Thought of the Week- Parashat Ki Tisah

In this weeks Torah portion it talks about the construction of the Kiyor (faucet). The Kiyor was made out of copper and was the only copperware in the Beis Hamikdash.

There is a special reason to this.

The Kiyor was placed in the Chatzer (yard.) It was the first thing the Kohanim (priests) would have to encounter. As they came into the Beis Hamikdash they had to wash their hands and feet by this Kiyor. This was to remind them that they were to serve on their Israelite brothers behalf.
This is told to us because one might wander... I am commanded 613 commandments! How am I supposed to keep them all? If some are specificaly for the Kohanim then there is no way I could ever have the chance to do this commandment. Therefore G-d says that the Kohanim would do their priestly jobs with the intent as though the regular Israelite is doing the Mitzvah.

Hence, they would look at the copper Kiyor. For as we know that out of gold, silver, and copper the only one that acts as a mirror or reflects an image is copper. Therefore the Kohanim would look at the Kiyor and see a reflection of themselves. This would cause them to remember that they are here as the Israelites representatives, and that they must include the jews in their services.

This is also the reason why they have to clean their hands and feet, besides for the holification laws encripted in the Talmud and Kabbalah. It is also as a sign that they are connected to the Jews. Just as their feet connect them to the ground and just as hands can connect one to another, they are so too connected to the Jews.

From this we must learn the importance of supporting Torah scholars and that the Torah scholars and students are serving G-d on our behalf as well. It is written in regards to Torah students that they bring piece and tranquility into the world.

Another thing we learn from the Kiyor is that it was made of copper, the cheapest of all. This is in order to teach us that helping a friend can be done in any way. Even a simple 'hello' or even a smile can change his day, or at least impact it in some way.

Remember it doesn't take much to just smile at a person! In fact, scientificaly you use up less muscles when you smile then when you keep a straight face! So... what are you waiting for? Smile!!

As the Rebbe, Reb M. M. Schneersohn once said. "The only thing that will bring Messia in our days is with acts of goodness and kindness."

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. But a smile a day keeps the evil away!!!

©: Thought of the week - Yermi Kurkus

Derived from the Talmud and from the teachings of Rebbe M.M. Schneersohn.

Thought of the Week- Parshas Tetzaveh

Parshas Tetzaveh

This weeks portion is Tetzaveh. It talks about how G-d commanded Moses to command the Jews to fulfill certain commandments even if they don't understand their meanings or the reasons as to why they ought to follow those commands.

There are several type of commandments.
One is called a "Mishpat" (lit. Law.) This is a commandment that people would have normaly figured out on their own. (E.g. Not to kill. If no laws had been given, people would use their common sense to see that it is wrong to kill. Or to steal. It is common sense that one mustn't take things that do not belong to them. So to conclude, it is the laws that make sense and can be explained in a logical manner.)
Second is "Chok" or "Gzeira" (lit. decree). This is a command that has no logic. It is something that we as human beings can not, and will not understand within our life-time. An example of this mitzvah would be the commandment of atonment with the Red Calf, or the commandment not to mix Linen and Wool in clothing, (Shatnez.)
The third one is "Tzivuy" (lit. Commandment). This is considered the most special, for it is a commandment that we would never think about on our own, however when it is given to us we can understand the meaning. For example Shabbat. Most people when they hear about Shabbat it is a logical thing. It would seem like a Mishpat. It is logical to take a break at the end of a long week to refresh for the next week. However in reality it is not a Mishpat, for people would not think of it on their own. On the contrary, if you look at all those people who have never had a connection to Judaism or has never heard of religion. These people are those who work and work and work. They dont think of having a weekly break. It just doesn't come to their heads.
This is what connects the two together. It is a commandment that is Chok (for we would not think of it ourselfs) however it is also a Mishpat because once we follow this commandment we can see how logical it is.

The Rebbe M.M. Schneerson explains this connection in an extra ordinary way.

The Hebrew root word for Tzivuy is 'Tzavta.' This means 'connecting' (Tzavta Vechibur - Bonding and connection.) The way to bind and connect to G-d is through His commandments.
Tzivuy is also the one which binds the two other types of Mizvoth. One should not kill or steal not because it's not humane or right. Every one knows that he shouldn't kill or steal. Even the non jewish courts have such a policy we don't need the Torah to tell us this types of Mitvoth. However because of the fact that it is written in the Torah as a commandment, not doing these inhumane acts in fact will connect a person to G-d.

Once a Gentile came to Shamai in his Yeshiva. He told him that if Shamai was able to tell him the whole Torah whilst he was standing upon one foot he would become Jewish. Shamai looked at him and laughed. "You want me to teach you the whole Torah whilst you are standing on one foot? Learning the entire Torah can take many months and even years! Especially since you don't even know how to read the Aleph Beis" He became infuriated thinking that the gentile had came to just laugh at the Jews and sent him away. Not giving up too quickly the gentile went to Hillel in his yeshiva and asked the same question. Hillel smiled at him and said, "Love your fellow man just as yourself. That is the whole entire Torah, and now there are things that follow it. We can go and sit down to learn in detail what exactly is entitled to 'Love your fellow man as yourself.'"

Rabbi Akiva says that this is the biggest Mitzva, and most general one in the entire Torah. Hillel added that all the other Mitzvoth stem out of this one.

One may ask what in heavens name does eating Kosher have anything to do with loving ones fellow man as yourself?
The reply is simple and reversed psychological.
What exatly is Ahavat Yisroel (loving ones fellow as yourself)?

Lets take eating Kosher for example:

Do you care if someone else eats Kosher or not? If ones religious or not?

Why should you bother? First take care of yourself make sure that you are doing all that is written in the Torah. When your done with that, then maybe you will be able to convince someone else to eat kosher or keep mitzvoth.

However this is the wrong way of thinking. It is true to say 'how can you tell someone else to keep mitzvoth when you yourself are not.' But at the same time that you start, you can always care for the other makeing sure he has Kosher food in his plate. One should assist the other in doing mitzvoth. He shouldn't tell him or command him this is not his place, but he may suggest 'help in doing the Mitzvah.' No Jew is too non-religious not to do it. Every Mitzvah that a Jew does connects him to G-d.

However an interesting question comes up:

How do we know that we are connected to G-d? And why is Ahavat Yisroel specificaly the main Mitzvah and not any other thing such as prayer or learning?

The answer is.
Through loving ones fellow as himself, one will see how he must feel towards G-d. Just like one is so connected to oneself, that is how one should strive to feel connected to his fellow person. After he has accomplished this connection with is fellow man he will seee how he must feel connected to G-d, which is a further external thing.

A Good Shabbat

© Thought of the Week - Yermi Kurkus

Derived from Talmud and The teachings of Rebbe M.M. Schneerson

Thought of the Week- Parshas Teruma

This Torah portion talks about how G-d commanded Moses to take special craftsmen that have the G-dly divine providence in them. They would understand how to build and construct G-d's Temple.

G-d commanded Moses saying:

"And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst" (25:8)

However according to Hebrew grammar and literature, this verse is not correct. Instead of stating "And I will dwell in their midst," it should say "And I shall dwell in it [the sanctuary]." But since The Torah wrote it this way, there must be a reason and something must be learnt out of this.

The Rebbe, Reb M.M. Schneerson brings several explanations from different sources and adds a bit of insight in to them:

Firstly, in the simple way of explaining this question, is by saying that G-d is encouraging and commanding us to build
synagogues and miniature sanctuaries around the world where Jews are found. (However one must note that there is a commandment that prohibits the sacrifices of animal as done in the Holy Temple in Jerusalem other than in Jerusalem itself!)
The Hebrew word of "Mikdash" which literally means "Sanctuary" also means holy. Hence any place that is put aside for serving G-d becomes a Holy Sanctuary. That is G-d's intention.
It is also said that after the destruction of the Holy Temples "the Jews have to have the 4 Amot (approximately 8 feet) of Torah." (I.e. a study or similar.) This means that Jews are encouraged to have a room set aside in their house to be a study or library with Jewish Torah books, and a place where to study. (Usually whenever the Talmud uses the measurement of 4 Amot, it refers to a table!)

Another explanation is that through building the Sanctuary (or Temple) this will cause G-d to dwell in each Jew literally. In each one's heart and consciousness. G-d will then be with the Jew in whatever he does. G-d will allow him to succeed through the fact that the person allows G-d into his house and gives Him a dwelling place there.

A third and very interesting explanation is. G-d says to build him a sanctuary in this world. In this fake, dark, mundane and physical world where it wouldn't be possible for G-dliness to find it's place here. But G-d had a strong desire to see mundane physical creatures turning the physical mundane dark world into a holy place such as heaven etc. ‘This,’ G-d says, ‘is done by the Jews accepting to take G-d in make Him a study or library in ones home and/or building synagogues.’ This will allow G-d to dwell amongst us. G-d expects us to go around and publicize His name and doings, this will cause G-d to dwell in other people as well. Through that, eventually be known in the whole world. That is very similar to what it's like up there in Heaven.

From this we can learn that G-d is with us whatever we do no matter who we are. Religious or not, G-d dwells in whom ever allows Him in. Through good deeds, through belief, through prayer, and anything of the like, G-d will dwell in you and make you succeed. When people will ask you why suddenly did you change? What is this you don't drive on Shabbat any more? Then you will tell them G-d commanded me to keep Shabbat. This is a way of building G-d a dwelling place, for now He feels "comfortable" (so to speak) in order to dwell in you. He would also dwell not only in you, but also amongst your family and friends. This is because this change could cause a gap between you and your relatives, friends and any person close to you. (However G-d’s repayment for coming close to Him is that they will come to respect you enough for your decision of change.) You never know what can tip the scale with a good word to a friend, or a good advice. This person might just one day think about it. Even if he laughs about it or mocks you about it now, but it's in his sub-consciousness and may cause him to change one day.

Here is a small story just to conclude this point.

Once a person came to the Rebbe for a blessing in his business, saying, "Rebbe, I have opened a store not to long ago, and I don't have many customers. If this continues I won't be able to up keep the shop. Please bless me with success." The Rebbe then looked at him and asked: "Do you set aside time for learning?" Puzzled the Jew replied, "No, I don't have time, I try to present my shop nicely, walk out side and try persuading people to come in to my shop. I work on new advertising ideas, but nothing seems to work! I really have no time to study during the day, and by the time I get home I'm too exhausted to lift a book." The Rebbe then advised, "do you remember when you were a Yeshiva student, whenever you tried to learn the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) would find some tactic to bother you?" The Jew replied with a positive nod smiling as he remembered, 'those good old days!' The Rebbe then told him "allow me to advise you with a trick. Instead of coming up with all kinds of advertising techniques, and straining yourself by standing out side screaming at passer Byers. Sit in your shop and study, The Yetzer Hara will then want to bother you, he will then send clients to bother you from your learning!" After a while this person did start making a lot of money. He eventually opened many branches to his stores, living quite wealthy. Just as the Rebbe advised, too many clients 'bothered' him because he allowed G-d into his business making it a sanctuary, by learning G-d's Torah!

Remember you can change this mundane and physical world, by simply saying a good word or giving charity, remember there are many ways of Doing Only Good!

Good Shabbat

© Thought of the Week - Yermi Kurkus

Derived from The Talmud, The Teachings of The Rebbe M. M. Schneerson, and from various other sources.