Halakhot Hodesh Tamuz

BS''D

Today is ROSH HODESH TAMMUZ!

**Please see attached flier for the UNLEASH.YOUR.POTENTIAL. event this Thursday night for MEN AND WOMEN with RABBI ARI BENSOUSSAN!

During Hodesh Tammuz, two tragedies that have occurred during Benei Yisrael's past. On the 17th of Tammuz, Moshe Rabbenu came down from Har Sinai and when he saw Benei Yisrael dancing around the Egel, the Golden Calf, the Luhot (tablets) were broken. Many years later, on the same date, the Babylonians succeeded in destroying the outer wall of the First Beit HaMikdash and the final destruction was only a matter of time. 

The next few months start taking a more serious tone as we prepare to take on the mindset of Teshuvah before Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. Although these months may seem somewhat heavy to us, we must look at everything through a good eye. This is why the sense associated with Hodesh Tammuz is seeing. The letter of the Alef Bet representing this Hodesh is het (ח). The word Hen, which means pleasant, starts with the letter het. Even when tragedies befall Am Yisrael, we must look at everything through a pleasant eye, yet take their messages to heart and act on it. This is why the body part associated with Hodesh Tammuz is the right hand. Not only must we see positively, but we must take action and rectify the destruction that has previously occurred. 

Be'Ezrat HaShem Yitbarakh, may this be a Hodesh where we will find Hen and Hesed in the Eyes of our Abba in Shamayim, may it be a Hodesh of sincere Teshuvah, may we begin to hear the footsteps of Mashiah ben David treading closer towards us and may we be zokhim to build the Beit HaMikdash in the upcoming Hodashim, Amen!

!חודש תמוז טוב ומבורך

2 Tamuz 5773

3. Some have a custom to knead dough for Hallah (enough measurement to be considered Hallah) on Erev Shabbat Kodesh (Friday) to have bread for the honor of Shabbat Kodesh/Yom Tov.

3 Tamuz 5773

Today is the Yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, daven in his zekhout!

4. It is proper to wake up early in the morning on Friday in order to prepare for Shabbat Kodesh and to purchase all the needs of Shabbat Kodesh then (but should start doing so until after Shaharit).

4 Tamuz 5773

5. a. Some say that it is proper to buy all the needs for Shabbat Kodesh on Friday and not on Thursday so that the products will be infused with the Kedoushah of Shabbat.

Parashat Hukat- It’s Not WHY, It’s HOW….Seriously, Ask the Cow

Once, on a road trip, we decided to take two cars to get to our destination. One of the cars had GPS navigation and the other car didn’t. We decided to play it smart and appointed the car with navigation to lead the way, and we in the second car would just follow without knowing directions ahead of time. While the first car was cruising along leisurely, those in the second car were sitting on the edge of their seats, anticipating what the car ahead would do, trying to figure out the way. In the middle of this frustration, we actually started laughing. Two people, going to the same destination, using the same route had completely different experiences getting there; one was blasting Shwekey’s CD along the entire route, while the other car was making noise of its own. The only difference was that one knew directions ahead of time while the other didn’t.

We learned that sometimes, the destination isn’t what matters most. How we get there has the most profound effect on us.

When Miriam Haneviah passes away, the Be’er Miram, the well that existed in her merit, ceased to provide water for Am Yisrael. Moshe Rabbenu was now given the task of providing water for Kelal Yisrael. How would he achieve this? HaKadosh Barukh Hu instructs him to speak with a rock and water will come flowing out of it. What did Moshe Rabbenu do? He wants to get water from the rock, so he hits it. If Moshe Rabbenu was not told the motive behind why he should speak to the rock, he would have certainly spoken to it directly with no problem, doubts or frustration. But since he knew the reason for interacting with the rock was to draw water from it, he ended up hitting it, thinking that this will achieve the goal. He calculated that as long as the end product is acquired, he could reach it any way he sees fit. But we all know that sometimes, the destination is not of prime importance; the way we get there makes all the difference.

Sometimes when we know WHY we are doing some things, we tend to cut corners, thinking, eh, as long as I get there it doesn’t matter how. We put ourselves on auto cruise and don’t do much work to get to where we must go. Not good.

A king of Benei Yisrael has certain missvot he must follow. Among them are not to have too many horses, not to have too many wives, and not to have too much silver and gold. Shelomoh HaMelekh was the wisest of all men. Had he not known the reasons for these missvot, he would have kept them impeccably. But the Navi tells us that he didn’t. Why?Because he knew the reasons for these missvot.

One of the reasons why a king cannot have too many horses is because the best horses in the world are bred in Egypt, and HaKadosh Barukh Hu does not want us returning there. Shelomoh HaMelekh said to himself, Okay, so I won’t take horses from Egypt, I will get them from elsewhere. I’m sure Syria could hook me up with a few stallions. And so, Shelomoh HaMelekh began to amass more and more horses, and sure enough, he collected too many for a king to have. He rationalized his actions. He figured, as long as I get to the right destination, it’s okay if I bend a few corners along the way. He missed the point.

When we are given a reason for why we should or shouldn’t be doing something, we start rationalizing and compromising different elements of a missvah that we, in our limited minds, don’t think are important, and then we miss the whole point. We can even technically do the missvah but completely the wrong way, for the wrong reasons. It’s not an easy thing to do. Even Shelomoh HaMelekh faltered with this.

This is why there are some missvot that we will never understand. Built into the Torah, into the system of missvot, are certain commandments called hukim, which by definition we are not meant to understand. One of these hukim is that of Parah Adumah, the Red Cow, which is what our Parashah this week is named after.

HaShem says, You want to become pure? Don’t ask questions. Burn this Red Cow, mix in some ingredients with its ashes and sprinkle it on yourselves and wait a few days. It’ll do the trick.

Does it help me whatsoever if I understand the reason why this works? Absolutely not. Does it lose its value even if I don’t understand it? Certainly not. Will I still do this missvah? If only I would have such a zekhout! (Be’Ezrat HaShem soon in the Beit HaMikdash, Amen!!)

Even Shelomoh HaMelekh, who knew all the reasons behind each missvah, did not know the reason behind Parah Adumah.  He tells us, ‘Amarti ahkimah, ve’hi rehokah memeni; I thought I could become wise, but it is beyond me’. We don’t always need to know the reason behind everything.

This is probably one of the reasons why we do not know exactly what Olam Haba is. If we thought we knew what it was, we would start making our own calculations. Oh, this missvah is definitely worth Olam Haba, but that one so isn’t worth it! We would know what we are ‘giving up’ so to speak and become ready to negotiate. We would overlook certain missvot that seem smaller in our eyes, because in comparison to the grand scheme of things, the investment just doesn’t seem worth it. Oh, Gan Eden is only a garden? I rather do what I want here on this world, I never liked flowers anyways, I get allergies in the Spring. It doesn’t work this way!

Sometimes, it is not about WHY we do things, it is HOW we do them. HaShem wants something from you? DO IT! What does it matter to you if you know the reason or not? Don’t you trust that HaKadosh Barukh Hu knows better? If as intelligent human beings we tend to act based on reason, you don’t think our Creator would, too?  When the GPS asks me to make a right onto Main street, do I pull over and ask, Khanoom GPS, can you please explain to me the rationalization behind what you just told me to do? No! Yalla! I make the right and move forward. The GPS knows better than me. I'm not going to start questioning its every statement.

Don’t ask WHY you should do a missvah, ask HOW you can do it. You don’t understand the reason for kashrut? Don’t worry, just keep it! The Reason for Shabbat? Do it either way! (and of course, learn about these beautiful missvot as well; the point is not to hold back from doing a missvah only because you don’t know the reason for it). You will reap heaps and heaps of both personal benefit and reward, specifically because you did it without knowing or asking why in the first place. Remember, even the wisest of all men didn’t know the reason behind every missvah.

Life isn’t meant to be in cruise control. Sometimes we have to put in some energy and effort to get to our destination.  Make the missvah yours. In the end, you want to know who led the way back from the road trip? The car that didn’t have a GPS navigation.

Be’Ezrat HaShem, may we all develop the koah and Emunah Shelemah to keep and internalize EVERY SINGLE ONE of HaKadosh Barukh Hu’s missvot, whether or not we understand the reason behind it. May we do them the way HaShem requires of us and not only the way that is most comfortable for us. May we very soon be zokhim to be sprinkled with the ashes of the Parah Adumah in the Beit HaMikdash, Amen!

Wishing everone a Shabbat Shalom uMevorakh!

6 Tamuz 5773

6. The drops of perspiration (sweat) a person sweats in preparing for the needs of Shabbat Kodesh, HaKadosh Baroukh Hu erases a person’s sin with them as if they were tears. Therefore, one should not be lazy when it comes to preparing for the needs of Shabbat Kodesh.

8 Tamuz 5773

5. b. in the short winter days, if one is afraid that by leaving the shopping for the needs of Shabbat until Friday they will not find some of what they need in the market, they could start to shop earlier on Thursday.

9 Tamuz 5773

6b. It is also good to say on the items one’s purchases for the honor of Shabbbat. ‘Likhvod Shabbat Kodesh’-’in Honor of Shabbat Kodesh’- since that is what they are in essence doing.

6c. One who wakes up early Friday morning and has all their preparations done early it is a Missvah to add more preparations closer to the evening (closer to when Shabbat Kodesh arrives).

10 Tamuz 5773

7. it is a Missvah to taste from the foods cooked for Shabbat Kodesh on Erev Shabbat Kodesh (Friday) to see if they are prepared well to be eaten, so that we can enjoy them on Shabbat itself. THIS MISSVAH LENGTHENS A PERSON’S LIFE, as it is written ‘To’ameiha Hayim Zakhou’-- ‘Those who taste it merit life.’ Therefore, it is proper to taste from each and every type of cooked food one has prepared (to make sure it is delicious and fit for consumption on Shabbat Kodesh).

7.b. Based on the first part of the Halakhah, one should also increase the meat, wine and other confections for Shabbat Kodesh according to one’s ability.

11 Tamuz 5773

8. it is permissible to wash the floors and stairs of the house on Erev Shabbat (Friday) after hassot (Halakhic midday),  even if they are getting paid for it (since one should not really be working past this time on Fridays), as long as they have enough time to prepare adequately for Shabbat Kodesh.

12 Tamuz 5773

Be'Ezrat HaShem beginning today, we will be learning the halakhot pertaining to the upcoming 'Three Weeks' beginning 17 Tamuz until Tisha'a (9) Be'Av. Halakhot are taken from the Sephardic Insistute under HaRav Moshe Shamah.

I. The Three Weeks

1. The three weeks beginning with the 17th of Tammuz through the 9th of Av have often been times of adversity for Benei Yisrael. However, the sages did not establish formal restrictions until Rosh Hodesh Av, as they did not wish to add to the nation's burden. We have been advised to be more cautious than usual with potentially dangerous situations during these days of dejection.

13 Tamuz 5773

2. Since the berakhah of Sheheheyanu is a joyful thanksgiving expression and it is difficult to mention la'zeman hazeh with the requisite happy heart during these days, it is a Sephardic custom to refrain from eating new fruit or wearing new clothing during the three weeks so as to avoid reciting Sheheheyanu.

**On Shabbat, it is permitted to partake of new fruit and recite Sheheheyanu and wear new clothing. At a Berit Milah, Sheheheyanu is recited.

BS’’D

Parashat Balak- HaShem is Involved, Problem Solved

34. Bilaam said to the angel of HaShem, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing on the road before me. Now, if it displeases you, I will return."		לד. וַיֹּאמֶר בִּלְעָם אֶל מַלְאַךְ ה' חָטָאתִי כִּי לֹא יָדַעְתִּי כִּי אַתָּה נִצָּב לִקְרָאתִי בַּדָּרֶךְ וְעַתָּה אִם רַע בְּעֵינֶיךָ אָשׁוּבָה לִּי:

A week or two ago, I visited an amusement park and after I got off a topsy-turvy ride, something must have messed around with my mind, because I had an epiphany. I thought to myself, How sad is it that people have to bring themselves to the verge of death in order to have fun. Seriously, taking a leisurely stroll in the park was once enjoyable, but it got to the point where one must hoist themselves onto a 128 miles per hour coaster that shoots them 456 feet into the sky (not kidding, I googled it) in order to have fun. Why do we have to be pushed to such extremes in order to reach the threshold of change?

Where did all our sensitivity go?

Balak, the king of Moav, feels threatened by Benei Yisrael and hires Bilaam, a prophet, to curse them. Any time that Bilaam opens up his mouth to curse, HaKadosh Barukh Hu puts only blessings in his mouth. One of these blessings are:

5. How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov your dwelling places, O Yisrael!

ה. מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ יַעֲקֹב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל:

Bilaam sees how modest Benei Yisrael are since the openings of their tents do not face each other and therefore they cannot looking into one another’s tent, and decides to praise them for this. Yet, how is Bilaam able to see the entire panorama of Benei Yisrael’s tents?

Balak and Bilaam were standing on a tall mountaintop together and looking down at the camp if Benei Yisrael. This means he could see them, but they couldn’t see him. When we read the Torah ourselves, we take it as a given that such an instance occurred, but while this was actually happening in real life, Benei Yisrael had no idea what was going on! Benei Yisrael have no idea they were even in danger, but nevertheless HaShem saves them.

Do we realize how many times HaKadosh Barukh Hu saves us, and we are not even aware!?

There is a saying, Yeshuat HaShem keHeref Ayin, the Salvation of HaShem is like a blink of an eye.  Before you can even blink, HaShem is already there to save you. this is what most people intend when they offer this saying as hizouk to others. However, there is another way to understand this line. Just like a person is not always aware of the many times he blinks every day, so too is a person not always aware of the many Yeshuot that come into his life.

If we only knew how involved HaKadosh Barukh Hu is in our lives, we would behave very differently. Except some people don’t realize, and they need a strong wakeup call to see such things. When Bilaam tells HaShem that Balak sent him to curse Benei Yisrael, HaShem commands him not to go. Yet Bilaam does not listen and goes to curse Benei Yisrael. This happens again. And again.

Bilaam didn’t get it, so HaKadosh Barukh Hu had to resort to more extreme measures to get his attention. On his way to Balak to curse Benei Yisrael, Bilaam’s donkey stops in his tracks; he sees the Malakh haMavet (angel of death) standing in front of him holding a fiery sword. Bilaam doesn’t see this and doesn’t understand why his donkey stops, so he hits his donkey. This happens two more times until HaShem opens up the donkey’s mouth and tells Bilaam that the Malakh haMavet is standing in front of him waiting to kill him. HaShem then opens Bilaam’s eyes and he sees this. Only when Bilaam is on the verge of death does he realize, ‘I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing on the road before me. Now, if it displeases you, I will return.’- I will do Teshuvah. This is all in the Pasuk. Not a Midrash, not a commentary, and not a parable- this really happened.

The Hakhamim explain to us that HaShem has a daily instant of anger, so to speak. How long is that episode of fury? A ‘moment’. The Hakhamim tell us that a ‘moment’ is one six‐hundredth of a second. Bilaam knew how to calibrate his curses precisely for that fleeting moment in which curses are fulfilled. But to prevent this, what did HaShem do? He didn’t change Bilaam. He didn’t make him mute. HaShem changed HIMSELF. Do we realize what a Hesed this is to us? For several whole days, HaShem doesn’t get angry. He changes His essence in order to save us. Bilaam has no way to sneak in his curse. And meanwhile, we are not aware of any of this.

If we realize how involved HaKadosh Barukh Hu is in our lives, if we realized how committed He is to us, how much He loves us, we wouldn’t need such wake up calls as Bilaam had. If we realize how committed HaShem is to us, we would be all the more committed to Him. If He changes his entire essence for us, we should be willing to change our essence for Him too. Look how much HaShem loves us! Can we say that we love Him this much too?

How committed can someone be to HaKadosh Barukh Hu? The Torah HaKedoshah describes Pinhas as zealous for HaShem. What does this mean?

In this Parashah, Benei Yisrael began to serve idols and had relations with the women of Moav. Horrible! How could they get to such a low point? Where is their sensitivity? This deed was so terrible in HaShem’s eyes that He sent a plague that killed 24,000 people as a wakeup call to Benei Yisrael. Is this call not extreme enough to get the attention of Benei Yisrael? They didn’t get it. It got to a point that the Nasi (the Prince) of Shevet Shimon, Zimri ben Salu, engages in a relationship with Cozbi, a woman from Midian in front of the entire Benei Yisrael, including Mosheh Rabbenu. What does Pinhas do? He is so committed to HaKadosh Barukh Hu that he takes a spear and pierces the both of them together mid-act in front of all of Benei Yisrael. This act was worthy enough to stop the plague. This act was extreme enough to finally open up the eyes of Benei Yisrael.

Where is our sensitivity? How many wakeup calls do we need? How loud do these calls need to be in order to get our attention? If we realize how involved HaKadosh Barukh Hu in every moment of our lives, we would be constantly awake, constantly aware. We would be zealous for HaShem!

Be’Ezrat HaShem we should be zokhim to reach such levels. May we always be attentive to the messages that HaKadosh Barukh Hu sends our way and may this only lead us to change for the better! May we always feel the presence and involvement of HaShem in our lives and become even more appreciative of it. In this zekhout may we bring Mashiah Sidkenu BeKarov, Amen!

Wishing every beautiful Neshamah a Shabbat Shalom uMevorakh!

15 Tamuz 5773

3. Some Sephardic communities, as do virtually all Ashkenazic communities, desist from having weddings and musical functions for the three weeks. A reliable Rav should be consulted in regards to having a wedding during the three weeks.

16 Tamuz 5773
Tomorrow is Ta'anit 17 of Tamuz

The fast Begins at 3:35am 
 and  ends at 9:22, in GREAT NECK, NEW YORK (to check times in
your area, visit myzmanim.com)

**If You are planning to eat before the fast, you must make a prior verbal condition that you are planning to awake prior to the fast to eat (after saying Birkhot HaShahar).

II. The Nine Days

1. Beginning Rosh Hodesh Av we refrain from optional festive occasions and reduce joyful pursuits. This includes purchases of luxuries, new clothing and wedding accoutrements. (If a wedding is shortly after Tisha'a Be'Av and time is of the essence, necessary shopping is permitted.) We refrain from home decorating during these days.

17 Tamuz 5773

Today is Taanit (fasting) of 17 of Tamuz

The 17th of Tammuz is a historically tragic day for Benei Yisrael; among other calamities, here is a partial list of the worst:

1. Upon descending Har Sinai and seeing the Egel haZahav, the Golden Calf, Moshe Rabbenu shattered the first tablets upon which the Aseret HaDibrot, theTen Commandments were written.

2. The walls of the First Beit HaMikdash were breached by Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian forces in the year 3184 (586 BCE).

3. A year earlier to the day, because of the Babylonian siege on Jerusalem and the shortage of sheep, the daily sacrifices in the Temple were terminated.

4. King Menashe, an evil and idolatrous king, placed an idol in the Holy Sanctuary of the Temple.

5. Titus and the Romans breaches the walls of the Second Temple in 3670 (70 CE), which led to the destruction of the Temple 3 weeks later on the 9th of Av ("Tisha B'Av").

6. The wicked Apostomos, made a massive persecution of Jews and publicly burned the Torah.

Today is not a day if just not eating, it is a day to open up our eyes and considers these tragedies, which should motivate us to do Teshuvah and develop within us a longing for the Beit HaMikdash to be built once again.

May everyone have a meaningful and easy Taanit.

18 Tamuz 5773

2. We refrain from meat, including chicken, and wine during these days (the Nine Days). Out of respect for Rosh Hodesh, some Sephardim begin these latter stringencies from the second of the month.

19 Tamuz 5773

2 (part b)  Meat and wine are permitted on Shabbat during the nine days as well as at a seudat missvah, such as a Berit Milah.

Havdalah wine is permitted. 

(One may have meat during these days if
required for health purposes such as may be the case with an anemic person, a nursing or pregnant woman or one who gave birth within thirty days.)

BS''D

Parashat Pinhas-Spare the Spear

11. Pinhas the son of Eleazar the son of Aharon the Kohen has turned My anger away from Benei Yisrael by his zealously avenging Me among them, so that I did not destroy Benei Yisrael because of My zeal.		יא. פִּינְחָס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן הֵשִׁיב אֶת חֲמָתִי מֵעַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּקַנְאוֹ אֶת קִנְאָתִי בְּתוֹכָם וְלֹא כִלִּיתִי אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּקִנְאָתִי:
12. Therefore, say, "I hereby give him My covenant of peace.		יב. לָכֵן אֱמֹר הִנְנִי נֹתֵן לוֹ אֶת בְּרִיתִי שָׁלוֹם:

This  week we're getting straight to the point. Pinhas gets a whole Parashah in the Torah HaKedoshah named after him when he murders Cozbi and Zimri as they are involved in a forbidden relationship in front of the entire Benei Yisrael. Cozbi is a Midianit princess and Zimri is a Prince from Shevet Shimon, and here 1+1=0, so Pinhas, in his zealousy for HaKadosh Barukh Hu takes a spear (  רמח-romah) and pierces them both in one sweep of the arm.

Umm, Pinhas just MURDERED two people in front of the entire Kelal Yisrael. Meanwhile, what does HaShem give him in return? Because of this act, Pinhas and all his descendants to come are zokhim to a lineage of Kehuna. Not only that, HaShem personally guarantees Pinhas a Berit Shalom, a covenant of Peace with Him. This is the reward of a killer?

In the Torah HaKedoshah, there is a concept of Midah Keneged Midah- Measure for Measure. What you do gets done to you. Simple. If Pinhas kills two people, then isn't he deserving to be killed....twice? He did something so violent, and in return he gets an eternal covenant for Peace? Not only is he not killed, he never passes away!

Let's look at the rest of the Parashah and maybe we can find an underlying theme that can direct us to the answer to our question.

Five sisters come to Moshe Rabbenu and tell him, Moshe Rabbenu, we are almost approaching Eress Yisrael. Our father, Selaphehad, was killed due to his sin. He bore no sons and therefore has no inheritors. His property belongs to his children, can we inherit it even though we are girls?? These were the daughters of Selaphehad. They didn't sit around passively in the hopes that they might acquire their father’s legacy. They got up and fought for it! They were so justified in doing so that we find the halakhot of inheritance explained to us right in the middle of this story. Even their names imply activity and movement. One was named Mahlah, which means to dance and sing; another was named No’a, which means to move; another sister was named Milkah, which means to walk; the fourth was named Hoglah means to dance and the last was named Tirssah, meaning to run. These ladies were moving up and about!

Then we see another encounter where Moshe Rabbenu is being told that he is not permitted to enter the land of Eress Yisrael. Does Moshe Rabbenu just sit there and say, Okay HaShem, I guess that's it, I'll just wait around and find something to do in the desert. No! He pleas and pleas. He is active about it. He asks HaKadosh Barukh Hu of he could enter Eress Yisrael over and over again. It gets to a point where he davens 515 times to enter this land, and HaShem tells him, Enough! If you say even one more Tefillah, I'm going to have to let you in, and you know very well that I will not allow this. But at least what does he get? HaKadosh Barukh Hu allows Moshe Rabbenu to get a glimpse of the entire Eress Yisrael from atop a mountain. Not bad, huh?  

It happens again in the Parashah. Since Moshe Rabbenu was not able to enter Eress Yisrael, a new leader had to be chosen to guide Benei Yisrael throughout. This leader would be none other than Yehoshua bin Nuun. How is he coronated? Moshe Rabbenu takes both his hands and 'transfers' the leadership to Yehoshua. They could have just waited until Moshe Rabbenu was niftar and then Yehoshua would automatically, passively, become the new leader. But it didn't work this way! The leadership was given to him in an active process. Otherwise, would we be sure that he is the leader?

The same happens with Pinhas. Pinhas is a man of Shalom and is therefore deserving of Shalom. After all, his grandfather was Aharon HaKohen, who was Ohev Shalom (loves Peace) veRodef Shalom (and seeks Peace). If Pinhas wouldn't actively show that he was a peaceful man, would we know such a thing about him? By killing Cozbi and Zimri, he was actually bringing peace. It was this act that stopped a massive plague which took the lives of 24,000 people. It was this act that opened up the eyes of Benei Yisrael to stop these horrendous averot.  When Pinhas stabbed the two with his  רמח , his spear, this was in reality an act of mercy, he was  רחמ , merciful (switch the letters of רמח around).

If Pinhas had to kill these two wrongdoers to bring Shalom, so be it. Standing around didn't help. To stop a sin of such magnitude, it was necessary to do something equally extreme.

We as Kelal Yisrael must actively bring Shalom, Peace. Waiting around won't do anything.  Just because we are inactive, just because we don't argue, doesn't mean we are making peace. We're just lucky enough not to cross the path of conflict. Me? Argue? Never! I'm the calmest person I know! You could achieve that by just locking yourself in your room for a week straight; it doesn't mean you achieved anything. Just because we are nice to people who are already nice, doesn't mean we are peace seekers. They're going to be nice to you anyways, what did you achieve here? Nothing really. Its davka when you're able to be nice with someone cruel that you're seeking peace.

Of course everybody loves peace, that's Ohev Shalom. But how many of us can say that we are Ohev Shalom? How many of us actually go and seek peace?

If we are not making peace, we're ruining it. If we are not moving upwards, we are moving downwards; there is no staying on one place. Rav Yisrael Slananter says that we are like birds. We can soar; but only by flapping our wings. Should we stop, we begin to descend.  Keep on flapping!

And it's not only about Peace. In every realm of life we must be active and not passive. We have to be active about being active! Not everything will just come to us, we have to constantly seek what is right. With a little bit of Tefillah, and a lot of Siyata diShemaya (Heavenly Help), you will get to what you seek, if it is HaShem's will of course.

Be'Ezrat HaShem Yitbarakh, may we all become active seekers of Shalom and may we always be moving upward. We should understand that just because things happen to be peaceful around us, it does not necessarily mean that we are peaceful people. This is an active process on our part! Be'Ezrat HaShem may we be massliah with this and may we always be busy with good things!

Next time you have a spear in your hand, spare it. Don’t hold a  רמח  , be a  רחמ. If you have an opportunity to make Shalom, seize it!

Wishing everyone a Shabbat SHALOM uMevorakh! (no pun intended ;D)

20 Tamuz 5773

3. Some Sephardim have the custom to eat meat leftovers from Shabbat during the nine days providing that one did not purposely cook extra for this purpose. Most other Sephardic communities are strict on this. Many authorities hold that with the advent of efficient freezers it is now proper to be strict.

22 Tamuz 5773

1. After the Shabbat that precedes Tisha'a Be'Av through Tisha'a Be'Av itself is theWeek of Tisha'a Be'Av. If Tisha'a Be'Av falls on a Sunday or on Shabbat – in which case the fast is pushed to Sunday - there is no Week of Tisha'a Be'Av.

23 Tamuz 5773-27 Tamuz 5773

2. During the Week of Tisha'a Be'Av , the following are prohibited:

a) Washing the whole body with hot or warm water is prohibited. Showering or bathing in cold water is permitted. A little warm water may be mixed in to break the chill.

b) Wearing fresh clothes is prohibited. It is
advisable to accumulate slightly worn garments from before the Week
of Tisha'a Be'Av to change into. Something worn a half hour
is no longer fresh.

c) Washing clothing even to wear after Tisha'a Be'Av is prohibited. Washing garments of little children, who constantly soil them, is permitted.

d) Haircuts and shaving are prohibited. A man who normally shaves daily or every other day, and requires to shave for business reasons, may do so except on Tisha'a Be'Av day itself.

Parashat Matot-Maasei- Stop Stopping

1. These are the journeys of Benei Yisrael who left the land of Egypt in their legions, under the charge of Moshe and Aharon.

א. אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר יָצְאוּ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לְצִבְאֹתָם בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן:

My mother is convinced that I am going to bring the Mashiah. How much Tehillim could you possibly recite? Mashiah is already on its way! Must you daven even when you wait for your train?

Yes, I do.

The Torah HaKedoshah opens this Parashah, 'These are the journeys of Benei Yisrael,' but then instead of recounting their journeys as they moved from one location to the other, the Torah lists the forty-two encampments where they stopped during their sojourn in Midbar Sinai, in the desert.

We learn that not only do the journeys count, but the stops, when Benei Yisreal as a whole seems idle, when nothing seems to be happening, when we're just chilling- those matter too. The stops too, they are journeys in and of themselves.

There is no such thing as doing nothing. We must always be occupied-with good things, of course.  In life, we don't take breaks. A mother's biggest fear is to hear her children say 'I'm Bored'. HaShem Yerahem.  Don't let your guard down even for one moment. We must always be engaged in Torah, Tefillah and Missvot. You're waiting for your bus? You're standing on line at Shop Delight? You're sitting in a history class? Whip out a Tehillim and Daven. Sneak your Blackberry under the desk and read a Devar Torah (seriously, what else is it good for?). You have a free Sunday? Do Bikur Holim, visit the sick. Make your 'stops' into a journey of their own.

Don't waste a moment. Make the most of your time.

Towards the end of Parashat Maasei, the Torah delineates the journey of an 'accidental murderer'. If somebody mistakenly kills another person, there are six cities of refuge that they may escape to so that the family of the person who was murdered cannot get to him.

SIX? Why six? One of these cities seems to be more than plenty! We don't need a killer city hopping all around. Even this guy's stops have special significance….

The Torah HaKedoshah includes six hundred and thirteen Missvot (commandments). After the Beit HaMikdash was destroyed (I want it back!), we are able to observe only three hundred and thirty nine of them. Now, there are some Missvot that we might never encounter in our lifetime and may not have the opportunity to do. The ones that we are entirely obligated to observe, since we surely have the opportunity to do them in our lifetime, are two hundred and seventy. Yet, even these are time based and depend on certain times of the year or specific times of the day. The Sefer HaHinukh tells us that there are only six Missvot which we are constantly obligated to observe-at any given time of the day, week, month or year. These Missvot do not depart from a person for a single moment throughout their lifetime.  This is why they are called the 'Shesh Missvot Temidiot'; the Six Constant Missvot.

They are:

1. Emunah b'HaShem- To know that HaShem exists

2. Lo Yihiyeh Lekha elohim Aherim- Not to believe in any other power (has ve'Shalom)

3. Yihud HaShem-To know HaShem is ONE.

4. Ahavat HaShem-To love HaShem (I'm obsessed!)

5. Yiraat HaShem-To fear/be in awe of HaShem

6. Lo Ta'turu Aharei Levavkhem ve'Aharei Einekhem- Don't be mislead by your heart and your eyes

Next time you are standing online at Saks Fifth Avenue waiting to pay, don't just stand there and look around, take HaShem with you. Advanced Calculus class? Don't text on your phone pretending that it's your calculator, HaShem is right there sitting in the desk next to you. Walking to Beit Keneset on Shabbat Kodesh? Review in your head thatHaShem exists, I believe in only Him, He is One, I love Him, I fear Him and I will not follow the desires of my heart and eyes!

When you are standing idle at a 'stop', these Six Missvot serve as your refuge. Do something worthwhile with your free time. Tehillim bores you? No problem. Divrei Torah are too long to read? No problem. Not familiar with the other 607 Missvot? No problem! These six Missvot can be done by a simple act of awareness; you don't have to do anything else. Just be aware. Make the most of your time.

All other Missvot are supposed to lead us to these Six Constant Missvot. If we are able to utilize every moment we have in cultivating these Six, we are achieving a tremendously high level of relationship with HaKadosh Barukh Hu. When your 'Missvah Guard' is down, these Six should take its place. These Six Constant Missvot are akin to breathing. Even when we are preoccupied with other actions, we still continue to breathe. Likewise, when we are going about our day, even when we are doing other Missvot, we must automatically have these Six on our mind and in our hearts at all times.

From this point on, let's stop stopping. There should be no breaks. Make your stops a journey of their own. This way, Be'Ezrat HaShem we will constantly be close and connected to HaShem at every moment of our lives. May we think, live and breathe HaShem. May we always be aware of how absolutely AMAZING He is by using our time wisely and productively to do so. In this zekhout, may we merit to observe these Six Constant Missvot and more waiting in line at the Beit HaMikdash beKarov, Amen! May HaShem bless us with all that is good!

Wishing every beautiful Neshamah a Shabbat Shalom uMevorakh! Shabbat is a wonderful time to ingrain these special Missvot in our very being, take good advantage! Tizku leMissvot Rabot!

29 Tamuz 5773

Tonight is Rosh Hodesh Av

IV. Seudat Hamafseket

1. The last meal before the fast, when taking place on a weekday, should be plain, comprised of bread and water with, at most, one cooked dish. If the dish preparation normally comprises more than one item, such as eggs and tomatoes, it is acceptable. Fish is too luxurious for this meal. Uncooked vegetables and tea or coffee are permitted to be added to this meal. For this meal it is customary to choose an item that symbolizes mourning, such as a hard-boiled egg or lentils.