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Tisha B’Av: Pardes Shaul: Lamentations 1:8

The 23rd of Tammuz is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Shaul Moshe Zilberman, the Viershaver Rav, and author of Pardes Shaul (1939): “Jerusalem has sinned greatly and so has become unclean as a menstruant woman. All who honored

Tags: Parsha, Portion of the Week, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Spiritual Tools: L’Beit Yaakov: Praying about Torah Study

The 24th of Tammuz is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yaakov (ben Dov) Yosef (1840-1902). Born in Krozhe, a province of Kovno, he studied in the Volozhin yeshiva under the Netziv, where he was known as "Rav Yaakov Charif"

Tags: Parsha, Portion of the Week, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Amidah: Ma’avor Yabok: Refa’ainu

The 25th of Tammuz is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Aharon Berachia (ben Moshe) of Modina (1639). A student of the Rema. He was the author of Maavar Yabok, a collection of mitzvahs related to bikur cholim and everything

Tags: Parsha, Portion of the Week, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: The Greatest Power Part Two

We have been approaching Tzedaka as a from of empowerment to combat the weakness we experience during the Three Weeks (See “Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: The Greatest Power”): Rabbi Avira explained,

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Forms of Mourning: Sackcloth & Ashes I: Lost Opportunities

"When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed

Tags: Bible, Crying, Kinot, Lamentations, Mourning, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Tisha B'Av

Forms of Mourning: Fasting I: How We Eat

"When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed

Tags: Bible, Crying, Kinot, Lamentations, Mourning, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Tisha B'Av

Forms of Mourning: Misped I: A Sense of Vulnerability

"When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed

Tags: Bible, Crying, Kinot, Lamentations, Mourning, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Tisha B'Av

Forms of Mourning: Crying I: A Directed Cry for Direction

“When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed

Tags: Bible, Crying, Kinot, Lamentations, Mourning, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Tisha B'Av

Forms of Mourning: Kinah I: The Unheard Lament

“When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. But he went only as far as the king's gate, because no one clothed in

Tags: Bible, Crying, Kinot, Lamentations, Mourning, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Tisha B'Av

Shema: Ramak: A private “Borchu”

The 23rd of Tammuz is the Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, the Ramak: If one cannot pray with a congregation and hear Borchu and respond, he should recite the following from Sefer Heichalot: “Rabbi Akiva said:

Tags: Parsha, Portion of the Week, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramak, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Tehillim Tools: The Three Weeks: 119:39

“Turn away my humiliation which I dread, because Your mandates are good (Psalms 119:39).” My greatest humiliation is that I dread or fear anything other than You, especially when Your mandates are so good and life

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: The Greatest Power

In honor of Jacob B, who, every Friday, accesses the Greatest Power: Rabbi Yehudah used to say: Ten strong things were created in the world:

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Shema: The Three Weeks: Mitzvah Planters

Posted in honor of M.S. a true Mitzvah Planter: “God does mighty deeds. He does things entirely new, plants the seeds of Tzedakot, good and just acts, thereby causing Yeshu’ot, awesome life-saving acts to flourish,

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Biblical Personalities: The Three Weeks: Moshe’s Empathy

Our teachers have said: Once, while Moses, our Teacher, was tending his father-in-law Yitro’s sheep, one of the sheep, one of the sheep ran away. Moses ran after it until it reached a small, shaded place. There, the lamb

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Mishlei Tools: The Three Weeks: 19:17: A Race with God

In honor of the holy Reb Zisha, who is constantly Racing with God: “One who is generous to the poor makes a loan to God; God will repay what is due (Proverbs 19:17).” Rabbi Elazar said: “God gives food to all

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

General Principles of Prayer 6

From my father zt"l: Gratitude is measured by degree of benefit not level of effort. The word for gratitude is “Hakorat Hatov”, the recognition that I benefited from you. We do not look at how much it was for that person to

Tags: Fundamentals, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg ztl, The Foundation Stone

Daniel: 12:3: The Three Weeks: Inspiring Good

“And those who bring the people to do the right thing shall be as the stars, eternal (Daniel 12:3).” The Midrash comments: Just as one sees the light of the stars from one end of the world to the other, so, too, one sees the light

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Mishlei Tools: 11:30: The Three Weeks: Sources of Life

“Wise people attach themselves to these Good Souls (Proverbs 11:30).” One day, almost 2000 years ago, in one of the great places of Torah study in ancient Israel, in one particular discussion, Rabbi Akiva brought great

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Tehillim Tools: The Three Weeks: 116:3

“I am encompassed with pangs of death and the narrow confines of the grave, upon me; I encounter trouble and sorrow (Psalms 116:3).” There are many people who will pray only when, “I encountered trouble and sorrow.”

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Prayer Skills: The Three Weeks: Finding the Place to Pray

“Know that God has set apart to Himself the devoted one; God will hear when I call to Him (Psalms 4:4).” The Holy One, Blessed is He, said to Israel: “I have said to you, when you pray, pray in the synagogue in your city.

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Jeremiah: Historical Background Part Six

Yoshiyahu's reforms were the most thorough in Judah’s history, and of extreme historical significance. The reforms were carried out in several steps leading to the famous story of “the book of the law.”

Tags: Bible, Jeremiah, Prophets, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, The Foundation Stone, Tisha B'Av

Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: Loving Others

"It is known that Esau represents the Other Side (Evil), but in truth, our father Jacob did not bow before Esau but before the Holy power, the spark that was with in him, and which is a part of God from Above. And by bowing before

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Tisha B’Av: Shall We Dance?

“A time to weep,” at the time of mourning; “And a time to laugh,” after the mourning. “A time to wail,” at the time of mourning; “And a time to dance,” after the mourning (Ecclesiastes Rabbah 3:3, 1).

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: Honoring the Mourners

Rabbi Yossi the son of Rabbi Bun said: "Those who stand in the presence of the dead at a funeral are not standing in honor of the deceased, but rather in honor of those who are performing an act of loving kindness for

Tags: Daniel, Jeremiah, Mishlei, Proverbs, Psalms, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Tools, Tehillim, The Foundation Stone, Three Weeks, Tisha B'Av

Pesukei d’Zimrah: Ramak: The Role of Song

The 23rd of Tammuz is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Moshe ben Yaakov Cordovero, the Ramak: The secret and the key to an effective Pesukei d'Zimrah is to sing as one lover seems to another to bring them close and connect. Our

Tags: Parsha, Portion of the Week, Prayer, Rabbi Simcha Weinberg, Ramak, Spiritual Growth, The Foundation Stone

Allegories & Numbers: Thoughts on Kinah #27

Men of sound intellect and probity, Weigh with good understanding what lies hidden Behind the veil of strange allegory Canto IX of the Inferno 61-63 The wisdom of the past has crossed the centuries hidden in popular customs, stories, children’s games, legends, traditions and seemingly innocuous books. This Kinah...

Tags: Jeremiah, Kinot, Lamentations, Tisha B'Av

Dreams Interrupted Part One

Last night I had the strangest dream I'd ever dreamed before I dreamed the world had all agreed To put an end to war I dreamed I saw a mighty room Filled with women and men And the paper they were signing said They'd never fight again And when the paper was all...

Tags: Kinot, Lamentations, Nechama, Tisha B'Av

Categories

Tisha B’Av: Pardes Shaul: Lamentations 1:8

Spiritual Tools: L’Beit Yaakov: Praying about Torah Study

Amidah: Ma’avor Yabok: Refa’ainu

Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: The Greatest Power Part Two

Forms of Mourning: Sackcloth & Ashes I: Lost Opportunities

Forms of Mourning: Fasting I: How We Eat

Forms of Mourning: Misped I: A Sense of Vulnerability

Forms of Mourning: Crying I: A Directed Cry for Direction

Forms of Mourning: Kinah I: The Unheard Lament

Shema: Ramak: A private “Borchu”

Tehillim Tools: The Three Weeks: 119:39

Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: The Greatest Power

Shema: The Three Weeks: Mitzvah Planters

Biblical Personalities: The Three Weeks: Moshe’s Empathy

Mishlei Tools: The Three Weeks: 19:17: A Race with God

General Principles of Prayer 6

Daniel: 12:3: The Three Weeks: Inspiring Good

Mishlei Tools: 11:30: The Three Weeks: Sources of Life

Tehillim Tools: The Three Weeks: 116:3

Prayer Skills: The Three Weeks: Finding the Place to Pray

Jeremiah: Historical Background Part Six

Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: Loving Others

Tisha B’Av: Shall We Dance?

Spiritual Tools: The Three Weeks: Honoring the Mourners

Pesukei d’Zimrah: Ramak: The Role of Song

Allegories & Numbers: Thoughts on Kinah #27

Dreams Interrupted Part One

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