Category: Written Teachings

Chanukah Quiz – test yourself

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Post date 7 December 2012
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Chidon Chanukah (a trivia game about ideas connected to Chanukah- answers will follow next week)

1 Who continued to rule in the house of Macabbes after Judah passed away?

2 Where do we light the shamash?

3 Can we light the Chanukah candles in a copper vessel?

4 Can we go to work on Chanukah?

5 On what day of Chanukah do we use the most oil?

6 Can the menorah be shaped in a circular form?

7 What is done with oil that is left over in the menorah after chanuah?

8 Why is it preferred to use olive oil for lighting purposes?

1 Are women obligated to say Hallel on Chanukah?

2 What is the law about someone who does not know how to say the blessing on the candles?

3 What is the law if it’s Erev Shabbat on Chanukah and there are only 2 candles available?

4 Who did Mattityahu kill?

5 Which parsha is read on Chanukah?

6 Why do we eat latkes and doughnuts on Chanukah?

7 During which Temple (first or second) did the Chanukah story rake place?

8 What halacha is hinted at in the word Chanukah?

9 What is the law if a night passed by and you forget to light the menorah?

10 Can we extinguish the candles after a half hour of mandatory burning?

11 Which tehillim pertains to Chanukah?

12 Can we light the candle from unkosher fat?

13 Who ruled in Israel after Mattityahu the Chashmonean?

14 How long should have the oil that was found in the Temple been burning?

15 And how long did it really last for?

16 Can we do any work for the time the candles are burning?

17 When do we light the shamash?

18 What mitzvah is applied to Chanukah aside from lighting the menorah?

19 Does a poor person that lives on charity need to light the menorah?

20 How many candle/oil holders were on the menorah of the Holy temple? (7 or 8)

21 Can you make havdalah from the Chanukah lights?

22 Yochanan the High Priest had a special daughter who cut off the head of a terrible enemy of the Jewish people- who was she?

23 What did the Greeks want to abolish in the system of the Jewish calendar?

24 What day is the last day of Chanukah on the Hebrew calendar?

25 Does a person traveling in a boat or train have to light?

26 Does a guest have to light his/her own menorah?

27 What time of the day do we light the menotah?

28 What 2 holidays do we say “Al HaNissim”?

29 Can a person use wax candles and not oil on Chanukah?

30 What were the Jews that assimilated into Greek culture called?

31 What do we light first, Shabbat candles or the menorah on Friday evening?

32 On Saturday night what do we light first- Havdalah or Chanukah candles?

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In Honor of Rachel Immeinu

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Post date 28 October 2012
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The 11^th of Cheshvan is the yartzeit of Rachel Immeinu. It is the same day that Binyamin was born, the only son of Yaakov to have been born in Eretz Yisrael. Rachel passed away as she planted a new life into the family as they reached their goal, setting up a home in the Promised Land. Rachel also had another son, Yosef. We read in the torah that in the very passuk that Yosef was born, Yaakov called to his family and said it was time to return home now. Without blinking, Rachel packed up the family and left her father’s house. Earlier, it was Rachel who gave over the signs to Leah and forfeited what was rightfully hers (Yaakov), demonstrating complete bitachon. She would undoubtedly become the mother of us all. Hashem praises her, “Yesh sachar lepeoolatech!”- A Divine promise raises no doubts.

In a deeper look into Rachel, who Yaakov loved at first sight, we know a beautiful woman who had beautiful sons; the power of her patience and virtues passed down to them. We read about Yosef and his beauty, about his will to make his dreams come true. Yosef indeed sustained his brothers (and the world) with bread – after they had shoved him aside, practically burying him alive in a pit at the side of the road. Later, all the brothers were unified when Yehudah redeemed Binyamin and Yosef gave over his signs and revealed that his dreams had come true.

Rachel is buried in the tribal portion of Yehudah. Chazal say that 12 stones were placed on Rachel’s tomb, symbolizing each tribe. She is buried “on the way” to Beit Lechem and there she sits and cries over the exile of her people. “Kol barama nishma, Rachel mivakah al baneha” – a cry is heard- Rachel is crying for her children. In the book of Yirmiyahu, Hashem answers her and consoles her “Yesh sachar lepeoolatech, veshavu banim legvoolam”- in your actions, Rachel, you will merit the return of your children to Eretz Yisrael. The candle we light for Rachel flickers in anticipation. Sometimes it wanes and fades in times of holocaust and inquisition. Rachels prayer transmits to her children the light that rekindles our hopes and dreams for achdut (unity) and return as stated in the prophets that the day will come that all the exiles will be returned to and united inIsrael. Rachel will bring her children home.

In our efforts to reach the end of the way, we are commanded to fulfill these prophesies with action, in redeeming the Land physically. Rachel is buried in Bet Lechem- meaning literally “House of Bread”. Those who sow in tears, reap joyfully. Rachel, wipe away your tears, there is new life born here. Here on Itamar, the very backyard of the nachala of Yosef HaTzaddik we have had the amazing zechut (merit) of seeing the land come alive. What a generation to have been born into as Israel as a nation stands strong and proud! But we still have so much to do, so many stones to turn over, so many thorns to clear away, so many uncertainties to absolve and ascertain the miracles happening every day to us here. Rachel, your children are coming home!

With blessings for besorot tovot- Leah Goldsmith

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Parashat Shemot – 2012

Parshat Shemot – January 13 2012

The last portions of the book of Bereishit focus on the life and times of Yosef HaTzaddik, of his influence, esteem and excellence in all realms of management of resources and finance in the land of Egypt. The new book of Shemot begins with the significant passuk “And a new king ruled over Egypt who did not know Yosef”. Yosef, the Yesod olam- the Foundation Stone of the world, the only one to be called the Tzaddik is again not recognized- this time by the new and powerful king that ruled the world. Seemingly dead buried and vanished why does Pharoh “not know Yosef”? It must have a deeper meaning. Yosef has passed on physically as we enter a period in time of not reaping the rewards of his talents. There is a famous passuk connected to Yosef: “Ode Yosef Chay”. He lives on, for the tzaddik lives on forever, residing in every generation and even materializing into real life events. This is exactly what the new king wanted to annihilate. He not only wanted Yosef dead, but dead and done for.

On a closer look into the essence of Yosef, the Yesod, the very message of life comes into play. Yesod is the foundation of all the generations to come, connecting to the very first foundation mitzvah of the torah- “Be fruitful and multiply”. This is exactly what was happening in Egypt at an alarming rate. Even the number attributed to this is intrinsically connected to the Yesod, the number six (being the 6^th sphere of the 7 lower spheres), “Sheshah bekeress achad” – Sixtuplets were born to the Jewish people at every birth and they multiplied at a great speed. The Yesod Foundation sphere parallels the sixth day of creation when Hashem created man/woman as one unit as it says in the passuk: “G-d created man in His image, he created THEM- male(yesod) and female(malchut)” (genesis 1:27) Hashem gave over the greatest power – to create life (the most G-dly attribute possible). Later, it wasn’t only that Pharoh “did not know Yosef” but he made a concerted effort to obliterate all males, to cast them into the river, to demand the midwives slaughter them, etc… At a later time, at the climax of the exodus the torah tells us “Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him” culminating the period of the obliteration of the Yesod. The Bnei Yisrael actually carried the bones of Yosef right into Eretz Yisrael alongside the Mishkan, paving the way for a new life and continuity in the Land of Israel.

Today we stand in the light of the last hours of the sixth millennium, the time right before we light the Shabbat candles. Again, there are kings of great nations who “do not know Yosef” nor do they recognize the power of the Yesod. There are those that create impasses, those that try to prevent the power of Mashiach ben Yosef from collecting the exiles, planting the vineyards and rebuilding the desolate cities that were once home to our forefathers and will anything and everything in their power to obstruct the bones from coming to life, even by destroying the resting place of Yosef HaTzaddik (!) – There are too many cameras and eyes of the world focused on the little dilapidated prefab being built in the middle of the night on the barren hilltops of the land of Yosef, too many for us to ignore the meaning of what life in Israel, the heart of Israel means . This is the source of salvation, blessing, redemption, loving kindness, mercy, success and health for the Jewish people and for the world. The influence is far beyond any Presidents power now.

Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith

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Parshat Vayigash – 2011

Parshat Vayigash December 30 2011

Leah Goldsmith

The tehillim “Even maasu habonim hayita lerosh pina” – “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” refers to the life and times of the persona of the rejected Yosef, suffering in captivity and disappearing into thin air only to be revealed as a VIP dignitary living a full life of success and bringing life support to those that rejected him and to the world. The entire tale of Yosef is the parallel of the heart and soul substance of Mashiach Ben Yosef, what he represents as the “revealed one” and the many tasks he has at the end of days.

One of the most dominant traits of Judaism is believing in a G-d that is not tangible. “He has no body or image” we say every morning in our prayers. As opposed to other religions that need a person or object to pray to and believe, the Jewish people do not bow down to idols. G-d is seemingly hidden. This was the challenge given to the Jewish people in a physical world. Through the generations of our long exile, a time that seemed to the world of “rejection”, we literally seemed to have gone up in the smoke of Auwshwitz, and boom!, suddenly Israel stands as a superpower. The source of vitality and success cannot be ignored by anyone in the world today (there are those that want to negate it but they recognize it) as G-d reveals Himself in the living soil of Eretz Yisrael. There is no greater revelation of G-d than this.

The haftarah of Parshat Vayigash should be an open letter to the New York Times.If anyone does have a problem with the Jewish people building in Jerusalem or any other place in Israel’s heartland: “Behold! I am taking the Bnei Yisrael from among the nations to which they have gone and I shall gather them from all around and bring them to their soil. I shall make them a single nation in the land upon Israel’s hills…” (Ezekiel 37:21-22)

As Yosef gathered his brothers to him, so too will Mashiach Ben Yosef gather all the remnants scattered all over the world and people will come to know their hearts and souls and be returned to their land. Israel is a built and thriving country today, it can be perceived much like Yaakov Avinu upon seeing Yosef- not only surviving, alive, but alive and kicking- revealed! Making a difference in the world- why don’t we all come to recognize him?

Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith

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Parshat Vayeshev – 2011

Parshat Vayeshev December 17 2011

Yosef is successful in all realms. He is talented, beautiful and distinguished (which is why his brothers are so jealous of him). Yosef is always being accused of things he didn’t do. He is thrown into the pit for his dreams. Later, he finds favor in everyone’s eyes. He is a man of understanding and knows just about everything (aside from where his brothers are when he goes to seek them in Shechem). He can read minds and interpret dreams – his and other peoples). He is a genius on economics (therefore he winds up sustaining the whole world). He is model at standing up to temptation (but he gets thrown into prison despite the fact that he restricted his passion). He is the Foundation stone of fixing the world (better known as Tikkun Olam). For fixing, it was Yosef who was put in charge of all the wealth of Egypt as stated in the passuk: “Yosef gathered up grain like the sand in the sea.” “Yosef gathered up all the money that was in the land of Egypt”. (Genesis 41,47) And last but not least, it was Yosef who gathered his brothers to him (and he says what was meant for bad was really for good).

Only the tzaddik can manage wealth and not be affected by it. Not be tempted by it. Only the Tzaddik can live in a material world and not want it for himself.Yosef is a dreamer who makes his dreams come true. His practical mindedness brought him insight into the wealth and glory the palace afforded TEMPORARILY knowing the diaspora did not guarantee lasting security or freedom for long. Above all the superior traits Yosef had, he was able to see into the future and know “The new king who took over Egypt who did not know Yosef.”

Generations later, as the BneiYisrael were about to leave Egypt, the opportunity struck for them to repossess all that was taken from them during their long exile where they were exploited and put to slave labor. On the black night of the last plague, gold and gems were dug out of treasure chests and placed on carriages that would travel out of Egypt into the desert and into EretzYisrael. This was referred to in the prophecy given to Avraham (Genesis 15:14) “After the exile, they will leave with great wealth”. At the same moment of rejoicing in the haul of booty from the vaults of thePharohs, Moshe Rabbeinu was somewhere else, standing by the Nile River, pulling out the coffin of YosefHaTzaddik where he prepared to cart him off and out of Egypt, carrying out Yosef’s commandment: “Swear to me that when G-d delivers you from this land that you carry my bones to Israel.”Yosef, the seer knew Hashem’s plan for her children to live a full life in the land of their forefathers. He was to receive a double portion.

Moshe Rabbeinu never made it to Israel. But he passes the foundation stone into the hands of the new generation that entered the Land and Yosef’s bones were laid to rest on the plot of land his father bought in the land of Shechem, the place he originally set out to find his brothers. This story begins in disunity. It ends as one unit leaving bondage, receiving the torah as “one man with one heart” and then finally reaching the place of the Brit- the rededication of the torah in the Land of Israel, the place of Mount Gerizzim and Mount Eval where all of Israel stood on the double mountains of the Blessings and the Curses, laying Yosef to rest in the valley of Shechem.

We have had the amazing zechut of living more than half our lives facing this site. The last decade has seen chaos, turmoil and violence surrounding the location of Yosef. The tomb has been desecrated countless times and in the same breath the European union continues its embargo on our products. The American government poses freezes on all Jewish building out here and worse than all, our own government and army takes the stand of uprooting hilltops on the very spot Yosef was thrown into the pit. The manifestation of the negative attitude toward YosefHaTzaddik has been witnessed by all in the crumbling of the Euro, the devaluation of the dollar, the moral crumbling of the Israeli government and court system, the list goes on- the Twin Towers came falling down a year later- almost to the day- of the violent attack on the Tomb of Yosef and murder of soldier MachmatYosef and Rabbi Hillel Leiberman. Just recently BenYoLivnat was murdered right at the Tomb of Yosef by Palestinian Police. Please help pull Yosef out of the pit by letting your friends know the significance of this holy yet desecrated site.

It goes without saying that the hour calls for Tikkun Olam in order to fix the broken foundation stone that the entire world needs in order to keep turning. We seek our brothers! We encourage our friends to come and see the Land of Yosef and be part of trying to build the Foundation of Israel and the world.

Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith

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Parshat Lech Lecha – 2011

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Post date 4 November 2011
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Parshat Lech Lecha November 4 2011

Leah Goldsmith

Much of the book of Genesis is devoted to the stories of the lives of our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, what they did and also where their particular trials and achievements happened. Each chronicle that folds into the next brings a chain of ideas that never ceases to amaze us and how it affects our lives even today. The first Patriarch we encounter is Abraham. Abraham is constantly on the move, walking and running to do mitzvoth. He is associated with setting things in motion. He walks the length and breadth of the Land, runs to mobilize people to form a different way of thinking and approachlife through belief in one G-d. He and his wife Sarah set up special inns providing for their guests and always offering a second helping of spirituality.He made goodness prevail over darkness. This is why Abraham is the personification of Chesed (the attribute of loving-kindness) (active motion). Abraham rushed forward until he reached the city of Shechem as it says in the passuk :”AD makome Shechem AD Elon Moreh”- “UP TO the city of Shechem”. Here in this place middat Haschesed reaches a limit and Abraham stands still. This is the first encounter we have with Middat HaGevurah (the attribute of might/restraint).

The confined boundary given to running Abraham and the AD (ayin daled) used in the passuk also are the only 2 letters in the Shema that are larger. Regarding the Shema, halacha requires an individual to STOP and either stand or sit in one place (which is the opposite of movement) and focus. Later on as we read about the Yosef stories, the city of Shechem becomes the focal point of MiddatHaGevurah- the place he is sold, and even prior to this, the place where Dina is taken by Shechem Ben Chamor and Shimon and Levi retaliate. Each Patriarch has a distinct inner nature as do all the places spoken about in the torah because of their inner essence and connection to Am Yisrael and the people that love Israel. In order to emulate the legacy of our forefathers and land, we study their actions and understand the many dimensions hidden in the character of each place (as Yaakov was able to see and say “Mah Norah hamakomehazeh”- “How awesome is this place!” when he layed upon the stones of the Temple Mount)

Abraham was a saint and his middathachesed had him praying even for evildoers. Chesed can overflow if it is not controlled. This is where Gevurah comes in, disciplining it, making the walls for a vessel to catch it, contain it. This is like healthy love which includes as element of self control and respect for the other person’s boundaries. This is the key ingredient to Shalom Bayit. Our Rabbis teach us: “A person should always draw people close by means of his right hand and know when to push them aside with his left.” (Sotah 47)

There has to come a time soon that all “Peace Love and Good Music” attitudes Israel has been displaying up until now (and what hasn’t Israel done for peace?) will hit finally a brick wall. There will come a time soon when all of its citizens will say AD kahn- UP TO HERE. Israel is a country of true Chesed. When the nations of the world refuse to recognize Israel for its truth, for being G-d’s land, it will have to display another facet- MiddatHagevurah in order to preserve the real meaning of middatHaShalom. A person is made of many aspects of the spheres making him/her complex and interesting. That’s what puts him above animals that show only one distinct nature. Choose to use the middot to be a kind, disciplined, loving and respecting human being. There are many missions yet to be accomplished and the combination of all of Hashem’s aspects in us will save the world when goodness prevails over darkness. That’s why we read about Abraham- some things never change and history always repeats itself.

Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith

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Parashat Noach – 2011

Parshat Noach October 29 2011

In last week’s parsha, man made a vow to guard the garden and keep it. Ten generations later we witness the total moral crumbling of mankind. No-one is guarding or keeping anything. Noach is building an ark for over 120 years and people are asking, “Why are you building this ark?” Noach explains “Unless we perfect the world, it will go under.” But they really don’t listen. It is getting really dark before the storm and people don’t heed, dark skies turn to black skies, like the plague of darkness in Egypt. Noah says to rectify but time has run out – it’s all over for most of the world aside from the Noach family and the animals they collected and preserved.

Fast forward ten generations and its 1948 BCE. The first man to see and know Hashem, Abraham, leaves it all behind and goes to a land he knows nothing about. He returns to the garden of Adam, to the Land of Israel. His life there is not easy. Every day holds a new test, a new inconvenience, a new hardship. Our Rabbis bring down that Israel is a land acquired through hardship. He has to sweat over the many tasks set before him in Eden/Israel. Notwithstanding,that very place is the field of vision where if you look hard enough, all you see is open miracles

Going full speed ahead in time into modern history,it is 1948 and we have “officially” cast anchor as we again take vows to guard the land and keep it. The very land that remained fallow for the two thousand years, its people were kept from it, where nothing grew for any nation. Jews wandered about aimlessly looking for a haven, a place they could call home. The time wasn’t right during the exile of TohuVaVohu. But now, there is no change of course. Most of the world would like to see us in the sea and controversy surrounds the very idea of Israel. Why?The world still has some time to rectify but even our own fellow Jews ask “Why are you building this ark/Land” They do not realize that the sky is turning dark..

The Chesed Avraham,Rabbi Avraham Azuli, a saint and commentary on Kabbalah and torah subjects (1570-1644) who gave in depth explanations of the Ariz”l said about the days prior to the 7th millennium that “The lower waters will rise up and cover the world and Israel will remain like Noach’s ark.” He prophesied hundreds of years ago about the time that will come when simultaneously problems will flood the world, chaos will rule and only little Israel can be our refuge. (paralleling to the end of the sixth millennium- 6 days of creation- 6 millennium making this hour the one Adam ate from the tree of knowledge)- Unless we perfect the world, it will go under. In the prophets like Zechariah 13:8 there is a clear description of this.

Here on Itamar, the very heart of Israel we are doing our best to guard the Land and keep it. We are tested every single day. Our enemies also know what the heart means to the body. This is THE safe haven as uncanny as it sounds. It’s time to board the boat. “Don’t miss the boat!” Hashem sticks to His time table. Soon it will be time to light the Shabbat candles in more ways than one.

Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith

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Parshat Devarim – 2011

Parshat Devarim August 5, 2011

Leah Goldsmith

Living in the heart of biblical Israel gives me the special privilege of being an eyewitness to the mosaic of historical- religious sites in the landscape, just from my window. On rare occasions I can even go out and touch them. Within a mile from my home in Itamar you can see the old stone monuments of the tombs of Itamar and ElazarHaKohanim, the High Priests that entered the land with Joshua.Their tombs stand as antique testimonies to the original owners of the Land of Israel. This, combined with the sprinkling of modern day organic farms on the hilltops integrates the past into the present. There is another element though that has crept into the domain of ancient Israel. What up until a hundred years ago remained barren and rural, has been built up and taken over by a people and culture far different than ours, making it almost impossible to reach the holy monuments.

ItamarElazarPinchas and the 70 elders are all buried in GivatPinchas, also known as its present name, Awarta. (for more information about that site please see my article on ParshatPinchas 2008) This week, on the first of Av we commemorated the yartzeit of Aaron the High Priest being given an opportunity to pray at the site of his sons, Itamar and Elazar. Only a handful of Jews from all over Israel arrived at 1:00 in the morning on that night to be driven in by armored army escort, myself included. Driving down a lane of gnarled olive trees, past the home of the Awads, convicted THAT DAY for the murder of The Fogel family who lived down my block in Itamar just a few months ago didn’t leave me feeling victorious but there was a painful sweet netzach- yes, I can reach you… Here I was entering the core of holiness surrounded by a husk of fierce, zealous profane uncleanliness. Stepping out unto the dusty dark road leading up to the old broken stairs of the Tomb, a verse from Shakespeare hit me: “The rankest compound of villainous smell that ever offended the nostril.” The silence of the dead night was not betrayed by the hundreds of olive green soldiers standing there in rows only to protect our lives.

These nine days of Av are sad. We don’t listen to music, dance or go to the movies. There are no weddings or simchas as we commemorate the destruction of our Holy Temple destroyed by the Romans. It is hard not to realize that most of our holy places still sit in ruins.They are hard facts for us to see. We cry for the end of our exile. As I touch the wall of the shrine and strike a match to light a candle for the immortal soul of the Tzaddikthat lives on in us, I perceive a swastika above Arabic writings. What comes to mind is the verse we read on TishaB’Av about the swine being placed into the chamber of the Holy of Holies. This is why we mourn. The soldiers lead us back into armored halftracks and down the road, home.

We know that Mashiach is born on TishaB’Av. I turn to face the lights the new outpost set up, GivatAreyeh, where the Awarta murderers passed by with their butcher knives and evil plans. Next week will be Shabbat Nachamu There is a time to mourn and a time Hashem consoles us. A little light shines bright in the dark dark night. I was blessed to live in biblical Israel in a generation that has brought forth sweet grapes from old vines. NetzachYisrael Lo YishakerLaOlam. (Samuel 1:15:29)

Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith

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Parshat Bechukotay – 2011

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Post date 20 May 2011
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Parshat Bechukotay May 20, 2011

Leah Goldsmith

Most of the counting of the omer takes place in Iyar (May). This is also the month that Shlomo Hamelech began to build the Beit HaMikdash, our Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Iyar is the month that succeeds Nissan, the time of our coming out of narrow-mindedness, as we left the physical prison of Egypt where also the spiritual potential of our minds was controlled by Pharoh. It is in this second month of Iyar that we become refined and are able to form an appropriate vessel for receiving revelation- which comes in the third month, Sivan at Har Sinai. This is accomplished by counting the omer and the spiritual contents begin to fill us up the vessel of the soul as we look forward to Shavuot. We start this counting on the 16th of Nissan, the day that the first grains are gathered in the fields of Eretz Yisrael. This grain was collected and called the omer. It was barley, an animal food fit for sanctifying the animal soul. The omer was sifted thirteen times hand in hand with a unique purification process going on in the mind of the person doing omer. This “refinement” actually brought one from the physical (animal) state in his/her being to a higher form of existence. Indeed the fifteenth day of Nissan is the time we celebrate our exodus. It took 49 days to reach the level of being able to receive the torah on Shavuoth, the seventh of Sivan. The Mishnah states:” There are four types among those who sit before the sages: a sponge (one who absorbs the learning), a funnel (one who absorbs and can pass it over), a strainer (one who can differentiate the ikkar from the tafel), and the sieve.” A sieve lets out the course flour but retains the fine flour. This, Rashi says, is the highest level and from this flour the bread was consecrated as an offering in the Temple by the Priests who had reached the “fine flour” level in their souls. The sieve, the torah reiterates in the Mishnah in Masechet Avot 1:17 that sums up the entire torah and states: “Study is not the main thing but ACTION.” Hashem gave us the torah on Har Sinai on Shavuoth, the third month. It was a climax for the Jewish people as they became one man with one heart. BUT it took forty more years of sifting and internalizing to absolutely leave the physical “animal state” and reach a righteous receptiveness to finally grasp the ultimate purpose of creation and the ultimate task of being a light unto the nations in a land separate, a land so fine it is consecrated It was only in Israel that the pinnacle was reached where the spiritual could be applied- where the dwelling place below connected with the dwelling place above. All the Torahs go back to same point. How we read and understand them is up to how we have left the prison of Egypt and how we have made ourselves a vessel for G-d’s purpose – We have reached the time and place of clarification. Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith

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Pesach – 2011

Pesach April 15, 2011

Our departure from Mitzrayim opened up the locked gates that withheld our personal and national freedom. This happened thousands of years ago, notwithstanding we experienced many other tragic exiles and destructions. When the Maharal of Prague ( 1520-1609) was asked by the people that lived in his generation what the reason was of thanking Hashem for taking us out of Egypt since they lived under the subjection of Edom he answered them that when Am Yisrael left Egypt behind we were able to recognize in ourselves the special Divine traits Hashem bestowed upon us as being the Chosen People. This, the Maharal explained had nothing to do with the turn of events, chance world events and occurrences. At yitziat Mitzrayim the true character of a free people destined to serve Hashem and the Torah in the eventual legacy of the land of Israel became distinguished. This was something that could never be uprooted or removed forever. Our integrity and constant cleaving to this mission has been the internal redeeming feature that has given us the strength to have survived the atrocities placed upon us by the ones that negate our identity. We have never broken but stood as watchmen on the wall knowing our exile was only a temporary occurrence. We believe in and wait for redemption even as it is unfolding right now.

Now it’s closer for we don’t only stand on the walls of Prague but stand on The Wall watching and waiting. We hear foreign sounds, sounds that call for the end of our dream even from here in Israel. But the walls are tumbling down as our people are being collected from the four corners of the world and return home. Yitziat Mitzrayim is not just some nostalgic event that took place in the far past but it is stamped into our consciousness as the power of mind over matter that pushes us indeed towards true liberty granted by G-d to be a sovereign nation in the land. At yitziat mitzrayim we acquired the keynote of faith and loyalty to goodness, to Hashem deep in our souls forever through time.

Mitzrayim means a narrow place. That narrow place way in the back of our minds reminding us of who we really are is made open in this special time of Nissan, the time of our deliverance. Hashem, make it wide and let my people go!

Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith