Back in 1996, Rabbi Finman was asked to speak to the niece of one of his students. After spending many hours answering her questions, the woman gave Rabbi Finman her e-mail address. Rabbi Finman wrote the woman a note and included in it a short insight into that week's Parsha and a short Chasidic story.
Realizing that this was something no one was yet doing,, Rabbi Finman sent the missive to his mailing list of about 30 people. Requests from recipients friends came pouring in. The next week Rabbi Finman sent the e-Parsha to 100 people. Within a year more than 2000 people were receiving it. Today, more than 14,000 receive the e-Parsha weekly and the requests keep coming in.
Nitzavim Vayelech 5786
Ki Savo 5786
Ki Teitsei 5786
Shoftim 5786
Re'eh 5786
Nitzavim Vayelech 5786
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The YouParsha for Netzavim Vayelech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ju6ByYiKwlY Hashem will Return Your Captives
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The Month of Elul is time to take stock and fill any gaps. Jews are encouraged to give between 10 and 20 percent of their income to tsedakah. The Jewish Hour and other programs under the auspices of Congregation Bnai Teshuva are in need of your help. Please go to www.rabbifinman.com, click on the donations page and contribute what you feel is right. Do it while you are still reading this. THX
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The mitzvah of hakhel is discussed in this week's Parsha Nitsavim/Vayelech - Deuteronomy 29:9 - 31:29. All men, women and children were to come to Jerusalem, during the holiday of Succos in the year following the Sabbatical, to hear the king read the book of Deuteronomy. The Gemora explains that the men came to learn, the women came to hear and the children were brought to give reward to those who brought them. There are many instances in the Shulchan Aruch - Code of Jewish Law where people are admonished from bringing small children to services as the children may be disruptive. How is it that people were instructed to bring small children to this Temple service?
It is written in Pirkei Avos that a person should not weigh the loss involved in a mitzvah verses its reward. True, the children may be disruptive - in Talmudic logic that is call a doubt. However, for sure, the child will benefit from seeing the entire pageantry of the king reading the book of Deuteronomy from a stage in the middle of the Temple. In Talmudic logic, that is called a certainty. The rule is doubt vs. certainty, certainty wins. The experience of being including in the Temple service will leave an everlasting impression in the child's heart.
One such circumstance of children disrupting services is with shofar blowing. The Shulchan Aruch clearly states that children who will be disruptive should be left home. Who can determine what a child will do? Perhaps, the child will fall asleep or the parents will come with enough amusements (nosh, books, toys) to keep the child from being disruptive. That child will definitely benefit from being part of the ceremony of blowing shofar - something that will remain with them for their entire lives.
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A young man from Paris once queried the Rebbe as how does the Rebbe know how to answer every Jew who asks him a question especially as many of these people have never met the Rebbe before? Where does the Rebbe get his understanding?
The Rebbe answered, "Life has its ups and downs, and problems arise. So what does a healthy person do? He will go to a friend, someone he feels will know what is best for him and want to see him improve. He will share his problems with this friend and then, based on the advice given to him, he will, it is hoped, improve himself." The Rebbe continued sternly, "It is written: VeAhavta leReacha kamocha –You must love every member of the nation of Israel with unconditional love." Then the Rebbe smiled.
“I hope you consider me as a member of the Jewish nation. Therefore, I love every single Jew with the greatest love in the world. So, when a Jew asks me a question, knowing how much I love and care for him, I know what to answer."
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