How Do You Create An Island In Time? The Shabbos Project 2015 / 5776 - Be a Part of It

New to the Mitzvah of keeping Shabbat?

Find out more by visiting www.theshabbatproject.org -

and make sure you are a part of keeping Shabbat -

together with every other Jew in the world...

Are You Keeping Shabbat THIS Week (Parshat Noach 5775)?

There is still time to prepare to observe the Shabbat this week - uniting with all Jews around the world. See The Shabbos Project for more information on how to observe THIS Shabbat, and every Shabbat afterwards!

The Shabbos Project 2014 - Be a Part of It

Torah Learning in Action: Erev Pesach, Motzai Yom Kippur, Erev Shabbos

There are two main times when one is truly granted the opportunity to put all of one's Torah learning into action - Erev Pesach and Motzai Yom Kippur (the night following Yom Kippur). I guess Erev Shabbos can be added to the list as well - but I'm certain about the other two. It is at these times, that the fullness of one's Middot improvement can be accessed!

I'm fond of seeing the amount of learning that goes into Torah study during the year. I know my own responsibilities, but the "excitement" really builds up when it comes to two special times of the year - just before Pesach and just after Yom Kippur! Let me explain!

On an average day, many good Jews find themselves with a Gemara in front of them. Relaxed as they finally devote a part of their day to Torah learning, the learning becomes filled with life. Real world situations begin to come out from the scenarios brought in the Gemara and other holy books. I know myself how in-depth the conversation can become - but what counts, as the Mishnah teaches, is action. Action is the main thing! We open our books to learn about how we should behave when the time comes. Torah study not partnered with action is worthless. It becomes an intellectual exercise - one in which (often) two people debate a scenario proving how smart they are, only to find neither have understood anything regarding the practicality involved. One can go through the entire Talmud and find that one has learned nothing. One becomes a bag of books! He goes through ShaS (the six orders of the Mishnah) but Shas never goes through him! Many spend their entire day learning Torah - dress the part and walk around as if they have mastered life. Never forget however, that the learning is just the start. What counts is the action!

I've often wondered when would be the best time to keep track of one's progress. I've found it to be no better time than the days preceding Pesach and the night following Yom Kippur. It seems that with all the learning to one's credit, it so often happens that it's simply as if the Torah falls apart on these occasions. Indeed in the days preceding Pesach, children will become more rowdy as parents leave them to tend to their own games as they clean up the house themselves. On Shabbat HaGadol, kids will run up and down the steps as if at a carnival! As a result, neighbours suffer from the constant additional unnecessary noise. People suddenly feel the need to turn on their stereos at highest volume - as they clean up - all in the name of the holiness and preparation for Pesach. The noise continues until the early/late hours of the next morning - again disturbing so many. People feel that when shopping, keeping their position in line is no longer a necessity - as they are the only one's preparing for the holiday and as such, their "right" for first place must be respected at all times. Pushing and insulting is a part of the "holy" preparations.

I've thought about the moments after Yom Kippur - a day when forgiveness is sought (and given!) for all our interactions during the year - between man and his fellow and between man and G-d. Maariv is prayed faster than any prayer during the year - though it should probably be the longest! People who had just the day before driven in to the parking lot of the shul with much respect for each other begin to insult as they blow their horns in order to get out faster. So it goes on.

It seems that all of a sudden, all one's Torah learning goes out the window. 

Let us remember that the days leading to Pesach should bring out the very best of our Torah learning. The evening after Yom Kippur should bring out the very best of the people we have become. If you're looking to truly find out how someone (including yourself) is progressing in their Torah learning - just watch them during these times. The truth of what Torah is doing to them comes out in an amazing way!

Torah is here to improve us, to make us respect each other more, to share with each other and to love each other. Anything less than this - especially at these important times of the year, tells the world that the Torah that's being studied is galaxies away from what true G-dliness and even self-respect is really all about.

A Worldwide Shabbos Project - Be a Part of It!

I'm always fond of the many people who I have encountered who speak about being prepared to follow a universal set of laws of some sort. They often point out that observing all of the 613 Mitzvot of the Torah is something not everybody needs to do today - though they believe firmly that the Ten Commandments should certainly be universally accepted. Little do they realise that the number 4 on the "Top Ten" is the Mitzvah to keep the Sabbath day holy.

At the beginning of the Jewish year 5774, Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein - Chief Rabbi of South Africa, embarked upon a massive project aimed at uniting all South African Jews in fulfilling this Mitzvah together. It was the Shabbat of Parshat Lech Lecha - a time when Abraham was commanded by G-d to "go to yourself" - become who you really are. Leave the lifestyle of your fathers (who were idol worshipers) and cleave to the ways of the One G-d. Keeping the Sabbath day certainly testifies to the acknowledgement that there is a G-d who created the world in six days and then "rested" on the seventh day - and so too commanded us to, in order to testify to this. It was an immense project that brought tremendous unity to the Jewish people of South Africa.

Already - plans have been set in motion for another unity project. But it seems that the project is set to become global. Let all Jews - wherever they are - keep one Shabbat together. The Parsha will be Parshat Noach (of 5775). While Abraham set out in leaving the idolatrous ways and moving towards serving the one G-d - just one Parsha before - Noah - together with his close family - encased themselves into an Ark. Together with at least 2 of each animal - in order to save the world from extinction - Noah and his family also took themselves out of the floods of materialism in order to secure themselves with the One G-d. So too, we can already begin anticipating our own Arks - a place to take ourselves into, away from the floods of materialism - and shield ourselves in a container filled with peace and kindness - one removed from the rage of worldly activity.

Don't forget - it's Number 4 on the "Top Ten"! The laws of Shabbat are most complex, filling one entire volume of the 6 volumes of Mishna Berura written by the Chafetz Chaim - Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan. If you're getting ready to observe this Shabbat with the entire Jewish world - be certain to start learning all about what it means to observe the Shabbat and how one can do so in the best possible manner. If you feel you need a study partner to get started - contact Reb Eliyahu.

Here's what the Chief Rabbi has in mind! Make certain to visit www.theshabbosproject.com to find out more about how you can keep Shabbat. Don't forget to tell your family, friends and the entire world!

The 39 Melachot - Forbidden "Work" Activities on Shabbat - Video

This is one of the most brilliant, wonderful videos I have seen teaching very visually the 39 categories of forbidden "labour" activities on Shabbat. Now you can get to see exactly how they are done for real! Much success in mastering them all!!!

  

Reading the Story of a Tzaddik at the Conclusion of Shabbat: An Amazing Story!

One of the ways of bringing blessing to the new week - is to read a story about a Tzaddik at the conclusion on Shabbat. Indeed one should celebrate the exit of Shabbat as much as one celebrates its entry. The celebration should take place with lighting candles, eating a special Seudah (preferably bread if possible) and the singing of songs and saying over of Torah.

Shabbat is a day filled with miracles. It is a day that works on its own - a day upon which we rest. In truth, every day is a day of miracles - but it is hard for us to feel and see them. Somehow, on Shabbat - if one has prepared everything well beforehand - one feels far closer to that world of miracles than one can ever feel during the week. 

When Shabbat is over though - we return to a feeling of "an ordinary life". Though of course this should not be so. Rather - we should be able to hold on to the Shabbat experience and bring it in to our entire week. 

Tzaddikim have a way of turning everyday things into miracles. By choosing the Motzai Shabbat as a time to read a story about a Tzaddik, we "fall back" on the theme of miracles as we realise that indeed there are always Tzaddikim in the world, taking care of things and attending to matters most of us would never dream of. Perhaps it's because we think they're closed up in some isolated room somewhere that makes us think that they live a life far removed from us. But in truth, though they may not be as in the forefront as some of the more famous worldwide "stars of the world" - they are far more involved in making miracles happen for many many people - each and every day.

If you're new to reading a story about a Tzaddik at the conclusion of Shabbat, make a start right now - and turn it into a good habit, bringing blessing to your entire week.

The story below is taken from Ascent of Tzefat. It is simply mind blowing! Read it - and read it again - and consider just how amazing are the ways of Divine Providence and the how powerful is the spiritual sight of a Tzaddik.

During the Holocaust, a large group of Jewish women were rounded up in Poland to be sent to the gas chambers. As the group gathered their possessions to take with them into the camp, the Nazi officers called out to all the villagers who were standing by watching, "Anything that these Jews leave behind you may take for yourselves, because for sure they will not be coming back to collect them!"

Two Polish women who were standing nearby saw a woman towards the back of the group, wearing a large, heavy, expensive coat. Not wanting to wait to see if others got the coat before them, they ran to the woman and knocked her to the ground, grabbed her coat and walked away.

As the Jewish women were being led away, these two Polish women lay down the coat to divide the spoils of what was hiding inside. As they rummaged through the pockets, they discovered gold jewelry, silver candlesticks and other heirlooms. They were quite pleased, but still, as they lifted the coat it seemed heavier than it should be. After further inspection they found a secret pocket, and hidden inside the coat was a little baby girl!

Shocked at their discovery, one of the women insisted to the other, "I don't have any children, and I'm too old to give birth now. You take all the gold and silver and let me take the baby". The deal was agreed and the Polish woman took her new 'daughter' home to her delighted husband. They raised the Jewish girl as their own, treating her very well, but never told her anything of her history. The girl excelled in her studies and became a successful pediatrician, working in the top hospital in Poland.

After some years the girl's 'mother' passed away. A week later, she heard a knock at the door. An old woman invited herself in and said "I want you to know that the woman that passed away last week was not your real mother..." and she proceeded to tell her the whole story. The girl did not believe her at first, but the old woman said to her, "When we found you, you were wearing a beautiful gold pendant with strange writing on it which must be Hebrew. I am sure that your mother kept the necklace, go and look." And with that parting advice she left.

The girl went into her 'mother's' jewelry box and found the necklace just as the woman described. She had it extended and wore it every day, but thought nothing more of her Jewish roots.

Sometime later, she went on holiday abroad and saw two Chabad-Lubavitch boys on the main street, trying to interest Jewish passersby to wrap tefilin (the males) or accept Shabbat candles (the females). Seizing the opportunity, she told them entire story and showed them the necklace. The boys confirmed that a Jewish name was inscribed on the necklace but did not know what to say about her status. They recommended that she send a letter to the Lubavitch Rebbe explaining everything.

She took their advice and sent off a letter that same day. She received a speedy reply saying that it is clear from the facts that she is a Jewish girl and that since she had a special talent, she should use her invaluable skills in Israel, a place in desperate need of talented pediatricians.

She took the Rebbe's advice and moved to Israel. There she consulted the Beit Din (Rabbinical Court) who declared her Jewish. She was accepted into a hospital to work, and eventually met her husband and raised a family.

Some years later, when there was a terrorist attack at the Subarro cafe in the centre of Jerusalem in August 2001, this woman was walking nearby with her husband. She told her husband to return home to the kids and she proceeded to rush to the scene where she helped to treat the wounded and get the injured into ambulances and to hospitals.

When she herself arrived at the hospital she met an elderly man who was in a state of shock. He was searching everywhere for his granddaughter who had become separated from him. She calmed him down and went with him to search amongst all the patients in order to find his granddaughter. Asking how she could recognize her, the frantic grandfather gave a rough description of a gold pendant necklace that she was wearing. After searching amongst the injured, they finally found the granddaughter who was wearing the necklace.

At the sight of this necklace, the pediatrician froze. She turned to the old man and said, "Where did you buy this necklace?"

"You can't buy such a necklace" he responded, "I am a goldsmith and I made this necklace. Actually I made two identical ones for each of my daughters. This is my granddaughter from one of them, and my other daughter did not survive the war."

...And this is how the Jewish girl was reunited with her father.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from a submission by Shmuel Gavriel Halevi Tornek, director of the Tachshov Tov - Think Good Project [thinktov.blogspot.com], citing author Moshe Kormornick.

Connection: Weekly reading - gold jewelry.

Biographical note:

Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (11 Nissan 1902 - 3 Tammuz 1994), became the seventh Rebbe of the Chabad dynasty after his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, passed away in Brooklyn on 10 Shvat 1950. He is widely acknowledged as the greatest Jewish leader of the second half of the 20th century. Although a dominant scholar in both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah and fluent in many languages and scientific subjects, the Rebbe is best known for his extraordinary love and concern for every Jew on the planet. His emissaries around the globe dedicated to strengthening Judaism number in the thousands. Hundreds of volumes of his teachings have been printed, as well as dozens of English renditions.

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Yerachmiel Tilles is co-founder and associate director of Ascent-of-Safed, and chief editor of this website (and of KabbalaOnline.org). He has hundreds of published stories to his credit, and many have been translated into other languages. He tells them live at Ascent nearly every Saturday night.

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A 48 page soft-covered booklet containing eleven of his most popular stories may be ordered on ourstore site.