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Archive for April 2011

Apr/11

17

Will you have Kosher-style Seder this year?

No comments · Posted by in Mitzvot, Moadim (Times) & Chagim (Holidays)

Pesach Seder kosher-style

Matza-coated Mitzraim

Do we indeed leave Egypt this year or we just adorn our personal Mitzraim with a pretty Pesach theme?
The picture here is the unfortunate symbol of many Seders that might be conducted this year… Kosher-style, mehadrim min mehadrim, comfortably staying in personal bondage… Untouched pyramids of slavery coated with matza…

or

we can really make a difference in our lives…

by truly changing and Leaving Egypt for Good

The choice is ours.

We can really learn how to effect the Tikkun by eating at the Pesach Seder

and look deeper into The Kabbalistic Psychology of Pesah

We can learn Pesach Korbanot, Mishnayot and Zohar

or Follow 15 Step Program The Passover Seder

 

We have all the tools… The Choice is OURS

 

 

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Apr/11

17

Pesach meditations and Learning

1 Comment · Posted by in Mitzvot, Moadim (Times) & Chagim (Holidays), Rav Rahmiel Drizin

Pesah Week Meditations

Translated and compiled by Rav Rahmiel Drizin:

 

Alef”Taf ; — The day of the week on which the first day (Alef) of Pesah takes place will also be the day of the week when Tisha Be’Av occurs. “With matzot and merorim (bitter articles) they should eat it” connects the matzoh of Pesah to Tisha Be’Av, a day of mourning, the most bitter day of our year.

Beit”Shin :— The second day (Beit) of Pesah will be the day when : Shavuot falls.

Gimmel”Reish — The third day (Gimmel)  of Pesah will be the day when first day of Rosh Hashanah takes place.

Daled”Kof — The fourth day (Daled) of Pesah will be the day of Kriat haTorah,

which is Simhat Torah, when we conclude the annual cycle of Torah reading and start again from the beginning.

Hei”Tzaddik — The fifth day (Hei) of Pesah is the day of Tzom, the fast of Yom Kippur.

Vav”Pei — The sixth day (Vav) of Pesah is the day on which 5 Purim has taken place a month earlier (in Adar). It is necessary to know what day Purim took place the month before in order to calculate the day of Lag BaOmer since Lag BaOmer and Purim always occur on the same day of the week.

 

Meditation for 15 Nissan: 1st Day of Pesah

We start with Alef”Taf — The day of the week on which the first day (Alef) ! of Pesah

takes place will also be the day of the week when  Tisha Be’Av occurs. “With matzot and

merorim (bitter articles) they should eat it” connects the matzoh of Pesah to Tisha Be’Av, a day

of mourning, the most bitter day of our year.

We read in the Haggadah right before the “Egyptian Hallel”:

 

He [Gd] took us from slavery to freedom,

from sorrow to joy,

and from mourning to festivity,

and from deep darkness to great light

and from bondage to redemption

 

So at our time of greatest joy, when we left Egypt, we recall our pain. It is sort of like a coin. On the one side there is the revealed good which we celebrate. On the other there is the pain of bitter times. But this is the same coin! These bitter times we are told are really concealed good. As it is said, Gam Zu LeTovah…this too is for the good.

Our job, perhaps is to keep flipping the coin to make sure we realize that when things seem bad, that they can become good in an instant. On Tisha Be’Av we sing a Kinnot/lamentation of unknown authorship, following the Alef-Bet that has been used to connect the ; Tav of Tisha Be’Av to the ! Alef first day of Pesah:

A fire of elations burns within me, when I recall in my heart what happened,

when I went forth from Egypt (in triumph);

But I will arouse lamentations so that I remember what really occurred,

when I went forth from Jerusalem (in chains)

Complete Pesah Week Meditations in PDF

 

Pesach Reading from the Zohar

Many Sefardi Haggadot list this to be read before Maggid. The following (26th) commandment is to relate the praise of the exodus from Egypt, whichis incumbent upon every person always to relate these praises. We have explained thatevery person who relates the exodus from Egypt and rejoices when relating that account isdestined to rejoice with the Shekhinah in the World to Come, which is joy from all sides.For such is a person who rejoices in his Master, and the Holy One, blessed be He, rejoicesin his story.     At that time, the Holy One, blessed be He, gathers His whole retinue, and says to them:’Go and listen to the account of My excellency that My children are relating, rejoice in Myredemption.’ At that time, they all gather and come and join with Yisrael to hear the storyof the praise. They rejoice with the joy of the deliverance by their Master, and come tothank and praise the Holy One, blessed be He, for all these miracles and mighty deeds, andthank Him for the Holy Nation that He has on earth that rejoices in the joy of thedeliverance of their Master.   Then His strength and power are increased above. By their recounting, the children ofYisrael give power to their Master, like a king whose strength and power are increasedwhen his strength is praised and he is acknowledged. All fear him and his glory rises aboveall of them. Therefore, it is incumbent to praise and relate this story, as we learned.Similarly, it is the duty of every person to relate before the Holy One, blessed be He, andpublicize the miracle among all these miracles that He did.     One may ask why it is obligatory; does not the Holy One, blessed be He, know everything,everything that was and will be in the future? And wherefore this publicity before Him ofwhat He did, if He knows? Surely one has to make the miracle known and relate beforeHim all that He did, because these words ascend and all the company above gather and seethem, and give thanks before the Holy One, blessed be He, and His glory rises over themabove and below.   It is the same with he who relates and enumerates his sins, of everything that he did. If youask why this is necessary, it is because the Accuser is constantly before the Holy One,blessed be He, in order to recount and seek retribution for the sins of people, and todemand Judgment against them. However, when the person enumerates each and everyone of his sins beforehand, he does not leave any pretext to the Accuser to exploit. And theAccuser can not demand any Judgment against him, for he always demands Judgmentfirst, and afterwards enumerates and accuses. Therefore, the person should take his owninitiative before the Accuser and enumerate his own sins.   As soon as the Accuser sees this, he has no pretext to complain against him, and then takesleave from him entirely. If he repents, well, but if not, the Accuser rests on him and says:’So and so who came before you unashamedly, he kicked his Master, his sins are such andsuch.’ Therefore, it is advisable that a person be careful in all this, so that he should beconsidered a faithful servant before the Holy One, blessed be He.LaShon Hakamim (Vol 1, p. 171) suggests this learning upon one’s table during the meal in apleasant voice, which consists of collections from the Holy Zohar.Peace to you Holy Holiday!  Peace to you Holy Hag!  Peace to you Holy Guest!  You arecalled Holy!  You are an appointed time called Holy.  You are crowned and desired.  Andyou  are sanctified and praised with joy.  You are considered the deep of the depths.  Riverscome and flow from you.  And Yisrael  who are called Holy  receive you with glowing facesin joy and in praise.  They appoint you and prepare for you a rich feast.  They set theirtables with complete preparation and beautiful vessels. This is the joy and praise to theHoly One Blessed be He.The Holiday of Pesah corresponds to the right arm. How beloved and precious are you! On you Yisrael went out from a foreign domain to that of a Holy supervision. On you itsays ” For seven days leavening shall not be found in your homes.”  The bread is calledMatzah,  for it subdues and subjugates; namely, it chases away the evil ones of all sides andmakes a quarrel with them, just as the name Shadai of the mezuzah chases away the evilspirits and demons that are at the gate. So, too, Matzah chases them away from all thedwellings of holiness, and makes a quarrel and a fight with them. How beloved are your days which are days of joy! These days rise to the the supernalhonor.  In you is the joy of Yisrael who rejoice in the redemption of their Master. In youYisrael praises the might of the Holy One blessed is He and gives strength to above.  In youthe Holy One blessed be He rejoices  in His story  and praise.On you Yisrael eats the food of healing.  On you they eat matzah which is the curative toaid in coming into and knowing the secret of Faith.  This is the bread of wisdom in whichYisrael receives the supernal wisdom of the Torah and brings them on Her path.  On youall Yisrael needs to guard and protect from Hametz and leavening at all times.  And alltheir food and drink all are protected.

Complete Pesach reading from the Zohar in PDF

Seder Korban Pesah: The Order of the Pesah Offering

Mishnayot Pesahim

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Apr/11

2

Blessing of the Trees in Nissan

1 Comment · Posted by in Events, Mitzvot, Rav Rahmiel Drizin

 

Blossoming tree

Blessing of the blossoming trees in Nissan

Compiled and translated by Rav Rahmiel Drizin

The new month of Nissan begins this Tuesday, April 5th, and  with it our tradition to bless fruit trees in bloom.   If you don’t live in Eretz Yisrael which has blossoming trees, you can rely on HaRaV Ariel Bar-Tzaddok of www.koshertorah.com who holds  that you can say the blessing on 2 fruit trees that grow in a conservatory.
For a List of Fruit Trees at locations throughout the US and Canada please use this link:FruitTreesUSA-Canada (http://www.misaskim.org/bracha.php?page=1)
According to the Ben Ish Hai, a kabbalist and leader of the Jewish community of Baghdad a century ago, seeing the blooming of the tree teaches us an important lesson. When we see how the tree, which during the winter was dry and withered and is now in full bloom, we are revitalized. When we watch the transformation of nature, we gain the courage and inspiration to lift out of our despair, and it reminds us that Gd has given us the tools to renew ourselves.

The Chida writes that one should especially concentrate when saying this beracha because it is mitakain(repairs) the neshamot that have been sent back to this world in the trees and plants, and one has the opportunity to ask for mercy on these souls at this time.

 

Based on  Kabbalah, R. Yerachmiel Tiles of www.kabbalahonline.org writes that this blessing has special significance. According to the Arizal, when Jews make this blessing they are able to redeem souls who have been re-incarnated in the vegetal realm, making it possible for them to continue or complete their tikun (soul rectification). It should therefore, be said with intense concentration and kavanah (intention).   R. Abrahami writes that reciting this blessing means doing a very great act of Hesed/kindness with the whole of Yisrael.  For all of Yisrael are One.  All our souls that were, are, and will be come from the same place, from under the Throne of Glory of Gd.  They are interlinked beyond the physical limits of bldy, time, and space as we know them.  Just as the Neshamot of the departed can intercede on our behalf “upstairs” so should we help those souls who cannot be elevated without our help.
It is desirable to follow the blessing with a donation of three coins to tzedakah (charity), corresponding to the three soul levels of nefesh-ruach-neshama. The Ben Ish Hai recommends giving 4 coins for the elevation of the soul of one’s departed parents based on the 4 letters of Shem Havaya יְ-ה-וָ-ה The following Zohar indicates how Nissan is an opportune time to assist these wandering souls:
Balak, Volume 3, page 196B

“And Balak…saw” (Bemidbar 22:1): Rabbi Elazar said, Certainly what Rabbi Hiya said it is a concealed matter. However, it is written: “Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself” (Tehilim 84:4). Did King David then say this about a simple  bird?
It is only as we were taught, how beloved are the souls to the Holy One, blessed be He. If you say all the souls in the world, it is not so. It is only the souls of the righteous whose dwellings are with Him. Their dwellings are above and their dwellings are below, as we were taught. “Even the sparrow has found a home” refers to the spirits of the just.
We were taught that there are three outer walls to the Garden of Eden. Between each one of them, many spirits and souls walk leisurely there and derive pleasure from the fragrance enjoyed by the righteous that are inside the Garden of Eden, although they themselves did not earn the merits to ente. However, it is written of the enjoyable pleasure of the just that are inside: “Neither has the eye seen, that Gd beside You” (Yeshayah 64:3).
There are designated days during the year, which are the days of Nissan and Tishrei, when these spirits wander and visit the place they should. Even though there are lots of occasions when they wander, these days are marked and are visible on the outer walls of the Garden, each one individually in a depiction of chirping birds, regularly each morning.
That chirping is praise to the Holy One, blessed be He, and a prayer about the lives of the human beings in this world, because in these days, the children of Yisrael are busily involved in the precepts and commandments of the Master of the world. Then, these birds appear to be chirping happily and they chirp and whisper praises and gratitudes and pray for the living of this world on the walls at the Garden of Eden.
Rabbi Shimon said, Elazar, you certainly spoke well, since these spirits are definitely there. But what would you say  “And the swallow (dror) a nest for herself”? He said, This is what I was taught: that refers to the holy soul that rises above and ascends to a hidden and stored area, where “neither has the eye seen, that Gd, beside You…”
It is recommended to say the following intention before reciting the blessing (Kaf HaHayyim 226:8)
For the sake of the unification of the Holy One, blessed is He, and His Shekhinah–with reverence and love and love and reverence–to unify the Name Yod and Heh with Vav and Heh in perfect unity, in the name of all Yisrael, and in the name of all nefeshes, ruachs and neshamahs which relate to the roots of our nefesh, our ruach, and our neshamah, and that which clothes them and those near to them that generally derive from the worlds of Atzilut/Emanation, Beriah/Creation, Yetzirah/Formation, and Asiya/Making.  We are hereby prepared and ready to fulfill the comandment of reciting the blessing which our Sages of blessed memory instituted over the seeing of blossoming trees. And may it rise before You, Hashem, our Gd and Gd of our ancestors, as if we had contemplated all the intentions that are appropriate to contemplate when reciting this blessing–as well as the secrets contained within it.  And may it be deemed worthy and acceptable and favorable before You this blessing to sift and to elevate through it all the holy sparks that are mixed in all the vegetation, and all the nefeshes, ruachs, and neshamahs  that are reincarnated within it.  And You Gd with your attribute of goodness and with Your great kindness illuminate for them with the light of Yourface and complete their sifiting and repair.  Bless them, purifythem, Your compassionate righteousness always grant them  [ בט'ר  צת'ג ].   And may it be Your will, Hashem, our Gd and Gd of our ancestors, that in the merit of this blessing that we are about to recite, may it be fulfilled for us the statement:

רְאֵה רֵיחַ בְּנִי, כְּרֵיחַ שָׂדֶה, אֲשֶׁר בֵּרְכוֹ יְהוָה. See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which Hashem has blessed.


And may we receive the influx of the 10 blessings as it is written:

וְיִתֶּן-לְךָ, הָאֱלֹהִים, מִטַּל הַשָּׁמַיִם, וּמִשְׁמַנֵּי הָאָרֶץ–וְרֹב דָּגָן, וְתִירֹשׁ. So Gd give you of the dew of heaven, and of the fat places of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.
יַעַבְדוּךָ עַמִּים, וישתחו (וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ) לְךָ לְאֻמִּים–הֱוֵה גְבִיר לְאַחֶיךָ, וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ בְּנֵי אִמֶּךָ; אֹרְרֶיךָ אָרוּר, וּמְבָרְכֶיךָ בָּרוּךְ. Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be a ruler over your brothers, and let your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be every one that blesses you.


וִיהִי, נֹעַם אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ–    עָלֵינוּ:
וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ, כּוֹנְנָה עָלֵינוּ;    וּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ, כּוֹנְנֵהוּ.		 And let the graciousness of the Lord our Gd be upon us; establish  also upon us the work of our hands; , the work of our hands establish


לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי-פִי, וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי    לְפָנֶיךָ:
יְהוָה,    צוּרִי וְגֹאֲלִי.		 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You Hashem  my Rock, and my Redeemer


We are told that upon seeing fruit trees in bloom during the spring, we may say this blessing (only once per year) with joy and concentration:

ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם שלא חיסר בעולמו כלום וברא בו בריות טובות ואילנות טובות ליהנות בהם בני אדם


Blessed are You, Hashem, our Gd, King of the universe, for nothing is lacking in His universe, and He created in it good creatures and good trees, to cause mankind pleasure with them.

Transliterated, the blessing is:

Baruch Ata Ado-nay Elo-heinu Melech Ha-Olam she-lo chisar b’olamo davar, u-vara vo beriyot tovot v’ilanot tovim, l’hanot bahem b’nei adam.


See the full version of the post here in PDF format

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