it takes is clicking on any of
the above links or the links on the website.
We have also recently added an affiliation link
to<http://www.qksrv.net/click-1346029-1456053> IDT (as shown above.)
The Sefer Torah Network continues to seek affiliations with other
Judaica publishers as well as with other online Judaica merchants in
order to generate funds toward defraying project costs.
Please give your Support, Financial Donations/ Donations of
Used Sifrei Torah. Make Needy Locations throughout
Israel Mokomot Torah
***********************************************************************************************
Locations in need of their own Sifrei Torah;
I want to relate to you the contents of emails which have been
received describing some of the newest needy locations.
Among the new locations writing of their need for a Sefer Torah are
Tzur Hadassah -- only a short distance from Ramat Beit Shemesh.
They lack an Ashkenaz Sefer Torah. It is a Yishuv of 2,000 people.
It is popiulated mostly by Secular/Traditional, but has a small, but
growing religious population. They have S'fardi, joint
Ashkenazi-S'fardi and Ashkenaz Minyanim.
The Ashkenaz Minyan which is in need of a Sefer Torah a mix of Olim
(incl US, Australia, UK, Swiss, Belgian, France) as well as veteran
Israeli, all leaning towards Dati Leumi.
In Betar, the Main Beit Knesset is lacking two Sifrei Torah. There
are two other Batei Knesset which need one each.
Beitar's Main Beit Knesset's Sefardi Minyan, is a combination of
North African, Syrian, Yerushalmi, Bavli & European S'fardim.
The other two Betar Batei Knesset are Ashkenazi/Hassidi with a varied
mixture of men from all over the world.
In Yishuv Meitzad, the home of the Goldstein family who founded the
Diaspora Yeshiva in the Old City, in Jerusalem, an AshkenazSefer
Torah is needed.
In Ramat Beit Shemesh "Aleph", Beit Knesset Kehillat Beis Tefillah
which currently davens in an enclosed area in back of the building
next to my building, but who recently broke ground for building a
Beit Knesset, needs it's own Sefer Torah as the two S'forim in their
Aron HaKodesh are both on loan.
Also in Ramat Beit Shemesh "Aleph", Kehillah Ahavat B'Simcha, a
Carlebach Minyan is in need of a Sefer Torah.
In Jerusalem, Yeshiva Machon Meir is in need of an Ashkenaz Sefer Torah.
These are just a few of the many locations all over Israel in need
their own Sifrei Torah. To view more such locations, please view The
Sefer Torah website.
As one lover of Eretz Yisrael to another, I'm sure that you share my
wish that every location in Eretz Yisrael, regardless of economic
means, be Mokomot Torah (a place of Torah). And imagine the level
of Kedusha when all of the neshamot who have lained from, touched and
kissed a Sefer Torah in the past, in it's previous home, unite with
all of the neshamot yet to lain from, touch and kiss the Sefer Torah
here in EretzYisroel.
At this time in history, with the advent of the latest Oslo
spin-offs, "Geneva" and the mis-directed "Roadmap" both of which
endanger Israel, the kedusha of Eretz Yisrael, Jewish Sovereignty
and very survival, we need your help, both by way of donations of
Sifrei Torah and by way of donations of funds in order to fulfill our
mission of placing Sifrei Torah in needy locations throughout Israel,
thus possessing Our Land, IY'H insuring our survival. We hope to
raise seed funds in order to set up an Amutah or a Non-Profit Company
in Israel, to employ Sofrim to restore Sifrei Torah, to locate donors
of, or economically purchase Sifrei Torah via all medium. The plan
is also to eventually establish a 501-C3 Non-profit organization in
the US and thus establish The Sefer Torah Recycling Network an
ongoing, serious project.
Your Support, Financial Donations & Donations of
Sifrei Torah Will Help Needy Locations throughout Israel
****************************************************************************************************
Up Close and Personal:
Kehilla Beis Tefillah, Ramat Beit Shemesh;
A link has been added on the links page of the
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>site for a very special Beit Knesset in
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel; <http://www.beistefillah.org>Kehilla Beis
Tefillah. Land has been broken, preliminary retaining wall work has
been completed and the Shul is moving ahead with the building of a
new Beit Knesset structure to be completed sometime next year.
Ramat Beit Shemesh is the fastest growing community in Israel and
<http://www.beistefillah.org>Kehilla Beis Tefillah, led by Rav Chaim
Malinowitz, among it's most dynamic Shuls. Friends, when you make
your pilot trips in the course of your Aliya planning, have your
Aliya date at hand or have arrived and are searching for a wonderful
community and full-service Beit Knesset (Tefillah, Kesher, an
outstanding Rav, daily Night Seder and dynamic Learning Programs,
Avos U'Bonim, Youth Mishmar and American warmth, caring and
closeness), your first stop's gotta be Kehillat Beis Tefillah.
Financial donations toward the <http://www.beistefillah.org>Shul's
building fund are greatly appreciated. When donating, please tell
them that you read about the Shul here.
***************************************************************************************************
<http://www.qksrv.net/click-1346029-1456053> End High Phone Bills &
Get 300 FREE Minutes! Click and see how!!
<http://download.alexa.com/?p=Dest_W_40_T1>Eliminate annoying pop-ups
with Alexa Toolbar Click and see how!!
Merchants;
When you signup for PayPal, you can start accepting credit card
payments instantly. As the world's number one online payment service,
PayPal is the fastest way to open your doors to over 31 million
members worldwide. Best of all, it's completely free to sign up! To
sign up or learn more,
<https://www.paypal.com/mrb/pal=ATZYBT5MUBSA2>click here.
********************************************************************************************************
Subscription Instructions
You are invited to tell your friends about The Sefer Torah Recycling
Network and to encourage them to
<http://www.sefer-torah.com/mailman/listinfo/sefer-torah-network-news_sefer-torah.com>subscribe
online to the Sefer Torah Network News list.
Subscription is accomplished simply by either viewing
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>The Sefer Torah Recycling Network
website and clicking on the subscribe button on the homepage or
sending an email to:
Sefer-torah-network-news-request at sefer-torah.com
with subject - "subscribe".
To unsubscribe, user will send an email to:
Sefer-torah-network-news-request at sefer-torah.com
with subject - "unsubscribe".
--
Moshe Burt Founder and Director
<http://www.sefer-torah.com>The Sefer Torah Recycling Network
Rechov Nachal Dolev #34/12
Ramat Beit Shemesh 99000
Israel
02-9996496, 067-305-497
Do a Chessed for Needy communities
in Eretz Yisrael.
Click on; http://www.sefer-torah.com
Please help with your kind donations!
Eliminate annoying pop-ups with Alexa Toolbar
<http://download.alexa.com/?p=Dest_W_40_T1>
Now you can donate on-line, Click on;
https://www.paypal.com, copy & paste
to the email block email address;
mosheb at sefer-torah.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://server.alefhost.com/pipermail/sefer-torah-network-news_sefer-torah.com/attachments/20040305/b6dab1b9/attachment-0001.htm
More information about the Sefer-torah-network-news
mailing list