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Ki Tisa- Humility Equal to Sacrifice

The 11th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Avraham Borenstein of Sochatchov: “You shall take the silver of the atonements from the Children of Israel and give it for the work of the Tent of Meeting; and it shall be a remembrance

Tags: Bible, Chumash, Ki Tisa, Parsha, Portion of the Week, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Torah

Taking it With You-Vidui-Ki Tisa

I heard from the Holy Maggid, Rabbi Dov Baer, that the name of each sin is the Life Force of that sin. It is with this Life Force that the sin is committed. A person who repents must therefore confess his sin before God. When he confesses,

Tags: Aleinu, Daveing, iPray, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Siddur, Tefillah, The Foundation Stone

Adar Joy-Dancing on Purim-Likkutei Eitzot

Dances of mitzvah, as when one drinks wine on Shabbat or holidays or at a wedding or at other fees of mitzvah, and does so moderately and for the sake of heaven, to rejoice in Israel and in God Who chose us from among all the people,

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Midrash, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Pesukei D’Zimrah-Adar Joy-Likkutei Eitzot

Through song and joy, one can “pour out his words like water in the presence of the Lord (Lamentations 2:19).” Therefore, by being happy throughout the entire day, one should be able to pray in solitude properly. (Likkutei Eiztot, Simcha #15)

Tags: Adar, iPraise, Kavanah, Kavanot, Pesukei d'Zimrah, Praising God, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Singing to God, The Foundation Stone

Amidah-Ki Tisa-The Grace of Knowledge

The truth of the matter is that man's mind is not equipped to perceive the reality of God's existence, as it is said, “Can you find out the deepness of God (Job 11:7).” This is what Moses asked for when he said, “Shown me, I pray of You,

Tags: Amidah, God, i-Attach, i-Pray, Ki Tisa, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shmone Esrei, Tefillah, The Foundation Stone

Shabbat Prayer-Making Shabbat During the Week

The 11th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Mordechai Posner, Rav of Ursha and brother of the Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1823). “The Children of Israel shall observe the Shabbat, to make the Shabbat and the eternal covenant for

Tags: Kavanah, Kavanot, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Sabbath, Shabbat, The Foundation Stone

Spiritual Tools-Ki Tisa-Humility

The 12th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Mordechai Rotblatt of Slonim (1916). “Rise up, make for us gods that will go before us (Exodus 32:1).” The essence of the sin was their desire to experience a sense of Godliness, “Make

Tags: Avodas Hashem, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Religion, Service of God Notebooks, Serving God, Spiritual, The Foundation Stone, Tools for Growth

Ki Tisa-Reb Zusha-Mention Their Merit

The 11th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Eliezer Lipman Weisblum, father of Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk and Reb Zusha of Annipoli. “When you take a census of the Children of Israel - Tisa et rosh - according to their numbers

Tags: Bible, Chumash, Parsha, Portion of the Week, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Torah

Ki Tisa-Vizhnitz-The Power of Tzeddaka

The 12th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Pinchas (ben Baruch) Hager of Borsha (1869-1941). He was raised not only by his father, the Imrei Baruch of Vizhnitz, but also by his grandfather, Rav Menachem Mendel, the Tzemach

Tags: Bible, Chumash, Ki Tisa, Parsha, Portion of the Week, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Torah

Shema-Ki Tisa-Spark Collectors

In everything in the universe there are Holy Sparks. Nothing is devoid of these Sparks, even wood and stones. This is also true of all man's deeds, and even his sins contain Sparks from the Broken Vessels.

Tags: God, i-Love, i-Pray, Kavanah, Kavanot, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shema, The Foundation Stone

Purim-The Precious from the Vile

In the era ushering in the Messiah, the main achievement will be the extraction of the precious from the vile, as in, “Therefore, thus says God, if you return, and I bring you back, and if you bring forth the precious out of the vile,

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Midrash, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Taking it With You-Adar Joy-Likkutei Eitzot

One should make strenuous efforts to attain joy in any way possible, searching within himself for those good qualities which lead to joy. At the very least, one ought to be happy at the privilege being born a Jew and not a pagan.

Tags: Adar, Aleinu, Daveing, iPray, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Siddur, Simcha, Tefillah, The Foundation Stone

Pesukei D’Zimrah-Adar Joy-Likkutei Eitzot 10

One must keep very far from sadness, for the shells have the aspect of sadness and our “judgment intensified–the essence of punishment.” When sadness prevails, the Divine Presence, which is the joy of Israel, is in exile. The negation

Tags: iPraise, Kavanah, Kavanot, Pesukei d'Zimrah, Praising God, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Singing to God, The Foundation Stone

Adar Joy-Renewal

The 11th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Eliezer Lipman Weisblum, father of Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk and Reb Zusha of Annipoli: The Torah teaches man how to conduct himself. Thus, the Torah was given on Sinai in order

Tags: Adar, Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Midrash, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Amidah-Ki Tisa-Healing

The essence of repentance is in the heart, for through remorse from the depths of the heart one arouses the depths of the Supreme Light. In order to elicit this light so that it radiates in the upper and lower worlds, it is essential

Tags: Amidah, God, i-Attach, i-Pray, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shmone Esrei, Tefillah, The Foundation Stone

Shema-Zachor-Remembering Amalek

“And You have brought us close to Your great Name forever in truth…” This verse deals with the story of the battle with Amalek (Exodus 17:16). God says to Moses “The hand upon the throne of the Lord, the Lord will have

Tags: God, i-Love, i-Pray, Kavanah, Kavanot, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Shema, The Foundation Stone

Haftarah-Zachor-David & Saul-A Study in Contrasts

From a lecture on the Midot Hayom 1995: Rabbi Avin Halevi said: Whoever tries to force the sha’ah, the sha’ah will force him away. (Brachot ) Meaning, if you try to control the future, the future will ultimately control

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Midrash, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Haftarah-Zachor-Misdirected Chesed

Transcribed from a Midot Hayom lecture 1995: Rabbi Elazar said: Whoever who has compassion on someone who is cruel will eventually will become cruel to those who have compassion. As it is written, “But Saul and the people

Tags: Book of Esther, Esther, Holidays, Megilat Esther, Midrash, Purim, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone

Fighting To Look Up

Dedicated to the memory of Raizel Devorah bat David Shaykin on her Yahrtzeit “It happened that when Moses raised his hand, Israel grew stronger, and when he lowered his hand, Amalek was stronger (Exodus 17:11).” “Was it Moses’ hands that won the battle or lost it?...

Tags: Amalek, Bishalach, Four Portions, man & man, Moshe, Purim, Zachor

The Actual and The Imaginary

In one of his last essays, “The Writer in Winter,” the late John Updike cites Nathaniel Hawthorne, “a writer who dwelt in shadowland” where – in Hawthorne’s words – “The Actual and the Imaginary may meet.” Updike is referring to “The Custom House,” that serves...

Tags: Daniel, Dreams, Esther, Mordechai, Purim

Categories

Ki Tisa- Humility Equal to Sacrifice

Taking it With You-Vidui-Ki Tisa

Adar Joy-Dancing on Purim-Likkutei Eitzot

Pesukei D’Zimrah-Adar Joy-Likkutei Eitzot

Amidah-Ki Tisa-The Grace of Knowledge

Shabbat Prayer-Making Shabbat During the Week

Spiritual Tools-Ki Tisa-Humility

Ki Tisa-Reb Zusha-Mention Their Merit

Ki Tisa-Vizhnitz-The Power of Tzeddaka

Shema-Ki Tisa-Spark Collectors

Purim-The Precious from the Vile

Taking it With You-Adar Joy-Likkutei Eitzot

Pesukei D’Zimrah-Adar Joy-Likkutei Eitzot 10

Adar Joy-Renewal

Amidah-Ki Tisa-Healing

Shema-Zachor-Remembering Amalek

Haftarah-Zachor-David & Saul-A Study in Contrasts

Haftarah-Zachor-Misdirected Chesed

Fighting To Look Up

The Actual and The Imaginary

Midrash Esther Chapter IV-1-Recusal

Prayer Skills-Adar Joy-As a Story

Purim-Women Miracles

Tehillim Tools-Adar Joy-A Broken Heart-Psalm 6-Tachanun

Biblical Personalities-Moshe-Humility and Life

Adar Joy-Even From a Broken Heart

Biblical Personalities-Moshe-Death With a Kiss

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