Bowing in Prayer: Two Anecdotes
Rav David Feinstein, zt”l and Rav Chaim of Tzanz, zt”l In “Developing Humility,” we discussed how concrete acts help develop and intensify the character traits they are related to. The many times we bow during Shemoneh Esrei every day help strengthen our humility before G-d, for bowing, according to a number of sources, signifies utter […]
Developing Humility
Rabbi Cordozo, the Vietnam Vets, and Developing Humility: The following personal anecdote, told by Rabbi Nathan Lopez Cordozo in a public lecture at Darche Noam in Jerusalem, is a sharp illustration of the Jewish approach to character development: Rabbi Cordozo was in the hotel lobby in a city where he was to lecture, and two […]
Love of G-d and Love of Israel
Love of G-d and Love of Israel — the last of three articles learning about chesed from the life of Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov zt”l. When there is talk of bettering the Jewish people these days, two issues seem to always come up — Jewish unity and Jewish spirituality. These translate (roughly) into love […]
Love of Torah and Love of Israel
The Life of Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov: 2 Brod, Poland, Rav Moshe Leib’s birthplace, was known as a city of intense Torah scholarship. The term “Ziknei Brod”, elders of Brod, was synonymous with wise and elderly Torah sages of the highest order. Yet even the Ziknei Brod were impressed by Rav Moshe Leib’s Torah […]
Rav Moshe Leib Sassover’s Three Loves
Rabbi Moshe Leib Sassover’s Love of G-d, Israel, and Torah: 1 To learn about love, the inner side of chesed, we turn to Rabbi Moshe Leib of Sassov, the disciple of Rabbi Shmelke of Nikolsburg, one of the greatest students of the Maggid of Mezeritch, all of them of blessed memory. Rav Moshe Leib (yahrzeit […]
Hachnasat Orchim & Shabbat
The Special Connection between Shabbat and Inviting Guests: There is something special about hachnasat orchim, hosting guests, on Shabbat. Even people who host infrequently during the other six days of the week, often feel something is missing if they do not have Shabbat guests at their table. What is the explanation for this special connection […]
The Chesed Personality
The Hebrew word “chesed” does not have a precise English equivalent, but is probably closest to lovingkindness. In the Jewish moral and mystical tradition, chesed is associated with love, giving, altruism and spreading forth. The sources that follow maintain that chesed means much more than doing acts of kindness or responding to the needs of […]
The Fragrance of Cheshvan
R. Eliezer Kwass Tishrei and Cheshvan stand next to each other in the calendar, but seem to be as far apart as two months can be. Tishrei is full of holidays, joy, and intensity; Cheshvan does not even have one minor holiday. Experiencing their juxtaposition feels like a spiritual roller- coaster ride. Tishrei puts us […]
Rain: May It Be a Blessing
by Menucha Chwat Midreshet Rachel v’Chaya The month of Cheshvan is associated with rain. In Eretz Yisrael, on the 7th of Cheshvan we begin adding the words “Veten tal umatar levracha” – “Give dew and rain for a blessing” – to the weekday Amidah. We not only ask for dew and rain, but we add […]
Cheshvan: Mikdah vs. Mabul
by Rabbi Ron-Ami Meir “In the eleventh year, during the month of Bul – which is the eighth month – the Beit Hamikdash was completed according to all of its details and halachot. It took seven years [to finish].” (Sefer Melachim I Chapter 6) Radak explains that the month referred to here is Cheshvan, the […]