Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Where does our inner redemption begin and end?

(Please forgive the confusion of the last recording- here is the bottom line:)

It begins when we ask questions and gain clarity:

Who am I?

Why was I created?

Who created me?

What does my Creator want most from me?


It culminates when we take all the answers- the "I" part of us and let go of it, so that we can serve Hashem without any barriers. (This is a journey- and we may only be able to touch it for a second here and there- surrender to that- because it is what Hashem wants;)

After Pesach, we will iy'H continue with the booklet, and finish by Shavuous.

CHAG KASHER VESAMEACH

B'ahava, aviva rus

Sunday, March 22, 2015

The Time of Geulah- please Hashem!


Here is a link to listen to the Levaya in its entirety, clean without interruption:




 Please let me know if you need a copy of Rav Berkovitz's cleaning for Pesach booklet.  

I hope to record a review class before Pesach- if you are still wondering how to tap into 'lishma' as you clean, and remove 'shelo lishma' qualities, iy"H it will be discussed in the recording.

BESUROS TOVOS,

aviva rus


Saturday, March 14, 2015

Answer this question via email please...









Based on what we learned last night, would the below qualify as lishma or shelo lishma?




The truly rich person is one whose very being is to give.

You only truly own that which you are capable of giving away.

Maamar Tefillah L’Mosheh 5769.

 · 










Tuesday, March 10, 2015

Our plan for this week- and a look at the parsha-



Hi, 

We will Iy"H meet this week at 10 pm NY time- we are in chapter 7 of the handbook.  Please email me if you need a copy of the handbook or the call in number.

Look at this: 
Interesting Remez of the year 5775 in this weeks Parsha- VAYAKHEL

The pasuk in this weeks parsha (Vayakhel, chapter 38:28) says 
וְאֶת הָאֶלֶף וּשְׁבַע הַמֵּאוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה וְשִׁבְעִים עָשָׂה וָוִים לָעַמּוּדִים וְצִפָּה רָאשֵׁיהֶם וְחִשַּׁק אֹתָם:

 "And out of the one thousand seven hundred and seventy five [shekels] he made hooks for the pillars, and he covered their tops and banded them". If you read the pasuk this way you get 5775

 ואת ה' אלף ושבע המאות וחמישה ושבעים=   5775.

It is said over in the name of the Chofetz Chaim that 75 years after the outbreak of World War 2, a 3rd world war will breakout. 

Rav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg of Yerushalayim said in the name of Rav Pam Zatzal who said over from Rav Elchonon Wasserman h'yd who spoke in the us in the year 1939: there will be ten shmita cycles following WWII that will be a preparation for Moshiach and that Mashiach can come at that time- which falls out to this year of 5775.



Sunday, March 8, 2015

Pesach is coming!




I hope you are able to look back at Purim and see a change in yourself as we discussed in last week's class.  (Sometimes it takes a week to be able to put into words what change you see).

We did not have class last night.  Iy'H we will have class this coming week- motzai Shabbos.  Please email me if you need the call in numbers.  Shira is unavailable to send out numbers and recordings- as she is taking care of her husband and family.   Please continue to daven for her husband: 


Yakov Shaul Ben Necha Yehudis

Monday, March 2, 2015

Below is copied from Bilvavi.net- the final thing to remember is simplicity:



All of the Yomim Tovim (Jewish holidays) are within our realm of human comprehension (yeda).  However, Purim is not within our comprehension; it is above our regular knowledge, and it is called lo yeda.[1]  Therefore, the way we prepare for Purim is not in the same way that we prepare for other Yomim Tovim.


When it comes to Yomim Tovim, we can prepare ourselves for Yom Tov by learning about the concept of each Yom Tov; we can attempt to understand the meaning of each Yom Tov, on an intellectual level, and then we are able to gain from the Yom Tov.

But Purim doesn’t work like that.  It is not something we can really “know” about intellectually.  It is about lo yeda – it involves “no daas”, because we cannot understand Purim if we try to use our daas (human comprehension or understanding). The way to prepare for Purim is not through our daas, but through accessing our higher power, lo yeda.  In other words, we can’t learn about Purim on an intellectual level and try to understand what it is about. The way we prepare for Purim is by simply being prepared to accept whatever it has to offer! ­[2]

There is a deep point contained here. When we prepare ourselves to accept something, although we are enabling ourselves to receive, we are also limiting ourselves in the process, because when we prepare for what we will receive, we are setting the limit to how much we will gain. Therefore, preparing for Yom Tov, while commendable, has a drawback to it, because since we need to prepare for the spiritual gains we will receive from Yom Tov, we will be limited in how much we receive.

Purim, though, enables us to receive from it in unlimited way, due to the fact that we don’t intellectually prepare ourselves for it.

When it comes to the concept of time, there are times of yeda/daas/comprehension, and there are times of lo yeda/no daas/above comprehension. Yom Tov is an example of yeda, while Purim is an example of lo yeda. But it is not only time in which we find yeda and lo yeda. Our soul as well can access lo yeda, and therefore, it’s possible to live with a Purim-like attitude the whole year round. When we access our power of lo yeda throughout the year, we will be able to receive an unlimited amount of understanding, and nothing will be holding us back.

Therefore, practically speaking, don’t prepare for Purim thinking about what you want to take out of it.  Instead, act with temimus (simplicity): trust in Hashem that He can give you anything He wishes to give you.

This is a point that should become a basic fundamental to live by: always do everything with temimus.  Don’t ever expect to feel spiritual elation; don’t expect to acquire major spiritual attainments. Instead, just be simple – place your trust and hope in Hashem, that He will send You whatever He will send you…
אפשר להמשיך השפעת לא ידע של פורים לכל השנה



[1] In order to understand this section, refer to Bilvavi Part 5: Transcending Our Comprehension.
[2] Editor’s Note: It appears that the author is referring to using our “temimus” – to believe earnestly in Hashem and to carry out His mitzvos without asking any questions. The author often explains that “lo yeda”, our power of higher knowledge that is above the regular comprehension, can be accessed when we use our temimus; our ability to walk “simply” with Hashem and never question His ways. This theme runs commonly throughout sefer Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh, Part IX, which is an entire sefer devoted to the topic of lo yeda/temimus.


purim sameach!!!happy purim!!!! a freilichen purim
please continue to daven for Shira's husband: 
Yaacov Shaul Ben Necha Yehudis

Please join us in completing the sefer Tehillim on Purim as a united group

Thank you Reitza Sarah for the Tehillim spread sheet:



Link: 


Remember on Motzai Shabbos when we spoke about the Inner Alter discussed in Parshas Tetzaveh- (regarding how the ketores/ incense burned inside where nobody was there to witness it, aside from the kohen hagadol)?  

In Likutei Sichot, vol 1 (171-172), the Rebbe says this is to show that the most important part of one's avodah is in our private service with Hashem, when we "exhibit generosity, without publicity, purely because it is the right thing to do."

Rav Gamiliel, in his sefer on Emunah, has a section on PURIM (pg 383).  Look at this amazing section that ties into the "innermost chamber".  

"Chazal have taught that every time in the Megillah the word melech/king or hamelech/the king is mentioned alone (without mentioning Achashveirosh), it is a remez to the King of all kings/Hashem" (Esther Rabbah 3:10, Abba Gurion 1)

Hence, when the pasuk states (4:2) : And Mordechai came as far as before the gate of the king, for it was forbidden to enter the gate of the king dressed in sackcloth, it refers to Hashem's gate.

What do we learn from this? 

"In the innermost chambers of Hashem Yisboroch there exists no distress, anguish, or "harsh" decrees... everything there is understood to be all for the benefit of Klal Yisrael".  

We understand now why Mordechai could not enter in sackcloth- it would be absurd!

THIS IS THE SPACE WE ARRIVE AT DURING PURIM: 

AD DELO YEDA: 

we experience that innermost space inside of ourselves and Hashem's inner chamber, the above conscious, lishma/ (inner geulah), all is for Hashem and not for our "I" self at all- and this takes us to the understanding that in the innermost chamber cursing haman and blessing Mordechai are interchangeable because in the innermost chamber it is seen through the "clear and untainted light" that it is all for our benefit and therefore, only happiness and joy reign in the innermost chamber.

May the JOY be felt by all and herald the geulah from within and without.

Love, aviva rus