Shalom and Shana Tova 5773.
I'm not a frequent blogger, realized it's a year since my last posting.
Again we are in the awsome time of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Just entered 5773 with a lot of anticipation for an imminent Geula.
Let me quote again Rabbi lazer Brody with his amazing story preparing us for Yom Kippur.
May this year be a good year for all Am Israel, a year of Geula and Moshiach.
Here is R. Lazer's  recipe for a sweet life.

What a sweet life we live! People who are stressed out by Yom Kippur have never had the privilege of learning what Yom Kippur is all about. That's understandable; no one ever explained the true and simple meaning of Yom Kippur to them. With Hashem's help, let's rectify that. Imagine that a person has just been tried and convicted by a judge and jury of a dozen counts of the worst felonies imaginable. He now faces sentencing, which could be anywhere from 35 years to life imprisonment, with minuscule chances for parole. During his first depressing day in jail, where he begins his nervous 10-day countdown until his sentencing hearing, the jailer summons our “hero”, and says that the prisoner-rehabilitation officer wants to speak to him. Bewildered, not knowing what to expect and with hands bound, he followed the jailer to the office of the rehab officer. Unlike everyone else in the penal system, the rehab officer had a kind face and a warm smile. He motioned for the jailer to leave the room. Now, alone with the prisoner, the rehab officer offered his “guest” a warm cup of tea and some home-baked oatmeal cookies. Astonished, the prisoner thought he was dreaming. Is this prison? Cinnamon tea and oatmeal cookies? Maybe they're just fattening me up for the slaughter... As he read the prisoner's mind, the rehab officer said, “Don't be afraid – drink the tea and enjoy the cookies. Meanwhile, I have a deal for you that you won't be able to refuse.” He opened the prisoner's file, which was just about as thick as the Metropolitan New York phone book, and reviewed the prisoner's infamous past. “If we go the conventional route, you'll be growing old within these reinforced concrete walls,” said the rehab officer, as the prisoner listened dejectedly. “But, alongside the conventional route where there's little chance of parole, there's a fast lane to a complete and total presidential pardon...” The prisoner sat up in his chair with wide-open eyes. Could it be? How could 35 years to life be erased in one fell swoop? “You see,” explained the rehab officer, according to your psychiatric profile, you have one core problem that is the root of all your crimes. If we can show the court that you've been counseled, treated, and completely rehabilitated, then a complete presidential pardon is guaranteed. “Do you mean that I can change overnight?” “Not completely, “ said the rehab officer. “no one changes overnight. But, as soon as you recognize your problem, admit to your weakness and shortcoming, and do your utmost to rectify, the court will recommend a total pardon for you. You'll be a free man, but you must commit with all your heart to occupy yourself with good endeavors and make crime a figment of the past. Do you agree?” * * * Who would be the fool that wouldn't agree? Does our above parable seem to be something from Fantasy Land in Disney World? It's not at all. Rosh Hashana is the Day of Judgment for all of creation. Some people walk away with severe judgments, with their respective punishments hovering over their heads like a sharp sword resting on their jugular vein, Heaven forbid. But, Hashem gives us a day when we can be totally pardoned, no matter what we've done and whatever punishment we've incurred. That wonderful day is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. As in our above parable, Rebbe Nachman of Breslev explains that there's one root cause of all our transgressions, and that's Pgam Habrit, or breach of personal holiness. Pgam Habrit makes a person insane, and a person doesn't sin – according to the Gemara – unless a spirit of insanity enters his soul. That's why Rebbe Nachman calls the rectification of our “covenant”, which is personal holiness, Tikkun Haklali – the general remedy. By correcting our personal holiness, we rectify all of our sins and are forgiven for them completely. For men, tikkun habrit - personal holiness - entails guarding one's eyes, refraining from contact with the opposite sex outside the context of marriage, and refraining from spilling one's seed outside the context of conjugal relations. For women, personal holiness entails modesty in dress and deportment and also refraining from contact with any man outside the context of marriage. Yom Kippur and tikkun habrit are closely interrelated. Rebbe Natan explains in Likutei Halachot that Yom Kippur is the anniversary of tikkun habrit, for this was the day that Abraham had his “brit”, and came into a holy covenant with Hashem by way of his circumcision. Although “brit” literally means “covenant” in Hebrew, we call circumcision “brit” (or bris in Ashkenazi pronunciation), because this signifies our commitment to the covenant of personal holiness with Hashem. On Yom Kippur, we are commanded to refrain not only from eating, drinking, wearing leather shoes, and using creams and oils on our bodies, but from marital relations as well. This symbolizes a jump-start on personal holiness. That's also why we wear white on Yom Kippur, explains Rebbe Natan, to signify our lily-white holiness just like the angels. People think that it's impossible to do genuine teshuva for every breach they've done in every one of the 613 commandments. And who knows what our criminal files look like in the Heavenly archives. Yet, as Rebbe Natan elaborates on Rebbe Nachman's teachings, by doing our best to improve out tikkun habrit, our personal holiness, we atone for the source of all of our sins and receive complete, unconditional pardon from Hashem himself. A flesh-and-blood president pardons, but Hashem gives big rewards in addition to the pardon. That's the fast lane to forgiveness. Now do you understand why we live a sweet life? With this in mind, fasting is a cinch and we pray with joy, for as my beloved teacher Rav Shalom Arush says, there's no teshuva without joy. May we all be sealed for the best New Year we ever had, amen!

The following is just so amazing, it's quoted from Rav Lazer Brody's blog, (http://www.lazerbrody.typepad.com/)  I have to pass it on. May it be for a Good Year 5772.

No Double Jeopardy

On Rosh Hashana, all of creation passes before Hashem, the supreme and sole Monarch of the Universe, who personally sits in judgment in the awesome trial that determines our fate for the coming year.

The Talmud also teaches that a Heavenly court judges the world in general and each person in particular, every single day. All court decisions must receive the final approval of The Almighty, who is much more merciful and compassionate than the court is. Frequently, G-d delays the implementation of an unfavorable decision against a person, to give that person an opportunity for self-evaluation.

When a person mends his or her ways, G-d cancels the verdict altogether. Double jeopardy is illegal in the Heavenly court. Therefore, when a person admits guilt after self-evaluation, he or she has in effect conducted his or her own mental courtroom. The heavenly court is no longer allowed to try the case. If the court has already tried the person, but has not yet activated the sentence, then the sentence is nullified.

If a person makes no change in the behavior that led to a guilty verdict, then the spiritual sentencing manifests itself in some type of affliction in this world. The resulting suffering from a person's own deeds is therefore self-induced.

Don't wait until until the fateful trial of Rosh Hashana - judge yourself before the Heavenly court judges you! The minute a person begins to evaluate him/herself, G-d sends an urgent message that forbids the Heavenly court from passing judgment on the self-evaluator. Again, The Almighty prohibits double jeopardy. When a person judges him/herself truthfully, the Heavenly court is not allowed to touch the case.

Once a person decides to improve in some way, two things happen: One, The Almighty grants the person's decision the validity of a Heavenly court decision. Two, all punishment is cancelled. As soon as a person decides to improve - even if the decision hasn't been fully implemented - G-d no longer needs to use punitive stimuli to stimulate that person's improvement. Also, The Almighty takes keen interest in a person's self-evaluation, and always listens when a person judges him/herself.

During the month of Elul, even the last day before Rosh Hashana, Hashem is very lenient and forgiving. The Lubavitcher Rebbe of blessed and saintly memory used to say that in Elul, Hashem resembles a king who visits his subjects in their villages; out in the field, anyone can approach the King. But, in Tishrei - from Rosh Hashana until the end of the judgment days on Shmini Atzeres, Hashem resembles a King on His throne; it's not so simple to visit the King in His palace when He sits on His throne. Also, on Rosh Hashana, Hashem judges all of creation, and the trial is much more serious.

Don't wait for the fateful trial on Rosh Hashana. Now's the time to judge yourself, taking stock of the things you want to avoid doing in the future and identifying those areas in your observance of Hashem's commandments where you'd like to improve. You'll be doing yourself the favor of your life.

In an earthly court with human judges, when an accused person pleads guilty, he or she gets the book thrown at them. In the Heavenly court, the opposite is true - when one confesses and pleads guilty, yet sincerely asks for forgiveness, one is not only pardoned, but granted a joyous and sweet New Year!

Heavenly advocates

I want to share with you a beautiful story I learned today from the Talmud, quoted in the Kitzur Shulchon Oruch. Let it be an inspiration and encouragement when illness strikes and a guide what to do.   

It's about a person suffering from illness, what he should do and what can help him. This is how the story goes:

"Rabbi Yitzhak the son of Rabbi Yehuda declared: A person should always request Divine mercy that he not fall ill. For if he falls ill he is told: Bring forth your merit and you will be released.

Since he has fallen ill he must find in himself and his deeds a reason why he should be judged meritoriously. The Talmud continues:

When a person has a headache, he should consider himself as if he was arrested. If he is forced to lie in bed, he should consider himself as one who was taken to a courtroom. 

Whenever a person is taken to a courtroom, if he has powerful advocates, he will be saved. If not he will not be saved. These are the advocates that a person has: repentance and good deeds. Even when there are nine hundred and ninety nine prosecutors that try to prosecute him and only one that defends him, he will be saved. As it's said in Job 33:23 If there be for a man even one angel out of a thousand who intercedes on his behalf, to speak of his uprightness, then He will be gracious to him and say: Redeem him from going to the grave."

 

May the God of Israel bless you and may you have advocates defending you constantly in the heavenly court. 

PS. Chodesh Tov, Nissan starts tonight

Love from Jerusalem

Purim in Jerusalem

Today is Shusan Purim, Purim celebrated in Jerusalem. The rest of the Jewish world had their Purim feast yesterday. This is from the book of Esther where walled cities in Biblical times had Purim a day later.

Last night and this morning we heard the reading of Megillat Esther. Today we give “mishloa manot”, gifts to friends, and tzedaka to the poor. I just heard from my Yeshiva Rabbi, R. A. Weiss a beautiful lesson on giving tzedaka on Purim. Usually when assisting poor or giving money to a beggar who stretches out his hand, we have the right to question his sincerity and even ask for references. But not so on Purim, said Rabbi Weiss. On Purim we are obligated to give to anyone who extends his hand to get a coin or two without any questions whatsoever.  In a similar manner we should take the opportunity to cry out to Hashem on Purim, because if we are not allowed to question, He Himself does not question our motives or our sincerity. Our Father in Heaven obligates Himself to give and answer our prayers willingly and gladly on this very holy day. A day about which it is said in the book of Esther, that “Purim should never cease among the Jews.”

May the Joy and happiness of Purim always be with us.

Good Morning Jerusalem and Happy Purim!

I’m happy to wake up every morning. I’m happy to be healthy, happy to be Jewish and happy to wake up in Jerusalem. How privileged I am to live in this Holy City.

A new war has started today in the Middle East with West allies attacking Gadhafi in Libya. The Purim war.  This could easily spread, who knows what allies and friends Gadhafi still has, whom he will engage on his side. Anyway, there is no place I’d rather be than Israel. This is the safest place for Jews. So if you are a Jew living outside Eretz Israel, start considering coming home.  And hurry up! The world is going crazy.