so....

we've looked into the candles, davened for clarity, and tried to do teshuva to the best of our ability.

Now what?  Where's the geulah- you may ask.

The answer; it begins within you.

A perfect example is in this weeks parsha.

Parshas Vayigash: 

Yehuda, the brother who originally had the idea to sell Yoseph, now stands opposite Yoseph and begs for his brother, Benyamin's life.

He even says "take me instead, for I could not bear to see the misery which my father would suffer."

Yehuda has done complete and total teshuva.  Yehuda's name Lehodot means to give thanks, as well as, to admit and confess (vidui).

He is the first person in the Torah to show us the complete change that happens in one, when they do teshuva.  From cold and unfeeling, he turns into a man of much emotion and compassion.

This, then, is our compass.  Chanukah is over.  Who are we now?  Am I living as if I have done teshuva or am I still in the same place?  Have i changed at all, even in the smallest way.

Since I know most of you, I can answer for you - yes! BH! The geulah process has begun!

Good news ladies! A new chaburah in two weeks iyH, stay tuned for a post of  the plans for it- next week.

Good Shabbos!!!! love, aviva rus

parsha insights based on article by Rabbi Sacks of London 

HAPPY CHANUKAH!!!

Here's something cool!

We squeeze olives to get it's oil= Hashemen= the oil (heih, shin, mem, nun)

The oral Torah is hidden in the written law= mishna (mem, shin, nun, heih)

Our soul is hidden in our bodies= neshama= (nun, shin, mem, heih)

Exactly what this holiday is all about! Look at the candles and ask for the hidden to be revealed.

Don't you think it's time?

Geulah from within...love, aviva rus

Mazal Tov!

We finished Da es Atzmecha on the first night of Chanukah! Thank YOU Hashem!

Thank you for joining in the chaburah- it was so fun!

Miracle number 1 is now under our belt!

kein yirbu- May they multiply to bring the geulah!

Love, aviva rus

ps, anyone who wants the code to access the recording, please email me: aviva@aberman.net

Rabbi Cable is offering a class on Wednesdays at 12 ny time

Title: Ikvas D'mshicha; Serving Hashem in the end of Days.

Purpose: We are in the end of days, do we know how to tap into the new shefa that is pouring down on us as we speak?

Do we know what is happening in the upper worlds in these acharis hayamim and how they  are manifest here- in the reality we see?

Is there something we can be doing that will propel us forward in avodas Hashem?

If you are interesed, please let me know. 

love, aviva rus

Good Shabbos!

Chanukah- almost here....

"Geulah is not a destination you can see by looking in front of you, you can only see it by looking inside of you."

Special segulos for Chanukah,

as told by rebbitzin yamima mizrachi:

• This is the holiday that emphasizes beauty. It is a mitzvah to beautify the Chag as much as possible, the most splendid menorah, the best decorations….

• Use olive oil, but not just the regular kind, the best one: the one you would use to dress your salad and cook with. And the reasons are...

• You’ll merit children that have a great memory, consuming olive oil helps you retain your memory

• Children who are wise/smart, as oil rises above water

• Children who have great eyesight, they will be able to see things with a clearer perception…

• Chanukah comes from the root word: chinuch/חנך and it is at this time in particular that your reflection is one of love and approval towards them, a successful child is one that sees love and acceptance in the eyes of their parents

• Mothers should not say to their kids, during Chanukah or at all, “I am tired” or anything in correlation to ‘I am tired ..not now’. This makes a child feel like they are not important and a burden to their parents and is very hurtful to them and so even if you are tired, and who is not… don’t tell them this

• The mitzvah of the women after lighting is not to move, I repeat Do Not Move, after the candles are lit. Sit there and gaze at them for ½ hour, but again without moving, talking on the phone, getting up, or anything…. This is very hard but Rebbi Nachman from Breslov says that as hard as it is to sit and not do anything, so is the size of the yeshua you will get by sitting. But sit there and daven, pray for all and everything…

• At the beginning of creation, Hashem created light, a very strong powerful light, that was so holy that the world would not have been able to withstand its’ holiness and so he ‘shrunk’ it, so to speak. And reduced it to what’s called “the hidden light/אור הגנוז”. This light in its’ full capacity will be revealed, B’H, in the future to come.

• But in our days, the sparks of this light reappears to us under 3 different circumstances and they are:

• When we daven/pray from a siddur, when we meet one of the 36 hidden holy tzadikkim of our generation and when we light the 36 candles of Chanukah. The sparks of this light give us the ability to ‘see and better understand’ Hashems’ ways. Adam HaRishon was able to see the entire world from one end to the other with this original light of creation and so we can perceive Hashems’ ways a bit better and clearer when we encounter the sparks of this light.

• By davening we touch this spark and can better understand what Hashem is asking of us and we can get clarity on certain issues and suddenly have insight on issues that we are perplexed about. By meeting with one of the 36 hidden tzadikkim we also will touch this light by getting advice and direction from the mouths of these holy souls. And by gazing into the Chanukah lights we will get a mini glance into the understanding of Hashems ways. If you look you will see the ‘reflection of Hashem’ in the lights of Chanukah. Daven next to these lights and do not miss this opportunity to touch the ability to better understand things in life….

• After the ½ hour has passed, and the candles still glow, every time you pass them by stop for a moment and pray. Don’t just pass them by…

• The Father of the holy RamBam, zt”l had said that one should not belittle the power of frying soufganiot in oil. Use plenty of oil, don’t be skimpy, it is a segula for parnassa. But unless you want to make the local baker wealthy, you must fry them yourself and eat them as well. Better to be rich and fat, I guess then skinny and poor…. you choose… Anyway, it’s the utmost importance that you make them, you fry them and then you say the bracha of “על המחיה” at the end, which mentions the מזבח which is of course of most relevance during Chanukah.

• On the last night of Chanukah traditionally called זאת חנוכה there is a segula/a special energy that you may tap into for women who wish to conceive, ask from Hashem that in the merit of the eight days of Chanukah you shall celebrate B’H a bris milah on the eighth day for your son, Amen! Look at the candles and ask Hashem to give you a child….

• For all of those who are single or know of someone who wishes to marry, here is one for you: on the Shabbos of Chanukah, you must first light the Chanukah candles and then the Shabbos candles. After both are lit, glance at them both and ask for a zivug, your marriage partner.

• חזרה בתשובה/coming back to teshuva: in particular when it comes to our children. On Rosh Chodesh Tevet, on the eve of lighting the Chanukah candles there is an auspicious time for teshuva. On this day Yismael did teshuva and so the power of the day is teshuva. And if Yismael did teshuva certainly we can tap into that energy and ask Hashem to bring back our child/ren to teshuva just as Yismael did, the son of Avraham Avinu, עליו השלום. It is also a custom to light a candle for Rabbi Meir Ba’al HaNess on this night, זכר צדיק וקדוש לברכה.

• Always light the Chanukah candles in your home, even if you know you will out and/or lighting elsewhere. Lighting the menorah invites Hashem to visit your home and that is something you do not want to miss….

• When you are outside and see the different menorahs displayed in glory, you are buying emunah and bitachon/trust in Hashem. You are ‘buying’ into miracles, look at them…

• Anyone in need of healing of the mind/בריאות הנפש the word נפש stands for נר פתיל שמן and so during Chanukah there is a segula to ask for healing of the soul/mind and to look at the flame of the candle in its’ entirety and to recite Psalm 30: מזמור שיר חנוכת הבית

• Ask for Mashiach all throughout Chanukah. משיח is hinted in the words: מדליקים שמונה ימי חנוכה

• Whoever saw bad images, immodest images, frightening images; you or your husband and/or your children through movies or in real life, looking at the candles of the menorah will erase them from your hard drive memory or those in your family. Ask Hashem to erase them in the merit of the holy flames…

• Donate tzedakah every night before lighting the menorah, it is a segula for your prayers to be accepted in favor.

• There is great relevance in singing Maoz Tzur.

• Last but definitely not least; ask for a miracle, a Big miracle in the merit of Chanukah. Ask for something that you think is impossible & that will be considered a miracle if it happens... Ask that Hashem to release those wrongfully imprisoned: Yonatan Halevi ben Malka Pollard, Shlomo Halevi Mordechai ben Rivka Rubashkin …

May we merit to see wonderous miracles this Chag and always and may we merit to witness the most precious miracle of all: the coming of Mashiach במהרה בימינו ברחמים, אמן!

CHANUKAH IS COMING!!!

INSTEAD OF CLASS THIS WEEK (cancel Thursday) LET'S FOCUS ON CHANUKAH (listen to chanukah Torah instead): 

Let's meet instead on this motzai Shabbos at 10 pm, on Chanukah; let me know if you will not be able to make the class and I will IY"H record and give you a passcode to listen.  (the call in number is

530-881-1200 access code: 1091004#)

CHECK OUT DEVORAH YAFFA'S WEBSITE:

She has a ton of shiurim on Chanukah to choose from!

 http://www.g-ddirecttorah.com

If you don't yet know who you are, please email me- aviva@aberman.net= important for Chanukah candles!!!

Love, aviva rus

Shavua Tov

It is the month of revealed miracles, nissim geluyim:

Chanukah is nearing.

Miracles are here.

Now is the time to reveal the miracle that is YOU.

HOW?

Join the chaburahs this week to find out.

See numbers and assignments on the side.

Looking forward!

Love, aviva rus

Hello!

I am so sorry that the conference calls did not seem to work this week.  I was on the call but could not hear you!

Here is the plan for this week and we will continue again next week at the regular times.

Da es Atzmecha- finish chapter 8; notice when you are in the act of giving, the reason you are giving.

Bilvavi 1- finish section 2- Belief in the Creator

In Forest Fields and Bilvavi 2 see avodah page.

Looking forward to next week.

Love, aviva rus

times, numbers, and avodah and day change for Da es Atzmecha

HI!

Bilvavi part two and In Forest Fields Hisbodedus:

We are iyH meeting this week at our regular time - 945 am eastern time- the call in number is
530-881-1200 access code: 1091004#

 and avodah is: 
1. Chapter 11 in Bilvavi 2
2. 90-95 in forest fields
3. Make a list of what's holding you back from hisbodedus and create a tefilah to Hashem from it, as an offering. 

outline will iyH be posted in the outline section before we meet on Tuesday.

Da es Atzmecha and Bilvavi Book 1:

1. This week we are meeting on Tuesday at 1 eastern instead of Thursday, iyH.

dial in number: 

Israel: 972 76 599 0060

Canada:559-670-1000

US: 209-255-1000

England: 44-0-784-843-2913

Australia: 61 1300 051 796

South Africa: 27 87 825 0150

access code: 572926

our avodah is to read chapter 8 in Da es Atzmecha and the next five sections in Bilvavi 1.

HAPPY ROSH CHODESH KISLEV

Good Shabbos!!!!

Parshas Toldos:

Hashem tells Rifka that she has two nations inside of her and:

"one regime shall become strong from the other regime" (25:23

Rashi says this means that when one rises, the other one falls.

Right now this is applicable to us in a very real way. 

Eretz Yisrael is being bombed.

What can we do about it???

RISE.

AWAKEN.

REVEAL WHO  YOU REALLY ARE, YOUR UNIQUE LIGHT,

NOW is the time to bring all that we have learned together into fruition.

Together, we can stop the missiles.

United with our unique LIGHTS shining through the darkness.


Kislev, the month of nissim, above teva (nature), a month of unsurpassed lights- may yours and all of klal Yisrael's be filled with JOY= deveikus to Hashem.

Love, aviva rus

Thursday Da es atzmecha and Bilvavi 1: Time change for this week

HI! 

 This week I have to meet at 12:30 pm eastern time instead of 1 pm.

I have a plan.... let's finish Da es atzmecha by Chanukah.  We are approaching the time of above nature, miracles- we can do it iyH!




Please check the avodah page:

dial in number: 

Israel: 972 76 599 0060
Canada:559-670-1000
US: 209-255-1000
England: 44-0-784-843-2913
Australia: 61 1300 051 796
South Africa: 27 87 825 0150

access code: 572926


Looking forward!!!

Love, Aviva rus

found by Reitza Sarah online.

It was amazing to learn with you today!

Thank you.

Here is our plan for avodah for this week:

November 13,2012

Chapter eleven in Bilvavi2 (Divine Providence!!!)

Pages 90-95 In Forest Fields

AND

Hisbodedus- talk to Hashem -anything holding you back from the avodah-put on a paper and write it up as a tefilah prayer to Hashem.

Other ideas we discussed were taking the prayer about modeh ani and what it means to us and putting it by our beds.

Enjoy the journey! Yes, there is a destination -feeling and sensing Hashem every minute, but we can still enjoy knowing that even when it feels pitch black, we are in that moment to serve Hashem as well.

There is magnificence in that knowledge.

This Tuesday iyH we will resume

At 10 am instead of 945 am.

Please check the avodah page, outline page, and phone number page.

Looking forward!

It may still be a few weeks until our phone line and internet line is fixed.

Sorry for the delay.

Love, aviva rus

Good Shabbos. Parshas Chaye Sarah

( I am typing this from my phone, please excuse any errors)

In this weeks parsha we suffer the loss of Sarah imeinu and Avraham avinu. 

The Tanya teaches that when a Tzadik passes away, he is even more accessible to his students because he no longer has a body that acts as a garment covering his soul. 

So, we  can still connect with our mother and father by following their ways and emulating them. The hurricane and now the snow storm are the perfect opportunity to use the chesed our parents taught us.  If you are not in the east coast, you have Shabbos approaching- and of 

course, every moment of the day can be used as chesed. “The righteous, even in death, are regarded as though they were still alive” (Berakhot 18a) because the righteous leave a living trace in those who come after them. (rabbi jonathon sacks)

Let's be the descendants they wanted us to be starting now. 

Looking forward to the geulah! And next week chaburohs, iyH!!!!

Love, aviva rus

Sent as a reminder from one of our awesome chaburah soul sisters:

You Are A Soul

Only bodies experience stress. Souls are serene. Identify with your soul; stress and tension will melt away.

Your essence is not your negative thoughts and distressful feelings. Your essence is you soul. If you are stressed, or tense, or worried, or frustrated, or upset, mentally step back and observe your thoughts and feelings. This will immediately help you gain a more objective perspective.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book, Serenity, p.101)

See Rabbi Pliskin's new book "Life Is Now"

Hi!

Chaburah cancelled until further notice due to phone and Internet lines down. 

IyH next week we will be up and running. :-)

Please keep doing avodah and moving forward. 

Good Shabbos-trying to do this from my phone please forgive any mistakes

Hi! 

I hope your week was wonderful. I missed our chaburah!

Parshas Vayeira:

This week many of us experienced the hurricane.  Some of us have little or no electricity. 

One of the many spectacular things that have come from this storm is the giving that each person is doing.   Even people with no power are helping in any way they can. 

I saw a wonderful commentary on this weeks parsha by Rabbi Jonathon Sacks about how great our  actions make us: 


R. Shalom of Belz, noted that in verse 2 the visitors are spoken of as standing above Abraham (nitzavim alav). In verse 8, Abraham is described as standing above them (omed aleihem). He said: at first, the visitors were higher than Abraham because they were angels and he a mere human being. But when he gave them food and drink and shelter, he stood even higher than the angels. We honor G‑d by honoring His image, humankind.

Five weeks left until Chanukah. We are lighting up the world by being you and being me!  

Hello again!

Boruch Hashem we are all ok but due to power loss-I have to cancel all chaburohs for this week. IyH next week we can resume.

I hope!

Love,aviva rus

Hi!!!

I don't know who will have electricity tomorrow (I hope we all do).  However, just in case we don't have power,  the chaburah is cancelled for tomorrow-

Continue with the avodah...and hope we will learn together again next Tuesday!

Love, aviva rus~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"All the world's problems stem from light being withheld.

Our job then, is to correct this.  Wherever we find light, we must rip away its castings, exposing it to all, letting it shine forth to the darkest ends of the earth.

Especially the light you yourself hold." (Rabbi Tzvi Freeman)

Good Shabbos!!!

Parsha Lech Lecha:

There are three steps we must take in order to feel Hashem right next to us.  They are hinted to in the three places Avraham is told to leave:

1. me'artzecha(from your land- acquired habits): 

change the power of desire that is natural in us, such as eating, from  unconscious doing to conscious= doing it l'sheim shamayim (for the sake of His name).  This will bring us to fear of Hashem (yiras Hashem).

2. me'moloditicha(where you were born-inborn traits)

uproot negative midos you are born with from day one (i.e., anger, sadness) and use them only in order to serve Hashem.  This will bring you to feel love of Hashem (ahavas Hashem).

3. M'beis Avicha( from your fathers house)

Find your own unique connection to Hashem.  It may be in a different way than the household you grew up in achieved it.  Take pleasure in your newfound connection to Hashem. This will bring us Tiferes/ harmony in your life.

 (Noam Elimelech- lech lecha)

This is our goal: uplift every moment with kedusha and sanctify His name so we can feel the true pleasure of deveikus to Him.  

What we are learning together is our tool box to use in order to bring the geulah from within. AMEN!

Thanks for an amazing week of chaburahs! I really enjoyed every minute and love you!

aviva rus

  

Reminder: Da es Atzmecha and Bilvavi 1

Tomorrow at 1 ny time:

Please go onto the web version of the blog to see the outlines and call in numbers.

Remember the avodah...diminishing negative thoughts.

I'm looking forward to hearing your experience with the pasukim.

By the way, the pasuk "aish tamid tukad al hamizbeach lo tichbe" is found in vayikra 6:6 (but I have not been able to find a source that it is a segula that gets rid of negative thoughts).

Reitza Sarah does it again!

Bilvavi 2 and in Forest Fields:

Reminder: Tomorrow we are meeting at 9:45 am IYH, 
please check the side tabs for call in number, and outlines.
email me at aviva@aberman.net with any questions.

Looking forward!! 

Good Shabbos! and one correction....

Correction for Bilvavi Book 1 and Da es Atzmecha chaburah:

I am so sorry to all my friends in other countries.  I completely wasn't thinking about the time difference- 4 am in Australia! So I will record the class and it will be available for one week for anyone who cannot be on live.  Please excuse my brain, it's still in recovery mode from yom tov!

This weeks recording number for chaburah on Thursdays is: (if you need the call in number for your country, please email me at aviva@aberman.net- no emails come to this blog)

US:209-255-1099

access code: 572926 # 9 #

Parshas Noach:

Someone just asked me what is the significance of forty women baking challah for a refuah for a choleh (sick person).  I don't know that answer.

But, I see in this weeks parsha that the mabul was forty days long!  Why forty??? What is it's significance?   I asked my husband and he pointed out that we had to wait forty days to receive the Torah!  

Hmmm...investigation was required.  

Here is what I found written by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh (in red letters)

 The number 40 is of great significance, not only in mysticism, but also in the simple understanding of the Torah. For example, the 40 days that Moses was in heaven to receive the Torah, 40 days of the Flood. In addition, 40 relates to the 40 days from the beginning of pregnancy until the fetus is well formed. This is a very important stage in pregnancy. 

(all you Rabbi Nivin ladies will know this is exactly the point we are up to in the spiritual world of the Jewish people, our spiritual fetus is being formed!)

40 is also the value of the letter mem, which means water. This is why 40 refers both to the Torah, which is water, and also to the Flood. In the future the flood will be a positive concept--the flood of knowledge of G-d. This is the inner soul of the Torah which will fill the earth just as water covers the seabed. Water covering the seabed is the secret of the lettermem and the number 40.

(exactly what we are trying to do in our chaburah!!!)

In addition, when one becomes 40 years old he receives the deepest measure of understanding, in order to understand the Torah. This is especially in order to understand the deep intention that his teacher had that he was not able to comprehend initially. At the age of 40 one understands his teacher's inner meaning.

 (For all of us forty plus year olds...yay! and for everyone else, something to look forward to...)

So....now we can see why forty is used exclusively for major happenings.  It IS a major number that brings depth and overflowing daas of Hashem. 

May this week be filled in connection to Hashem for you and overflowing with clarity, emes,,, Torah!

Good Shabbos, love, aviva rus

ps- check your avodah pages for reminder of what to focus on this week.

CHANGES: for Thursday at 1 pm NY time

Da Es Atzmecha and Bilvavi Mishkna Evneh book 1.

Hi! 

Change number 1: the time has changed to 1 pm on Thursday
Change number 2: no more recordings available of the chaburahs that i facilitate.
Change number 3: Please check the outline page and avodah page to catch up each week, rather than me sending out all that information each week.

Remember-our goal is deveikus to Hashem.  In order to experience this, we need to know who we are and why we are here without doubts!

Iy"H we will review the first five chapters and begin chapter six of Da es Atzmecha and review section 1 of Bilvavi and begin section 2.

We each are on our own unique journey in uncovering and discovering our individualized relationship to Hashem.  In order to grow together as a chaburah and on an individual basis, we must be able to discuss (live) our insights and where we may be stuck.

For the purposes of our chaburah, a recording is not useful.  I feel that it doesn't benefit our group, rather the recording makes the group less cohesive. In addition, as I grow (i hope spiritually only!) I am finding that the material is becoming deeper ingrained inside of me, and Hashem is sending new insights.  It is actually a disservice to post old recordings, as they are for that time period and each moment is a new one, with no mistakes in it ;-).

If you have any questions, please call or email me.

Love, aviva rus



The call in number: 

Israel: 972 76 599 0060
Canada:559-670-1000
US: 209-255-1000
England: 44-0-784-843-2913
Australia: 61 1300 051 796
South Africa: 27 87 825 0150

access code: 572926

Reminder: Tomorrow....(yayayay, it's been too long!)

Tuesday at 9:45 am NY time

IyH we will be continuing Bilvavi 2, chapter 9 and In Forest Fields pages 77-81

The call in number is : 530-881-1200

access code; 1091004#

Bilvavi 2; chapter 9: For You are with Me.

Our avodah: integrating the knowledge of Hashem in our hearts

1. contemplate the fact that Hashem created each thing (one by one) then verbalize the thought: Hashem, You created this object, it didnt get here by itself.
2. Set aside time each day devoted to contemplation and remind yourself hourly of Hashem as our infinite Creator of all.

How do we know when we can move further in our avodah?

Our soul “demands the remembrance” rather than external factors. We will begin to feel a “sense of vitality from our faith”.(64)

If you get vitality from other things and emunah is still information that doesnt excite you, not ready to progress. “But after you have been privileged to live with the knowledge of the Creator and your soul demands to continually live with it, you may progress to the next stage.”(64)

The next stage is being able to answer these questions:

1. What are the attributes of Hashem and how do they relate to me? (not answered yet)
   
   
2. Where is He found? Hashem is everywhere: shivisi Hashem l'negdi tamid: but we can't see Him, so we need emunah for this, our avodah is “to reach true awareness that Hashem is with us in the room.. with each person..wherever you are.

How do I awaken my soul to this simple awareness that Hashem is with me =present right now?

First stop being so focussed on yourself, because then you can naturally sense Hashem.

Then through SPEECH- say out loud: 

“I don't see You, but I believe that You are right here” (68)- it must emerge from the depths of your soul and not your intellect...inner feeling of emunah that Hashem is here- although you don't feel it yet, the soul trust Chazal who taught Hashem is present”(68)

see examples that follow

Homework: set a timer to contemplate and speak to Hashem, (Rav Schwartz recommends an hour a day :-O

and every day recite:“I don't see You, but I believe that You are right here” if you are not sensing His presence.

In Forest Fields 77-81:

Chapter 2: For I am Compassionate

Basic foundation of emunah: Hashem's mercy

(aramaic word for prayer: rachmei= Hebrew word for mercy)

The purpose of creation is so Hashem can express His infinite mercy (Zohar) so the main aspect of emunah is to believe in Hashem's mercy.

This emunah will lead to joy and recognition of truth.

Hashem listens to the cry  of all suffering people who call out to Him, even if they are not righteous.

He gives us a wallet "full of spiritual credit cards" and says use them, call my name and receive whatever you need"

What stops us??? Yetzer hara- see page 80 for all excuses it comes up with.  

See page 81 for what words to use to speak to Hashem if you are stuck.

Wehn we strengthen ourselves in emunah, believe in Hashem's mercy, we will begin to see huge miracles....amen!!! geulah please Hashem...