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.
Vayelech 5773
Nitzavim 5772
Ki Teitsei 5772
Re\'eh 5772
Eikev 5772
Re\'eh 5772
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In memory of Bennie Magy - Bentziyon ben Avraham v Elke Magy, who passed away Menachem Av 22, 5749 - August 23, 1989 and Rose Magy - Rivka Rayzel Bat Chayim Yaakov v'Chaya Tertza Arbit, who passed away Tamuz 2, 5765 - July 9, 2005. May their souls experience a lichtiger Gan Eden - an illuminated Garden of Eden and may their family only experience Simchas from now on. Sponsored by their son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Leslie Magy - Birmingham, Michigan.
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This week's YouParsha http://youtu.be/lVevNGxAYzo
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Parshas Re'eh - Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17, is always read at or near the beginning of the month of Elul. There are no holidays in Elul to allow us to prepare for the upcoming high holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and the higher holidays of Succos and Simchas Torah.
The Alter Rebbe, first Lubavitcher Rebbe, describes the days of Elul as being as auspicious as Yom Kippur - only friendlier. Elul is a month of reckoning. The Almighty has imbued a spark of G'dliness deep within us and tells us, "Search for G'd and you will find him." One can only find a lost object in the place where it was lost. It makes no sense to look elsewhere as you will not find it there. For many of us, that spark is lost in a state of dark exile. We search for that spark during Elul. Where to look? Where it was lost; in our deeds, words and thoughts that were not for the sake of heaven. In other words, where did we lose Hashem? Within us.
The task of self-reflection is difficult. There are various verses in the Torah to facilitate this task. Four of the words of each verse begin with the letters that spell Elul. These tasks include (but not limited to) increasing in Torah study, prayer, charity and spiritual sensitivity. Audited how much we have accomplished in the last year in these four categories and repleting any deficiencies will help us find that spark of G'dliness within us.
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Rabbi Shlomo Aron Kazarnovsky. was a young boy of 13, living in Mogilev. One Friday two yeshiva students from the Yeshiva in Lubavtich came to town. Shlomo Aron did not take his eyes off the students the entire Shabbos, he was mesmerized by their presence and studied their every nuance. Sunday morning, in shul after davening, he was at the other end of the shul when the student caught his eye, turned towards him and said, "I see that you are a reverent young man, If you want to grow up to be a mensh, you must learn in Lubavitch. The young Shlomo Aron was too stunned to speak. He ran home and told his mother. His mother thought for a short while and announced, "Come, we are going to Lubavitch." She hired a wagon and driver and off she went with her son to Lubavitch.
They arrived in Lubavitch where the Menahel - the principal (we know him as the Frierdiker Rebbe) promptly informed them that the term had already begun. "Come back later," was the dismissal. There was a custom at that time that visitors to Lubavitch paid their respects to the Bubbe Rebbetzin, widow of the Rebbe Maharash, mother of the then-present Rebbe (Rashab) and grandmother of the then-Menahel. Mother and son entered to the Bubbe Rebbetzin's house. "So what brings you to Lubavitch?" she asked. "My son would like to go the Yeshiva, but the Menahel informed us that he cannot be accepted at this time," was the reply. The Bubbe Rebbetzin thought for moment and said, "Spend the night in Lubavitch." The next day young Shlomo Aron got an urgent message; report to the Menahel. "You've been accepted," the Frierdiker Rebbe told him, "report to class tomorrow morning."
He and his mother went to see the Rebbetzin."You should know that you were accepted in yeshiva thanks to me, but I only got you in on a condition: from now on you must come make Kiddush for me every Shabbos morning after davening." Every Shabbos until she passed away, she heard Kiddush from Shlomo Aron Kazarnovski.
Years passed. Rabbi Kazarnovky was instrumental in getting the Frierdiker Rebbe out of Soviet Russia, and then later out of occupied Poland and shortly thereafter, the purchase of 770 and shortly after that, bringing the Rebbe and Rebbetzin to America from occupied France.
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In Memory of Shira (Simone) bas Nachum Zalman Horowitz. Niftar Sivan 20, 5772 - a beloved aunt (of mine), wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
In memory of Ken Lawrence - Akiva ben Dovid. Niftar Adar 8, 5772. A friend and mentor.
In memory of my Mom - Doba bas Dovber Halevi Winters. Beloved Mother, Mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother. Niftara Teves 28, 5772
In memory of Pinchas (Pinky) ben Zev Salomon. Nifter Kislev 4, 5772. Beloved Husband, father and grandfather. Sponsored by Eddie and Susie Kresch and family and Salomon Chiropractic Center, 24777 Greenfield Rd, Southfield, (248) 557-1818.
May their families be comforted with all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
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