By tradition, we give our little boys there very first haircut at age 3 - they get there new sidecurls, tzitzit, and begin learning how to read. A beautiful custom is to do the first haircut in Miron on Lag B'Omer; below, are two angelic images my camera brought home from Miron:
1. Little lad moments before his first haircut -
2. "The Lone Tear" - a little cutie moments after his first haircut -
Healthy little lambs grow up to be big strong rams...
During the time of the Holy Temple, anyone who deliberately fails to participate in the Pascal sacrifice on Passover eve is punished by karett, a terrible punishment that amounts in the severance of a person’s soul from the Jewish people. Yet, a person who was far away from the Holy Temple or ritually impure on the afternoon of 14th of Nissan, when we prepare the Pascal Lamb Sacrifice that we partake of on Seder night, the eve of the 15th of Nissan, is given a second chance. Hashem invites all those who were “ritually impure” and “far away” to return to the Holy Temple a month later on the 14th of Iyar. They fulfill the obligation of “Pesach Sheni” – a second chance to fulfill the Pascal sacrifice – and are completely forgiven for missing Pesach Rishon, the first Pesach.
You are the greatest, Hashem!
Few people could have been “further away” or more “ritually impure” than I was, the way my secular lifestyle used to be. But Hashem is ever so patient – He grants us a second chance. In fact, “far away” and ritually impure” are not only the two tickets to a second chance, they describe much of our assimilated youth. But don’t give up on them – Hashem gives everyone a second chance. We should help others become aware of that second chance. Just as a little footnote, Pesach Sheni – the second chance – is not only prophetic for me, it’s the story of my life. I was born on Pesach Sheni.
Matzas must be baked within 18 minutes from the time water is added to the flour until the matzas are totally baked. The Melitzer Rebbe and his staff are some of the world's fastest bakers; their shmura matzas are kneaded and baked from start to finish in less than six minutes. Have a look here, and enjoy (filmed in Moshav Komemyut, in the south of Israel):
One of the things we lament about on the public fast days is the absence of the true prodigious tzaddikim in this generation. I wish our national leaders would make a habit of praying by the holy Lubavitcher Rebbe's gravesite when in the USA.
Here's a priceless clip of the Rebbe Zatza'l saying Selichot prayers on Taanit Esther: enjoy, and have an easy fast. All our dear friends who are under the weather and taking antibiotics - don't dare fast on your own without asking a qualified rabbi. A full and speedy recovery!
Don't forget to say Tehillim at 11 AM, your local time.
Don't forget to say "Parshat HaMan" today: Segula (spiritual invoking ploy) for a good income - on the Tuesday of the Parshat Beshalach week, our sages tell us that it's an opportune time to recite "Parshat HaMan", the story of the manna, the Heaven-sent bread that sustained the Children of Israel for forty years in the desert. One should read it in Hebrew if possible, twice mikra and once targum. For your convenience, here is a clearly presented Parshat HaMan. If you read English only, then you can find Parshat HaMan in your English Chumash, Exodus Chapter 16, verses 4-36. May Hashem send a wonderful parnassa to everyone, amen!
The Holy Ariza'l and his disciples used to usher in the Shabbat by praying out in the field on late Friday afternoon. I dream of ushering in the Shabbat on our gorgeous Ashdod riviera sometime. Meanwhile, someone had a similar dream and put it to film, together with Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach of blessed memory singing his classic rendition of Lecha Dodi. I'm sure you'll love this as much as I do:
Click here to download this week's Chut Shel Chesed Parsha Sheet in English, courtesy of Breslev Israel and edited by our sweet friend Rabbi Yehoshua Goldstein. Shabbat Shalom!
Probably two of the most critical problems in the observant Jewish home today are off-the derech kids and marital discord.
A joyous family Shabbat table solves both problems.
You'll seldom see an off-the-derech child in a home where mitzvoth - especially Shabbat - are observed with joy. When the Shabbat table has something to offer for every member of the family, with fun, action, and the families favorite delicacies, then no one's running away from the table.
Among other things, sing plenty of zemirot and encourage the children to lead. Turn Torah talk about the week's Torah portion into family discussions. Create and initiate games and quizzes. And, tell exciting stories, especially about tzaddikim.
The Shabbat table should be something that the whole family looks forward to all week long.
By the way - I've never seen a divorce in a family where the mother bakes her own challas.
To help you come to the Shabbat table with something to say, here's Chut Shel Chessed's weekly Parsha Sheet, now in English.
To help you learn a vibrant Yerushalmi version of Shalom Aleichem, here's a clip of my cherished friend Yosef Karduner and I. Have a wonderful and joy-filled Shabbat!
