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שבת שלום - פרשת האזינו - שבת שובה
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Video Shiur
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Click play to watch the video shiur by
Rabbi Scott Kahn about ברכת החמה |
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News and Notes
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Everyone at Yesodei
HaTorah is pleased to
have experienced a wonderful
and meaningful Rosh Hashanah.
Rav Kahn, Rav Wolicki,
Rav Lichtman, and Rav
Arnold led the uplifting
tefillot, and Rav Simkovich
and Rav Arram inspired
everyone with their words
of Torah. Our shana
alef students were able
to see the unique nature
of the Yamim Nora'im
in yeshiva, and our shana
bet students were thrilled
to have such an opportunity
for a second year.
On
Monday evening, the yeshiva
was proud to host Rav
Yeshayahu Zeff shlit"a,
rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat
Torat Yosef Hamivtar,
for our annual Teshuva
lecture. Rav Zeff spoke
about Rav Kook's unique
approach to "failed teshuva",
and inspired the entire
yeshiva with his warm
and engaging style.
Earlier
on Monday afternoon -
Tzom Gedaliah - the yeshiva
drove the ten-minute
drive to Nachal Sorek
for Tashlich. It was
a memorable experience
to perform Tashlich in
a spot mentioned in Sefer
Shoftim as a place which
Shimshon HaGibor frequented.
On
Thursday night, Rav Kahn
gave a sicha appropriate
for the Aseret Yemei
Teshuva entitled, "Az
Panim L'Gehinom, u'Vosh
Panim l'Gan Eden". During
mishmar - alongside the
delicious cholent - Rav
Wolicki spoke about Shedim,
Rav Kahn taught Tomer
Devorah, and Rav Arram
continued his series
on Likkutei Moharan.
At 12:30 AM, the entire
yeshiva reconvened for
selichot.
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G-d's Two Questions
By Rabbi Pesach Wolicki
The primary theme of Yom Kippur is repentance. As such, it is only natural that much of our time and energy on this day are spent contemplating our past transgressions and misdeeds. Unfortunately, this experience often leads not to inspiration but to depression and despair. For many of us the problem is not that we can not recall our sins. That is the easy part. The difficulty is that, other than that seldom effective tool known as "will power", we lack an overall strategy for mending our ways.
A brief look at the first two sins ever committed may point us in the right direction. After Adam and Eve violated the word of G-d and ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they heard G-d "moving in the garden." Out of shame for what they had done, they hid from G-d. "G-d called out to the man and said 'Where are you?'"(Gen. 3:9)
Obviously G-d did not mean to inquire as to Adam's physical whereabouts. The all-knowing G-d knew exactly where he and Eve were. Rather, G-d's question was meant as a spiritual one.
We have all had moments when we have behaved in a way that made us say to ourselves, "That wasn't really me. That's not who I am." Usually, if not always, when we feel this way we have done something of which we are not proud. Deep inside all of us are good. It is only when that pure soul is concealed by desires, habits, and weaknesses that are not "really me" that I fall into sinful behavior.
The first response to sin, then, is to ask ourselves the question that G-d asked of the very first man after his very first sin. Where am I? Where is the real me, the one that makes me proud?
G-d did not pose a question only to Adam. The Torah's second sin provoked a Heavenly query as well. After Cain murdered his brother Abel, G-d approached Cain. "G-d said to Cain, 'Where is Abel your brother?'" (Gen. 4:9)
Just as G-d knew the whereabouts of Adam and Eve, He knew where to find Abel. Cain killed Abel because G-d accepted Abel's offering and did not accept Cain's. (4:3-5) Cain's pride was hurt. Cain was arrogant, selfish, and jealous. The result of this self-centered attitude was murder.
When my own pride is more important than someone else's life, I must ask myself G-d's second question. Anytime we treat another person with disrespect or allow our selfishness to get the better of us we must ask ourselves G-d's second question. When it is all about me and nobody else matters, I must stop and ask myself G-d's second question. Where is my brother?
The common message of G-d's two questions is that sin is the result of delusion and distraction from that which is really important. While pursuing physical desires may bring the momentary pleasure of a tasty fruit, it does not nourish the real me - the soul. While focusing on myself at the expense of others may be in my best interests in the short term, such an attitude prevents me from developing meaningful relationships - the cornerstone of a happy life.
What, then, is my strategy for repentance? How can I change my ways, enrich my life, become a nicer person, and grow closer to G-d? In G-d's two questions, we find all the answers. Where am I? Where is my brother?
Shabbat shalom, and G'mar Chatima Tova!
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