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At this time (nine days)I always wonder what special thing could I do to bring the Guelah closer. Having thought about it a long time it suddenly struck me this week having been made redundant after 17 years on a job that I loved. I have lost something very precious to me…
Hashem lost His Beis Hamigdosh and the Avoidah and its up to us to bring it back to Him. We also lost it but it is so easy to forget.
Do we think about the Geulah every day??
My suggestion is this : take on something very small to better yourself/your mitzvas and let Hashem add it as a zechus for our wanting to bring the Geulah.
e.g Take on one brocho that you are going to say with more Kavonoh. Do we always think what we are saying when we say “Shehakol?” Or Greet everyone with a smile. Say something nice daily to everyone who you meet (husbands to wives and vice versa)You must have more examples. Don’t take on anything too big. Let’s encourage each other
in Shemone Esrei by shema koleinu before saying ki atoh shomeia t’filas kol peh one is allowed and actually encouraged to add in personal t’filos…….
esther
i think this is a beautiful Emesdik post
i would however like to add my own personal thought.
that the ikar of our strivings should be to do what Hashem wants us to do for that sake alone or at least primarily.
when He is ready to bring the Geula it will be brought.
but your thought of bringing the Geulah for Hashems sake is very beautiful.
and your suggestions, with whatever mahalach are excellent
feivel
Do we always think what we are saying when we say “Shehakol?”
I related on this forum that my rov once told us the story of a baal teshuvah who was in a car with him. It was a really hot day, and the boy took out a cold can of Pepsi and opened it, and very slowly said the bracha Shehakol. He was concentrating so hard, it took him longer to say each word, than it would to drink the soda. Then when he finally took a swallow, he said, “Boruch Hashem for Pepsi!” I think that’s how we should try to approach each bracha we make, recognizing the extreme hakoras hatov we need to have to Hashem for even the simplest of things, much less the greatest brachos of our lives.
I WAS BY REBITZEN KANIEVSKY LAST SHABBOS, AND SHE TOLD ME THIS STORY PERSONALLY:
IM SAYING IT FROM HER POINT OF VIEW-
MY 5 YR OLD GRANDSON HAD A DREAM THAT HE SAW THE BAIS HAMIKDOSH…
WEN HE RETOLD THE DREAM HE TOLD US EXACT DETAILS OF IT, INCLUDING EVERY SHAAR, EVERY MATERIAL…BIDIYUK!!!
THEN AFTER REBBITZEN KANIEVSKY TOLD ME…THE GEULA IS VERY VERY CLOSE!!BE CAREFUL!!!
IM VERY SPPOOKED OUT!!REBBITZEN KANIEVSKY DOESNT JUST SAY THINGS..WHEN SHE SAYS THINGGS, SHES SERIOUS,
BEING THAT WERE IN THE NINE DAYS, LETS TAKE IT AS A WAKE UP CALL, AND LETS DO TESHUVA AND MAKE THIS TISHA BAV, A YOM SIMCHA!!!
wow! Amen!
and you’re right…
Reb. Kanievsky never says these types of things…
I think it’s the Nesivos Shalom who brings this down in his Sefer:
“Al naharos Bavel… Shum Yushavnu Ve gam
- BUCHINU
“
He brings down a little known medrash.
When the Jews were being led to Bavel, Yirmiyahu (who was the Navi at the time) was given the choice to come to Bavel abd be given a good position, or remain in Yerushalayim. Yirmiyahu chose to remain in Yerushalayim to be with the remaining Jews there.
When the Jews who were going to Bavel heard his desicion, they cried!
“Yermiyahu! Don’t leave us!”
and Yirmiyahu responded:
“Had you cried just one tear, just one, you would not be going into Galus”
ONE TEAR?, he asks?
How could one tear have saved the Yidden? They needed to do Teshuva!
and with this he concludes with a powerful message:
Had the Jews shed one tear BEFORE this- they would have showed their pain, upset, sorrow- that would have been enough.
Just one pure tear is enough to bring the final Geula…
How about judging everyone favorably? I know that almost everyone (especially myself) can work on that!!
There is more learning Torah now than any other time I can recall.
But is the learning driving our behavior?
When we learn Kesubos we must stengthen ourselves in the Mitzvah of supporting our (for Bochurim – future) families in a kosher and respectful manner.
When we learn Baba Kama we must get the message not to be a Mazik (damager, such as an aggressive driver) or Ganav (theif).
Last week we R’L saw negative examples.
We must make every effort that we don’t see such images again in the future.
The suggestion made above to obey the commandments and leave the timing of the geulah to the Kaddosh Boruch Hu is sound advice.
The Bais Hamikdash was destroyed because of sinas chinam, and has not been rebuilt because we as a people have not corrected this awful middah. Just like shaatra said, it’s about judging favorably, about realizing that people are just people and not getting angry, about turning our tzara to Hakadosh Baruch Hu, and accepting and actually coping with the matzav he puts us in, instead of lashing out and hurting another yid. It’s about remembering that every solitary yid is His child, and hurting another yid is hurting the shchina. It’s about raking through every crevice of our heart to cleanse ourselves of the senseless resentments, and truly being at peace with klal yisroel. May we all be zocheh speedily in our days. Thanks for the chizuk, estherh.
He travels TO EY for parnassa? Most people do it the other way. Also, many people who don’t want to live in EY now when the goverment is so anti frum and there are so many other issues but these people will run to EY when Moshiach comes. Besides, this sound more like a mariage (sorry I can’t spell) issue than any thing else.
You call a man in his 50 a “young man”. 🙂 I am flattered. I am in my 50 and it is a long time sinse I was considered a “young woman”
onlyemes, Rebbetzin Kanievsky said the geulah is close, she never said when its coming. I’m not sure what was different about her saying that said more than you and I know. I don’t think its big news that we’re in the times of Mashiach already. The big part about the story was that she said it, not <what she said.
estherh, (btw welcome to the CR,) theres a (sad) joke. During the seder one year, when the family got up to l’shana habbah…, a young boy said it loud, with a lot of feeling. the father was at first proud of his son. His second reaction was, “Wait, we just redid the living room!”
“He travels TO EY for parnassa? Most people do it the other way.”
This used to be the thinking.
Now Israel (or EY) has a much stronger economy. High tech is very strong there.
In my work many of my most important customers are in Israel and I try to visit them once a year.
Perhaps some aspects of Geula are already unfolding…
here’s a really great peice i heard on Tisha B’av, from Rabbi Yecheil Spero’s new book on Kinnos! I highly recommend this amazing new Rabbi Spero book! it really gets you to feel all what we are missing not having the Bais Hamikdash & being in Galus! & it gives a very clear meaning of all the Kinnos, through Rabbi Spero’s gift of story telling!
The Chasam Sofer when he once got good news of a decree in his town being relaxes & about giving the jews more benefits, he broke down crying! those nearby asked him why he cried, & the Chasam Sofer replied with this amazing mashal:
There once was a man who was put into jail for a crime he did not commit! And those who framed him tried to get him to stay in jail for as long as possible! although his cell was decent he looked forward to get out asap! one day a guard opened his cell & announced he had wonderful news, with a big smile…”we are redecorating your cell & fixing it up!”
the inmate broke down crying, guard asked why?! the inmate said ”until now i hoped that this was temporary, now this feels very permanent & that i’ll be here for a really long time!”
Chasam Sofer went on..in Galus he manage our suffering because we know it’s temporary, but when we see ”our cell being fixed up”, it’s sad cause now it means we’ll be here for a long time!
this new Rabbi Spero book is really amazing & should be a must for all to read before Tisha B’av!
I bought Rabbi Spero’s book. It is great. Very moving.
Personally, I am trying very hard (and it is very hard) not to speak or write lashon hara and only speak lashon tov. My Partner in Torah told me she stoped eating unkosher meat or fish. For her this means pretty much becoming a vegitarian. I was so impressed that I decided that I must watch what comes out of my mouth. That is equivalent to her watching what goes in. If we all make steps in the right direction, hopefully Hashem will have rachmanus and send Moshiach.
what “ir” said is quite tue, regarding Sinos Chinam.
I’m sure you all know the song “I am an ancient wall of stone. . .” My favorite line from that song is the following: “HOW CAN YOU COME BACK HOME TO ME, WHILE YOU REMAIN APART?” I don’t know who wrote the song but that line is so, so true. How can we even think that the Bais HaMikdosh will be rebuilt as long as “SINAS CHINAM IS STILL THERE, IT LINGERS IN YOUR HEART. . .” How many of us get upset over the silliest things at work, at home, at school, in camp, on the road. . . And yes, the feelings we feel are Sinas Chinam- hatred for nothing. Just let it pass. The most important thing here is to Fargin and let bygones be bygones.
(By the way, I don’t mean to talk directly to anyone in the CR or reading this, this post is more for myself than anyone else.)
FunnyBunny, not much to say, but that I completely second your post. (btw, I’m pretty sure the song was written by Abie Rottenberg)
I once had an idea I wanted to do for a zchus for something. I think earlier, someone wrote to have in mind when making brachos. I have something a little different. Once a day, when you make a shehakol, really think about the meaning of the bracha.
On a similar note:
Think of someone who may not be your favorite person. Someone who needs a shidduch, doesn’t have children, needs a refuah, parnassah, etc. and have in mind that your making the appropriate bracha for them, for the sake of ahavas chinam (mitoch shelo lishma…)
brachos are:
mezonos: for parnassa
hagafen: shidduch
ha’eitz: children
ha’adamah: refuah shelaima
shehakol: anything
just say the bracha with kavanah, as you eat have the person in mind. and make sure someone is around to say amen.
dont do this more than once a day! Hatzlacha!
wow great thread estherh! I second your motion about greeting everyone with a smile. It puts you in a good mood and everyone around you – i’ve tried it! It turned stressful days into fun ones. Plus it creates a general feeling of ahavas yisroel which will definitely bring the geula!
I don’t know – these last two weeks have been very disheartening for me. It seems like the more we strive to be better people, the further and further we fall…the latest news articles have all been very hard on me. Then I open Tanach and look at how every generation was constantly battling serving Hashem properly – will we ever get it right? Or is Hashem just going to rescue us because we are so bad?
here’s a little something takin from Rabbi Yescheil Spero’s new book on Kinnos & the 3 weeks!
there are times when a father has to do things that cause pain to his child! but these things are done to save the life of a child! the name of the month now which the Bais Hamikdash was destroyed in was is Av-father, because in this month more than other’s Hashem shows his love to his children! He knows that he has to inflict pain, but this is the only way to save His precious children!
Klal Yisroel had come to a point where they deserved G-d forbid deserved destruction! but Hashem instead, ”Shafach..chamoso al ha’eitzim ve’avanim”-He poured out his anger on sticks & stones-The Bais Hamekdash!
I’m sad. I really thought Moshiach was coming yesterday…
I’m sad. I really thought Moshiach was coming yesterday…
Were your bags packed, though? 😉
There was once a story (I will tell it VERY briefly, and if I get it wrong, this is the way it was told to me) of people who were waiting for a bracha from a holy rov for rain after a long dry season. The rov was known for the koach of his brachos, so they were very hopeful. The all assembled at shul and waited for him to begin. He asked them if they truly believed that Hashem would answer his tefilos? They all nodded fervently. He looked at them sadly and said, “But you obviously have no real bitachon – otherwise every one of you would have brought a raincoat!”
I didn’t pack my bags, but I did tell my sister that Moshiach was coming yesterday.
I love that story oomis1105, and I will use it. Thanks for posting it.
oomis1105- amazing story!
same when you redo over your whole house- if Moshiach is coming, what’s the point???
well, on the flip side i guess even when Moshiach is here you can live in Chutz Laaretz if you want…
It was terribly sad to read that there are those to whom Eretz Yisrael is so meaningless to their yiddishkeit as to contemplate avoiding it when Moshiach arrives. I suggest a slow and careful reading of the Torah , any language will suffice. If a detailed explanation is necessary, that will be even sadder.
onlyemes
What are you referring to? You read this where?
Two posts above mine.
That was said in sarcasm.
Help another Jew be more Jewish. This includes teaching sewing lessons to us unfortunate few who used to be able to shop in the stores but are now religious and are wanting for some decent outfits. Help your fellow Jews get Shabbos guests. Some people are shy in the beginning. I had a fellow shul member help me get Shabbos guests and I’m sure the choicest place in the Garden of Eden is being reserved for her!
Be Happy – Let’s see – Chazal say to bring the Geula we must stop LH & Sinas Chinum (acc. to the C.C.). So how about stopping LH & Sinas Chinum?
I think people think if they mean well (Toieles) that it isn’t LH. It is; unless you have the six other things that are mentioned in the C.C. with the Toieles.
So when s/o asks info for a Shidduch, if you don’t have all 7 conditions, you are Oiver LH.
I think we need an Asifa to outlaw having any phone.
“What – are you nuts?” I think with phones people do much more Issurim than with the Internet. (I’m not talking about driving & talking – which is a separate Issur.) Most phone convos are just Shmoozing with friends, not making appts. or other important things. Very often the conversation leads to talking about others. This talking about others is usually LH, even if you don’t realize it.
Great thread. A few thoughts:
1) One can insert individual prayers in one’s own language in any of the 13 middle brachos of the Amidah, not just in shema koleinu. Since es tzemach dovid and other brachos relate to the geulah this seems like a good time to insert personal prayers (especially if you have difficulty having kavanah during these brachos).
2) Smiling at everyone is a great suggestion! Two different sages (R’ Shammai and R’ Yishmael) say the same thing in Pirkei Avos — it’s about time we listened to them.
3) I like the story about the BT who said shehakol so slowly. Another method is to say a couple sentences of personal prayer before each bracha, asking to have kavanah and thanking Hashem for what you’re about to eat, etc. — I think this helps a lot. I’ve read about tzaddikim who did this.
4) We should (literally?) jump at every opportunity to do an act of chesed for somone, whether it’s our spouse or a stranger. It’s written somewhere that if we are kind to others Hashem will be kind to us (and what could be more kind than the Geulah…)
5) We are supposed to yearn for the Geulah and pray for it (at least in the Amidah). If we’re worried about it seeming selfish and focused on a reward instead of just serving Hashem, then think about how the Geulah will be good for everyone in the whole world. Think about all the suffering in the world world, and let’s pray to Hashem to bring the Geulah to end that suffering.
I started reading this thread, and after the OP I didn’t know what was going on! The M*ds shouldn’t be deleting so many posts which will ruin a thread later on. Just a thought…
SiDi™
Be Happy -“It is all voluntary and could not be done without phones.”
I already admitted that we use phones for important things. My point was comparing phone usage to Net usage. There are many more Aveiros occuring over the phone than over the Net.
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