9 Expressions of faith, awe and love to God

Happy Chanukah!

The greatest gift we can give to our readers at Chanukah, are the words in holiness and wisdom of the Rabbis of our generation as well as tzaddikim of blessed memories. Here are secrets revealed in the words of the Sages, all we have to do is listen to them and learn to live the teachings.

“For a person’s capacity to give love is related to his level of Godly knowledge and awareness. And one who offers love to others receives a flow of heavenly love.” Likutey Moharan

By: Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

“On Chanukah, the Priests prevailed over the wicked Hellenists, who wanted to dissuade Israel from serving God. These Kohanim overcame them, and thus brought all Israel back to Torah and devotion to God”. The Way of God

By: RAMCHAL

“[Not only deeds and words,] but intentions, too, have an effect on the higher worlds.” Nefesh Hachaim.

By: Rav Chaim of Volozhin

“United We Stand, Divided We Fall”

By: HaRav Ariel Bar Tzadok

“Hashem sees all, yet is invisible to human perception, and so man must conjure up in his heart the idea of Hashem’s awesome rulership, His great wonders and splendor.” Noam Elimelech book.

By: Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk

“Divine Providence is constantly at work, watching over and examining each person.” Tomer Devorah

By: RAMAK

“Even when you really want to talk to God, there may be times when you can think of nothing to say. At such moments simply say the word “God”, or repeat the phrase, Ribono Shel Olam, “Master of the Universe”. A Call To Live

By: Avraham Yehoshua Greenbaum

“Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Yehoshua, and Yehoshua to the Elders, and the Elders to the Prophets, and the Prophets transmitted it to the men of the Great Assembly. They said three things: Be cautious with judgment, establish many students, and make a fence for the Torah.” Pirkey Avos

Chapter 1, Mishnah 1:1

“Instruct me, Hashem, in Your way, that I may walk in Your truth, dedicate my heart to fear Your Name.” Psalm 86:11

By: David HaMelech

Happy Chanukah!

Reporting! A special and memorable event, honoring the contributions of Sephardic Jewry in America and commemorating the Life of Hacham Ovadia Yosef a "h. '

Yehuda Azoulay, the master of ceremonies

On the date of November 20, 2013, Sephardic Jews and Sephardic Legacy Series were honored in Russell Senate Office Building - The Kennedy Caucus Room, an exclusive Luncheon in the US Capitol, Congress celebrated over 360 years in of Sephardic Jewry in America. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the arrival of the first Jews to the United States of America, remember the life and contributions of Emma Lazarus, she is well known for his poem "The New Colossus" engraved on a bronze plaque in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Also, a huge list of the authorities of the U.S. Congress gave tribute to the valuable contribution Sephardic Jews in America.

 

The first Jews to arrive to the United States of America were Sephardim, Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent, many of whom made their journey in order to escape forced conversion in their native lands around 1550.

This event is promoting not just honors and merits of the contribution of Sephardic Jews, but bringing a purpose of world peace, the strengthening of our faith, to hear and know the inspiring stories and holy teachings of Sephardi Hachamim, to inspire the entire Jewish world at a time that we must act to preserve and protect Judaism, to reveal the truth of Torah.

The Inaugural Tribute was successful with over 175 participants from across North America. And as described in the words of Yehuda Azoulay: “November 20th 2013 marked a historic day for Sephardic Jewry worldwide.”

This event, also dedicated to Hacham Ovadia Yosef a” h, of blessed memory, the universal leader of Sephardic Jewry. Recently, Sephardic Legacy Series published THE LEGACY OF MARAN HACHAM OVADIA YOSEF, a book that will inspire young and old, and belongs in every Jewish home. The high quality of its editions of books is inner (content) and outer (material used for pressing). Worth checking out!

Journal Mitzvah, Brazil, we want to give our warmest thanks to Yehuda Azoulay, the master of ceremonies in this event and author, founder of Sephardic Legacy Series for their dedication and passionate effort to publish books of the Saddik, of blessed memories and his good conduct and work to preserve and protect the Jewish heritage. Thanks for inspiring us in our Divine service! G-d bless you!

For more info on Sephardic Legacy Series - Institute for Preserving Sephardic Heritage please visit: www.sephardiclegacy.com or contact info@sephardiclegacy.com.

By:

Gilson Sasson (editor)

Journal Mitzvah

Brazil

A Legend of Greatness –– The Life & Times of Hacham Haim Yosef David Azoulay (Book review)

Title: A Legend of Greatness –– The Life & Times of Hacham Haim Yosef David Azoulay 

Author: Yehuda Azoulay
Distributed by: Israel BookShop Publications
Published by: Israel Book Shop
Manufactured: USA
Language: English
Binding: Hardcover
Pages: 464
Official Website: http://www.sephardiclegacy.com/

Sephardic Legacy Series is endorsed by Hacham Ovadia Yosef, Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, Chief Rabbi Bakshi Doron, Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Hacham Yitzak Yosef, Rabbi Reuven Elbaz & Rabbi Ben-Tzion Mutzafi. Therefore, we can expect only publications of great importance and quality.

A Legend of Greatness is the fourth publication of Sephardic Legacy Series by Yehuda Azoulay. The author has an immense skill and inspiration to describe us "The Life & Times of Hacham Haim Yosef David Azoulay," the Hida, a leading scholar and prolific writer who was proficient in every aspect of Torah literature, including Halachah, Talmud, homiletics, and Kabbalah. We can be transported to events in a way we were experiencing live, viewing the facts. Our mind is guided by the beautiful and fabulous stories and the practices of the Saddik. Yehuda Azoulay has clarified for us with rich details and erudition of this holy Sage, his fine deeds, mitzvoth, ideas, teachings and amazing travels around the world.

His impressive devotion in Avodat Hashem is marked by great challenges and obstacles, and reading their stories, we can learn a lot as serving God. The saddik is an example of humility, holiness and faith in the Creator, being respected by Sephardic communities, but also in Hassidic movement as well as many Ashkenazic Torah Scholars.

Also, what is really interesting are the images of original documents and photos of the saddik. Full documentation, formulated in 38 Chapters. Some of the topics featured are: The Emergence of a Kabbalist, Emissaries from the Holy Land, The Hida’s Inner World, The Hida’s writings, The Hida’s sermons and more.

The essence of the book fills us with wonderful teachings of Torah.

Reviewed by: Gilson Rodrigues de Arruda.

Torah U’Tefilah #164

Parashas Vayishlach 5774

Compiled by: Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg

Email: rabbiyehudawinzelberg@gmail.com
 

Click to download the PDF.

 

https://app.box.com/s/mr473qpv1nouo8ketxs4

Vayishlach 5774

E-Parsha NO SIRLOIN?!? Parshas Vayeitzei, Genesis 28:10 - 32:3, focuses on the Patriarch Jacob and his pursuit of a family. On the way, he had a dream of a ladder with angels ascending and descending. In his dream, Hashem promised to be with Jacob in his descent to Padam and his ascent back to Canaan and to make him a great nation. Upon awakening, Yaakov made a vow that if Hashem were to take care of him by giving him bread to eat and clothes to wear, then he would accept "Elokim as G'd". Would we have thought of Yaakov - the chosen of the patriarchs (Avrohom, Yitschok and Yaakov are the only patriarchs as they willing surrendered their free choice to promulgate monotheism) would have accepted Hashem based on bread? In addition, the name Elokim is Hashem's expression of strict judgment (Elokim literally means judges). How could Yaakov have expected any signs of compassion from Hashem's expression of strict judgment? On the contrary, the name Hashem is an expression of compassion. Yaakov should have directed his vow towards the name Hashem not Elokim. Elokim is the name that appears during the creation story. Strict judgment does not mean cruelty. It means necessary containment. Hashem desired a world limited to three dimensions. Therefore, it was necessary for Hashem to contain his infinity through strict judgment in order for those limitations to exist. Yaakov's vow can be interpreted as a declarative statement:  If it will be that Hashem's infinite revelation can be contained on my behalf so as to manifest itself even in something simply mundane as bread, not just for me but for all of my progeny until Moshiach's arrival, then I, as a limited creature will be able to relate to Hashem - promulgate his existence - and take on the responsibility of being the chosen people. We are the progeny of Yaakov. We are the recipients of the blessings he received from Hashem. We are also the bearers of his vow to make the world a better place. ----------------------------------------------------- The Making of a chosid            In honor of the birthday, Yahrtzeit and day of liberation of the Mittler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch - second Lubavitcher Rebbe. Once, when Rabbi DovBer was 14, he visited his father-in-law in Yanovitch. There he met one of his father's chasidim. The young man made fun of the chasid as it was known that this chasid was not the smartest but spent inordinately long times davening.  Said the chasid to Rabbi DovBer: "Considering who you are and how you've lived, what's the big deal? Your father -- well, we all know who your father is. You were certainly conceived under the holiest of circumstances, and I'm sure that your father secured a most lofty soul to bring down into the world. Then you were raised in a rebbe's home and great care was taken to mold your character and safeguard you from any negative influences. All your life you've been exposed to scholarship and sanctity, and to this very day you're preoccupied only with the study of Torah and the teachings of Chassidism. So, you've amassed a certain amount of knowledge and you pray with fervor and devotion. Big deal. "Now, take me, for example. My father was a simple man, and we can well imagine what was on his mind when he scraped out some dreg of a soul from the bottom of the barrel. My upbringing? I was raised as a goat and basically left to my own devices and do you know what I do with my life? I loan money to the peasants during the planting season and then, during the winter months, I make my rounds to their villages and farms to collect the debts before they have a chance to squander their entire harvest on vodka. This means setting out several hours before sunrise, well before the permissible time for prayer, equipped with a flask -- for without a drink one cannot begin to talk business with a peasant. After drinking to his health, one must share a l'chaim with the woman in the house as well -- otherwise she can ruin the whole deal for you. Only then can you sit down to settle part of the account. "After three or four such stops I make my way home, immerse myself in the mikveh and prepare for prayer. But after such preliminaries, what sort of prayer would you expect...?" The words of this chassid, who was, in truth, renowned for his refined nature and soulful prayers, made a deep impression on Rabbi DovBer. The young man immediately traveled home to his father and poured out his heart. He bewailed his spiritual state, saying that his service of G'd is worthless, falling so short of what is expected from him. The next time the chasid from Yanovitch came to Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the Rebbe said to him: "I am most grateful to you. You have made a chasid out of my Berl."

By: Rabbi Herschel Finman

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