The Day The World Shook

Some videos for an inspiring Shavuot!

Courtesy of Aish.com

Yom Yerushalyim

Today is a really special day in Jewish History because it was on this day in the 1967 War when we recaptured Yerushalayim and we were able to daven at the Kotel for the first time in years. Now, thank Gd, there are so many Jews living in and visiting Yerushalayim, who can all go to the Kotel whenever they want! Thousands of Jews go to the Kotel today to sing and dance in gratitude for having Yerushalayim. 

Here is a video showing the Kotel throughout the years:

(Stories taken from Aish.com)

When the Western Wall was liberated in 1967, Jews from all over the World felt an electrifying excitement, as once again the Wall was in our hands.

The following two stories of Israeli soldiers, who participated in the liberation, exemplify how the Wall has touched the hearts of Jews throughout the ages.

Moshe Amirav, a paratrooper, describes his first minutes at the Wall:

We ran there, a group of panting soldiers, lost on the plaza of the Temple Mount, searching for a giant stone wall. We did not stop to look at the Mosque of Omar even though this was the first time we had seen it close up. Forward! Forward! Hurriedly, we pushed our way through the Magreb Gate and suddenly we stopped, thunderstruck. There it was before our eyes! Gray and massive, silent and restrained. The Western Wall!

Slowly, slowly I began to approach the Wall in fear and trembling like a pious cantor going to the lectern to lead the prayers. I approached it as the messenger of my father and my grandfather, of my great-grandfather and of all the generations in all the exiles who had never merited seeing it ― and so they had sent me to represent them. Somebody recited the festive blessing: "Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe who has kept us alive, and maintained us and brought us to this time." But I could not answer "Amen." I put my hand on the stones and the tears that started to flow were not my tears. They were the tears of all Israel, tears of hope and prayer, tears of Chasidic tunes, tears of Jewish dances, tears which scorched and burned the heavy gray stone.

Abraham Duvdevani also describes his first encounter with the Wall:

"Narrow alleys, filthy passageways, garbage at the entrances of shuttered shops, the stench of dead legionnaires ― but we paid no attention. Our eyes were fixed on the golden dome which could be seen from a distance. There, more or less, it had to be! We marched faster to keep up with the beating of our hearts. We were almost running. We met a soldier from one of the forward units and asked him the way and hurried on. We went through a gate and down some steps. I looked to the right and stopped dead. There was the Wall in all its grandeur and glory! I had never seen it before, but it was an old friend, impossible to mistake. Then I thought that I should not be there because the Wall belongs in the world of dreams and legends and I am real.

Reality and legend, dream and deed, all unite here. I went down and approached the Wall and stretched out my hand towards the huge, hewn stones. But my hand was afraid to touch and of itself returned to me. I closed my eyes, took a small, hesitant step forward, and brought my lips to the Wall. The touch of my lips opened the gates of my emotions and the tears burst forth. A Jewish soldier in the State of Israel is kissing history with his lips.

Past, present and future all in one kiss There will be no more destruction and the Wall will never again be deserted. It was taken with young Jewish blood and the worth of that blood is eternity. The body is coupled to the rows of stones, the face is pushed into the spaces between them and the hands try to reach its heart. A soldier near me mumbles in disbelief, 'We are at the Wall, at the Wall...' "

Counting Up

Before we answer this question, we need to ask another question: Why didn't Gd give the Torah to the Jews as soon as they left Egypt? Why did He wait 50 days? 

The answer is that when the Jews left Egypt they were on the 49th level of impurity and they weren't spiritually ready to receive the Torah. If Gd had given the Jews the Torah too early, they wouldn't have known how to handle such a precious gift.

We can use this to understand why we count up during the Omer to Shavuot, the 50th day. The time of the Omer has a special potential to help us in our growth process. In fact, each week and each day has a special characteristic that we are supposed to focus on. Each day of the Omer signifies another step in our growth, where we are removing a layer of dirt and revealing our spiritual beauty. Each day moves us closer to our ideal self to make us ready to receive the Torah on Shavuot. So we count up because each day is signifying a higher step on our growth ladder.

The Omer also teaches us that spiritual growth needs to be one step at a time. Only by setting realistic goals and becoming encouraged by our success will we have the stamina to continue growing.

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (19th century Europe) took upon himself to lead an entire city back to Torah observance. He set up a weekly class and began by telling them, "If you have to work on Shabbat, at least try to minimize the violation." Today this would mean walking instead of driving, or setting your TV on a timer. With this approach, Rabbi Salanter was able over a few years to turn the community around to full Shabbat observance ― one step at a time.

The Kabbalists say that spiritual growth is "two steps forward and one step back." We will inevitably have setbacks. What's important is that we pick ourselves up and keep on trying.

Ideally, at the end of the Omer process on Shavuot we will be ready to receive the Torah through our work in self-improvement. "Shavuot" literally means "weeks," which in and of itself tells us that without the weeks of preparation beforehand, there is no Shavuot. So don't just count the Omer ― make the Omer count.

Happy counting!

Of Equal Importance

 

In the middle of Parshas Emor we recount again the laws and ceremonies of various holidays. Beggining with Pesach, the Omer, and Shavuous - and concluding with Rosh Hashannah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkos. What is strange, however, is what comes in between Shavuous and Rosh Hashannah.

In the middle of discussing these holidays, the Torah reminds us of something it has already said earlier; 'And when you harvest your field, do not cut off the corners, and your gatherings of your harvest- do not gather, leave them for the poor and the convert, I am Hashem (23:22)'. What is this doing in the middle of the holidays?

Rashi quotes that the pasuk is specifically put in the middle of this discussion to teach us the following idea: Anyone who does these mitzvos, of helping the poor and the convert, is considered as if he or she has built the Beis HaMikdash and brought sacrifices on the altar, just as they do during the holidays.

We know that mitzvos can be categorized into two sections: Those that are done solely for the sake of Hashem, and those that are done between you and fellow man. Perhaps the idea Rashi is trying to impart is that we cannot view one as greater than the other. It is easy to get swept up in the chase of Learning Torah and Davening to Hashem-which are obviously very important- but one musn't neglect that which is just as important. We must treat our fellow man with the utmost respect and kindess. Hopefully then, as Rashi says, we will once again merit the building of Beis Hamikdash.

Holiness

What does it mean to be a truly holy person? One would think that this week's Parsha, "Kedoshim"(Holy), might lend insight into what it means.

If, however, we examine what topics are dealt with in Kedoshim, it would seem strikingly peculiar if these issues were deemed "holy". The Parsha tells us about assorted interpersonal dealings and relationships with goyim. One would assume "holiness"implies cleaving to Hashem, or learning Torah. Why is there no mention of such things?

The truth is, if we rethink our perspective, it is no big deal to be holy while Davening or Learning. The holiness is naturally intrinsic to those acts. The Torah is telling us that the bigger holiness occurs when you can infuse your everyday actions with holiness. 

The Rambam, in his Mishneh Torah, has one whole volume titled "Kedusha". He does not list Learning or Davening. Instead he describes forbidden foods, illicit relationships, and food preparations. Specifically by everyday actions is where we can most express how holy we truly are. 

Taking The Step

Today was the first day that I wore my Kepa without covering it up with a hat. 

This was a step that I knew was coming and wanted to happen. It just had to be the right time and today was it. 

When I woke up, I got ready and proudly put my Kepa on and left my red hat that I usually put on top of my Kepa on my shelf with only my kepa covering my head. 

I wondered what people were going to say or act like but this still did not stop me. 

I am proud to be Jewish and I have nothing to hide. I was free. A free and proud jew in my school with nothing to hide. I was not hiding anything when I put my hat on the last 7 weeks. 

I still wore my Kepa but was just waiting for the right time to take the step after I made a huge announcement 2 weeks before so that is the reason. I did not feel the power until the afternoon, about 30 minutes before JSU, and then it suddenly came to me. I took the step! I was so proud and still am. I wear my NCSY SUMMER kepa around that I bought at Yom NCSY last year on TJJ. 

That’s how my first day went wearing my Kepa at school.

Post by,

Lee Goodman

Remembering Our Soldiers

Right now in Israel it is Yom Hazikaron, a memorial day for the fallen Israeli soldiers.

We should never forget how appreciative and be grateful we should be for the soldiers who are risking their lives for our safety and the safety of Eretz Yisrael.

These videos are about two incredibly heroic soldiers who gave their lives protecting what was so special to them.

Courtesy of Aish.com

"You can't fulfill your dreams, unless you dare to risk it all."

- Michael Levin