Podcasts about middot

La Paracha relate le décompte des Bné Israël dans le désert, à leur sortie d'Égypte et la spécificité de chacune des 12 Tribus. De nos jours, ces tribus n'existent plus mais les Juifs sont tous astreints aux mêmes Mitsvot. Néanmoins, chaque Juif a un rôle particulier, des aptitudes qui lui sont propres afin de mener à bien sa mission dans le monde. Chacun, en fonction de ses capacités, de ses Middot, va servir Hachem de son mieux, et d'une manière unique. Chaque Néchama est reliée au trône céleste et donc la Mitsva de chacun est attendue avec amour dans le ciel…. Nous sommes tous des « soldats d'Hachem » et devons accomplir Ses commandements, tout en faisant preuve de capacité d'adaptation car chaque situation requiert un tant soit peu de discernement pour savoir comment agir au mieux.

Beginning a new series on the sefer Chofetz Chaim once a week!

Bonus content pulled from my weekly class to Bnot Torah Sharfmans 

Pourquoi la Torah appelle-t-elle la fête du Don de la Torah, "la fête des semaines" ? En quoi le compte du 'Omer permet-il d'accomplir un travail sur soi, de se parfaire, de raffiner son caractère depuis la fin de Pessa'h jusqu'à Chavou'ot ? Pourquoi et comment acquérir 48 Middot en 7 semaines pour être digne de recevoir la Torah ? De quelle manière devient-on détenteur de sa propre Torah ? Quelle différence fondamentale y a-t-il entre celui qui a des connaissances intellectuelles en Torah et celui dont les mêmes connaissances influencent sa vie de Juif ?

Sommes-nous véritablement ce que nous mangeons ? Si un Juif consomme des aliments interdits, les caractéristiques de ces aliments imprègnent-elles d'une manière ou d'une autre ses Middot, ses traits de caractère ? La consommation d'aliments non Cachères obstrue-t-elle le cœur et l'esprit d'un Juif jusqu'à l'abrutir ? La retenue exigée par le respect de la Cacheroute et les jeûnes forge-t-elle un Juif à dominer ses instincts et désirs ? Celui qui ne parvient pas à résister à la tentation de manger, sera-t-il capable de maîtriser ses pulsions dans d'autres domaines ?

Welcome to our daily Bitachon class as we are continue with the Haggadah, even though we're past the Seder , with important lessons that are timely. In the piece Baruch Shomer Havtachato we quote the Brit Ben HaBetarim where Hashem tells Avraham, Your children are going to be sojourners in a land that's not theirs, work for 400 years and toil. A nd also the nation that's going to work them, Dan Anokhi, I'm going to judge them." Rabbenu Yonah quotes this pasuk with an important lesson in his commentary to Pirkei Avot , Perek 1 Mishna 15 where the Tanna tells us אמור מעט ועשה הרבה. / Say a little and do a lot Rabbenu Yonah explains, כשתבטיח את חבירך לעשות בעבורו דבר, אמור לו מעט ועשה הרבה, והוא מדרך המוסר והחסידות,. /When you guarantee your friend (we're getting in the wording of Baruch Shomer Havtachato ) to do something, say a little bit and do a lot. This is the way of Musar , it's the way of Hasidut . You don't say I'm going to give you a million dollars. Say, I'll help you out with your house, I'll give you a hundred thousand and then you give the guy the million. Where do we learn this from? ולמדנו אותו מאברהם אבינו ע"ה שאמר, "ואקחה פת לחם" (בראשית יח, ה-ח) ואחר כך, "ויקח חמאה וחלב ובן הבקר אשר עשה" We learn it form Avraham Avinu , who said, I'll get some bread, and he ended up getting butter milk, and the cow. This is a very high midah. It's learned from Hashem , as are all our great Middot . Havei Domeh Lo , We have to be like Him. Hashem has these Middot . Where do we see it? Say Chazal , in Avot d'Rabbi Natan , למדוהו מהבורא ית' שלא הבטיח אלא בשתי אותיות שנאמר (בראשית טו, יד), "דן אנכי", - וגאלם בעשרים ושבעה מלות, Hashem promised Avraham Avinu with two words, Dan Anokhi , but He he ended up redeeming them with 27 words… הנסה אלקים לבוא לקחת לו גוי מקרב …גו" או I n Devarim 4,34, He uses so many words to describe how He punished the goyim . Not just the two words, Dan Anokhi . It developed into so many more words. And Rav Saadia Gaon says something unbelievable: . אם כשהבטיח את אבותינו בשני אותיות נעשה להם כמה נסים ונפלאות, על הגאולה העתידה לבוא שנכתבו בה כמה דפין וכמה קונדריסין וכמה ספרים מהבטחות, וכמה נחמות בישעיה, ירמיה, יחזקאל, ותרי עשר, על אחת כמה וכמה כי נפלאים יהיו מעשיו ונפשינו יודעת מאד, Hashem promised our forefathers with two words (Dan Anochi), And yet how many wonders, how many miracles, which are 50, which are 250, broken down over here, from two words. So on the redemption that's going to come in the future, how many pages? How many notebooks? how many books? How many promises are there? How much consolation is there? In Yeshaya, Yirmiyah, Yehezkiel and Tre Asar? The Navi is full of promises and comforts. Imagine what that's going to be- exponentially. It's going to be wondrous. How wondrous His deeds are going to be, and we're going to know it good and well. What does that have to do with us, every day of our lives? ויש לאדם לחשוב בדבר ולתת אותו אל לבו כי שכר גדול יהיה לו מפני הבטחון/ Think about this. and to put it on your heart. You get great reward from the bitachon, great reward from relying on Hashem about these things. This is something extremely important. When you sit down and learn some Navi , and you read of the promises, say , I believe that. I know Hashem is Baruch Shomei Havtachato, He keeps it. History proves it. Look what two words did! Now imagine what we're getting in the future. That is an opportunity. Rav Yerucham Levovitz, in his sefer , Daat Chochma U'Musar , volume 3, page 2, says something unbelievable. He says there is a fundamental way that Hashem acts. First, He promises. Why does He promise? Why does He guarantee? The reason is that the one that was guaranteed this will have full faith, and feel guaranteed. And that's what brings about the fulfillment. Hashem promises, and then we earn the zechut, by relying on Him. That's what makes it come true. He says, that's the only way it happens. He says this is an important understanding of the ways of Hashem, and it's a tremendous foundation. You can't get there if you don't go through the emunah and bitachon . And in order to exercise emunah and bitachon , Hashem gives us a havtacha , He gives us a guarantee , And our job is to be batuach , to feel guaranteed in His promise. He says that's what happened with Avraham Avinu . In Bereshit 15:6 .it says וְהֶאֱמִ֖ן בַּֽיהֹוָ֑ה וַיַּחְשְׁבֶ֥הָ לּ֖וֹ צְדָקָֽה׃ / This emunah gave Avraham Sedaka , meaning it gave us righteousness . And if we'd be lacking in that, we wouldn't have the fulfillment of the promise. He says we see the same concept by Yetziyat Mitzrayim . In Shemot 6,7-9 , where it says, Vyedatem Ki Ani Hashem/ And you will know I am Hashem, the Seforno says, Your job is to think and delve that all of this is going to come true. Because if I am the All-powerful, supervising God, there's no question I'll do what I promised. I'm going to bring it upon you. And when you think about this, then you'll be fit that I bring it about. So why didn't it happen right away? Because They were enslaved in work and therefore not able to have bitachon, like Avraham Avinu who did have the bitachon . Rav Yerucham says something fascinating – It was not their fault. The Torah says clearly that it was not their fault. They couldn't have bitachon because they were so oppressed. But he says, that's the system. That's the way it works. You need to have bitachon . And if you don't have bitachon , we can't bring it about. That's Darkei Hashem Yitbarach / the way of Hashem. You can't get anything unless you first rely on Hashem. That's the way Hashem works. And if you're missing a little bitachon , it's not going to come through. Rav Yerucham continues and says, every step of Yetziat Mitzrayim worked like this. He quotes another Seforno , on the pasuk in Shemot 12,11 where it talks about how to eat the korban Pesach - With girded loins, your shoes on your feet, your stick in your hand. Why? Says the Seforno, To show their reliance, without a doubt, to Hashem. They were ready to get on the road, ready to leave the jail while in the jail! Hashem set it up. Like the Gemara in Eruvim , 22A says, Hayom la'Asotam , Today we do, Machar lekabel sachar, Tomorrow we get paid off . Why did Hashem set it up that way? Because that's our Avodah , to work hard here, not to see anything and believe it's going to happen in the future. He goes on and says, when they went out into the desert, the pasuk in Shemot 12,39 says, Sedah lo Asu lahem / They did not prepare provisions for themselves. Rashi says, This tells the praise of Jewish people. They didn't say 'How can we go out to a desert without any food?' They relied on Hashem , they went out, and that's why Hashem says, I remember the kindness of youth, when you followed Me into the deser t. He says, this level of emunah only happens if a person has bitachon , bli safek klal , with no doubt at all . He has it in actuality . It's not in theory, he has it in his pocket. That's how we went out. How do you take your family out to the desert? Because I see the food in front of me.

Just a short dvar Torah while I'm gone traveling in America lekavod Rosh Chodesh

As part of the event of Matan Torah, when G-d revealed Himself to Beneh Yisrael and gave the Torah, Moshe constructed an altar and had sacrifices offered. We read that Moshe placed half the blood in basins, from which he later sprinkled blood on the people, and he poured the other half on the altar (Shemot 24:6). Rashi, surprisingly, comments that the division of the blood into two halves was done by an angel. It would be impossible for a human being to divide the blood in two precisely equal halves, and so an angel was sent from the heavens to do this. We must wonder, why did Hashem find it necessary to dispatch an angel for this purpose? Why was it so critical for the halves to be precisely equal? Would these sacrifices have been in any way deficient if one portion of blood was slightly larger than the other? Rav Yitzchak Hutner (1906-1980) answered this question by exploring the symbolism of the division of the blood at the time of Matan Torah. If we would ask most Jews to define the term "religious Jew," to describe the defining characteristics of people referred to with this term, most would likely mention things like Shabbat observance, modest dress, eating kosher, synagogue attendance and daily Tefilot. People generally tend to define "religious" as ritual observance. In truth, however, these rituals are only half the story. Ethical conduct, integrity, kindness and sensitivity to others are no less a part of Torah than praying three times a day, Shabbat, Kashrut, and Seniut (modesty). In fact, Rashi begins his comments to our Parasha, Parashat Mishpatim, by noting the significance of the first letter of this Parasha: "VE'eleh Ha'mishpatim" – "AND these are the statutes…" Rashi writes that this letter – the conjunction "Ve-" ("And") – indicates a connection between the end of the previous Parasha, which tells of the Revelation and the Ten Commandments, and the civil laws presented in Parashat Mishpatim. Just as the Ten Commandments were proclaimed at Mount Sinai, so were the laws of Parashat Mishpatim given at Mount Sinai. We can never draw a wedge between Torah and ethical interpersonal conduct. The laws of Parashat Mishpatim, which govern the way we treat our fellow, are no less a part of the Torah as any of the other Misvot. So crucial is this message, Rav Hutner explained, that Hashem sent an angel to divide the sacrificial blood at the time of Matan Torah into two precisely equal parts. It was critical to convey the message that neither half of Torah carries even slightly more weight than the other. The two areas of Torah life – our obligations to Hashem, and our obligations to other people – are of exactly the same level of importance, and we must never allow ourselves to prioritize or emphasize one over the other to even the slightest degree. It is likely no coincidence that Parashat Mishpatim, the section in which this point is expressed, is always read around the time of 25 Shevat, the Yahrtzeit of Rav Yisrael Salanter (1809-1883), founder of the Mussar movement. Rav Yisrael placed very strong emphasis on maintaining this balance, on not allowing our pursuit of spiritual excellence to result in compromises in our Middot (character traits). One famous example is the time when his students approached him before they went to bake Masot in preparation for Pesach, to ask which stringencies are proper for them to observe when baking Masot. "Be very careful not to yell at the woman in charge of cleaning the factory," Rav Yisrael replied. "She's a widow. Concern for her feelings is the most important stringency you should observe." Rav Yisrael feared that in the students' concern to maintain the strictest Halachic standards for the Masot, they might neglect the more basic religious obligation to speak to widows with sensitivity and respect. As we approach his Yahrtzeit, let us internalize this vitally important lesson, and ensure to ascribe the same degree importance to both parts of the Torah, because this is what being a complete Jew means.

Said during the Kollel Nefesh HaChaim TuBshvat seuda 

Why the 5th night of Channuka is the highest and the darkest Sorry for the late upload :)

Women in Tanach SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/01QmPoPVFrdXoxsli21of5?si=G39hZX17QV6qxzdS4I73zw Mark Trencher offered to have a conversation with a Franciska Show podcast listener David Sheril about his latest survey on  the topic of Midos/Midot in the Jewish Orthodox Community as an interem episode while Franciska is on podcast Hiatus.   Enjoy the podcast and here is a link to the Orthonomics Podcast itself: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-orthonomics-podcast/id1607753307   About David Sheril: David Sheril grew up in Chigwell, a suburb of London. His family became baalei teshuvah when he was nine years old. When David was eleven, his family moved to the Bayit Vagan in Jerusalem. He moved to the U.S. at age 22, in 2005. David's yeshivah education includes Mir Yerushalayim and Ner Yisroel. He served as a rebbe at a Russian-American Jewish high school in Brooklyn for several years before going to law school. He is currently General Counsel for a privately-held real estate transactional, management, and lending company. David resides in Clifton, New Jersey, with his wife Miriam (formerly an officer at the Federal Reserve Bank and now Head of Product at an international fintech startup) and their three children      

Chichichichi wawa

Middot (and we're talking mainly about interpersonal behaviors) are so important, especially in these stressful days. So we are pleased to present this as a dual-platform episode, being released on both Orthonomics and The Franciska Show … both covering important issues in the Orthodox Jewish world, and both available at all podcast platforms. Much of this episode deals with findings from the recent survey: The Middot “Report Card”: How We See Our Community and How We See Ourselves Across 19 Middot “Bein Adam L'chavero.”   This episode is being co-hosted by Mark Trencher of Orthonomics, and David Sheril, a member of the Franciska Show Discussion Group. (Thanks to Franciska for recommending David to participate.)    David Sheril grew up in Chigwell, a suburb of London. His family became baalei teshuvah when he was nine years old.  When David was eleven, his family moved to the Bayit Vagan in Jerusalem. He moved to the U.S. at age 22, in 2005. David's yeshivah education includes Mir Yerushalayim and Ner Yisroel. He served as a rebbe at a Russian-American Jewish high school in Brooklyn for several years before going to law school. He is currently General Counsel for a privately-held real estate transactional, management, and lending company. David resides in Clifton, New Jersey, with his wife Miriam (formerly an officer at the Federal Reserve Bank and now Head of Product at an international fintech startup) and their three children. 

In this class, we speak about the laws of a shul vs. a beis hamedrash Which then evolves into a larger conversation about feeling a pressure not to be the “Frummy” one

The primary section of the Selihot service is the "Yag Middot," the recitation of G-d's Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, which was established by the Ansheh Kenesset Ha'gedola (Men of the Great Assembly). The Kaf Ha'haim (Rav Yaakob Haim Sofer, Baghdad-Israel, 1870-1939) writes (581:5; listen to audio recording for precise citation) that it is forbidden to recite the "Yag Middot" without concentrating on the words' meaning. He adds that the words must be recited with fear, awe and trepidation, and with as intense concentration as possible. One should bow when reciting the words "Va'yaabor Hashem Al Panav Vayikra," and then stand straight for the recitation of "Hashem Hashem." The custom in Yeshivat Bet-El was to stand up straight when reciting "Vayikra," and then bow again for "Hashem Hashem." The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) writes that when reciting "Hashem Hashem," one should lift himself with his feet, as we do when reciting "Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh" in Nakdishach. One must make a brief pause between the first "Hashem" and the second, as they are separated by a "Pesik" note. The Kaf Ha'haim writes that one who recites them without a brief pause is liable to severe punishment. One should also briefly pause in between the words "Vayikra Be'shem" and "Hashem." One must recite the "Yag Middot" in a loud voice, just as Moshe Rabbenu declared the attributes in a loud voice. There is a debate among the commentators in identifying the thirteen attributes. We accept the view of the Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria of Safed, 1534-1572), who listed the attributes as follows: 1) Kel; 2) Rahum; 3) Hanun; 4) Erech; 5) Apayim; 6) Rab Hesed; 7) Emet; 8) Noser Hesed; 9) La'alafim; 10) Noseh Avon; 11) Va'fesha; 12) Ve'hata'a; 13) Ve'nakeh. It is proper to count the attributes with one's fingers while reciting them. The "Yag Middot" may only be recited together with a Minyan. If one is in the middle of the recitation when the congregation completes it, he may nevertheless continue and complete the recitation, since he had begun to recite the "Yag Middot" together with them. This is the ruling of the Ben Ish Hai (Parashat Ki-Tisa).