5 SHIUR OF RABBI PINTO SHLITA

 

5 SHIUR OF RABBI PINTO SHLITA

Question 5

Date: 03.24.2020

Topic: Pandemic

Question:

Dear Rabbi,

Torah leaders around the world have declared a day of fasting and prayer to unveil Hashem's mercy in this pandemic. Is it recommended to fast during a pandemic?

Answer 5:

The rabbis and Torah leaders who have implored the public to fast and repent have valid sources to their words. These Rabbis are all great men and scholars and their word is to be respected by all members of their communities. "Make for yourself a teacher (Ethics of Our Fathers 1:6):" Every person must adhere to the advice of their Rabbi.

In the Shuva Israel community too, members must listen to the words of their Rabbi. We've already communicated our thoughts on the matter to our students and followers.

By Rabbi Pinto.

Permission granted by the Instagram/Telegram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

www.shuvaisrael.org

 

[This is a repost, more than one year ago the mekubal, Rabbi Pinto answered several general questions including the current situation in the world, and I felt that I should post his shiurim again, this is urgent and important to us as we will need to fortify our emunah and bitachon in HaShem and through Tzaddik, to get knowledge to achieve greater wisdom and good decisions, and to do better and better what needs to be done by ourselves and our love ones. – editor of Journal Mitzvah]

(A little more than we did all together, the more Kedushah enters this world from below, for the good of all!) Thanks, Gilson Sasson.

4 Shiur of Rabbi Pinto shlita

 

4 Shiur of Rabbi Pinto shlita

 

[This is a repost, more than one year ago the mekubal, Rabbi Pinto answered several general questions including the current situation in the world, and I felt that I should post his shiurim again, this is urgent and important to us as we will need to fortify our emunah and bitachon in HaShem and through Tzaddik, to get knowledge to achieve greater wisdom and good decisions, and to do better and better what needs to be done by ourselves and our love ones. – editor of Journal Mitzvah]

 

(A little more than we did all together, the more Kedushah enters this world from below, for the good of all!) Thanks, Gilson Sasson.

 

Question 4

Date: 03.24.2020

Topic: Pandemic

 

Question:

Dear Rabbi,

Given the current restriction on Minyanim (quorum of 10 required for communal prayer) imposed by the health ministry, can we partake in a Minyan which is taking place anyway?

 

Answer 4:

 

The very first principle is "Venishmartem Meod Lenafshotechem , be very careful about your lives (Deuteronomy 4:15)." If one sees that synagogues are not respecting the current regulations imposed by the government, such as not praying with more than ten in a group and maintaining sufficient distance between all members, then one should pray at home.

 

The pandemic should not at all be taken lightly and all restrictions should be respected. We find similar restrictions imposed by Rabbi Akiva Eiger on his community during an epidemic in 1831.

 

As of the past Friday, our perspective on the pandemic changed dramatically. Up until then, we took in the media and reports as mere exaggeration. But after consulting with our personal physician in New York - a true world-leading authority, unlike many doctors who hold their position only by title and not through authoritative experience - our perspective shifted to the very other extreme; the virus is a true threat to mankind. Young and old are at risk. This doctor saved my life in a complicated eight-hour long surgery, and I accept his authority without doubt.

 

Therefore, we press everyone to be wary of the seriousness of it all and to respect all restrictions in place, distancing and all.

 

By Rabbi Pinto.

 

Permission granted by the Instagram/Telegram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

 

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

 

www.shuvaisrael.org

3 Shiur of Rabbi Pinto

 

3 Shiur of Rabbi Pinto

 

[This is a repost, more than one year ago the mekubal, Rabbi Pinto answered several general questions including the current situation in the world, and I felt that I should post his shiurim again, this is urgent and important to us as we will need to fortify our emunah and bitachon in HaShem and through Tzaddik, to get knowledge to achieve greater wisdom and good decisions, and to do better and better what needs to be done by ourselves and our love ones. – editor of Journal Mitzvah]

(A little more than we did all together, the more Kedushah enters this world from below, for the good of all!) Thanks, Gilson Sasson.

 

Question 3

Date: 03.24.2020

Topic: Redemption, Anxiety

 

Question:

Dear Rabbi,

My wife is anxious about the state of the world once the Messiah will have arrived. 

Will families remain together?

 

Answer 3:

Before all: This is the year the Messiah will come. We believe that he will arrive at any moment. Perhaps within a week, a month or even a year- we are at the doorway of Redemption. It must be our firm belief that he may arrive at any moment.

One minor detail is that the Messiah will arrive when we are not consciously expecting him. If we calculate when to expect him, at a fixed moment or place, that holds him off; he will arrive when we aren't actively thinking of him. To have a fixed idea of when he will arrive can only create issues in faith. 

Our current times are the beginning of the process of the Redemption. The process can take a second, minute or Heaven Forbid, a month or a year. It all depends on us.

But our thoughts are on the Messiah at all times. In all prayers, rituals and important events we pray for the return of the Jewish People to Zion, Jerusalem. When a couple unites in marriage, a glass is broken to remind them of the imperfection of the world which will attain perfection with the coming of the Messiah.

The Resurrection of the Dead will take place and it will begin with Moses and His generation. They will rise from their graves and enter the Promised Land of Israel.

Surely, there will always be doubters who confuse the faith of the masses. These doubters are the Erev Rav, THE MIXED MULTITUDES WHO BROUGHT THE JEWISH NATION TO ALL THEIR FAILURES DURING THEIR TRAVELS IN THE DESERT. People who raise doubts about the authenticity of the Torah and the Messiah are descendants of the Erev Rav, and we must distance ourselves as much as possible from such people.

The Erev Rav also represents ONE'S OWN DOUBTS AND FOOLISH, futile behavior that has no room in a Torah lifestyle. Slander, gossip, immoral, vain or futile discussions disturb the serenity and truth of the Torah that we study and live by; we must double our efforts to create a boundary between the two.

With complete faith there is no need for any anxiety. When we are bound to HaShem and the teachings of the Torah we are on the right path to welcoming the Messiah. Anxiety and doubt should have no place in our lives. If they are present it only means that one has sins that they haven't yet resolved. Sins between themselves and HaShem, themselves and others or simply within themselves. Anxiety is only healthy if it keeps one on their toes from fear of sinning. But a fear which prevents progression in one's life should be uprooted from one's heart as quickly as possible.

By Rabbi Pinto.

Permission granted by the Instagram/Telegram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

www.shuvaisrael.org

2 Shiur of Rabbi Pinto

 

2 Shiur of Rabbi Pinto 

[This is a repost, more than one year ago the mekubal, Rabbi Pinto answered several general questions including the current situation in the world, and I felt that I should post his shiurim again, this is urgent and important to us as we will need to fortify our emunah and bitachon in HaShem and through Tzaddik, to get knowledge to achieve greater wisdom and good decisions, and to do better and better what needs to be done by ourselves and our love ones. – editor of Journal Mitzvah]

(A little more than we did all together, the more Kedushah enters this world from below, for the good of all!) Thanks, Gilson Sasson.

 

Question 2

Date: 03.24.2020

Topic: Salvation

 

Question:

Dear Rabbi,

What can I do to live to see the Messiah?

 

Answer 2:

The Talmud recounts that during the height of the Jewish society flourishing in the Temple era, 1,200,000 Paschal offerings (Korban Pesach) were slaughtered in Jerusalem. Given that each Pascal offering serves a family of no less than ten (as every component of the animal must be consumed), it can be inferred that there were millions upon millions of pilgrims residing in Jerusalem.

The explicit miracles that took place at the time were numerous. Firstly, the boundaries delineating Jerusalem are those currently delineating the Old City. Unbelievably, no person ever complained of cramped conditions. Then, even with all the flowing blood and fresh meat of the millions of slaughtered animals, there was not a fly present in Jerusalem. Neither did any woman experience a miscarriage from the nauseating scenario and heavy scent of the slaughtered animals. Lastly, all the millions of pilgrims managed to squeeze into the Temple confines and prostrate themselves during the prayers with room to spare. How was this last miracle possible? The Talmud explains that the Land of Israel and the Temple Mount are like the ever-elastic hide of a deer.

The Talmud teaches in the name of Rabbi Yochanan that although the verses in Shema promise longevity to those that pursue Hashem's word while living in Israel, populations in exile also merit this promise because they are diligent in their daily prayers.

The Talmud teaches that all synagogues and houses of study (Beth Midrash) throughout the world will be transposed to Israel in the times of the Messiah. Commentators differ in their opinion as to how Jerusalem and Israel will transform in the age of Messiah: One opinion states that the Temple boundaries, which are currently defined by the Temple Mount, will extend to the entire Jerusalem, while the second opinion extends the boundaries of the Jerusalem to cover the entire Land of Israel, and the entire world to take on the sanctity of the Land of Israel.

The Maharsha (commentator on the Talmud) explains that whoever partakes in the funding or maintenance of Torah locales (including synagogues) is included as a member of that place.

When Messiah finally arrives, the world will be unique and there will be Torah knowledge abounds. There will not be any sorrow or worries, only joy. All we must focus on is preparing ourselves mentally and spiritually to accept his arrival.

Sages throughout the ages were so anxious about the coming of the Messiah that any irregular sound would startle them; was that the blowing of the ram’s horn, signaling the arrival of the Messiah? Others would sleep in their clothes and shoes, just in the event that the Messiah will arrive any moment and they will be ready.

In a similar vein, Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, the grandfather of the previous Satmar Rebbe, exclaimed that hope of the Messiah's arrival kept him going his entire life. Had he known at the beginning of his life that the Messiah wasn't going to arrive during his living, he wouldn't have had motivation to live an entire life.

Each and every one of us must prepare ourselves for the Messiah that he may arrive any moment. And, as the saying goes, "even if he takes the time to arrive, I shall await his arrival every day."

By Rabbi Pinto.

Permission granted by the Instagram/Telegram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

 

www.shuvaisrael.org

1 Shiur of Rabbi Pinto 1-99

 

1 Shiur of Rabbi Pinto

 

[This is a repost, basically almost a year ago Rabbi Pinto answered several general questions including the current situation in the world, and I felt that I should post his shiurim again, this is urgent and important to us as we will need to fortify our emunah in HaShem and through Tzaddik, to get knowledge to achieve greater wisdom, and to do better and better what needs to be done. – editor of Journal Mitzvah]

 

Question 1

Date: 03.24.2020

Topic: Repentance

 

Dear Rabbi, How does one know when a decree is from heaven or the result of man's actions?

 

And is there a difference in how each form of decree is annulled?

 

Answer 1

 

To understand the difference in dealing with each form of decree, one must understand the interaction between the spiritual and physical in initiation. There are times when the flow of energy and inspiration descends from heaven, termed Itareruta Dil'ela, and others when it comes through human initiation, termed Itareruta Di'letata.

 

Itareruta Di'lela is identifiable when things flow easily and success comes with relatively little effort.Light is shone onto the earth from above, bringing with it spiritual inspiration, repentance and sanctity. Shabbat, which is a state of holiness that decends upon the world, is an example of Itareruta Di'lela.

 

 

Itareruta Di'lerata is when human initiation takes place; man draws down the heavenly lights by his doing. All Jewish holidays, in contrast to Shabbat, require human initiation to draw down the spiritual light. One must condition themselves to receive the light of the holidays by studying the laws and deeper meaning of the holidays.

 

Similarly, in the paths of repentance, there are times when one must initiate repentance on their own and draw down heavenly light downward.Their good actions are uplifted to Hashem. This is the repentance that Hashem demanded from Yeravam Ben Nevat, who had sinned gravely for many years. Hashem wished that Yeravam would initiate his repentance on his own and not wait for Hashem to ignite the feeling in his heart. Hashem promised that He would assist Yeravam thereafter to elevated him to lofty levels of holiness.

 

In recent years, society has deteriorated on many fronts. Yes, there is Torah abound, large Yeshivot (study halls) with thousands of students and synagogues at nearly every corner of the world.

 

With so much goodness and Torah awareness abound, it comes at a great surprise that a moral rift exists in many supposedly observant and knowledgeable individuals; one can't help but notice the incoherence of peoples beliefs and actions. How can Torah values exist alongside corrupt values?

 

While this only describes a portion of the population, every person must view themselves- on some level or another- implicated in the general defilement of values and morals present throughout society.

 

The Sages teach that when one performs a positive action or thinks a positive thought, they are indirectly influencing another Jewish soul for the good. That soul could be near or afar. On the other hand, negative thoughts and actions influence Jewish souls around the world for the worse.

 

Every action, good or evil, influences the entire creation, humankind, animals and inanimate objects. Within man is contained the primary traits of every animal; man draws energy from every animal and influences them in return. When we act accordingly, we influence every animal for the good, and converse is valid when we act inappropriately.

 

The Talmud records an anecdote of Rabbi Zeira who once entered the study hall Beth Hamidrash (study hall) and announced that a certain bird, that until then had been kosher, was no longer fit to be consumed. By some means, Rabbi Zeira had discovered that the bird had developed predatory traits and henceforth it took on the status of an unkosher species. How did this bird come to change its nature, one might ask? Simply, as the general population began to deteriorate their ways, they influenced the bird to alter its nature, and henceforth qualify as an unkosher species.

 

This notion is the basis of the practice of regularly reading Perek Shira (in the Shuva Israel community it is read every Sunday). Perek Shira is a compendium of the songs of praise every creature and plant praises Hashem on a daily basis. When we recite Perek Shira, we empower the entire creation.

 

On the same note, when one performs good deeds and behaves according to the ethics and morals of the Torah, they uplift the entire creation. Behaving inappropriately, in the other hand, diminishes the goodness, sanctity and life-force of the entire creation.

 

In regard to the current pandemic, its source is not from heaven. Rather, it is the result of the deterioration of human values. It's remedy, therefore, will only come into being when matters are rectified. When humankind determines the source of the pandemic, that is, the spiritual, moral and ethical corruption that created the situation, the resulting rectification and repentance will draw the remedy from heaven through Hashem's grace.

 

It is never good to take on the role of prosecutor of the masses, but the evil that takes place between man and fellow is blatant. Slander, gossip, blackmail, corruption and similar misdeeds are the spiritual source of this great pandemic. Refraining from these and rectifying past errors is the only manner in which to draw down mercy from heaven to redeem us from this global crisis.

 

We shouldn't place ourselves in a comfort zone, falsely assuring ourselves that regardless of the severity of the situation, at some point in time a remedy will be found and the situation will resolve itself on its own. The remedy to our situation rests in our hands, in our dedication to altering our ways; when we initiate repentance, rectification and improvement in our conduct, Hashem will grace us with the remedy and resolution to this global crisis.

 

By Rabbi Pinto.

 

Permission granted by the Instagram/Telegram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

 

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

 

www.shuvaisrael.org

Messiah, Redemption

RABBI PINTO TEACHINGS

Question 28

Date: 03.24.2020

Topic: Messiah, Redemption

Dear Rabbi,

I'm an occupied homemaker who has limited time to myself. How can I participate in the acceleration of the coming of Messiah?

Answer 28:

First and foremost, it's a great deed care for one's household.

Rabbi Eliezer Papo in his Pele Yoetz teaches that even during seemingly menial tasks during the day, a person can fulfill numerous Mitzvot, positive commandments of Torah. One can be on their commute to work, a housewife can be preparing dinner and at the same time feeling and expressing their love of God and his goodness or love towards every person. A housewife can be preparing her family's meal, caring for children or any other task and have in mind that all her actions are so that her family could accomplish positive deeds- Mitzvot- in their life. There are always positive thoughts to think about, positive energy to impart onto their surroundings.

By Rabbi Pinto.

Permission granted by the Instagram/Telegram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

www.shuvaisrael.org

Pandemic, Service of God

Rabbi Pinto Teachings

Question 27

Date 03.24.2020

Topic: Pandemic, Service of God

Dear Rabbi,

What does Hashem expect of us during this period of pandemic?

Answer 27:

Hashem seeks the self-improvement of each and every individual- personal improvement, that is.

The area of improvement differs from one person to the next. To have a general sense of how a person should be improving themselves, in what area of their character should they be focusing their change, one should look at what essence they connect with.

According to the Kabbalah, a person's soul/spirit is associated with one of four symbolic elements: air, fire, water, soil. Each one of these elements has a defining character. The element of air is associated with speech, fire with anger, water with physical pleasure and earth with feelings of self-deprecation and depression. To whichever symbolic element a person most connects, they should focus their energy to rectify themselves in that area.

By Rabbi Pinto.

Permission granted by the Instagram/Telegram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

www.shuvaisrael.org

An important piece of advice that every Jew should always keep in mind

An important piece of advice that every Jew should always keep in mind by Harav Pinto

“Rabbi Pinto gives a crucial piece of advice to apply during these difficult times.” This shiur is for the benefit, refuah Shleimah and health to Rabbi Pinto and the entire Jewish People. Amen!

To all our dear friends May HaShem bless you with success and all the best.

You are all cherished and loved. May HaShem always bless youwith all the best.

Maybe now that we have a couple of minutes I would like to give over.

An important piece of advice that every Jew should always keep in mind.

In mind especially during these days.

One needs to know that whatever one thinks, is what happens in the end.

One who thinks bad, bad things will come to him.

One who thinks good, will have good coming.

Whoever thinks all day about problems and worries, sees everything negative and all bad, in the end he will go through problems and worries, difficulties, uncomfortable situations and bad things.

But whoever thinks all day good, even when he is going through bad patches, if he keeps a positive outlook, in the end will have good things.

And that’s what said Yaakov Avinu, “The things I feared about, were what I experienced. “Whatever you always fear, is what comes to you.

A person who is always scared to get sick, in the end he will get sick.

A person who is always scared to loose all his money, in the end he will loose it.

“The things I feared about”, at the end of the day was what I had.

The mind is like a magnet, whatever one thinks is what he attracts to himself.

If you think good, you will have good.

G-d forbid, if a person thinks bad, bad things will come to him.

Therefore one needs to always be very careful with his thoughts.

And this is what we saw with Yaakov Avinu after he left the house of Lavan.

Lavan caught up to him and asked him, “Why did you leave? Why did you go? Why didn’t you ask me permission to leave? Why did you feel the need to run away like that, you took your family and ran away quickly?

Yaakov answered to Lavan, “Because I said that you would take my children and wives, and that is why I left” Yaakov Avinu is saying here that because he said and thought “Lavan will take my children and wifes” then it was probably going to happen to me. Therefore, I was forced to flee quickly.

Yaakok Avinu says, “What caused my quick escape without permission? The fact that I thought in my heart and uttered the words that ‘Lavan was going to take my wifes and children’ in the end it was going to happen.

A person who is scared all day and is always saying “This and that is going to going to happen” In the end he will see that it will. Therefore, one must always think good things. One must always think of only good things. Whenever one thinks only thinks about good things and his mindset is always positive, will see good.

We can learn a very good point from this.  It is written that whenever Yossef had his two children, one of them he named Menashe, why Menashe? Yossef said “Because HaShem ‘nashani’ from the house of my father. What does ‘nashani’ mean? Yossef said that he called  his child Menashe because HaShem helped him forget his father. This raises a very important question to Yossef Hatzaddik:  Your father is crying over you all day, your father is in pain all day over you, and here you call your child Menashe because HaShem helped you forget your father? Your father is crying!!! And you honor the fact that you forgot him by naming  your child Menashe?! How can this be?

We thought to answer this with an important principle: It is written that a dead person is forgotten from the heart of his survivors after 12 months.

After 12 months the deceased is forgotten. Why? Because he is dead, he cannot think about me anymore, and therefore, I will not think about him either. Whenever a person thinks about someone, the other also thinks about him.

If I think about him, he will think about me. If I don’t think about him, he will also not think about me. So we can apply this to Yossef Hatzaddik, he loved his father, he said “If I sit and cry over my father all day, then he will also think and cry over me. If I forget him, he will forget about me. If I don’t think about him, then he also won’t think about me. If I don’t remember my father at all, then he will forget about me and he won’t suffer from the pain. “What did Yossef do?

All day he worked on himself to forget his father and refrain from thinking about him.

Because if he forgets about his father, then his father will forget about him. If he forgets  about his father, then his father won’t remember him. Yossef worked on himself really hard to forget his father. And that is why he called his son Menashe, he prayed to HaShem through his son’s name for help to forget his father so that he will forget about him. One needs to know that whenever one think about something, that thing comes alive. As soon as you stop thinking about it, it will die. If you think about a problem, you make it live on. If you about the problem, it will forget about you. If a person has a problem, he should forget about it, take it out of his mind and not think about it at all.

Whenever a person is constantly thinking about a problem, he makes it live on.

There is another point that we can mention: It is written about Yossef when he was in jail….How many years was he supposed to be in jail? 12 years.

How many years did he really spend in jail? 2 years. What happened to Yossef? When Yossef was in jail he went over to the Chief Butler and told him to remember him, and go speak with Pharaoh so that he takes him out of jail because he was innocent. Later Yossef asked himself, “Where is my faith in HaShem? I need to place my trust in HaShem, not in people that will not help me”. It is forbidden to trust people over HaShem. Yossef felt bad for the fact that he asked the Chief Butler for help. So what did he do? He forgot completely about him. He didn’t sit and wait for the promise that the Chief Butler made to him to help him get out of jail, rather, he forgot about it completely. As a result, it is written that the Chief Butler forgot about Yossef. Why? Since Yossef forgot about him first, then the Chief Butler forgot too. Yossef stopped thinking about it, and as soon as he forgot about him, the Chief Butler forgot about Yossef too. The Chief Butler forgot about Yossef and his promise to him completely.

The same applies to every person. When you think about something, you give life to it! When you forget, the thing disappears. When a person is worried all day about a certain issue, the issue persists. Whenever a person forgets about the problem, the problem leaves him.

Therefore, we must always think with a positive outlook.  Always think about good and positive things, about important and good things, and as a result of this positive thinking, you will live a good life.

Yesterday, we asked a question here in the Yeshiva, a very important question. It is written that whoever speaks Lashon Hara (slander) about his friend, will not have a portion in the World to Come. Whoever goes around saying that such and such did xyz not have a portion in the World to Come.

But if he repents, HaShem forgives him. This raises a question: If someone says that “x” is a thief and a liar and later he repented, he said that Reuven is a liar and later he repented, but in the meantime, the gossip goes out in the street everyone is talking about  Reuven that he is a thief and liar. The initiator repented, but the whole world are talking bad about Reuven because of him.

How can we fix this? The same way… at the moment where the speaker repents for real then everyone will forget about the piece of gossip.

Sometimes, we see that someone tells us about someone that is a liar, but we soon, forget, it leaves the heart. Why? Because when the person that spoke bad repents he causes everyone  to forget his words. The power of out thought is very strong. People think that our thoughts are not worth anything.

But people need to know that our thoughts have tremendous power, our thoughts have great power. When one thinks good, good things happen to him.

People who think negative thoughts, all the time begin to see difficulties in his life and things get bad for him. This is what happens these days.

These days we are going through very difficult times, one of the hardest times for Am Israel. There has never been a period of time this hard. Barely, anyone has any trust in HaShem. Whoever has money is always worried he will loose it.

Whoever doesn’t have money is always worried about his next meal. There is tremendous confusion in the environment. One needs to be very strongminded!!! One needs to completely place his trust in HaShem very strongminded!!! And whenever one is strongminded, HaShem  will save him.

“Have hope in HaShem! Reinforce and strengthen your heart and have trust in Lord” (Psalm 27:14). Hope in HaShem, be strong, and again reinforce your Trust in HaShem. May HaShem bless us all with Divine help, and success, You are the armed forces, the righteous Ones, a group of good people from the Yeshiva that maintain the Yeshiva and therefore, may HaShem fulfill all your good  wishes,  and bless you with all the best and happiness, beracha, salvation  and all the blessings, Amen.

Posted in November 23, 2011 but yet fresh and one top priority in serve HaShem.

By Rabbi Pinto.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

www.shuvaisrael.org

Pandemic, Livelihood

RABBI PINTO TEACHINGS

Question 23

Topic: Pandemic, Livelihood.

“Dear Rabbi, should we be going out to work or wait until the pandemic ends?”

Answer 23:

A person can't remain home with financial obligations on their shoulders. Everyone must continue in their occupation, whether they are laymen Torah scholars or people who combine work with daily Torah study.

However, one must be true to themselves as to what they should be doing. There are many who wear the title of Torah scholar, but are insincere in their study and are only in that environment to take advantage of the benefits that come by being associated to the Torah. The Torah has been turned into a metaphorical "shovel" to draw benefit from society through the respect and good that comes to Torah scholars.

Those who dedicate themselves solely to Torah study have their place and so to those that combine Torah with work, all the while keeping the Torah the essence of their lives. Great men like Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar (goldsmith) and Rabbi Yochanan Hasandlar (shoemaker)-of the Talmud- held jobs while focusing themselves on their Torah study. They would work just enough to run their households.

Whichever category a person stands in, they must invest dedicated effort to fulfill their financial responsibilities. Yes, the times may be particularly difficult with many jobless and others transitioned to different job sectors, but one must have it etched in their minds that sustenance comes from God, and God only. Man's obligation is only to invest the effort. A person can invest themselves in one area with little result, but find blessing and success in another area with relatively little effort. God requires that we toil, but He provide the result, through the means He sees most fit for that person.

Regarding the value of Torah scholars, the Talmud recounts that Rabbi Yochanan relinquished enormous wealth to be freed of the accompanying worries and focus on Torah study. His students pitied him, but he explained that he had given up something (material wealth) which was created in six days (the six days of creation) for the Torah, which was transmitted to Moses over forty days.

Before he became the great Torah sage, Rabbi Yochanan and his colleague, Ilfa decided to go into commerce. On the way to their first business affair, they entered a dilapidated building which was haunted by spirits. The spirits attempted to harm the sages but refrained because it was revealed to them that Rabbi Yochanan would one day become a great sage.

Rabbi Yochanan heard their conversation, realized his life's mission was in Torah and decided to accept it. He thus revealed his love for the Torah and was lauded by his contemporaries with the verse in Song of Songs 8:7, "for love (of Torah), man gave up all his household possessions;" Rabbi Yochanan gave up all his wealth for his love of the Torah.

Torah scholars who share Rabbi Yochanan's love and dedication to Torah should continue on. Those, however, that only take advantage of the benefits that come with the Torah should reexamine their objectives.

By Rabbi Pinto.

Permission granted by the Instagram/Telegram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

www.shuvaisrael.org

HaShem, Tzaddik, You

HaShem, Tzaddik, You

A question: “Dear Rabbi, I used to be a pilot and am beginning to become stronger in religion. As a pilot, I would occasionally talk with people about Torah concepts I didn’t quite understand as I have not grown up with them. Today, I am fortunate enough to have some time to learn and listen to lectures, however I have a question. Why exactly is it important for me to have a rabbi to act as an intermediate between me and God? Why can’t I contact or reach him directly?”

The Rabbi's answer: “Being a pilot is a great job as it is very special. When you take your place and fly, you need something to help you navigate. Something to tell you when to turn left and when to turn right. Without it, you wouldn’t know if you were going to America, Africa, or anywhere else. The role of a rabbi is to act as that navigation piece. To tell you when you’re going to need to turn and when you need to continue straight. A rabbi is essentially the one that guides you on a straight path. Just as without the plane’s navigation you may crash into another plane, so too a rabbi makes sure you’re not crashing by deviating from the right path. Without the plane’s navigation no matter how good of a pilot you are, you won’t succeed in getting to your desired location without its help”.

By Rabbi Pinto.

Permission granted by the Instagram administrator to the Journal Mitzvah.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

www.shuvaisrael.org

Be careful when educating your Children - By Rabbi Pinto

Be careful when educating your Children:

Rabbis, teachers, and mentors that don’t know how to educate children and come from their homes bitter and angry and take it out on the kids are wounding their souls. This is a very dangerous thing to do and there is nothing worse than this. And when these teachers distribute Ritalin it causes their class to be half passed out. Every time there is even a minor problem, administering Ritalin is there solution and there is no danger greater than this.
Teachers and mentors who do this are then punished through their own children and then don’t know why they are being punished.

It is imperative to be extremely careful, to know that there is a difference between training and educating. These types of teachers act with the kids the way they would train their dogs until eventually the children will reach their breaking point. It is forbidden to “train” kids and lead them to reach this point. Rather, they need to be educated the right way. The minute a class is run by “training” their students and not by educating them, it will cause damage to future generations as well. A mentor needs to be a role model. He needs to know that he is like a king to his students who will lead them in the way of God with his wisdom. He needs to understand he is dealing with souls of God and act with them accordingly. A mentor that does the opposite and insults the children with his words will break them, essentially killing them at a young age.

Then, when the children grow older and go through life broken, sad, and not understanding the world, they carry the weight of the emotional scars that have been etched into their soul from when they were children. When teachers take their own problems at home with their wife, kids, and job and project them onto their students, even unconsciously, it will affect them. This is a very dangerous thing and parents should be very aware of how a teacher is treating their child. A child is like clay in the hands of an artist, if not handled properly it can ruin the soul of the child. There are so many kids who have been wounded, who will be responsible for them? As adults they may struggle with getting married.

By Rabbi Pinto.

Permission granted by the Instagram administrator.

The President of Rabbinical Court of Morocco.

www.shuvaisrael.org