Nittel Nacht - Xmas Eve

B"H

Tonight, 24th December 2011 (28th / 29th Kislev), the Christian world starts celebrating the birth of the false Meshiach J. This particular night when J. was supposed to be born, Chassidim call "NITTEL NACHT - NITTEL NIGHT" and keep the custom of not studying Torah from approx. 7pm until midnight. The time when J. was born. See also the "Schulchan Aruch or the Chatam Sofer on this topic.

Most chassidic groups keep the custom of Nittel Nacht and many of them treat this matter very seriously. For instance, the Lubavitcher (Chabad) where the Chassidim play chess until midnight.

Kabbalistically speaking, the false Meshiach J. and his followers may gain special spiritual powers by our Torah studies - according to the 5th Lubavitcher Rebbe Shalom Dov Baer (Rashab), 1860 - 1920. The Rebbe said that we shouldn't waste our time when we don't study Torah but play chess. 

Nevertheless, not all chassidic group keep the "chess custom"; such as Vishnitz. However, chess is having a positive influence on our intellect similar to Torah study.

Links:

Details about Nittel Nacht and its history "Hirhurim".

Chabadnikim playing chass during Nittel Nacht. 

I spoke to a Chabad Rabbi and was told that the custom from refraining from Torah study even applies to Erev Shabbat. An interesting question, however, would be whether the cause may be an evil J. or rather the anti - Semite who, later on spread Christianity: The Apostle Paul.

On Parshat Bamidbar and People running after outside Appearances

B”H

In his commentary on this week’s Parashat Bamidbar, the Chatam Sofer (Rabbi Moshe Schreiber, 1762 – 1839) quotes from the Midrash Rabbah stating that Har Sinai and Har Hamoriah are two opposites. Both mountains are not the highest and mightiest in the world but G – d chose Har Sinai for a special purpose and after the purpose was done, Har Sinai lost its holiness and became an ordinary mountain again. Har Hamoriah, on the other hand, has never lost its special meaning and the presence of G – d’s Shechinah. Although there is no Temple at the moment. 

G – d chose Har Hamoriah for a special mission. As we know, creation took place from the Even HaShtiah (Foundation Stone) at Har Hamoriah. When Adam Harishon and Chava were thrown out of Gan Eden, G – d placed them on Har Hamoriah. Here, Avraham wanted to sacrifice Yitzchak and here, Yaakov had his dream with the ladder.

Couldn’t have G – d chosen a different mountain in Israel ? How about the highest mountain ?

As a matter of fact, being the highest and mightiest doesn’t always stand for the best. Just look at us humans. In most cases, the strongest looking is not always the most powerful, intelligent and modest (humbled) person. On the contrary, as He may even be strong, his brain and modest behaviour is far left behind. I personally prefer intellectual and academic people compared to these brainless musclemen. 

The same with Har Hamoriah. It is not the highest mountain in Israel and it doesn’t look like deserving a special honour and attention but G – d is showing us that everything in this world has its purpose; and the purpose of the lowest object, animal or person can even reach higher dimensions than the accomplishment of the greatest hero.

Unfortunately too many people today, especially women, tend to search for their personal hero. As soon as they meet a guy they project all their subconscious ideas and desires into the other person (their hero). Tell a woman a great story about your male hero life as a soldier, fighter, Rambo, Terminator, etc. and those women with low self – esteem make their dumb choice and go for it. This doesn’t necessarily work in a religious Shidduch or with people following their intellect. However, these women making the dummy choice and run after heros don’t always realize that the main goal why they are behaving like that is the fear of loneliness (according to psychological reports). 

Do we need heros today ?

My personal opinion is that I neither need a soldier nor a Hollywood hero. Having a successful relationship means work. I know that from my past and, unfortunately, I obviously never took the time for working on a falling apart relationship. 

Furthermore, a relationship has to be based on reality and a, more or less, common goal. For what do I need a military hero when he turns out to be a dummy and has no clue who Einstein was ? I am not running after short pleasures but concentrate on a serious relationship. Therefore those people running after the outside appearance of a person rather disgust me and eventually those people will turn out to be very lonely. 

Any person in this world has the potential of being a hero. There is no need for a uniform unless in order to attract some emotional disturbed women. 

I personally don't like the expression HERO but when it comes to it, your neighbour, the sick person suffering in hospital, the child taking care of her mother, the beggar in the street searching for empty bottles, the handicapped, the Rabbi helping the needy, a family providing Shabbat hospitality, a mother searching for food for her children in the garbage, all of them are heros of life.

Nittel Nacht

B"H

Tomorrow night, 24th December 2010 (17th Tevet), the Christian world starts celebrating the birth of the false Meshiach J. This particular night when J. was supposed to be born, Chassidim call "NITTEL NACHT - NITTEL NIGHT" and keep the custom of not studying Torah from approx. 7pm until midnight. The time when J. was born. See also the "Schulchan Aruch or the Chatam Sofer on this topic.

Most chassidic groups keep the custom of Nittel Nacht and many of them treat this matter very seriously. For instance, the Lubavitcher (Chabad) where the Chassidim play chess until midnight.

Kabbalistically speaking, the false Meshiach J. and his followers may gain special spiritual powers by our Torah studies - according to the 5th Lubavitcher Rebbe Shalom Dov Baer (Rashab), 1860 - 1920. The Rebbe said that we shouldn't waste our time when we don't study Torah but play chess. 

Nevertheless, not all chassidic group keep the "chess custom"; such as Vishnitz. However, chess is having a positive influence on our intellect similar to Torah study.

Links:

Details about Nittel Nacht and its history "Hirhurim".

Chabadnikim playing chass during Nittel Nacht. 

I spoke to a Chabad Rabbi and was told that the custom from refraining from Torah study even applies to Erev Shabbat. An interesting question, however, would be whether the cause may be an evil J. or rather the anti - Semite who, later on spread Christianity: The Apostle Paul.

The MIDRASH RABBAH and the CHATAM SOFER on PARASHAT VAYECHI

B"H

The "Chatam Sofer" - Rabbi Moshe Schreiber (Hebrew: SOFER, Engl.: Writer) was born in Frankfurt /Main (Germany) in 1762. He passed away in Pressburg (today: Bratislava / Slovakia) in 1839. During his lifetime, the Chatam Sofer was one of the leading European Rabbis. Among others, he vehemently fought against the Jewish Reform Movement. He established a Yeshiva in Pressburg (there is still a "Yeshivat Pressburg" in Jerusalem's neighbourhood Givat Sha'ul).
He ruled that the Torah is never going to change and that the laws are eternal. He used this as an argument against the Reform Movement.




Parashat Vayechi


The Midrash Rabbah teaches us that when Yaakov was on his deathbed, he experienced different visions regarding the future. Yaakov wished to reveal the "end", hence, the exact date of the arrival of Meshiach and the Ge'ula (Redemption). However, suddenly, at this very moment, Yaakov lost his ability to prophesize. Why ?
Answers the Midrash: Because all the troubles of the world were now closed for him. Meaning that in the last seventeen years of his life (when he lived in Egypt reunited with his sons) he was completely happy.


The Chatam Sofer warns that prosperity in Galut (Diaspora) brings about assimilation. A very good example is given here: King Ptolemy's decree that the Torah be translated into Greek. It seemed that Bnei Yisrael's prestige would soar as a result of this document, known as the "Septuagint". In fact, the very opposite occurred: the Septuagint inspired Jews to study and adopt Greek culture.


"And the time drew near that Israel (Yaakov) must die …"
The Midrash says that we are strangers before G - d, and sojourners, as all our fathers were: our days on the earth are as a shadow (I Chron. XXIX, 15). No one can cope to escape death; all know it and affirm with their own mouths that they will die.


The Chatam Sofer commentated:
Yaakov offered his grandchildren and their descendants, eventually exiled by Sancheriv, the blessing that they will never be totally destroyed. He assured them that his name and the names of his forefathers will always be given to them. Yaakov even referred to his own life emphasizing how G - d had protected him. The name YISRAEL always connotes a triumphant people, doing Teshuva not out of fear but through a sincere desire to return to G - d. Any of these factors will produce the End of Days (Chatam Sofer).

Kever of the Chatam Sofer

The kever (grave) of the Chatam Sofer, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, 1762 - 1839, in Bratislava (Pressburg).

Photo: Hotels in Bratislava

"Why ORLAH "? - Thoughts on this weeks Parashat Kedoshim

B"H

This upcoming Shabbat, we read two Torah Parashot: Acharei Mot and Kedoshim. 

In previous Parashot such as Vayikra, Zav, Schmini, Tazria, Metzorah and Acharei Mot, G - d gave us various Mitzvot in order to keep us pure (Tahor). He commanded us (the Jews) to be a holy nation because He (G - d) is holy. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch commentated that the Jews are commanded to keep certain rules and thus fulfill the will of G - d on this earth. His Mitzvot are the fundament for the Jews living their Judaism.

Parashat Kedoshim provides us a wide range of social Mitzvot. About how humans should relate to each other and not only to G - d. However, my special subject at this point is ORLAH. Not eating the fruits of a tree for the first three years.

Sefer Vayikra (Leviticus), Parashat Kedoshim, 19:23 - 25:

And when ye shall come into the land and plant any tree for food, then, during a time of restriction of its use, ye shall be restricted in the use of its fruit. Three years it shall be restricted for you, shall not be eaten.

Then in the fourth year all its fruit becomes holy wherewith to praise the Work of G - d.

And in the fifth year shall ye eat its fruit, that henceforth it may increase its produce unto you: I, G - d, am your Lord.

Eating a produce of a newly planted tree for the first three years is forbidden. In the fourth year, the Jews used to carry the new harvest (fruit) to the Temple in Jerusalem, ate it there while thanking G - d for His kindness of letting the fruit grow.

However, Orlah only applies in Israel and only to fruit trees whose produce is meant for consumption but not for trees which are supposed to be a kind of hedge etc.

Why was the Orlah law given ? Don't we thank G - d already in the blessings (Berachot) we say before and after eating the fruit ?

I found a great comment on Orlah written by Rabbi Moshe Sofer (the CHATAM SOFER, 1762 - 1839):

We already find the Orlah concept in Gan Eden (Paradise) with Adam HaRishon and his wife Chava (Eve). As we all know, Adam failed to fulfill his Tikun (soul rectifiation) and thus became mortal. G - d had commanded him to eat from any fruit tree in Gan Eden but not from the Tree of Knwoledge (Etz HaDa'at). Adam and Chava failed in their tasks and were thrown out of Paradise.

The Chatam Sofer comes up with the famous Rashi commentary from Genesis (Bereshit) 1:11 - 12 where G - d is commanding the earth to bring forth trees which are fruit. ETZ PRI - this is G - d's demand from the earth. Rashi sees in ETZ PRI a fruit tree whose branches, leaves, etc. taste like its fruit.

Just imagine a cherry tree whose leaves you eat and they taste like the cherries themselves. This is what G - d originally had in mind.

The next sentence:

VATOZE HAARETZ = And the earth brought forth …

ETZ OSSEH PRI = Trees yielding fruit …

VE LO HAETZ PRI = But the tree itself was not fruit …

This is why when Adam was punished, the earth was taken into consideration, as it had sinned years before. The earth hadn't listen to G - d's commandment and willingly created the wrong kind of tree. Later, the first human (Adam HaRishon) was formed from the dust of the ground, and thus the bad influence of the earth entered him. Of course, he could have resisted and not eaten from the Tree of Knowledge but he didn't.

The Chatam Sofer quotes from the kabbalistic ZOHAR (published in Spanien in 1290): Only after three years, the earth is bringing forth "Kedusha - Holiness". In the years before, too much "Koach HaChizoni" - external negative powers would be ruling and this is why the consumption of such fruit is first forbidden. There is a possibility that the bad influence of the earth is being passed onto into the human.

A brilliant conclusion from the Chatam Sofer !

"Shabbat Shalom"

Hitbodedut of the Chatam Sofer

B"H


The Chatam Sofer kept the Minhag (custom) to study the Torah commentary of the Ramban (Nachmanides) every Friday night. He did so alone and refused to let anyone in his study. Not even his best students were allowed in.


One day, a few of those students met and one of them was chosen to sneak into the room before the Chatam Sofer would start his Parsha studies. The student hid behind the curtain and his Rabbis didn't notice him and started studying the Ramban. Suddenly the entire room was filled with such a strong light that the student could hardly keep his eyes open. The student got frightened and the Chatam Sofer realized that something was wrong. He pushed the curtain away, discovered his student and threw him out of the room.

The Chatam Sofer

B"H

From the book "Orot HaSofer"

Rabbi Moshe Sofer, the "Chatam Sofer", was born in Frankfurt / Germany in 1762 and died in Pressburg (Bratislava) in 1839. He established the famous "Pressburg Yeshiva" and in Jerusalem you can find today's Pressburg Yeshiva in the neighbourhood of Givat Shaul.

The Chatam Sofer tremendously commentated on the Torah as well as on the Talmud. Thanks to his activism, Reform Judaism was kept out of Pressburg. His direct descendant is Rabbi Yochanan Sofer heads the chassidic group of Erloi. The Chatam Sofer himself was not chassidic and ate "Gebrochts" during Pessach. Furthermore, he was extremely famous due to his opposition to any modern changes. Any innovation of the Torah is forbidden by the Torah.

Chassidut Dushinsky is completely following the ideology of the Chatam Sofer.

When the Chatam Sofer had already become famous he was approached by a man who once learnt with him in a Yeshiva Chavruta during the early days of his life. The man asked him for the reason why, after all those years studying together, the Chatam Sofer had become so famous and him, the man asking, remained an ordinary guy.

The Chatam Sofer responded: I remember you and we studied together for many years and we used to go home together. Returning home in the same carriage. However, while going home, you used to look through the window at the mountains and the landscape whereas I did not do so.

This is one of the stories about the Chatam Sofer the book "Orot HaSofer" lists and I can only imagine that here the Chatam Sofer meant that while his friend was looking around without any further thought whereas the Chatam Sofer did not "waste" his time by looking around but going into deeper thought inside of himself.

Rabbi Josef Nechemiah Kornitzer in Marienbad

Rabbi Josef Nechamiah Kornitzer who was a grandson of the Chatam Sofer and the Chief Rabbinical Justice in Krakow.

Yahrzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev and the Chatam Sofer

B"H

Yesterday, on 25th Tishrei, two important Yahrzeits (memorials) took place:  

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev as well as the Yahrzeit of the Chatam Sofer.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak used to be a student of the Baal Shem Tov successor the Maggid of Mezritch and was known to be the Jew's attorney. Any time a Jew in Berditchev did something wrong, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak justified him positively before G - d. The Rabbi saw the good in every Jew and he was a person, we severly miss in our days. At least since Rabbi Aryeh Levin of Jerusalem passed away a long time ago.

The Chatam Sofer was very famous too but not necessarily in chassidishe circles. He rejected anything new. Why should we change our ways when our ancestors successfully dealt with the same behaviour, laws and tools ?

Until today, the Chatam Sofer remained an important figure in Mea Shearim, as there, nothing has to change and new ways of life are banned. Chassidut Dushinsky entirely built on the theology of the Chatam Sofer and there are at least two Synagogues / Batei Midrash in the Batei Hungarin (Mea Shearim).

Peah Nochrit

B"H

A "Peah Nochrit" is a Sheitel (wig) containing hair of a Gentile woman.

In the past, the "Peah Nochrit" was mainly worn by people who wanted to look better or by people who held a respected position (e.g. a judge). In the course of the time, married Jewish women discovered the wig for covering their hair.

In the past, one couldn't call it really a "wig". Instead it was a bundle of natural from a living or a dead person which was put into the person's own hair, and thus the person looked as if he had more hair. Or in other words, helping bald people to look nicer. Afterwards wigs wear manufactured as a kind of hat and today the hair of a wig is held together by plastic strings.

According to the "Shulchan Aruch - Even Ezer", a married woman is obligated to cover her hair. The Chatam Sofer said that one should be careful with married women where even one hair can be seen outside the head covering. If a married woman does show some hair in public, she won't have a good offspring.

The Mishna in Talmud Arachin 7a states that the hair of a woman who "died" (was killed) can be used after her death.
How can that be ?
Says Rav in the Gemara in Arachin that the Pasuk doesn't speak about the real hair of a dead woman but of her wig consisting of Gentile hair. Rashi gives the same statement: Not her real hair but hair from a strange woman bound together with her own natural hair.

Until today, some great Rabbis reject any Peah Nochrit. Among those Rabbis was also the Chatam Sofer.

Why is there such a strict rejection against a Sheitel containing the hair of a Gentile woman ?

A woman could look immodest because, due to the wig. She may look much more attractive. Furthermore, the hair could have been taken form a woman who died in hospital and thus, there may be a danger.
________________________

Source:

"Nos'im Be'Halacha"

By Dov Landau