Assistance from Above

Today I have finished Sefer Zeraim in the Rambam's Mishneh Torah. Sefer Zeraim details the laws or Argiculture. Forbidden mixtures, Gifts to the Poor, Laws of Teruma, Laws of Tithes, Laws of first fruits and laws concerning the Sabbatical year.

There are many joys of studying. One that I find particularly rewarding is stumbling upon a idea that makes you just take a step back and admire the beauty of the thought.

Closing Hilcots Shemitah V'Yovel, the Rambam writes:

"Why did the Levites not receive a portion in the inheritance of the land of Israel and in the spoils of war like their brethren? Because the were set aside to serve G-d and minister unto him and to instruct people at large in his just paths and righteous judgements, as [Deuteronomy 33:10] states: 'They will teach your judgements to Jacob and your Torah to Israel.' Therefore they were set apart from the ways of the world. They do not wage war like the remainder of the Jewish people, nor do they receive an inheritance, nor do they acquire for themselves through their physical power. Instead, they are G-d's Legion, as it states: 'G-d has blessed his legion' and he provides for them as [Numbers 18:20] states: 'I am your portion and your inheritance.'

Not only the tribe of Levi, but any one of the inhabitants of the world whose spirit generously motivates him and he understands with his wisdom to set himself aside and stand before G-d to serve him and minister to him and to know G-d, proceeding justly as G-d made him, removing from his neck the yoke of the many reckonings which people seek, he is sanctified as holy of holies. G-d will be his portion and heritage forever and will provide what is sufficient for him in this world like he provides for the priests and the Levites. And thus David declared [Psalms 16:5] 'G-d is the lot of my portion; you are my cup; you support my lot' "

From this we learn that through our devotion to Hashem, we can trust that Hashem will provide for our needs in the end. He may test us, and challenging us, or even seem hidden at times. But in the end just as we learned in Sefer Zeraim about the laws of Bikkurim, the priestly gifts, so too will Hashem provide for us.

As the Rambam concludes:

"Blessed be the Merciful One who provides assistance"

Frum or Bust!

OK. It’s time... It’s been a fun ride, but my family and I really need to move to a frum community.

Life in the fringes of Galut is hard. Yes, it is possible to be frum and live in the fringes of Galut. Yes I’ve been doing it for close to 7 years now, but it’s not about me. I need my kids to grow up in a Jewish Community.

As a middle aged male, standing out in a crowd is no big deal. Getting yelled at and gestured from passing cars, stinks, but I can “live” with it. Being isolated from kosher restaurants is hard but on the plus side I need to eat better. Not being able to walk to shul and have to schnoor hospitability isn’t ideal but works.

Yeah, It kind of works for me, but for my two young sons, they really need a community where being Jewish is part of the norm. Where their friends keep shabbos and they don’t have to feel left out because they can’t eat with their friends or go out with their friends.

This trying to fit a frum life in a goyisha community ain’t working.

So… Here’s the declaration:
After 14 years at my current employer, I need to find a new job
I need to then find a Community
I need to find a House
I need to find an affordable Jewish Day School for my kids
I need to see if I can get this to happen by this time next year.

That’s the family goal, that’s the family plan!

Last Sunday I spent the day on a “Recon” mission in the Baltimore area. I spent the day scoping out shuls, communities, stores and restaurants. This Sunday I will take the family down with me to do more of the same. We are keeping out option open to a North Jersey, Chicago, Boston, DC or LA type a move as well.

I guess the more conservative approach (Which is more my style) is to get a Job first, then move. Finding a community/house first then finding a job I guess works too, but a tad more risky. Each has their pluses and minuses. Either way… The Gloves are off. We are going for it!

Take a Penny, Give a LOT

I think one of my pet peeves is those "Give a penny, take a Penny" cups found at most registers. Yes, it's nice to not have to walk around with the $0.99 you just got back in your pocket. But consider this.... What if all those penny cups were replaced by tzedakah Pushkas (Charity boxes). Think what a difference we can make in this world.

Personally, I have a Colel Chabad Tzedakah box on my desk at work. (And one in almost every room of my house) When I come up from buying the limited selection of Kosher foods available to be from our company cafeteria, I put my change in the Pushka. About Every other month, I take a near full Pushka to our local bank (that doesn't charge for sorting/cashing your change) and give around $50-60 to Colel Chabad.

There are close to 5000 folks working for my employer. Could you imagine the impact we would all have if each one of us would set up their own tzedakah pushka? At $50 every two months multiplied by each employee, that would be in the neighborhood of $1.5 Million a year!!

Colel Chabad is an umbrella philanthropy supporting a network of soup kitchens, day care centers, dental and medical clinics, camp scholarships, senior centers, interest-free loans, immigrant absorption programs, and other social welfare projects throughout Israel, and more recently in the former Soviet Union.

Colel Chabad is the oldest continuously operating charity of its kind in Israel. It was founded in 5549 (1788 C.E.) by the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, and has been headed by each Lubavitcher Rebbe ever since.

To get your FREE Colel Chabad Puska, simply follow this link. Spiritually speaking, it can be one of the greatest things you can do today!

Children of the Book

Looking at my Bookshelves I came to the realization that I need to make way for another floor to ceiling bookcase. I probably should make it two as I think with the "overflow" I can fill at least half a case right off the bat.

I do an aggressive amount of reading each day. Chassidus in the morning before I daven, then Talmud/Torah after the kids are in Bed. Most nights I'm up until 12:30-1:00am

Talmud Artsrcoll Schottenstein edition (Currently working through tractate Yevamos). I have been studying the Talmud daily as part of the Daf Yomi cycle. Though this cycle, we read a page a day. At that rate, we complete the entire work in 7.5 years. I have 2.5 years under my belt now. As a spend a good 45minutes to an hour on the page. I would say that this is my central area of Study. Keep in mind, at an hour a page, I am really only scratching the surface of the page. As a way of "keeping notes", I am currently trying to blog about interesting concepts I find in my Talmud reading at Gemaragems. I actually just started that with Tractate Chagigah.


Tanya - By Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. This is the central work in regards to Chabad Chassidus / Philosophy. The daily study cycle that I
follow completes the work in a Year. I have been though this work twice, and am currently in the middle of my third cycle.

Chumash with Rashi. Each day I read though an Aliyah of the weekly Parsha. Once using the Gutnick Chumash, then with Rashi's commentary.

Daily Dose of Torah By Artscroll. Each day's learning program includes: A Torah Thought for the Day. Mishnah of the Day. Gems from the Gemara. A Mussar Thought for the Day. Halachah of the Day. A Closer Look at the Siddur. Question for the Day . Taste of Lomdus (once a week). To tell you the truth, I am not totally thrilled with this work. It's sort of hit or miss each day, as some are much better then others. I will complete the series for the year, but it will mostly likely be a one an done. I think after I complete this work I will substituted the time I allot for this with Rambam's Mishnah Torah next year.

Tehillim (Psalms) - I read the Tehillim for the day after Shacharit(morning) davening. Typically between 5-10 chapters. At this pace, I work though the Book of Tehillim once a Month.

HaYom Yom - Read the daily paragraph as after reading Tehillim in the morning. This work was compiled by the Lubvatich Rebbe

The above it what I study faithfully each day. When I have the time, I am currently working my way through the below works. The pace I am going
thorough these works are a bit slower, So I might not read from these works everyday, but a least a few times a week.

Gates of Repentance (Sha'arei Teshuvah) By Rabbeinu Yonah of Gerona - This is the classic work on repentance and religious conduct. For anyone seeking the true path to repentance and reconnection with G-d, this incisive guide is essential.

Rebbe Nachman's Tikkun - This is book is based on the work of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov and his teachings as a "General Remedy" for spiritual correction. This general rectification can override the spiritual harm caused by many sins, or one sin whose ramifications are many. Rebbe Nachman revealed that ten specific Psalms, recited in this order: Psalms 16, 32, 41, 42, 59, 77, 90, 105, 137, and 150.


Mishnah Rabba: Book of Ruth. Just got this book yesterday! My hopes is that I will complete this work through Shavuot. With the 2 day Yom Tov and "Shavuot all nighter", I think this will be possible.


Listed under the category of working through at a snails pace (at the Moment)

Mishnah Torah - The Classic Work of the Rambam. Currently I have 11 of the 28 volumes available. As I said above, I'm hoping to step up the pace on this work more and bring it into my daily study. Perhaps at the 3 year cycle pace, Don't think I have the time to devote to the 1 year cycle.

Metsudah Midrash Tanchuma - This landmark translation, of Midrash Tanchuma on the Chumash, (attributed to Rabbi Tanchuma bar Abba Circa 370 CE)

Likutey Mohran - The Collected Teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

I guess that about does it for now... As I said, I've been keeping the pace for about 2.5 years now. Can't tell you what is going on in "Lost" or "Heroes", but I can give you a complete run down of where we are holding in the Gemara or Torah :-)

Count up to Shavuot

With Shavuot a little more then a week away, I was invited to stay at my Rabbi's house for the Holiday. Normally I would be very appreciative and jump at accepting the offer, however this Shavuot marks my 20th Wedding anniversary. I haven't discussed this with my wife yet, but I kind of feel awkward being away from my wife on our 20th Anniversary. The little voice inside me is currently battling with my Pintele Yid (That little spark of yiddishkeit that is found in ever Jewish soul.) Right now they are battling over "doing the right thing". More accurately fighting over what exactly is the "right thing."

Do I stay home and Daven? OR
Stay with the Rabbi so I can walk to Shul?

I guess the obvious answer is not an option at all. My wife has "a thing" for sleeping over other people's houses that are not close relatives. So she wouldn't be up for joining me. Although my 8year old LOVES to stay at our Rabbi's house when we do regularly for Shabbat.

So... what to do... what to do....

Of course my Rabbi had an answer. (of Course! He's a Rabbi!) He suggested that we celebrate our Anniversary on the Hebrew date (which we should be doing anyway - I do for my Birthday, my wife still holds to her secular date). OK, that's even worse because our Anniversary would have been two days ago by the Hebrew calendar. His answer to that was a belated Anniversary card and a trip to www.ice.com. Yeah, I don't think that will work either.

So stay tuned as my Conscience battles it out with my Pinetele Yid to see how this turns out. On the one hand, I know my soul needs to be in Shul Davening with a Minyan. Davening at home (Which living out in the fringes of Galut I'm force to do many a Shabbat) doesn't really cut it for a Yom Tov. But on the other hand... It's the BIG 20. Then again, on the other hand... There is no other hand... IT'S SHAVUOT.. MATTAN TORAH!!!

Of course if I don't get healthy I'm not going anywhere. Been sick for almost a week now, and now both my 21month old and my 8 year old are under the weather. Argh...

Sefirah Compromise

During the period of time between Pesach and Shavout, we count the Omer each night. For more information on the Omer, please follow the following link

In addition; to remember the tragic death of 24,000 disciples of Rabbi Akiva who died in a plague in the weeks between Passover and Shavuot, the following mourning practices are observed during this period (sefirah).

1. Marriages and wedding celebrations are not performed during this time. (It is permitted, however, to become engaged to marry during this time.)
2. Getting a Hair Cut
3. Buying and wearing new clothing
4. Listening to music with instrumental accompaniment. Listening to Acapella music is permitted. It’s also permitted to listen to music if it’s your profession.

So, what does one do when faced with a 2 hour family car trip with a wife who is not holding to the same level of orthodox observance as you?

Simple! Compromise!

So my wife, 2 kids and I set out to “bubbe’s” house for her birthday party this Sunday. It’s an hour plus drive in each direction. It wasn’t two miles into the trip when the question of what to listen to came up. My wife and eldest son nixed the idea of Jewish Acapella music. “OK, how about a lecture from OU-Audio on Chagigah page 15 (Talmud)”, I inquired. That was shot down before I could finish the sentence..
So we made a deal.

My wife took out her Ipod, and we found something that I would hate. That way, I would still be holding to the “no celebration” aspect of the Sefirah “mourning practices”. So we got to listen to the music stylings of Taylor Hicks.

Not sure of the Halacha but, Problem Solved :-) Not only that… it was for the sake of Shalom H’Bayis. (Peace in the house)

First Kiss

Do you remember your first Kiss?

My son who is approaching 14 months this Shabbat, learned to "Kiss" for the first time. Of course we smother him with kisses, but we are trying to teach him to kiss us. "Hillel, come give Mommy Kiss". So far not too much luck.

Until last night! I was holding Hillel by the doorway as we watched Mom drive off to run a couple of errands. As my wife pulled away, Hillel reached out and touched our Mezuzah then kissed his fingers with a loud smack. Obviously he has seen us do this on a number of occasions.

What a beautiful "first kiss".

Hear O Israel: G-d is our G-d; G-d is one (Deuteronomy 6:4). Words we recite every morning and evening. They contain the primal statement of what it means to be a Jew: to infuse our entire day and everything we do and possess with G-d's oneness.

It is regarding these words that G-d has commanded us, "And you shall inscribe them on the doorposts of you home, and on your gates". Hence the Mezuzah: a parchment scroll inscribed with the verses of the Shema and affixed to the right doorpost of every room in a Jewish home.

In addition to its role as a declaration and reminder of our faith, the mezuzah is also a symbol of G-d's watchful care over the home and its dwellers. The name of G-d, Sha-dai, which appears on the reverse side of the parchment is an acronym for the Hebrew words which mean "Guardian of the doorways of Israel." The placing of a mezuzah on the doors of a home or office protects the inhabitant--whether they are inside or out