Podcasts about berditchev

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok was the Rov of Berditchev, which had many wealthy Jews, and some that were not. Those who needed help were sometimes visited by a mysterious farmer with a fur hat and a red scarf who would deliver packages of food to those in need, along with some money. After Rabbi Levi Yitzchok went away from life, his talmidim ventured into the tzaddik's secret cellar, where they found the clothing of the mysterious farmer.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev faces his very first case as the new Rov of the city. It seems like an open and shut case- property in the possession of orphans cannot be claimed by a merchant with no document and no witnesses. But the Berditchever Rov suspects there is a deeper lesson to be learned, and his caution and patience is rewarded when the merchant remembers an event from fifty years earlier.

The holy tzadik, R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, is renowned for his passionate advocacy on behalf of the Jewish people, always defending them before the Heavenly Court. However, less widely known are his profound Torah teachings and the beautiful melodies he composed.  To honor the Berditchever's yahrzeit on 25 Tishrei, world-renowned speaker Rabbi Shais Taub and acclaimed recording artist Eli Marcus pay a heartfelt tribute to R' Levi Yitzchak's legacy, bringing together his powerful teachings and soulful niggunim. Join us for this meaningful celebration of the life and teachings of R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, and immerse yourself in the warmth of his enduring legacy.

The holy tzadik, R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, is renowned for his passionate advocacy on behalf of the Jewish people, always defending them before the Heavenly Court. However, less widely known are his profound Torah teachings and the beautiful melodies he composed.  To honor the Berditchever's yahrzeit on 25 Tishrei, world-renowned speaker Rabbi Shais Taub […]

Triste Sim'hat Torah. Jusqu'à l'arrivée du Rabbi de Berditchev...

Histoire de 10 minutes racontée par Binyamin BENHAMOU.

Comment voir D.ieu dans la tragédie du 7 octobre ? Comment faire en sorte que celle-ci n'entache pas notre foi ? Qu'est-ce que l'amour véritable ? Qu'est-ce que la Émouna ? En quoi est-elle si fondamentale ? Comment l'acquérir ? La peur est-elle contrôlable ? Réponse à travers des propos de Rabbi Lévy Its'hak de Berditchev, du Rambam, du Séfer Ha'hinoukh et de Rabbénou Yona.

We Learnfrom the Fruit of the Earth to Reinvent Ourselves in the Month of Elul so thatWe Will Be New Creatures at Rosh HaShanah Based onShvilei Pinchas – Rav Pinchas Friedman I canstart with the story Can aperson be reborn? Lastnight Chantelle took me along to an Emunah Dinner. I say Chantelle took mebecause if she didn't make me come out, I wouldn't. She lights the fire. Herfriends Liz Gindea and Fran Hirmes have been very involved with and generouslysupportive of the organization for years. Emunah funds a number of children'shomes in Israel, along with schools, an arts college, daycare services andthese days many mental health programs. My son in law, Daniel's brother Michaelthrough his organization Kol HaNearim also works with these children'shomes. Chantelleand all of my kids have volunteered and worked in some of these homes over theyears especially with Yehuda Kohen of Bet Elazraki. At thedinner, a young lady spoke and shared her very moving story. She grewup in the north of Israel in no mans land. Her mother did nothing and herfather raised goats. She was one of ten siblings. They had no rules, nodiscipline, no money, sometimes no food and ran amok. The kids sometimes foughtand often got in trouble. When shewas ten, social services showed up. After investigating, they took some of heryounger siblings to be raised outside the house. She convinced them that sheshould stay. But her situation went from bad to worse and a few months laterthey came back and took her as well. She wasplaced into one of Emunah's homes and was angry with her situation and everyonearound her. She was angry that she had been taken from home. She was angry thather parents had not provided a real home. She was angry to be told when to wakeup and when to go to sleep. She was angry to be sent to school. She was angryto be pressed to do homework. She was angry that she was subject to structureand in her mind lost her freedom. She was depressed and alone in the world. Ateleven years old, she had reached rock bottom. Butwithin a few weeks, things started to change. The people at the Emunah homemade her feel loved and wanted. She made friends in the home and at school. Thesocial workers and teachers encouraged her and in a short time she began tosoar as a phoenix rising from the ashes. She wasencouraged to pursue drama studies and loved it. In 2013 she joined the armyand became a combat paramedic assisting injured soldiers and people in thefield, sometimes under fire. When she completed her army duty, she continuedher studies focusing on drama. She eventually went to work for channel 12 newsin Israel. She currently heads their social media team and pursues feel goodstories to help lift people. Emunahbecame her family. Her goal is to raise her own family and break the cycle. Her storywas very moving. Chantelle noted that she wished she could have her share herstory with our own community children in school. She would surely touch someand encourage others. Some might be lifted and others might consider assistingin the homes one summer. Perhaps we can get a video from Emunah and share that. There isa beautiful story told of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, a renowned Hasidicmaster, who was known for his compassion and ability to find sparks of holinessin every soul. One day, a poor, troubled Jew came to him, feeling hopeless andconsumed by darkness. The rabbilistened attentively, then began to tell a story: 'In the summer, when thesun shines brightly, the grasshopper sings a beautiful song. But in the winter,when snow covers the earth, the grasshopper's song is silenced. Does this meanthe grasshopper has lost its ability to sing?' The manshook his head. 'Ofcourse not!' the rabbi exclaimed. 'The grasshopper's song is stillwithin, waiting to emerge when the seasons change.' The rabbilooked deeply into the man's eyes: 'Similarly, within you, there is aspark of divine light, a song waiting to be sung. Though darkness may surroundyou now, it's temporary, like winter's snow. Your task is to find that innerlight, nurture it, and let it shine forth.' The man'sface lit up with newfound hope. In thisseason of Elul, we hope to be born again. We canimagine ourselves as caterpillars, hoping to shed our cocoons and emerge asbutterflies. Sometimesthough we think that success is based on achieving perfection. But isthat really what Hashem demands or even wants from us. There isa story, I heard from Rabbi Joey Haber, of a man seeking perfection in his ownlife. His rabbiasks his profession He is anartist, Hisfavorite painting is of sunset. Histeacher suggests taking a picture of a sunset and that will be a perfectreproduction. theartist explains the painting has imperfections and thats what makes it special. Theteacher explains, same with us Angelsmay be perfect, but our imperfection makes us special. imperfectionsadd uniqueness and value, both in art and in life. Thisweek's parsha is Ki Tavo. Based onthe teaching of the Shvilei Pinchas, Rabbi Pinchas Friedman, I would like toshare with you a connection of our efforts in Elul and the mitzvah of“bikkurim,” bringing the first fruits, which we open the perasha with The SefatEmet quotes the Chiddushei HaRim, zy”a. Heexplains why the month designated for teshuvah is named Elul based on thepassuk (ibid. 100, 3 דְּע֗וּ כִּֽי־ ה֮ ה֤וּא אֱלֹ֫קים הֽוּא־עָ֭שָׂנוּ (ולא) [וְל֣וֹ]אֲנַ֑חְנוּ עַ֝מּ֗וֹ וְצֹ֣אן מַרְעִיתֽוֹ׃ If onelooks in the book of Tehilim the word Loh is spelled Lamed alef or No But inthe siddur when we read this psalm each morning as Paslm 100 Miszor LeDavid wechange the aleph to a vav —know thatHashem, He is G-d; it is He Who made us and we are His—His nation and the sheepof His pasture. Traditionteaches us that the word “v'lo” in this passuk is written as ' ולא ',with an “aleph”; yet, it is read as ולו' ', with a “vav.” With an“aleph,” the passuk suggests that we are unworthy and inadequate to be Hispeople; with a “vav,” it means that we merit being close to Him. Heexplains that in reality both the way “v'lo” is written and the way it is readcomplement each other and achieve the same goal. By recognizing our lowlystature and the fact that we have sinned and failed to serve Hashemadequately--' ולא אנחנו עמו ' (the way the passuk is written)—we aremotivated to draw closer to Hashem by means of sincere teshuvah and attain thestatus of-- ולו אנחנו עמו' ' (the way the passuk is read) again. Bothprocesses enable us to achieve the goal of being ' עמו ', HKB”H'speople. This is alluded to by the name אלו'ל ; it combines thetwo spellings of the word “lo”-- ל'א and ל'ו . This teaches us thatour goal during the month of Elul is to combine these two processes, to correctall of our wrongdoings by means of complete teshuvah and to regain the statusof ' .'עמו Lets turnto the Gemara (Makkot 24a): 'וכברהיה רבן גמליאל ורבי אלעזר בן עזריה ורבי יהושע ורבי עקיבא מהלכין בדרך...The first story tells about the Goyim. Then the gemara continues Now Iimagine these stories take place following the rebellion of Bar Kochba and theedicts of Hadrian Yimach Shemo שׁוּב פַּעַםאַחַת הָיוּ עוֹלִין לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לְהַר הַצּוֹפִים קָרְעוּבִּגְדֵיהֶם, כֵּיוָן שֶׁהִגִּיעוּ לְהַר הַבַּיִת רָאוּ שׁוּעָל שֶׁיָּצָא מִבֵּיתקׇדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים, הִתְחִילוּ הֵן בּוֹכִין וְרַבִּי עֲקִיבָא מְצַחֵק. אָמְרוּלוֹ: מִפְּנֵי מָה אַתָּה מְצַחֵק? אָמַר לָהֶם: מִפְּנֵי מָה אַתֶּם בּוֹכִים? אָמְרוּלוֹ: מָקוֹם שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ ״וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת״, וְעַכְשָׁיו שׁוּעָלִים הִלְּכוּבּוֹ, וְלֹא נִבְכֶּה?! אָמַר לָהֶן:לְכָךְ אֲנִי מְצַחֵק, דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאָעִידָה לִּי עֵדִים נֶאֱמָנִים אֵת אוּרִיָּההַכֹּהֵן וְאֶת זְכַרְיָה בֶּן יְבֶרֶכְיָהוּ״ – וְכִי מָה עִנְיַן אוּרִיָּה אֵצֶלזְכַרְיָה? אוּרִיָּה בְּמִקְדָּשׁ רִאשׁוֹן, וּזְכַרְיָה בְּמִקְדָּשׁ שֵׁנִי! אֶלָּא:תָּלָה הַכָּתוּב נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל זְכַרְיָה בִּנְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל אוּרִיָּה. בְּאוּרִיָּהכְּתִיב ״לָכֵן בִּגְלַלְכֶם צִיּוֹן שָׂדֶה תֵחָרֵשׁ״, בִּזְכַרְיָה כְּתִיב ״עוֹדיֵשְׁבוּ זְקֵנִים וּזְקֵנוֹת בִּרְחֹבוֹת יְרוּשָׁלִָם״. עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִתְקַיְּימָהנְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל אוּרִיָּה הָיִיתִי מִתְיָירֵא שֶׁלֹּא תִּתְקַיֵּים נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁלזְכַרְיָה, עַכְשָׁיו שֶׁנִּתְקַיְּימָה נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל אוּרִיָּה – בְּיָדוּעַ שֶׁנְּבוּאָתוֹשֶׁל זְכַרְיָה מִתְקַיֶּימֶת. בַּלָּשׁוֹן הַזֶּה אָמְרוּ לוֹ: עֲקִיבָא נִיחַמְתָּנוּ,עֲקִיבָא נִיחַמְתָּנוּ. Once,Rabban Gamliel, Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Akiva weretraveling on the road . . . When they reached Har HaTzofim, they tore theirgarments. When they came to Har HaBayis, they saw a fox emerging from KodeshHaKodashim, and they began to cry; however, Rabbi Akiva smiled. They said tohim, “Why are you smiling?” He responded to them, “Why are you crying?” Theyanswered him, “A place about which it is written (Bamidbar 1, 51): ‘Thenon-kohen who comes close shall be put to death,' and now (Eichah 5, 18) ‘foxesare walking about there,' should we not cry?” He saidto them, “This is why I am smiling . . . In the prophecy of Uriah, it iswritten (Michah 3, 12): ‘Therefore, because of you, Tziyon will be plowed likea field etc.' In the prophecy of Zechariah, it is written (Zechariah 8, 4):‘Old men and old women will yet sit in the streets of Yerushalayim.' As longas the nevuah of Uriah had not been fulfilled, I feared that the nevuah ofZechariah would not be fulfilled. Now, that the nevuah of Uriah has beenfulfilled, it is apparent that the nevuah of Zechariah will be fulfilled.” Theyresponded to him in these words, “Akiva, you have consoled us; Akiva, you haveconsoled us!” Itbehooves us to analyze Rabbi Akiva's reactions described above. Why did helaugh and smile upon seeing proof of Zechariah's nevuah related to the futuregeulah? Without a doubt, the other sages also believed wholeheartedly in theveracity of the prophecies concerning the future geulah. Nevertheless, whenconfronted with the extent of the churban—witnessing a fox exiting from theKodesh HaKodashim—they were overcome with grief and cried. So, what possessedRabbi Akiva to react so differently to the same disturbing sight? Additionally,why did he require seeing the fulfillment of Uriah's nevuah concerning theextent of the churban in order to substantiate that Zechariah's nevuahconcerning the geulah would be fulfilled? Toexplain the matter, the Maharal teaches us a basic principle. HKB”H created theworld such that there is always void and nullification prior to renewal.Furthermore, the degree of renewal relates to the degree of absence and divineconcealment. In other words, the greater the absence and void, the greater therenewal will be. TheMaharal asserts that HKB”H revealed this phenomenon to us at the beginning ofthe Torah (Bereishis 1, 1): 'בראשית ברא אלקים את השמיםואת הארץ, והארץ היתה תוהו ובוהו וחושך על פני תהום ורוח אלקיםמרחפת על פני המים, ויאמר אלקים יהי אור ויהי אור'. theMaharal interprets Rabbi Akiva's profound message. Uponseeing the fox emerge from the chamber of the Kodesh HaKodashim, he smiled. Hehad no doubt that the nevuah of Zechariah would come to pass—that old men andwomen would sit in the streets of Yerushalayim. However, he had no idea howgreat or grand the revival and renewal of Yerushalayim would be. The foxemerging from the Kodesh HaKodashim represented an extreme degree of “hesterpanim”—divine concealment. Therefore, he had cause to rejoice. For, heunderstood that the degree of churban and absence of the divine presencereflected on the commensurate greatness and glory of the renewal ofYerushalayim at the time of the geulah. InNetzach Yisrael (Chapter 30), the Maharal applies this incredible principle toexplain the galut in Mitzrayim that preceded Yisrael's entry into Eretz Yisraeland, for that matter, all the exiles that have preceded the future geulah. Theyall represent the void that precedes the new state of existence, like thedarkness of night that precedes the light of day. Therefore, HKB”H subjectedYisrael to the galut in Mitzrayim—which constituted a process ofnullification—prior to taking them into Eretz Yisrael. Thisexplains very nicely the following passuk related to the galuts in Mitzrayim(Shemos 1, 12): 'וכאשר יענו אותו כן ירבה וכן יפרוץ'—but as much as they afflict it, so it will increase and so it will burst forth. Here theTorah teaches us that the suffering and affliction in Mitzrayim constituted thevoid that gave rise to Yisrael's renewal and rebirth. After the exodus, theyreceived the Torah at Har Sinai and entered Eretz Yisrael. That demonstratesfor us magnificently how all of the galuyot constitute the absence and voidthat is destined to produce the incredible renewal of the future geulah. Its difficult to read this and not think of the Holocaust andthe miracles of 1948 and 1967 RabbiPinchas of Koretz—defines the state of nullification and void as ' אַיִן', which always precedes the state of renewal, referred to as '.'יֵשׁ.' Hecompares this concept to seeds of wheat or other fruit and vegetation that isplanted in the ground. Their growth only starts after the seed decays intoalmost nothingness -אַיִן'- '. Only then, from this state of nearnothingness, the seed begins to grow and sprout and renew itself. As he writes in Imrei Pinchas (Tishah B'Av 384): When grainis planted in the ground, it cannot grow unless it first decays and actuallybecomes nothing. In that void, remains a tremendous potential that can producean entire stalk. This is a type of metamorphosis. At the precise moment that itis virtually nothing, it immediately takes shape. There is a Hasidic story of a couple who come to their Rebbefor a blessing for a child. He asks for an exorbitant pidyon. They return,unable to raise it. He tells them that he can't help. They leave dejected andoutside his home they realize they can only turn to hashem. When the rebbehears that he calls them in and tells them they will be blessed with a child. We havelearned an important principle in the Mishnah (Avos 6, כלמה שברא הקב'ה בעולמו לא בראו אלא לכבודו' :( 11 '—everything that HKB”H created in His world, He created solely for His honor.That being the case, why did HKB”H create the world in such a way that nothingcan be renewed or revitalized without first undergoing a process of void andnullification? How does this enhance His honor? RabbiYisrael of Ruzhin, zy”a, explains regarding the following statement from DavidHaMelech (Tehillim 13, 2): 'עד אנה תסתיר את פניך ממני,עד אנה אשית עצות בנפשי' —how long will You hide Your countenance from me?How long will I continue to seek counsel within my own spirit? Heexplains that David HaMelech wished to teach us a vital lesson regarding ouremunah and trust in Hashem. When a Jew wants to receive salvation from Hashem,he must first understand that he is totally helpless on his own; his salvationdepends solely on Hashem. As long as he believes that he has a solution of hisown, his emunah and trust in Hashem are lacking. So, DavidHaMelech asks: How long will You continue to conceal Your presence from Me? Heanswers his own question: So long as I delude myself into thinking that I amcapable of resolving dilemmas with my own counsel and devices, the “hesterpanim”—divine concealment—will continue; however, as soon as I recognize withcertainty that I in fact lack any such wisdom or ability, the “hester panim”will cease, and Hashem's salvation will arrive instantaneously. Only whenI accept that I don't have all the answers Thus, it appears that this explains why HKB”H created theworld such that every renewal—situation of ' יש '–must be preceded bya state of void and nullification—situation of אין' '. It is becausesuch a difficult transformation causes man to understand that he does not havethe wisdom or resources to emerge from the darkness and void alone withoutHashem's assistance. As soon as he says to himself: “How long will I continueto seek counsel within my own spirit?”—he will succeed in emerging from thevoid to a state of renewal. In perekShirah Everythingin nature has a song And thesong sung by the wheat in Perek Shirah (Chapter 3): 'שיבולת חיטים אומרת שירהמעלות ממעמקים קראתיך ה'' —the stalk of wheat says (Tehillim 130, 1):“From the depths, I call to You, Hashem.” It isimportant to recognize that the term “lechem”—bread—encompasses all of man'sfood and nourishment. This is evident from the prayer of Yaakov Avinu(Bereishis 28, 20): 'ונתן לי לחם לאכול'—and He will give me bread to eat. Similarly, another passuk says (ibid. 47,12): 'ויכלכל יוסף את אביו ואת אחיו ואת כל בית אביו לחם לפי הטף'—Yosef provided his father and his brother and all of his father's householdwith food (“lechem”) according to the children. It is precisely for this reasonthat the berachah “hamotzi,” which is recited over bread, covers all the foodthat one consumes during a meal; it is because all other food is consideredsecondary to the bread. Weexplained above, that we learn from the growth of the wheat, from which breadis made, the vital principle that nothing can grow or be renewed without firstundergoing a stage of nullification—i.e. nullification of its current state.Therefore, only after the seeds of wheat decay and achieve a virtual state ofnothingness--' אין '—do they begin to grow and develop into a newentity. At that very moment, when they are in the ground and achieve the stateof » אין «, they pray to Hashem from the depths of the earth not to decaycompletely, to survive and grow into a new stalk of grain in the field above. We cannow appreciate and comprehend the song of the stalk of wheat. It recalls thechesed Hashem performed on its behalf whilst it was still deep in the ground ina state of decay. To express its gratitude to Hashem, it sings: 'שיר המעלותממעמקים קראתיך ה'' —thanking Hashem for hearing and responding to its pleafrom the depths of the earth. This iswhy David HaMelech instituted this psalm; so that we would join the stalk ofwheat in expressing gratitude to Hashem. For, we recognize all the kindness Heperforms on our behalf when we are in states of nothingness and helplessness.For instance, after every night of sleep, He returns our neshamos to usrevitalized. Itappears that we can suggest another reason that every situation of renewalrequires a prior state of nothingness. TheYosher Divrei Emet cites his Rav, the Maggid of Mezritsch, zy”a. He explainsthat this principle applies to spiritual matters as well. A person who wants torenew and revitalize his service of Hashem must first nullify his presentcircumstances—his ' יש '. This is accomplished by recognizing how farhe still has to go to serve Hashem properly. Through humility, submission andrecognition of his unworthiness, he will succeed in serving Hashem on a muchhigher level. Until he acknowledges his shortcomings in the service of Hashem,he will be unable to renew his spiritual self. We nowhave cause to rejoice! This illuminates for us the insight provided by theChiddushei HaRim, zy”a, concerning the name אלו'ל . As explained, itcombines the two spellings of the word “lo”-- ל'א and ל'ו . Thus, thename Elul reminds us that we must recognize that we have acted improperly andare not truly worthy of being Hashem's people--' .'ולא אנחנו עמו As aresult of this recognition and by mending our ways and attitudescorrespondingly, we will once again be deserving of the status of ' ולו אנחנועמו '. Let us explain this process in terms of our current discussion. Atthe end of the year, during the month of Elul, it is incumbent upon us to pushour personal reset buttons, so to speak. In order to create ourselves anewprior to Rosh HaShanah, we must nullify our old selves during the month ofElul. By recognizing that we are unworthy to be called His people--' ולא אנחנועמו '—we will succeed in transforming ourselves and taking on a newpersona in the new year consistent with the depiction--' .'ולו אנחנו עמו Followingthis glorious path, let us now address the opening pesukim of this week'sparsha discussing the mitzvah of bikkurim: “It will be when you enter the landthat Hashem, your G-d, gives you as an inheritance, and you take possession ofit, and dwell in it, that you shall take of the first of every fruit of theearth that you bring in from your land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you, andyou shall put it in a basket and go to the place that Hashem, your G-d, willchoose, to make His name rest there.” The KliYakar provides a rationale for this mitzvah. After conquering the new land,Yisrael were liable to become arrogant and attribute the conquest to their ownpowers and strategies. In particular, after working the land and growingvarious produce and fruit, they might think to themselves (Devarim 8, 17):' כוחי ועוצם ידי עשה לי את החיל הזה '—my strength and the might of myhand have generated this wealth for me. To eliminate this false belief, HKB”Hcommanded Yisrael to take the first of every fruit of the land, to take it upto the kohen in Yerushalayim and to recite an explicit expression of gratitudeto Hashem for giving us this land. This procedure was designed to fortify ouremunah in Hashem. Let usinterject a spicy tidbit. It is written (Tehillim 37, 11): וענוים יירשו ארץ''—the humble will inherit the earth. This passuk clearly implies that thequality of humility is propitious for inheriting Eretz Yisrael. For, we knowthat the kedushah of Eretz Yisrael is due to the presence of the Shechinah.This was especially true when the Beis HaMikdash was extant and operational. Asit is written (Shemos 25, 8): 'ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם' —they shallmake Me a sanctuary (Mikdash), so that I may dwell among them. Now, weknow that a prerequisite for the presence of the Shechinah is the midah ofhumility. In the words of the Gemara (Sotah 5a): 'לעולם ילמד אדם מדעת קונו,שהרי הקב'ה הניח כל הרים וגבעות והשרה שכינתו על הר סיני' —a personshould always learn from the good sense of his Creator—for behold, when HKB”Hgave the Torah, He abandoned all the great mountains and hills and insteadrested His Shechinah on Har Sinai (a lowly, unimpressive mountain). Additionally,they taught (ibid.): 'כל אדם שיש בו גסות הרוח, אמר הקב'ה אין אני והוא יכולים לדורבעולם' —concerning any person who possesses a haughtiness of spirit, HKB”Hsays: I and he cannot dwell together in the world. Therefore, HKB”H commandedthat upon entering the land, Yisrael would bring the bikkurim “to the placethat Hashem, your G-d, will choose, to make His name rest there.” This wouldinculcate in them the knowledge that HKB”H only rests His name in Eretz Yisraelin the merit of the midah of humility. Asexplained, the mitzvah of bikkurim is designed to shatter the klipah of “mystrength and the might of my hand have generated this wealth for me.” We willnow endeavor to explain why HKB”H used this mitzvah to hint to us theimportance of the midah of humility; for, this is the vital lesson we aresupposed to learn from the first fruit if we want to enter the land, keep itand endure in it. וְהָיָה֙ כִּֽי־תָב֣וֹאאֶל־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר֙ ה אֱלֹקיךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לְךָ֖ נַחֲלָ֑ה וִֽירִשְׁתָּ֖הּ וְיָשַׁ֥בְתָּבָּֽהּ׃ וְלָקַחְתָּ֞מֵרֵאשִׁ֣ית ׀ כׇּל־פְּרִ֣י הָאֲדָמָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר תָּבִ֧יא מֵֽאַרְצְךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יְהֹוָ֧האֱלֹהֶ֛יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָ֖ךְ וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ בַטֶּ֑נֶא וְהָֽלַכְתָּ֙ אֶל־הַמָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֤ריִבְחַר֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֔יךָ לְשַׁכֵּ֥ן שְׁמ֖וֹ שָֽׁם׃ “It willbe when you enter the land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you as an inheritance,and you take possession of it, and dwell in it, that you shall take of thefirst of every fruit of the earth that you bring in from your land that Hashem,your G-d, gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place thatHashem, your G-d, will choose, to make His name rest there.” HKB”Hinstructs Yisrael: 'ולקחת מראשית כל פרי האדמה אשר תביא מארצך' . Letus expound: ' ולקחת '—you must learn a vital lesson— “lekach”—fromthe “first” yield of “every fruit of the earth.” When those fruits were yetseeds deep in the earth; they could not grow or sprout until they decayed intoa state of virtual nothingness— ״אין״ . In similar fashion, if you wish toremain in EretzYisrael, you must constantly humble yourselves, which is a type ofnullification and expression of nothingness. You must acknowledge how far youare still from serving Hashem properly. Only then will you be able to startanew, serving Hashem properly in His royal palace in Eretz Yisrael. Let usadd a valuable detail. When Moshe Rabeinu sent the meraglim to survey the land,he said to them (Bamidbar 13, 20): והתחזקתם ולקחתם מפרי הארץ' '—youshall strengthen yourselves and take from the fruit of the land. According tothe Zohar hakadosh (Shelach 158a), the meraglim did not want to enter the land,because they perceived that they would not maintain their elite status asprinces and leaders in Eretz Yisrael. This motivated them to speak ill of EretzYisrael, so that they would maintain thestatus of princes that they held in the midbar. In other words, the meraglim'sfailure is attributable to the klipah of arrogance— “ga'avah”; they feared thatthey would lose their prominence. Thus, itseems that this is what Moshe was hinting to the meraglim: ' והתחזקתם'—fortify yourselves against the yetzer of “ga'avah” that instills in youthe fear of losing authority and control; ' ולקחתם '—learn a vitallesson (“lekach”); ' —'מפרי הארץ from the fruit whose seeds cannotgrow and produce within the depths of the earth until they decay and achieve astate of nothingness. You, too,must fortify yourselves by achieving a state of virtual nothingness by totallyrelinquishing your prominent status as princes. By doing so, you will achieveyour complete tikun in Olam HaZeh and rise higher and higher in the service ofHashem. We cannow suggest the following. After the original generation of the midbar alldied—who were influenced by the meraglim, failing to learn the lessonconcerning the midah of humility from the fruit of the land—Moshe announced totheir children who were about to enter the land: “It will be when you enter theland that Hashem, your G-d, gives you as an inheritance, and you takepossession of it, and dwell in it.” He waswarning them that if they intend to enter the land and to prosper and survivein it, and not to suffer the fate of their fathers, who were not allowed toenter the land: 'ולקחת מראשית כל פרי האדמה' —be sure to learn thislesson (“lekach”) from the first yields of the fruits of the land—in contrastto their fathers who neglected to heed Moshe's warning: 'והתחזקתם ולקחתם מפריהארץ' —fortify yourselves and take (learn a lesson) from the fruit of theland. Thelesson relates to the avodah of the month of אלו'ל , whose name is formedby the two spellings of the word “lo”-- ל'א and ל'ו . As wehave explained, it is incumbent upon us to achieve a state of nothingnessthrough the midah of humility; we must acknowledge that due to our behavior, weare the embodiment of ' ולא אנחנו עמו '—we do not truly deserve to beHis people. Yet, withthis acknowledgment, we are able to renew ourselves through total teshuvah andreclaim the status of ' ולו אנחנו עמו '. In this merit, we willfinally deserve to be redeemed from the trials and tribulations of galus; aswe've learned, galus is the void and nothingness that must precede theflourishing growth of the future geulah—swiftly, in our times! Amen.

Hashem decides who marries who and exactly when the wedding should take place. When the time is right, He puts everything in order so that His will will come to fruition and the couple that's destined for each other will get married. A man told me his good friend who we'll call David was trying to get married for about ten years. During the first couple of years, he went out a few times with a girl who we'll call Sarah. He decided they weren't a match, and he moved on. A year later, he went out with a girl who we'll call Esther. They went out many times, and he decided she was the right one. However, to his dismay, she ended it, and he was left heartbroken. Many years went by after that with nothing to show for it. Then, one day the shadchan called and said that Sarah was interested in trying again since it's been so many years since they had gone out, maybe things have changed. David agreed to try it again. About an hour later, a different shadchan called and said that Esther was willing to try again and wanted to know if he was interested. This was the girl he wanted to marry who he was never able to get over. He quickly called back the first shadchan and asked if he was in contact with the other side yet. The shadchan said he didn't have a chance to call them but was planning on calling soon. David asked him to please put it on hold, and he would let him know if anything changed. He then said yes to the second shadchan and once again went out with Esther. This time, after just one date, he saw clearly that she was not for him. He then went out with Sarah and saw that she was for him, and Baruch Hashem, they got married. David said he was never able to give any other girls a fair chance because he always wanted to marry Esther. Once he saw that Esther wasn't for him, he was able to give Sarah a fair chance. When the time came for Sarah and David to get married, Hashem made sure that David's mind would be clear, so He caused Esther to want to try a second time. When it comes to anything in life, we can make all the hishtadlut we want, but ultimately only what Hashem wants is going to happen, and we see this time and time again when it comes to Shidduchim. A wealthy man who was a student of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev asked his Rebbe to pick out a good girl for his son. The Rebbe said he knew of a modest girl with yirat shamayim and told the wealthy man to come to Berditchev for the holidays, and he would set up a meeting with him and the girl's father. In Berditchev, there was a poor man whose profession was binding books. He had in his possession one very valuable book that he was hoping to sell but never found a buyer for. He was told that this wealthy man was coming to town, and he should ask him to buy it. When the wealthy man came, the poor man was too embarrassed to ask him to buy the book, so he sent his daughter there to ask him for him. When the girl came to where the wealthy man was staying, he thought this was the girl that the Rebbe was telling him about, and in order not to embarrass her, they told her to bring a book but she was really there to see if he wanted her for his son. The wealthy man inquired about her and heard great things and then asked for her for a shidduch for his son. She was very pleased with the shidduch, and it was finalized. When Rebbe Levi Yitzchak heard what happened, he said, "Once again, we see how Hashem determines who is going to marry who and nobody can say otherwise. I had a different girl in mind for this wealthy man's son but Hashem made the shidduch with who He knew was the right one." Hashem is always the מזווג זיווגים , and when the time is right, things fall into place.

“Chodesh Av,” the Month of Av, is referred to in the TORAH as the “Fifth Month,” counting from Nisan, the “First Month.” There is a Biblical reference in BaMidbar (33:38), where we find “And Aharon the Priest went up to Hor Hahar at the command of G-d, and he died there in the fortieth year after the Jewish People had left Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first of the month.” (BaMidbar 33:38). This is the only Yahrzeit mentioned in the Torah specifically with a date. The kavana and permutation of Hashem's name which we have in mind during the blessing of the month on Rosh Hodesh in the Amidah of Musaf is ה ו י ה It comes from the pasuk in Devarim ט) וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר מֹשֶׁה֙ וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּ֔ם אֶ֥ל כׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הַסְכֵּ֤ת ׀ וּשְׁמַע֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הַיּ֤וֹם הַזֶּה֙ נִהְיֵ֣יתָֽ לְעָ֔ם לַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (9) Moses spoke, and the levitical priests, to all Israel, saying: Hasket! Hear, O Israel! This very day you have become the people of your God יה - - וה: Rav Yisrael Simcha Schorr quotes an Agra d'Kallah (from the Bnei Yissaschar) that cites a Zohar at the end of Parshas Pinchas which states that Yaakov and Esav divided the months between themselves. Yaakov symbolizes the middas harachamim, compassion, while Esav symbolizes the middas hadin, justice. Certain months are connected more to din and others are connected to rachamim. Esav wanted to take all the summer months, Tammuz, Av, and Elul. As we know, Tammuz and Av are difficult months for us, times of din. However, Yaakov would not allow Esav to take the month of Elul, as it would be too hard on Klal Yisrael to come into the din of Rosh Hashanah without the rachamim of Elul. We need Hashem's compassion for a full month in order to face the great Day of Judgment. Esav complained that Yaakov has tricked him twice, that he had taken away from him those two months. Every year during the month of Elul, this struggle between Yaakov and Esav is renewed. Esav wishes to retrieve the month for himself. Yaakov in seeking ways to sweeten jusgment with lovingkindness, Ya'akov managed to liberate the second portion of Av from Esav. (This took place when he defeated the Sar of Esav in the 'wrestling' match. The result is that now the second half of Av is joined with the entire month of Elul, the month of Teshuvah, the best time for getting back into alignment with the Divine will. Indeed, the Holy Qedushat Levi, Rebbe Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev, noted that Av is an acronym for Arur (cursed) and Barukh (blessed). The blessing part of Av begins with this parashah and reaches its height on the 15th of Av.

Questions, comments, feedback? Send us a message.#286> We discussed R' Moyshe's background (including his job in the Treasury Department in the Trump administration), his interest in the Kedushas LEvi, Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev's bio, what the translation project entailed, the challenges in translation and especially of a chasidic sefer, why not notes/commentary, and more. > To purchase the 3 Volume set of the Kedushas Levi from Amazon click here.To purchase from Artscroll click here.> To purchase just volume 1 click here, vol 2 here, and vol 3 here.> To join the SeforimChatter WhatsApp community click here.>  To support the podcast or to sponsor an episode follow this link or email seforimchatter@gmail.com (Zelle/QP this email address)> Subscribe to the SeforimChatter YouTube channel here.> Subscribe and read the SeforimChatter Substack here.

Join us in Jerusalem for Ohr Samayach's Inaugural Yarchei Kallah event from July 1st to 4th, 2024! Featuring HaRav Yitzchak Breitowitz shlit"a & HaRav Asher Weiss shlit"a  Click here for more information.   Dont miss this one of a kind experience!   Dedication opportunities are available for episodes and series at  https://ohr.edu/donate/qa   Questions? Comments? podcasts@ohr.edu   Yeshivat Ohr Somayach located in the heart of Jerusalem, is an educational institution for young Jewish English-speaking men. We have a range of classes and programs designed for the intellectually curious and academically inclined - for those with no background in Jewish learning to those who are proficient in Gemara and other original source material. To find the perfect program for you, please visit our website https://ohr.edu/study_in_israel​ whatsapp us at https://bit.ly/OSREGISTER or call our placement specialist at 1-254-981-0133 today!   Subscribe to the Rabbi Breitowitz Q&A Podcast at https://plnk.to/rbq&a   Submit questions for the Q&A with Rabbi Breitowitz https://forms.gle/VCZSK3wQJJ4fSd3Q7   Subscribe to our YouTube Channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/OhrSomayach/videos   00:00 - It says in the aggedeta in Sotah that Pharoh knew psukim in the Torah. How could he know them before the Torah was given?   03:25 - What does it mean in the Gemara when it says a certain ‘kal vhomer' is ‘dayo'?   10:25 - Do we have to risk our lives for the Mitzvah of Yishuv Eretz Yisrael?   21:45 - Why do we wrap Tefillin in a certain way? What is its significance?   24:50 - What is the significance of the four-headed shin on the side of the tefillin?   30:00 - Is there anything wrong with selling a Sefer to a goy if he cannot learn from it?   36:50 - How could it be that amoraim of the Gemara could make a mistake? (Gittin עז:)   40:50 - What is the connection between Birchas Cohanim and dreams?   44:25 - Why don't we sing between the verses of Birchas Cohanim everyday, like we do on Yom Tov?   46:15 - How could it be that the ‘Gemara' is mentioned in the Gemara itself, before it was compiled?   50:00 - Dovid HaMelech says he wants to be connected to Hashem all the days of his life. Does this mean he should have been in Kollel rather than waging wars?   59:50 - What is the origin and kedushah of Aramaic?   65:45 - Why is the order of Mishnayos in Bava Kama the way it is and why does the Rambam change it?   68:50 - What was the snake and what was the sin in Gan Eden?   75:25 - What role does tefillah play in teshuva?   80:50 - How can we have kapara for our sins? They are too many.   84:00 - Should you allow someone to come into the mikveh with you through the turnstile?   89:15 - What is uniqueness of the Jewish people's request for meat in that it brought about a stronger response than other similar conflicts in the midbar?   92:00 - Why does Rashi use Old French?   95:09 - The Gemara in Sotah says one should throw himself in a furnace rather than embarrass someone publicly. Do we uphold this to this day?   96:45 - It says about R'Levi of Berditchev that he jumped around during davening and there are many other example of people who were loose with Halacha in order to have more kavanah. Should we also do this?   101:00 - Why do some siddurim attach emes to the third paragraph of kriat shema and some do not? You can listen to this and many other Ohr Somayach programs by downloading our app, on Apple and Google Play, ohr.edu and all major podcast platforms. Visit us @ https://ohr.edu  PRODUCED BY: CEDAR MEDIA STUDIOS  

Embark on a transformative journey to refine your character traits with the timeless wisdom of the "Orchos Tzaddikim," the Book of Traits. Our exploration reveals the essential tools for living a wise and virtuous life, similar to how a tradesman meticulously selects his instruments. Through the powerful analogy of recognizing the true worth of various coins, we uncover the inherent value of noble traits and the dangers of harboring 'contraband' characteristics like arrogance and jealousy. A poignant narrative about Levi Yitzchak from Berditchev illustrates the profound respect for divine commandments, underscoring the significance of cultivating the right traits for a life in harmony with Hashem.Prepare to confront the insidious nature of arrogance, a trait that can sever our connection to the Divine and spawn countless negative behaviors. We delve into the reasons why this vice stands as the primary barrier to personal and spiritual development, illuminating the path to embracing humility. The episode navigates the complex landscape of arrogance, advising on the precarious instances it may be used with caution. As we advance in our discussion, we seek divine assistance in understanding and overcoming arrogance, setting the stage for a journey towards personal growth and spiritual enlightenment.This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Studio D in Passaic, NJ on April 28, 2024.Released as Podcast on April 28, 2024_____________DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!_____________SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com_____________EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Embark on a transformative journey to refine your character traits with the timeless wisdom of the "Orchos Tzaddikim," the Book of Traits. Our exploration reveals the essential tools for living a wise and virtuous life, similar to how a tradesman meticulously selects his instruments. Through the powerful analogy of recognizing the true worth of various coins, we uncover the inherent value of noble traits and the dangers of harboring 'contraband' characteristics like arrogance and jealousy. A poignant narrative about Levi Yitzchak from Berditchev illustrates the profound respect for divine commandments, underscoring the significance of cultivating the right traits for a life in harmony with Hashem.Prepare to confront the insidious nature of arrogance, a trait that can sever our connection to the Divine and spawn countless negative behaviors. We delve into the reasons why this vice stands as the primary barrier to personal and spiritual development, illuminating the path to embracing humility. The episode navigates the complex landscape of arrogance, advising on the precarious instances it may be used with caution. As we advance in our discussion, we seek divine assistance in understanding and overcoming arrogance, setting the stage for a journey towards personal growth and spiritual enlightenment.This series on Orchos Tzadikim/Ways of the Righteous is produced in partnership with Hachzek.Join the revolution of daily Mussar study at hachzek.com.We are using the Treasure of Life edition of the Orchos Tzadikkim (Published by Feldheim)Recorded in the TORCH Centre - Studio D in Passaic, NJ on April 28, 2024.Released as Podcast on April 28, 2024_____________DONATE to TORCH: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!_____________SUBSCRIBE and LISTEN to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: NEW!! Prayer Podcast: https://prayerpodcast.transistor.fm/episodesJewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodesParsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodesLiving Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodesThinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodesUnboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodesRabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodesFor a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.com_____________EMAIL your questions, comments, and feedback: awolbe@torchweb.org_____________Please visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area!  ★ Support this podcast ★

ישועת ה' כהרף עין. Simply that means, the salvation of Hashem comes as fast as it takes to blink an eye. Rav Levi Yitzchak from Berditchev, however, gave another explanation. The word heref in the Torah means to leave, as the pasuk says "הרף ממני" When possibility of salvation has left the eye and the person sees no way to be helped, that is when the salvation of Hashem comes, in a way the person could have never imagined. A man who will call Yosef Steinberg related that it came to a point when he realized his three boys were being negatively influenced in the school they were attending. He discussed it with his wife, and they decided they wanted the best Torah education for their children and they were going to try to get them in to the top Talmud Torah where all the best families sent their children. There was just one small problem. It was the middle of the year, and this particular school was difficult to get into even at the beginning of the year, all the more so in the middle of one. Furthermore, they were a relatively new family to the community, not well known and not connected to any other families who sent their children there. Yosef knew that in the natural way of things, there was no chance his children would be accepted there. And so, he turned to the Chief Principal, HaKadosh Baruch Hu , who teaches Torah to all of His nation. He went to pray by the kever of his Rebbe and asked Hashem to have pity on him and his children, who only desired to do His will better. He wanted his children to learn in holiness and purity, in order to serve Hashem the best way possible. After a full hour of pouring out his heart, he then went to do his basic hishtadlut of calling the principal of that Talmud Torah and asking if his children could be accepted. When he called, he introduced himself as Steinberg and asked if his children could transfer to his Talmud Torah. The principal answered immediately with the words, “ B'simcha raba , it would be our pleasure to have your children.” He then said he would wait in his office for him to come in and give him more information about his children. Yosef Steinberg was ecstatic. The principal didn't even ask to interview his children. He went there and told them their ages and he said, “This child will go to Rabbi Cohen's class. This one will go to Rabbi Levi's class. And this one will go to Rabbi Yisraeli's class.” The very next day, his children started learning there. He thanked Hashem from the bottom of his heart and didn't ask any questions on why that process was so easy. The following week, he found out the whole story. A week after his children were accepted, a call came in to the principal saying, “Hi, this is Steinberg, I want to put my children in your Talmud Torah.” “Classes are full,” he answered, “and besides, it's impossible to take children in the middle of the year.” “But the donor told me he already spoke to you and got your approval,” Steinberg replied. Turned out, one of the big donors to that institution had spoken to the principal, asking him to accept Mr. Steinberg's children. When Yosef called, the principal thought it was that other Steinberg that he was talking to. It did not enter his mind that there would be a different Steinberg calling to get his children accepted. It was incredible hashgacha pratit that Yosef called at that exact time. Ultimately, the other Steinberg did get his children into the school and once Yosef's children were there, they were allowed to stay. The salvation of Hashem can come in ways we could never imagine.

There is a well-known Halacha of "Mi'she'nichnas Adar Marbim Be'simha" – "When Adar arrives, we increase our joy." Adar is an especially auspicious month for the Jewish people, and thus if a Jew is embroiled in a court case against a gentile, he should try, if possible, to schedule the trial for the month of Adar. As this month is endowed with special Mazal ("luck" or good fortune), a person stands a better chance of emerging victorious in a legal battle during Adar. In a leap year, when we have an extra month of Adar, do both months have this special quality, or only the second Adar – Adar Sheni – which is when we celebrate Purim? Essentially, this question relates to the issue of the zodiacal sign to which Adar Rishon corresponds. The twelve months of the Jewish year correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac, and the month of Adar corresponds to Pisces (fish). The Sages teach that fish are not subject to the Ayin Ha'ra (evil eye), since they live underwater, and Adar corresponds to Pisces because during this month we are able to avoid the harmful effects of the Ayin Ha'ra. The question becomes whether in a leap year, Adar Rishon follows the zodiacal sign of Adar Sheni – in which case it shares the special auspicious qualities of Adar Sheni – or if it has the same sign as the preceding month, Shebat. This issue is subject to a debate. The Lebush (Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe of Prague, 1530-1612) maintained that Adar Rishon corresponds to the zodiacal sign of Aquarius, the sign of Shebat, and thus it does not have the special qualities of Adar Sheni. A different view, however is taken by the Kedushat Levi (Rabbi Levi Yishak of Berditchev, Poland, 1740-1810), in a famous passage in Parashat Ki-Tisa, and by Rabbi Sadok Hakohen of Lublin (1823-1900). They note that just as the twelve months correspond to the twelve signs of the zodiac, similarly, the months correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel. The month of Adar, which is under the sign of Pisces, corresponds to Yosef Ha'sadik, who is blessed like fish, and who, like fish, was free from the clutches of the Ayin Ha'ra. Yosef was unique among Yaakob's sons in that his two sons – Menashe and Efrayim – each formed a separate tribe ("Efrayim U'Menashe Ki'Re'uben Ve'Shimon Yiheyu Li" – Bereshit 48:5). Accordingly, in a leap year, the two months of Adar correspond to the two sons of Yosef, Menashe and Efrayim, and, as such, both are represented by the sign of Pisces. It thus emerges, according to this view, that both Adar Rishon and Adar Sheni share the special properties of the month of Adar, and Adar Rishon is indeed an auspicious time for success in court. Practically speaking, then, it is certainly preferable during a leap year to schedule one's court cases for Adar Sheni, which is an auspicious time according to all views, but if this is not possible, there is certainly value in scheduling the case for Adar Rishon. It should be noted that Rashi (Rabbi Shelomo Yishaki of Troyes, France, 1040-1105), in his commentary to Masechet Ta'anit, indicates that this special quality continues through Nissan, as well. Commenting on the Halacha of "Mi'she'nichnas Adar Marbim Be'simha," Rashi explains that Adar is special because it ushers in the season of miracles, the season of Purim and Pesah. Significantly, Rashi mentions Pesah in this context, clearly indicating that Nissan, too, is an especially auspicious period. It would thus seem that, according to Rashi, Nissan is also a time when one has a greater chance of success in his lawsuits. Summary: It is advisable for a person facing a legal battle against a gentile to schedule his case for Adar. In a leap year, it is preferable to schedule the case for Adar Sheni, but there is value in scheduling the case for Adar Rishon. According to some sources, the auspicious quality of Adar continues during the month of Nissan, as well.

The Bote'ach b'Hashem knows nobody could ever take away anything that's coming to him. And therefore, he never feels threatened by other individuals, even if on the surface level it appears as if they are going to take away from him. He views a competitor as a means of growth in his avodat Hashem. It requires him to dig deep down and bring out all of the emunah lessons that he has acquired. The levels he could reach are endless. They tell a story of one of the chassidim of Rav Levy Yitzchak of Berditchev. He had a store and after some time another man came and opened up the same kind of store right across the street. The chassid was worried that he would feel bad when seeing other customers go into his competitor's store. So he went to his Rebbe, Rav Levy Yitzchak, to get a beracha , that he shouldn't feel bad when seeing it. The Rebbe blessed him and it worked. After that, the chassid felt he still wasn't reaching the level he should be at. He didn't want to just not feel bad when seeing customers at the competitor. He wanted to feel happy about it as well. So he went back to the Rebbe for another beracha and again the Rebbe gave him a beracha and it worked. After that, he still felt lacking in his avodah . He was happy for his competitor, but he was not as happy when customers went into his store as he was when they came into his own store. So he went back to the Rebbe and asked for a beracha for that as well and once again it worked. But then he wanted more. He wanted to feel happier for his competitor than he did for himself. And he went back a final time to get a beracha and it worked again. In the years following this, the chassid continued earning what he always did. And he reached the greatest levels with his bitachon in Hashem. The Chazon Ish writes that feeling good towards competitors, and even helping them, brings so much kedusha into the world. Nobody can take anything that's coming to us. And if we rise above our natural feelings and not be jealous of competitors or jealous of those people who have what we want for ourselves, that zechut could give us things we wouldn't have gotten otherwise. A woman told me she runs a small business and one of her competitors was running a very successful advertising campaign. Initially, she was so jealous of that competitor and wanted to copy what she was doing. But then, before she did, she stopped herself saying it would only cause conflict and it's not what Hashem wants her to do. So she decided to take a different approach. She worked on her bitachon, convincing herself that Hashem was going to give her exactly what she needed with the normal hishtatlut she had been making. Less than an hour from her change in attitude, she got four separate phone calls for orders, much more than she normally gets on a given night. The message was clear and she was so happy with her growth. A young rabbi who lives in the south of Israel needed to relocate to an apartment in the center of the country due to the war. He needed a washing machine and so he put a notice on a certain community phone line. Shortly after that, someone called him saying he had an old washing machine and was even willing to deliver it to him. Before that man even had a chance to deliver, the young rabbi was talking to someone else who mentioned that he needed a washing machine. Without hesitation, the young rabbi told the other person to deliver the washing machine to this person's apartment instead. Somebody who heard about this asked the young rabbi how he could give up the washing machine that he needed for himself. He responded, “This is the way I always do things. I help others and Hashem helps me.” Within a few days of giving away that washing machine, this young rabbi found someone else who was giving away a machine, and this time the machine was almost brand new. Giving others and being happy for them, even though we may need the same thing for ourselves, is a wondrous avodah .

Unlock the secrets of leading a stress-free life with the transformative wisdom of Judaism that we've unearthed in our latest episode. Prepare to enrich your understanding of perspective and trust in God, as we delve into the Jewish approach to fear and the Almighty's constant presence. We share the inspiring tale of Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, bringing to life the Jewish community's profound devotion to Hashem and the meaningful traditions that define our observance of the sacred festival of Passover.Experience the essence of Judaism in a conversation that goes beyond ritual, celebrating the intimate bond between God and His people. Discover how the Torah, likened to a cherished engagement ring, represents not only a set of commandments but a symbol of an everlasting covenant. Through our discussion, we explore how prayer and the joy of daily life can strengthen our relationship with the Divine, offering insights into how faith is deeply interwoven with love and commitment.Wrap up your spiritual journey with us as we reflect on the power of prayer, especially when we intercede for others, and the refreshing vitality of the Torah. We share personal stories that highlight the importance of accountability, drawing parallels between life's ultimate scrutiny and the meticulous care we take in our everyday choices. Join us as we celebrate the joys of Jewish identity and the heartwarming connections fostered through our holidays, inspiring you to embrace a life filled with meaning and divine connection.This episode (#260) of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe is dedicated in Honor of Dr. Howard Schreiber and our Holy Soldiers in the Battlefield and our Torah Scholars in the Study Halls who are fighting for the safety of our nation!****To listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: https://linktr.ee/ariwol Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes Living Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodes Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes Please send your questions, comments and even your stories to awolbe@torchweb.orgPlease visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our Jewish outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area and please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help support our global outreach at https://www.torchweb.org/donate. Thank you!For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.comRecorded in the TORCH Centre - Studio B to a live audience on March 21, 2021, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 25, 2023 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Unlock the secrets of leading a stress-free life with the transformative wisdom of Judaism that we've unearthed in our latest episode. Prepare to enrich your understanding of perspective and trust in God, as we delve into the Jewish approach to fear and the Almighty's constant presence. We share the inspiring tale of Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, bringing to life the Jewish community's profound devotion to Hashem and the meaningful traditions that define our observance of the sacred festival of Passover.Experience the essence of Judaism in a conversation that goes beyond ritual, celebrating the intimate bond between God and His people. Discover how the Torah, likened to a cherished engagement ring, represents not only a set of commandments but a symbol of an everlasting covenant. Through our discussion, we explore how prayer and the joy of daily life can strengthen our relationship with the Divine, offering insights into how faith is deeply interwoven with love and commitment.Wrap up your spiritual journey with us as we reflect on the power of prayer, especially when we intercede for others, and the refreshing vitality of the Torah. We share personal stories that highlight the importance of accountability, drawing parallels between life's ultimate scrutiny and the meticulous care we take in our everyday choices. Join us as we celebrate the joys of Jewish identity and the heartwarming connections fostered through our holidays, inspiring you to embrace a life filled with meaning and divine connection.This episode (#260) of the Jewish Inspiration Podcast by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe is dedicated in Honor of Dr. Howard Schreiber and our Holy Soldiers in the Battlefield and our Torah Scholars in the Study Halls who are fighting for the safety of our nation!****To listen to other podcasts by Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe: https://linktr.ee/ariwol Jewish Inspiration Podcast: https://inspiration.transistor.fm/episodes Parsha Review Podcast: https://parsha.transistor.fm/episodes Living Jewishly Podcast: https://jewishly.transistor.fm/episodes Thinking Talmudist Podcast: https://talmud.transistor.fm/episodes Unboxing Judaism Podcast: https://unboxing.transistor.fm/episodes Rabbi Aryeh Wolbe Podcast Collection: https://collection.transistor.fm/episodes Please send your questions, comments and even your stories to awolbe@torchweb.orgPlease visit www.torchweb.org to see a full listing of our Jewish outreach and educational resources available in the Greater Houston area and please consider sponsoring a podcast by making a donation to help support our global outreach at https://www.torchweb.org/donate. Thank you!For a full listing of podcasts available by TORCH at https://www.TORCHpodcasts.comRecorded in the TORCH Centre - Studio B to a live audience on March 21, 2021, in Houston, Texas.Released as Podcast on December 25, 2023 ★ Support this podcast ★

Yahrtzeit Yomi #866!! יט כסלו (Shabbos) Maggid of Mezeritch רב דֹּב בֶּער ב״ר אברהם המגיד מִמֶּזְרִיטְש (1704 - 1772) ----------------------------------- Shabbos, 19 Kislev, marked the 251st Yahrtzeit of Harav Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezeritch ZTL (1704 - 1772). Rav Dov Ber was the foremost disciple of, and ultimate successor to, the founder of Chassidus, Rav Yisroel Ba'al Shem Tov. A brilliant child prodigy, he went to Lvov to learn under the great Pnei Yehoshua, while still a youngster. After the Ba'al Shem Tov's petirah, the authority of Rav Dov Ber was recognized by one and all. Among his illustrious talmidim were: the Rebbe Reb Shmuel Shmelke HaLevi Horowitz, and his brother, Reb Pinchas HaLevi Horowitz, the Ba'al Hafla'ah; the Rebbe Reb Zushya and his brother, Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk; Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev; Rav Nachum of Chernobyl; and the Ba'al Hatanya, Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi. I would like to share a wondrous illustration of the great brilliance of Rav Dov Ber, which he exhibited as a mere child. When Dov Ber was a young boy in Yeshiva, the Rebbi was teaching the talmidim the dispute between Rashi and Tosafos regarding the correct conduct for one who finds himself in the middle of his “silent shemoneh esrei” (עמידה), when the chazzan is reciting קדושה: Rashi (סוכה לח: ד״ה הוא אומר ברוך הבא) is of the opinion that he should stop davening and listen to the chazzan, and it will be considered as if he himself recited the words (שומע כעונה). Tosafos (ברכות כא: ד״ה עד) object to Rashi's statement, because if his listening is considered as though he himself actually said the words, that would constitute an interruption in his personal shemona esrei!! (״אדרבה - אי שומע כעונה, הוי הפסקה אם שותק!!״) Young Dov Ber proposed an ingenious answer to Tosafos' question: “Chazal teach us that when it comes to Mitzvos, Hashem considers a thought like it's an actual deed, but when it comes to Aveiros, He does not - ״מחשבה טובה הקב״ה מצרפה למעשה, וכו׳״ (See Kiddushin 40a). “So”, said little Dov Ber - “as regards the Mitzvah of saying Kedusha, it is considered as if he said the words, as that is a Mitzvah. But as regards the sin of interrupting his Shemoneh Esrei, since that act is an Aveirah, it would not be considered as an interruption!!” (עיין משנה ברורה סימן קד, ס״ק כח) (NOTE: Ultimately, Tosafos end up agreeing with Rashi in practice, and that is the how the Shulchan Aruch paskens in 104:7 - ״אינו פוסק לא לקדיש ולא לקדשה, אלא ישתק ויכון למה שאומר שליח צבור ויהא כעונה״!!) זכותו יגן עלינו!! -------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ To dedicate or sponsor, please contact 917-841-5059. First come, first served. Monthly sponsorships are $540. Weekly sponsorships are $180. Daily sponsorships are as follows: Dedications (l'Zecher Nishmas, Zechus shidduch/refuah/yeshuah, etc.) are $50. Sponsorships (fliers, advertising, promotions, additional links, etc.) are $100. The cost to request and sponsor a Tzaddik that is not included on the following list is $180. Kislev Yahrtzeits!! 1. The Rebbe Recovers 2. Rav Aharon Kotler/Rav Nosson Meir Wachtfogel 3. Rav Yaakov Moshe Kulefsky 4. Nevuas Zechariah 5. Maharsha/Rav Boruch Ber 6. Rav Michoel Dov Weissmandel 7. Megillas Taanis 8. Rav Eliezer Geldzahler 9. Mitteler Rebbe 10. Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer 11. “Kislev Providence” 12. Maharshal/Bas Ayin 13. Ravina brei D'rav Huna 14. Reuven ben Yaakov Avinu 15. Rabi Yehudah HaNasi 16. 2nd Modzhitzer Rebbe 17. Alter of Novardok/Rav Shlomo Heiman 18. Bostoner Rebbe 19. Mezeritcher Maggid 20. Rav Yitzchak Hutner 21. Yom Har Gerizim/Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank 22. Rav Shalom Mordechai Schwadron 23. Galya Masechta 24. Chaggai perek 2/Sdei Chemed 25. Aruch LaNer 26. Ra'avad III 27. Pri Chadash 28. Rav Eliyahu Meir Bloch 29. Cheshek Shlomo Share the Yahrtzeit Yomi link with your contacts!! https://chat.whatsapp.com/JimbwNtBaX31vmRDdnO3yk

Esta historia es para refuo shleimo de Rab Sholem Matitiau ben Tova Si queres dedicar una historia podes contactarme al siguiente mail najumlifsitz@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/el-rincon-jasidico/message

Once, shortly before Kol Nidrei, the Berditchever Rebbe Rabbi Levi Yitzchok asked if anyone in the shul came from Pilova? A dairy farmer from Ravnitz, near Pilova, stepped forward and told his tale, bringing a smile to the face of the Berditchever and a good sealing for all the Jews on Yom Kippur.

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Have you ever found Noach's character in biblical history perplexing?" This episode is an immersive exploration into the intriguing persona of Noah, a figure famed as a Tzaddik, a wholesome and perfect servant of Hashem, yet also described as one of the small believers. We dissect his spiritual status, the contrast between his actions and beliefs, and his hesitation to enter the table until the first raindrops fell. Hear us deliberating on the mishap with the wine after his journey on the table. In the latter part of our discussion, we dwell upon the thought-provoking theories of the great Kedushas Levi, questioning Noach's lack of prayer for his people, unlike Avraham's fervent prayers for Sodom. We broach the concept of self-belief, contrasting Noach and Avraham and the critical importance of self-recognition. Absorb our engaging dialogues, and heed our inspiring call to action - to recognize and utilize your God-given talents. This episode is a must-listen for those seeking to unravel the mysteries of spiritual characters and understand the profound impact of self-belief.Support the showJoin the WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content! JOIN HERE ---------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Weekly Parsha for an insightful weekly shiur on the Parsha of the week. Listen on Spotify or the new Jewish music and Podcast streaming platform 24six! Access all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our new website, themotivationcongregation.org ---------------- Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Parshat Bereshit: Why do we say “L'chaim” before we drink?!? How the holy city of Berditchev was created?!? What the great Reb Boruch Ber Zt”l thought about the news!!! https://soundcloud.com/jack-alope-10796966/parshat-bereshit-why-do-we-say?ref=whatsapp&p=a&c=1

Episode #125: Reb Levi Yitzchak Of Berditchev Delays Shofar Blowing

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740-1809) said, "How do you know that your fortune is ahead of you? It could be that it is behind you, and you are fleeing from it." Let's take pauses to let God's grace embrace us, even from behind.

Reb Moyshe Silk, an American attorney, writer, and former government official, is quite an accomplished individual. Much of the world knows him as Mitchell Silk, a brilliant legal mind, an authority on Chinese law and infrastructure finance, and the only Chassidic Jew ever confirmed by the Senate to one of the highest positions in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and, for that matter, the U.S. Government. Many people are privileged to know him as Reb Moyshe, a talmid chacham of note, a gifted writer, and a talented teacher of Torah.  Despite the many accolades he's received, perhaps Reb Moyshe's most notable accomplishment to date is his translation and elucidation of Kedushas Levi, one of the greatest Chassidic classics on the Torah, written by Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. Kedushas Levi has been treasured and studied for more than two centuries, and now, Reb Moyshe's magnificent edition, published by the Mesorah Heritage Foundation in three volumes, brings Kedushas Levi to English readers in all its grandeur. We spoke to Reb Moyshe to gain his insight into the effort he invested in producing this work. [Purchase the set HERE.]

Tisha B'Av, Yeshayahu's double vision. The Geula Perspective is in honor of the Refuah Shlema of Ruchma Leah Bas Sarah. May all those who need experience a speedy and complete recovery with G-d's help.  The Geula Perspective is in loving memory of Leah Mintche Bas Ya'akov Yosef, Edward Ben Efraim, Shlomo Ben Edward, and Yirachmiel Daniel Ben Gedalia. May their souls be uplifted and their memories a blessing. Click here to listen, watch and connect! Parshaperspective.com  Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av is the most somber in the Jewish calendar, many horrible incidents occurred on this day throughout history.  The destructions of the first and second Beis Hamikdash, as well as the final battle of Betar with over 500,000 Jews being killed. The ‏expulsions of Jews from both England and Spain, the beginning of World War 1 and the approval of the final solution in Germany.   We learned an interpretation of the holy Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, affectionately called the lawyer of the Jewish people on the two conflicting visions of the prophet Yeshayahu.

Recording Available Via Telephone Dial: (605) 475-4799 | Access ID: 840886# | Reference #: 2402 At times a person may find himself in a place he does not want to be. He thinks his experience there is going to end soon but it doesn't. He feels like he could accomplish so much more if he could just leave. And that's why it is so hard for him to understand why he has to be there. Hashem has infinite calculations as to why He puts us in certain places. We will never know, at least in this world, of all those calculations, but sometimes we are able to see a tiny glimpse into some of them. A man whose daughter has been in the hospital for five months spoke about his very difficult experience there. He gives his daughter strength every day by reinforcing her belief in Hashem's endless love for her. Although he feels bad that he has been missing hours upon hours of his Torah learning, and other spiritual endeavors, he is happy to be there for his daughter in her time of need. In his daughter's room, on the other side of the curtain, is another girl dealing with a difficult illness who comes from a kibbutz and barely knows anything about Judaism. Her parents comfort her with words like, “You'll get through this.” But they never mention a word about Hashem. This man wished he could give them some emunah and real hope, but didn't want to impose on them when they were going through such a hard time. He was still there on Erev Shavuot and felt he had the right opportunity. He told those parents about what the holiday of Shavuot represents and then he said, “When the Torah was given, all of the sick people became healed and that power of healing returns every single year on Shavuot.” He told them about David HaMelech and the power of Tehillim and how much Hashem could help them. When he finished, he saw his words were literally like water to tired, worn-out souls. They drank up every word. The girl's mother said to him, “It was worth us being here in order to hear the words you just told us.” These people were actually descendants of the great Rav Levy Yitzchak of Berditchev. This man does not know all the calculations of Hashem as to why he has to be in the hospital with his daughter, but he was able to see at least one of them and that gave him a lot of chizuk. Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky once became ill and the doctors told him to go to Carlsbad to recuperate there. When Elul came around that year, the Rabbi wanted to travel back to Vilna but the doctors told him he was too weak. They made him stay there through all the Yamim Noraim , including Simchat Torah. It was extremely difficult for the Rabbi to be so distant from the lively Jewish community he was accustomed to being with. To spend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with barely a minyan in a place basically devoid of Jews was not a pleasant experience. On Shabbat Shuva, the Rabbi noticed a new person there. He went over to speak to him. The man said he came from America. His brother had recently passed away and left a widow and three children. They decided he was going to marry her and take care of the family. Rav Chaim couldn't believe his ears. That would violate a terrible averah from the Torah, marrying a brother's widow who left children. The Rabbi told this individual of the severe transgression he would be making if he went through with the marriage. This individual did not believe the Rabbi that it was so bad and was determined to do it anyway. The Rabbi tried to convince him every which way but to no avail. Finally, Rav Chaim said to him, “Is there any Rabbi in this world that you trust?” The man said, “Yes, if the great Rabbi of Vilna Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky would tell me that it is forbidden, then I wouldn't do it.” Rav Chaim told the man who he was. And at that moment, he got a tiny glimpse as to why Hashem kept him there for all that time. Hashem puts everyone in different places for different reasons. If we do our best to serve Him, no matter where He puts us, then we will always accomplish what we are meant to accomplish.

In this episode, we speak to Rav Dr. Sam Lebens who shares his Desert Island Torah, looking at Torah from the Kedushat Levi (Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev), the Ishbitzer Rebbe (Rav Mordechai Yosef Leiner) and Rav Shimshon Rafael Hirsch.

A poor woman spends her last few coins on a chicken to make soup for her ailing husband, only to have the Rebbe come to the rescue when the chicken fails to meet kosher standards.

Rabbi Jacobson will discuss the following topics: Chassidus Applied to 10 TevesWhat is the significance of this day? Why is the siege of the wall around Jerusalem so pivotal? How is it possible that we go from the brightest days of Chanukah into one of the darkest days of the Tenth of Teves, the beginning stage of the Temple's destruction? How could something so apparently negative and sad occur in Teves, which contains the word tov, good? Chassidus Applied to VayechiWhy is the chapter about Jacob's passing called Vayechi (lived)? Why do we say that Jacob's best years of his life were the 17 years he spent in Mitzrayim? And if so, why was he so adamant that he be buried in the Holy Land? Why did Jacob keep a “grudge” against Shimon and Levi for the massacre of Shechem? In Jacob's blessings to his children he tells us that great kings will come from Judah, great judges from Dan, great seafarers from Zevulun. Can we deduce which tribe performers originate from? What does it mean that Yaakov Avinu lo meis (Jacob our father did not die)? How could Joseph defile and embalm his father, something prohibited by the Torah? New Year:Is it appropriate to wish “Happy New Year”? What is the story with Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev about this? Should we celebrate when an evil person dies? Can homeopathy be used as a remedy? How can we ensure that good deeds should be done with consideration for others? Follow-up: Irreverent questions Previous week's Torah chapters:Miketz: Can Joseph's interpretation of Pharaohs dreams also be a life lesson for us about the importance of saving money and resources in case we need them in the future? Vayeishev: What was Joseph punished for asking the chief cupbearer to intervene on his behalf to get him out of jail?

Parshas Bereishis, the dichotomy of emotion This week's Parsha Perspective is in honor of the Refuah Shlema of HaRav Amitai Ben Shoshanna, Leah Mintche Bas Gittel, and Shaul Ben Berta. This week's Parsha Perspective is in loving memory of Edward Ben Efraim, Shlomo Ben Edward, and Yirachmiel Daniel Ben Gedalia. May their souls be uplifted and their memories a blessing. This week's Parsha Perspective is in honor of Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, known as a lawyer of the Jewish people. The anniversary of his passing, his Yahrzeit, is on the 25th of Tishrei. May his memory be a blessing! Click here to listen, watch and connect! Parshaperspective.com As we enter the new year with a clean slate, we also restart the cycle of reading the Torah from the beginning with Parshas Bereishis. However, we must understand that it is not just a physical but spiritual cycle. We have the opportunity to gain a more profound understanding of the Torah and its lessons. Each year, a unique level of spirituality is given to the world, which is relevant to that day and age. The Torah begins with the words "Bereshis bara Elokim es hashamayim ve' es ha'ares-In the beginning, G-d created the heaven and the earth." The Parsha then goes through what was made each day. We find out why we Torah details the process of creation. We learn the true intention and purpose of creation.

When a person is motivated to do something l'shem Shamayim , he is zoche to get extra siyata d'Shamaya . There are times when we see people in need and we really want to help them, but what they need seems to be out of our reach. We should still do our best to help because we have Hashem with us and when He sees how much we want to help, He will help us help them. A man, who we'll call Avraham, related that when he was 23, married with one child, his world fell apart as his father passed away at a young age. His father left behind a wife and many children, one of whom was engaged to be married. Avraham knew that his mother did not have the money to cover the wedding expenses and there weren't any other family members they could turn to for help either. One day, during the sheloshim , Avraham went to visit his mother and found her sitting in the kitchen crying. “Avraham,” she said, “when your father got sick I quit my job. We spent all of our savings on doctors and medications. How am I going to marry off your brother? My only option is to sell this house and find something smaller.” Avraham had a lot of siblings and didn't want his mother to have to do that. Without thinking about how, he got up and made a pronouncement that changed his life. He told his mother he was going to cover all of the wedding expenses. His mother had given him endless love his whole life and he couldn't bear to see her with this additional suffering now. So that day, he left his mother's house on a mission. He worked overtime every day and used every penny that he earned towards his brother's wedding expenses. Each month, when he handed his mother the money, it was all worth it, seeing her beaming face and shining eyes. As the wedding was approaching, he was still short $5000. Compared to what he had already earned, it wasn't a lot, but according to his calculations, he was going to come up short. His brother-in-law suggested that he go to kivrei tzaddikim in Poland and pray there for Hashem to send him the rest. Avraham said he needed to work and, besides, he couldn't afford to pay for all the travel expenses. Avraham's father-in-law was near-by and he said he would pay for that. They both urged him to go and he finally agreed. That Thursday he went to the kever of Rav Levy Yitzchak of Berditchev and he literally broke down crying. He stood there for two hours pouring out his heart. He also finished the entire Tehillim and was finally ready to leave. He was exhausted but felt energized that Hashem heard his tefilot . Outside there was a group of American tourists. As soon as they saw him they said, “You are the one we are looking for.” Avraham didn't know what they were talking about. They explained, they were a group of nine and wanted to have a minyan to recite the entire Tehillim . Avraham didn't want to ruin their plans, but he was completely drained and told them he had no energy to stay any longer. The group totally dismissed what Avraham said and continued making it like he was going to be their tenth. Then, after they huddled together for a minute, they said to him, “If you stay, we'll give you $5000.” Avraham couldn't believe his ears. The answer to his tefila instantly. He stayed and two and a half hours later, when they finished the Tehillim , he told them the incredible story of how they just helped him with his brother's wedding. For a few moments they were speechless. Then they said, “That $5000 is for your brother. But what about you?” Before Avraham had a chance to digest what they were saying, they pulled out an additional $5000 and they said, “Here, this is for you.” When Avraham arrived home, the first thing he did was head to his mother's house to give her the money and tell her what happened. She was so happy to hear that he also got some money for himself. Her voice trembled with great appreciation, “Without you, Avraham, there would be no wedding.” Avraham had no idea how he was going to pay for all his brother's wedding expenses, but he jumped in and Hashem carried him. Whenever we are l'shem Shamayim , we get extra siyata d'Shamaya .

From Elie Wiesel and Yosel Rakover to the prophet Chavakuk and Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, we explore the controversial approach to challenging and confronting Hashem.

Two stories this week, the first about an Israeli girl looking finding meaning on a trip to India and the other about Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev's yetzer ha'ra. Also available at https://soundcloud.com/barak-hullman/hashem-returns-a-lost-object. To become a part of this project please go to https://www.patreon.com/barakhullman. Hear all of the stories at https://hasidicstory.com. Go here to hear my other podcast https://jewishpeopleideas.com or https://soundcloud.com/jewishpeopleideas. Find my books, Figure It Out When You Get There: A Memoir of Stories About Living Life First and Watching How Everything Falls Into Place and A Shtikel Sholom: A Student, His Mentor and Their Unconventional Conversations on Amazon by going to https://bit.ly/barakhullman.

This morning we discuss what happens if you find Chometz in your home on Pesach. We discuss a moving story from Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, and an insight from Rabbi Daniel Feldman on why commerce (selling Chometz to a non-Jew before Pesach) is such a central part of our Passover preparations, and how it relates to freedom and redemption. Michael Whitman is the senior rabbi of ADATH Congregation in Hampstead, Quebec, and an adjunct professor at McGill University Faculty of Law. ADATH is a modern orthodox synagogue community in suburban Montreal, providing Judaism for the next generation. We take great pleasure in welcoming everyone with a warm smile, while sharing inspiration through prayer, study, and friendship. Rabbi Whitman shares his thoughts and inspirations through online lectures and shiurim, which are available on: YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/adathyoutube Instagram: #adathmichael Podcast - Mining the Riches of the Parsha: Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/miningtheriches1 Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/miningtheriches3Stitcher: https://tinyurl.com/miningtheriches4 Please contact Rabbi Whitman (rabbi@adath.ca) with any questions, or to receive a daily email, "Study with Rabbi Whitman Today," with current and past insights for that day, video, and audio, all in one short email sent directly to your inbox.

How to Think Like a Chasidic Master - Lesson 2 "R' Elimelech of Lizensk & R' Zushe of Anipoli" with Spiritual Mentor Mrs. Nomi Freeman (Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 17, 2022) Over the last three centuries the Chasidic movement has spawned a revolution in Judaism, breathing new soul into an ancient faith. But what do we know about the leaders of the movement? How do these great minds think? And is it possible for us to learn to think like them? Join acclaimed spiritual guide Mrs. Nomi Freeman as we transport through time to visit Chasidic legends such as the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Reb Elimelech of Lizensk, Reb Zushe of Anipoli, and the Alter Rebbe, and reveal the mindsets of these great masters.

How to Think Like a Chasidic Master - Lesson 3 "The Alter Rebbe & R' Levi Yitzchack of Berditchev" with Spiritual Mentor Mrs. Nomi Freeman (Recorded live at the Intown Jewish Academy on January 24, 2022) Over the last three centuries the Chasidic movement has spawned a revolution in Judaism, breathing new soul into an ancient faith. But what do we know about the leaders of the movement? How do these great minds think? And is it possible for us to learn to think like them? Join acclaimed spiritual guide Mrs. Nomi Freeman as we transport through time to visit Chasidic legends such as the Baal Shem Tov, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Reb Elimelech of Lizensk, Reb Zushe of Anipoli, and the Alter Rebbe, and reveal the mindsets of these great masters.

Have you ever wondered what gave the baby mosquito the courage to keep on flying? That's exactly  right, because all the people were clapping for it! Little did the mosquito know that the people were trying to end its life. In this week's Torah Sparks podcast, we discuss the importance of focusing on the positive aspects of life and reveal an amazing insight from Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev on the imperativeness of focusing on the beauty of Judaism. Powered by: TYA of Baltimore

Berditchev Niggun by Avraham Arieh Trugman

Powerful thought of Reb levi Yitzchok of berditchev on why the angel that struggled with Yaakov had to say Shira -song to Hashem - exactly at that moment

The song, originally written by the great Reb Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, is heartwarming and definitely strikes a chord in anyone who hears it.   To see more podcasts brought to you by Living Lchaim visit LivingLchaim.com   Subscribe to our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJHk7NZyFnyphA_jfdK5rvA

One of the most legendary leaders the Chassidic movement has ever produced Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (1740-1809) is a universally beloved figure as well. Following his conversion to the nascent movement in the court of the Maggid of Mezritch, he spread the ideas of chassidus while simultaneously leading a lucrative rabbinic career in Zelichov, Pinsk and Berditchev. Known to posterity as the Great Defender of the Jewish People, he devoted his life to seeking out the good in every individual as well as the Jewish People as a collective.    For sponsorship opportunities about your favorite topics of Jewish history contact Yehuda at:  yehuda@yehudageberer.com   Subscribe To Our Podcast on:    PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/   Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com

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*Si queres ayudar al podcast te dejo los siguientes links de pago* *200$*:https://mpago.la/2UTMzty *300$*:https://mpago.la/1dWceTx *Para donar una historia*: *500$*:https://mpago.la/1ZqSQPo *Para donar por Paypal:* https://paypal.me/najumlk?locale.x=es_XC Luego de pagar mándame los detalles de la dedicación por privado

Chers amis, Le Speed Thora de ce Chabat Vayéchev , Chabat Hanouka est varié, car il cite R. Hayim Soloveitchik de Brisk (19eme / Pologne) R.Moché Feinstein (20ème / Usa), le Kedouchat Levy ( R.Levy Itsh’ak de Berditchev 18ème /Pologne, élève du Baal Chem Tov) et enfin le Sfat Emet ( Rabbi de Gour / Pologne 19ème). Il est axé sur le personnage de Yossef et ses réactions face aux aléas de son histoire personnelle. Le "mot-clé"qui est l’objectif du Speed , est la Hichtavout, la stabilité (émotionnelle et spirituelle) vers laquelle chacun doit tendre en s’inspirant de Yossef ( Tsadik Yessod Olam). Chabat Chalom, David

A halachik question whether Eliezer acted as a shliach - legal proxy - for yitzchok in marrying Rivkah - The Rebbe and Reb Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev

With the passing of the Baal Shem Tov in 1760, several of his students continued transmitting his teachings to groups of followers. After several years, Rav Dov Ber  the Maggid of Mezritch (1704-1772) emerged as the dominant chassidic leader in what seemed to be on the cusp of a mass movement.  It was under his leadership that several distinctive features came to be identified with the growing movement, such as the pilgrimage to the "chatzer" the court of the tzadik. He attracted an elite group of outstanding individuals - known as the "Heilegeh Chavraya" or holy society - who went on to become leaders in their own right, spreading the light of Chassidus across Eastern Europe. These included the the brothers Rav Elimelech of Lizhensk & Rav Zusha of Annapol, Rav Mendel of Vitebsk, Rav Avraham of Kalisk, Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the brothers Rav Shmelke of Nikolsburg & Rav Pinchas of Frankfurt, Rav Aharon of Karlin and Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi, to name just a few. Diverse in leadership style, in their promulgating the message of chassidus as well as in geographic dispersion, they each continued the legacy of the Maggid in their own way.    Subscribe To Our Podcast on:   PodBean: https://jsoundbites.podbean.com/   Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @Jsoundbites You can email Yehuda at yehuda@yehudageberer.com

Why did the keeper of Berditchev synagogue polish the magnificent chandelier on Sabbath eve and hang himself on it? In the new episode of Radio Eshkolot podcast the actress Julia Aug tells a Hasidic story about withering fire, freezing water, generous princes, wise centenarians, and dangerous ideas. Commentary: Uri Gershovich. Soundtrack: Alex Nadzharov, Grigory Sandomirsky, Maria Logofet.Download the episodeDetailed descriptionПочему сторож синагоги Бердичева накануне субботы начистил невероятной красоты люстру и повесился на ней? В новом эпизоде подкаста Radio Eshkolot актриса Юлия Ауг читает хасидский рассказ об иссушающем огне, леденящей воде, щедрых графах, столетних стариках и опасных мыслях. Комментарий философа Ури Гершовича. Саундтрек: Алексей Наджаров, Григорий Сандомирский, Мария Логофет.Скачать эпизодПодробное описание

The Defense Lawyer of the Jewish people, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev (Parshat Shoftim)

Rabbi Kalman Worch-Co host of theChavrusaand acclaimed translator of theBnei Yessascharpresents in a clear comprehensive style the yesodos of Levi Yitzchack of Berditchev, the Kedushas Levi ,in explaining the significance of the miracle of Purim,the coded words in the Megillah for God(nadadah Shinas HaMelech) and how he runs the world,and understanding, based on the deepest mystical traditions,how Mishloach Manos responds to a different aspect of our Creator's favor than does Matanos Levyonim.We thank the Illinois Center for Jewish Studies for the use of this materialPlease leave us a review or email us at ravkiv@gmail.comFor more information on this podcast visityeshivaofnewark.jewishpodcasts.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This podcast is powered by JewishPodcasts.org. Start your own podcast today and share your content with the world. Click jewishpodcasts.fm/signup to get started.

Rabbi Kalman Worch-Co host of the Chavrusa and acclaimed translator of the Bnei Yessaschar presents in a clear comprehensive style the yesodos of Levi Yitzchack of Berditchev, the Kedushas Levi ,in explaining the significance of the miracle of Purim,the coded words in the Megillah for God(nadadah Shinas HaMelech) and how he runs the world,and understanding, based on the deepest mystical traditions,how Mishloach Manos responds to a different aspect of our Creator's favor than does Matanos Levyonim.We thank the Illinois Center for Jewish Studies for the use of this materialPlease leave us a review or email us at ravkiv@gmail.comFor more information on this podcast visityeshivaofnewark.jewishpodcasts.org See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

YIDDISH: By The Tziyun Of R' Levi Yitzchok Of Berditchev - ליל עשרה בטבת ה'תש'פ - ביידיש - ליד ציון קברו של ר' לוי יצחק מברדיטשוב זי'עTo learn More or to Contact R' Mota Please Visit: https://linktr.ee/motafrank

A Daily Dose of Chassidus with Rabbi Shmuel Braun How can we be sure we are true to ourselves?

A Song for Eternity Shabbat is מקור הברכה , the source of all sanctity. It is the most sacred period of time, and, when we observe it properly, it endows us with kedushah and fills our homes with a special element of kedushah that endures forever. A vivid example of this powerful impact of Shabbat is a story told by Rav Paysach Krohn of a Rabbi named Rabbi Yonah Lazar. In 1992, Rabbi Lazar left the Lakewood Yeshiva, where he had been learning, to lead a yeshiva in Kishinev, the capital of Moldova, a region in the former Soviet Union. A department of Agudas Yisrael worked to reestablish various yeshivot which existed before the Holocaust, and the yeshiva in Kishinev was one such institution. Rabbi Lazar went with another young Rabbi to rebuild the yeshiva and work to rejuvenate Jewish life in the city of Kishinev. Thank G-d, their efforts were successful, and numerous young men and women from the city went on to study in higher level institutions abroad. The highlight for the yeshiva's students was the Friday night service, which was very moving and inspirational. The two young Rabbis taught the boys a number of Shabbat songs to make the experience exciting, including a Yiddish song composed by Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev. The words of the song, translated into English, are, “If I had the strength, I would go in the streets and say out loud: Shabbat! Holy Shabbat!” The song is sung in a slow, haunting tune, and is customarily sung on “Shabbat marches” as part of the effort to spread awareness of the importance and value of Shabbat observance. The boys in Kishinev were electrified by this song. The Rabbis had the words translated into Russian to make it easier for the students to sing, and it became a weekly highlight, uplifting and inspiring the students. A number of years later, in December, 1993, Rabbi Lazar and his wife returned to the U.S. and moved to Los Angeles, where Rabbi Lazar worked as a 7 th grade teacher. Every Rosh Hodesh, he would tell his students stories of his experiences in Kishinev. One of the students' grandfather, Rabbi Aron Twerski, heard about Rabbi Lazar's experiences, and contacted him to inform him about his upcoming trip to Kishinev. Rabbi Twerski had ancestors buried in the city, and he wanted to visit their gravesites. He contacted Rabbi Lazar to offer to bring anything he wished to send to the yeshiva. Sometime later, Rabbi Lazar opened a book he had of memoirs from pre-war Kishinev, wondering if any mention is made of Rabbi Twerski's ancestors. He came across a passage which depicted the unique warm, serene atmosphere on Friday night in Kishinev. The author of the memoir wrote that many of the laymen in the city would make a point of praying on Friday night in the yeshiva in order to hear the students' spirited, soulful singing. He noted in particular the stirring experience of hearing Zecharya the watchmaker leading a rendition of Rav Levi Yitzchak's song. It was at this moment, the author wrote, that everybody truly felt the sanctity of Shabbat. Anyone who has not witnessed this sight, he went so far to say, has not tasted the beautiful flavor of Shabbat. Rabbi Lazar was stunned. The song which he had taught to his students in Kishinev, and which stirred their souls and inspired them with the kedushah of Shabbat, is the same song which marked the highlight of the Shabbat experience in that exact spot, in the yeshiva of Kishinev, some 60 years earlier. The kedushah generated by the singing of Rav Levi Yitzchak's song in pre-war Kishinev never left that site. It remained there for decades, and eventually had a profound impact, igniting the souls of young men who had not received a religious upbringing. This is the eternal, everlasting impact of the sanctity of Shabbat. This is true of kedushah generally. Rav Matisyahu Salomon told a remarkable story he heard of the Hazon Ish, who was once walking with a young Rabbi in Bnei -Brak when he suddenly stopped and smiled. The young Rabbi asked him why he was smiling, and the Hazon Ish explained that at that very spot, two students of the Ponevizh yeshiva were talking about Torah matters the previous Erev Shabbat, and he sensed the kedushah in that very spot. This impact of kedushah is real, and is something we can all bring to our homes. Many people have the custom when moving into a new home to have a חינוך הבית , a gathering where certain chapters of Mishnah, Zohar and other religious texts are read. The basis for this custom is the comment of the Zohar that if, during a house's construction, the builders spoke inappropriately or had inappropriate thoughts, this generates a certain element of tum'ah (impurity) in the house. This is why the Torah warns that after Beneh Yisrael entered the Land of Israel, some houses might be stricken with tzara'at (a kind of “leprosy” that manifests itself on the walls of homes) which would require them to be dismantled. Since these houses were built by idolaters, they were contaminated with tum'ah and needed to be destroyed. Therefore, in order to counteract any possible impure effect of the people who built the new home, it became customary to recite certain Torah texts upon moving into a new home. Every Shabbat, we have the precious opportunity to inject our homes with a powerful and eternal element of kedushah . By observing Shabbat the way it is supposed to be observed, by sharing words of Torah and singing zemirot , we can bring holiness to the home, where it will remain and have a profound impact for many generations to come.

 L'amour extraordinaire du peuple juif envers Hachem !!

In Memory of Efraim ben Chanania YT Lipa, Shmuel Yakov ben Moshe, Jennette bat Ibrahyim Hakohen. Where did the wood come from? The poles didn't move.Seven Blessings, Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev laughed.

Using powerful passages from Rav Kook, the Tanya and R. Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Rabbi Aaron emphasizes Judaism’s goal of getting in touch with one’s immanent light within and connecting it to the transcendental universal light.

Considering Martin Buber’s notion of a leitwort, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Melbourne looks at Psalms 123 and recalls a teaching of Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev. Click here for more episodes in the series.          … Read the rest The post A Shot of Torah: God Showing Favor (Psalms 123) first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading A Shot of Torah: God Showing Favor (Psalms 123) at Elmad Online Learning.

The early hasidic movement was the subject of much debate. Levi recounts the tale of the opposition to his namesake, Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev. The Maggid of Melbourne is an ongoing series by Rabbi Dr. Levi Cooper – teacher … Read the rest The post The Maggid of Melbourne: Opposing Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Part 1 first appeared on Elmad Online Learning. Continue reading The Maggid of Melbourne: Opposing Rabbi Levi Yitzhak Part 1 at Elmad Online Learning.

Rabbi Or Rose, Director, Center for Global Judaism at Hebrew College (http://www.hebrewcollege.edu/global-judaism)presents his lecture "Radical Compassion: The Mystical Teaching of Rabbi Levi Yizhak of Berditchev" before a roundtable audience at Temple Solel (http://www.templesolel.org/) in Paradise Valley, AZ. DONATE: http://bit.ly/1NmpbsP LEARNING MATERIALS: http://bit.ly/1SLW0Rj For more info, please visit: www.facebook.com/valleybeitmidrash/ https://www.facebook.com/templesolelaz/ twitter.com/VBMTorah www.facebook.com/RabbiShmulyYanklowitz/

Happy Birthday Mordy & Chaikee. Shabbos warning again, Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, Hillel of Paritch. Parnoso comes from Hashem, The repetition of the Mishkan is of value to Hashem.

40 Days, Moshe didn't participate? Saving R' Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev