245b. Chizuk Edition

Issue

245b

‫הריני בא ללמוד תורה לשמה לעשות נחת רוח לאבינו שבשמים‬

'‫פקד יפקד ה‬

‫בס"ד‬

Chizuk Edition ‫י ניסן תש"פ‬

4 Apr 2020

‫והיה ה' למלך על כל הארץ ביום ההוא יהיה ה' אחד ושמו אחד‬

Introduction

Rabbi Yonasan Roodyn

The world has changed beyond recognition; liberties that we have taken for granted have been withdrawn.

We no longer have the privilege of davening betzibbur.

Unlike more harrowing episodes in our history, these limitations are being enforced by a benevolent government who are working to ensure our safety and wellbeing.

It is obvious that we all have to play our part, by staying at home and supporting our vital emergency services by complying with all necessary regulations. At the same time, as maaminim bnei maaminim we know that nothing is by chance. Whilst we don’t have Neviim to tell us why Hakadosh Baruch Hu has put us through this challenging situation, we can strengthen our sense of emunah and bitachon by deepening our realisation that the Al-mighty is in control. It is this awareness that is the essence of the upcoming Yom Tov of Pesach.

Our Pesach plans may have been altered, we may be making Yom Tov when we weren’t expecting to or we may have a much smaller and focussed Seder than

Klal Chazon Editor, Oneg Shabbos Rav of Finchely Federation Shul

normal. Either way, the fact that we are confined to our homes during the time of year where the home is the focal point of the Yom Tov is highly significant. Pesach is the Yom Tov of the transmission of emunah, emunah in an Infinite Creator who is intimately involved in every detail of the universe on an ongoing basis. Every detail of the story of the exodus has the potential to be focussing us on developing this awareness and transmitting it to our families.

It is our tefillah that we should use the current situation together with our emunah in Yetzias Mitzrayim to bring us to a deeper awareness of Hakadosh Baruch Hu and His hashgacha over our lives. It is with these sentiments that we offer these divrei chizuk to the kehilla.

Wishing you and your families only good health and happiness over the Yom Tov season and may we all experience yeshuos bekarov.

A Message For Klal Yisrael

W

e are in very trying times, unfortunately. In fact, I’m speaking today to a public that I do not see, but I hope there will be a public to listen. Today we don’t know exactly what the Ribono Shel Olam wants us from us, but He wants us to become better, that’s for sure – because He always aims that we should become better. He gives us the Torah so that we should become better. He gives us the Torah to learn how to behave, how to deal with people, and how to deal with yourself. Ribono Shel Olam teaches us all the time.

Olam gave Klal Yisrael. Klal Yisrael is called Klal Yisrael because we all have one aim – we want to get closer to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. That’s what we want to do.

If you want to get closer to Hakodosh Boruch Hu, you have to behave well. You have to speak well.

You have honor people. Honor anybody. Just honor.

You have to be honor them as is befitting for them.

Regarding every person, you have to think, “What can I do for him?” That’s what we always have to think. If we would always think what we could do others, we ourselves would become better.

The Ribono Shel Olam separates us in order to give us more time to think. We have to think, “How could I be beneficial to my friend? What can I do for him?” A person should always be ready to help.

Unfortunately it’s a time that Ribono Shel Olam separated us; that we should not be together. At the same time we have to feel that we are missing something because we always could learn from one another. That is the greatest thing that Ribono Shel

Our times is a very difficult time. We cannot get

‫ספר דברים‬

‫ספר במדבר‬

‫לע"נ ר' יקותיאל זלמן נאה ז''ל‬ ‫בן ר' חנניה יו''ט ליפא הי''ד‬ ‫נלב''ע ט''ז אדר תשע''ז‬

‫לע"נ מרת טויבא רחל נאה ע''ה‬ ‫בת ר' שמואל שמעלקא הי''ד‬ ‫נלב''ע כ''ה מנחם אב תשע''ז‬

‫ספר ויקרא‬

HaRav HaGaon Rav Shmuel Kaminetzky Shlit”a together. We are separated at the moment, but at the same time we have to think what we are missing. We are missing the friendship of one another.

My bracha is that we should continue to think of that concept of friendship, that’s it’s so important to be part of everybody, a part of Klal Yisrael. Part of Klal Yisrael means you have to think that you are one separate person, that you are thinking not for yourself, you are thinking as a ben Yisrael. A ben Yisrael thinks, “What can I do for you?”

My bracha is that all our efforts, whatever you do, should be with hatzlacha rabba. You should be able to accomplish what you are aiming for and that should be the greatest accomplishments that the Ribono Shel Olam wants for us. You should have hatzlacha, hatzlacha, hatzlacha. All the best.

‫ספר שמות‬

Please daven for

‫לע"נ‬

‫הב' אברהם יוסף אריה‬ ‫בן רוחמה אילה נ"י‬

‫לרפואה שלימה בתוך חולי ישראל‬ ‫לע''נ ר' מרדכי בן ר' שלום ז''ל‬ ‫נלב''ע ט''ו סיון תשס''ב‬

‫לע''נ ר' בנימין בן ר' מאיר דוד ז''ל‬ ‫נלב''ע ב׳ אדר תשע''ז‬

‫ספר בראשית‬

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

DON'T I OWE YOU? Rabbi Fischel Shechter Yeshiva Torah Vodaas

Tonight, weddings have to be made between 4:00 and 8:00. Why? Because 8:00 starts the government’s health regulation that you cannot have more than fifty people gathering together.

Someone called me up asking me to talk to his kallah. She was hysterical. Their engagement was ten months long because the chassan and kallah wanted everything to be perfect by their wedding.

They put so much energy in looking for the perfect place to get married, the gorgeous hall, the beautiful spring night, the majestic fireworks by the chuppah, the beautiful music wafting the air and the joyous music after the breaking of the glass. They were going to have the ideal wedding. They were looking forward to the perfect affair.

They even gave tzedaka beforehand to have the wedding a smashing success.

Now they had to do a rush wedding before four and eight because they could not have more than fifty people at the wedding. The kallah was depressed and was full of questions. “What happened?

What is Hashem doing to us? Why is Hashem doing this?”

The kallah was on the phone asking me all these questions and I didn’t know what to answer. She felt that the world was coming to an end, or at least coming to a very difficult, thin part of the tightrope. She was distraught, “Tell me the reason that Hashem is doing this to me!”

I didn’t know what to answer. I explained to her that I didn’t know Hashem’s reason but I did know one thing. “From the second you were born, it was understood that this was going to be your wedding.”

The kallah begged me to give her some chizzuk that she could hold on to.

I didn’t know what to answer and just then someone beeped into the phone call. I normally do not answer beeps when I speak, especially when I’m talking to a kallah before her chuppah. It was my son calling and for some reason I decided to answer the call.

He explained to me that his principal asked about a certain story that I told over and wanted the details.

I told him the details and felt that Hashem was sending me the answer to the kallah’s question. I thanked Hashem for sending me this story at the perfect time and thanked my son for being the shaliach.

I then told the kallah the following story: Rav Shraga Feivel Mendelowitz was near the subway. He saw boy playing stickball on the street. He noticed that the boy had a Jewish face and suggested that the boy come learn in his yeshiva.

The boy came to learn in Torah v’Daas. His whole family was very upset about it except for a grandfather who was very happy. The boy was a genius and became very close to the Rosh Yeshiva. He was learning mishnayos very well.

One day, Rav Shraga Feivel told the boys that whoever learns a peirush in mishnayos baal peh would get chocolate. In those days, a chocolate was something very special. This young boy spent the whole night

reviewing the mishnayos. The next night, he knew the mishnayos by heart.

When he got to yeshiva, he was tested together with ten other boys who knew the mishnayos perfectly. Rav Shraga Feivel looked into his bag and saw that he had only nine chocolates. He was one chocolate short. He told the boy to remind him tomorrow.

The boy was distraught. “Why does this have to happen to me?”

Rav Shraga Feivel told the boy. “Remind me tomorrow and come to me for the chocolate.”

The next day, the boy was embarrassed to come to Rav Shraga Feivel for the chocolate and Rav Shraga Feivel apparently had forgotten about it.

The boy was very angry. When his mother asked him why he was so angry, he answered bitterly, “Because the rabbis are liars! The rabbis are liars – that’s what they are!”

“See,” the mother said, “I told you! I told you!”

The boy decided he was not going back to yeshiva anymore. However, the next day he admitted to himself, “The Rabbi did say that I should remind him...”

He went back. Not only did he go back, but he ended up becoming one of the closest talmidim of Rav Shraga Feivel. He was sent off to a certain town where he created beautiful mosdos.

Fast-forwarding a half a century later, the boy had a massive heart attack. The doctors told his family that they did not think that he would survive. He was in a coma and on a respirator. The family was standing around crying.

Suddenly someone saw him lift a finger as if to say, “One second – don’t write me off yet.”

The doctor told them that they were imaging things, but they insisted that they saw him raise his finger. It took a while, but finally they were able to wean him off the respirator.

When he got back to himself and was up and around, he told everyone, “I have another fifteen years to live.”

Everyone was surprised. “How do you know? What happened?”

He explained, “Rav Shraga Feivel came to me in a dream and said, ‘don’t I owe you?’”

I told the kallah, “Never in the history of America since the Jews are here after the war did a chosson and kallah have to get married the way you’re getting married tonight. Hashem has a reason. You think He doesn’t “owe” you? Do you think He’s not going to give you back this simcha? Do you think it’s not going to come to you in one point in your life? What do you think? Do you think that Hashem is going to forget?”

A person has a certain amount of simcha in this world. A lot of it gets exhausted by the wedding. Trust me – chosson and kallas that got married tonight, Hashem will give you the excitement that is coming to you. And He may give it to you when you really need it.

Apr 2019

‫פסח ניסן תש"פ‬

3

y p p a Be H This time is unprecedented. It might feel like a sad time. It is a scary time, but it might feel like it’s sad also. I would like to talk to you why we shouldn’t be sad – why we should be upbeat and cheerful and happy.

I would like to share with you two stories.

Reb Godele Eizner was the beloved mashgiach in the Gerrer Beis Medrash in Tel Aviv. He was a holocaust survivor who, unfortunately, was childless. However, not only did he survive the holocaust, he also helped others survive.

How did he help others survive? With humor and laughter and encouraging other peoples.

He lifted the spirits of those around him and made them happy when all circumstances were beckoning them to be broken and sad.

One night, Reb Godele was lying on a slab of concrete with eight other men in the barracks in the concentration camp. Reb Godele was lying on the end of the line and suddenly he gave the man lying near him a little jab in the rib cage. He whispered to the man near him to pass on the jab to the next man in line. Surprised and confused, Reb Godele’s neighbor followed instructions and told the man next to him to pass on the jab.

After all a few seconds, all the men were jabbed.

Surprised and intrigued, the whole row of men looked at Reb Godele for an explanation.

Reb Godele smiled and said, “Very soon, we will break free from this situation. We will be back in the Gerrer Beis Medrash and then we will be by the Rebbe’s tish. By the tish, people may be pushing, shoving and jostling for a position. I don’t want you to forget how it feels, so I gave you a little jab to remind you.”

They all smiled and went to sleep, yet they were different people because their spirits were lifted.

The Ribono Shel Olam is testing us and there is one way to make it through difficult times –

Rabbi Yechiel Spero Author & World renowned Speaker

The following story illustrates this point. It may sound that it took place a hundred years ago, but this story is really happening every single day.

thanking Hashem for his health, he said, “There is one person that I want to thank. I was down and destitute. I was broken. I had nothing left until I heard that beautiful sound – ain ra yoired milimala. The Ribono Shel Olam never sends bad to us. Even if something looks like bad and feels bad, the Ribono Shel Olam in his infinite wisdom and kindness loves us more than anything in the world and He would never hurt us. He just wants us to come closer and this is how He is doing it.

If I wouldn’t have heard those words, I would have fallen into depression and sadness and I don’t know if I ever would have made it out.”

He hugged and kissed Rav Asher Grossman and thanked him for saving his life.

In the early 1900s there was a plague called typhus. Typhus could wipe out a whole town or village and people were dropping like flies. When the plague came to the town of Nikoliev, the Rav, Reb Meir Shlomo Yanofsky was a tzaddik and strengthened the people. One day, the Rav got sick and was quarantined.

There are many points in davening that we can focus on. At the end of davening when we say, shoimer Yisrael, shoimer shearis Yisrael, think about that the One Being can protect us is Hakodosh Boruch Hu. Sometimes we have a tendency to run through tachnun, but now we have plenty of time.

Take your time and say the words with thought.

There was one Jew, Rav Asher Grossman, who went to visit the hospital. When he arrived, he was told that he was not permitted to enter the gates because of the contagious disease. So instead, he stood outside the hospital and he opened the Tanya. Without knowing if anyone was listening, he began to cry out, ain ra yoired milimala – no bad will come down from heaven (Igeres HaKodesh 11). He read it out loud twice with great emphasis. Rav Asher would do this every day and sometimes he would continue reading further about why it is important for a person to distance himself from sadness and that a person should not be sad.

There are three pesukim that we say, which Rav Perr suggested to be said with extra concentration. When a person feels uneasy and tense he should say these pesukim and it will work like magic to calm him down. These are pesukim about bitachon. Baruch hagever asher yivtach b’Hashem v’haya Hashem mivtacho. Bitchu b’Hashem adei ad ki v’kah Hashem tzur olamim.

V’yivtechu vecha yodei shimecha ki lo ozavta dorshecha, Hashem.

with bitachon. Bitachon means faith. We believe that Hakodosh Boruch Hu is kind, caring and all powerful. He can do anything. He can change anything in a split second.

Soon things will go back to normal, maybe in a few weeks and hopefully sooner. Bitachon tells us that yeshuas Hashem k’heref ayin – Hashem’s salvation can come in a blink of an eye. Until then, however, we need to remember that the Ribono Shel Olam is good.

After five weeks, Rav Meir Shlomo Yanofsky was released from the hospital. At a kiddush

The Ribono Shel Olam never leaves us.

He never has and He never will. So chin up everybody. It’s going to be a little bit of a challenge, but we’re up to it. We have the strength and have the ability. I’m looking forward to seeing you all. We miss you.

THEY SAY “IT’S THE JEWS THAT RUN EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD”; THEY ARE ALMOST CORRECT, IT’S HASHEM, THE G-D OF THE JEWS THAT RUNS EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD.

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Instill Emunah in Your Children Rav Shai Atari Derech HaBaal ShemTov

L

et us use these critical times, when the Corona virus has attacked, to instill emunah into our

children.

Children are open to hear.

Their souls are fresh and pure.

When a person gets older, he gets engrossed in his ego, but when the children are young that is the prime time to talk to them about Hashem.

Talk to your children about Hashem constantly. Tell them how Hashem is calling out to us.

Explain to them that Hashem wants us to take the fear we have of Corona and turn it into fear of Hashem. Explain how this is a time that Hashem wants us to be dependent on Him. When they get treats and goodies, explain to them that these goodies are from Hashem. Explain

that the ice cream they received as a prize and any other good things that we have are from Hashem.

Elaborate how Hashem is so good to us and is always with us.

When a child is young, it is much easier to teach them the

When a child is young, it is much easier to teach them the principles of emunah.

A child who hears about Hashem when he is young is a totally different person than someone who never heard about Hashem as a child. principles of emunah. A child who hears about Hashem when he is young is a totally different person than someone who never heard about Hashem as a child. A child growing up with emunah has strong connection to Hashem and feels Hashem presence closely.

Emunah flows in his veins and is in his bones. It is part of his mother tongue.

If, however, a child doesn’t hear these principles, and lives with the misconceptions that he is control of his own life, then when he grows up and is a teenager and has to go to undergo a medical procedure or meets up with the Corona virus, he feels helpless and frightened.

Instead of the talking about how much food we should stock up on – food for two weeks or for four weeks – we should talk about rachmana liba ba’i, how Hashem wants the heart of a person.

Hashem is giving us the opportunity to talk to your children about emunah right now. All the children are home from school now. Don’t just rely on what the school is teaching them. Hashem put your children near you now so that you can teach it to them yourself. Use this opportunity to instill emunah into your children yourself.

Sit with your children and tell them what emunah is. Explain to your children that Corona means Hashem koreh, Hashem is calling out to us. Explain to your children that we are helpless and rely totally on Hakodosh Boruch Hu’s loving kindness. Teach them to internalize these messages. Teach them to turn their fear of Corona into the fear of Hashem. Teach them that they should use their pain to understand the Shechina’s pain.

As a result of teaching our children emunah, may we will be worthy of all yeshuos in ruchniyos and gashmiyus. Amen.

To join HaRav Shai Atri’s Chizuk Whatsapp Group, contact +972 58 313 9000

Apr 2019

‫פסח ניסן תש"פ‬

Coping with Corona-Fear

5

Yaakov Barr Psychotherapist (MSc, PG Dip, accred)

To contact R' Yaakov Barr, please call +447791479106

Guidelines to help adults and children cope with corona-virus fear and anxiety It’s the news story that is shaking the world and it is affecting everyone on a scale that has never been seen before. It’s also causing a huge amount of anxiety and fear. The sensational headlines are spreading panic around the world and many are being affected emotionally with crippling health anxiety and excessive fears over germs and contamination.

Here are some guidelines that can help you and your child overcome corona-virus fear.

1. Take a step back from the news Yes, we like to stay informed, but do we really need to be kept abreast of every fatality as it happens? Being glued to every news report or article discussing the virus might make you an expert for your after- shul discussion but it will also fuel and feed your fears. A lot of the journalism today is sensationalist and headlines are deliberately aimed at causing panic and hysteria. Anything that is important for you to know you will find out without the graphic minute by minute reports.

2. Keeping safe in a healthy way It’s a normal reaction that if you are fearful of something you will try to keep safe by doing whatever you can to avoid it. In psychology there is a concept called “avoidance coping,” which means that avoiding things unnecessarily, actually causes us more anxiety. For example, if you are scared of dogs and started avoiding going to parks and then avoid any public spaces because there might be a dog, is your fear of dogs going to get better or worse? Every time we avoid something, we send a danger alert to the brain. If we are sending too many unnecessary danger alerts then our brain reacts as if we are in a perpetual state of danger. So instead of making up your own avoidances, stick to the guidelines and rules imposed by your health authority. The stories of people fighting for toilet paper rolls in supermarkets demonstrate what unnecessary fear does. Ask yourself if what you are doing to keep safe is sensible or if is it anxiety driven? Buying crates of bottled water (no one has ever suggested that the virus will affect the water) and walking around with a hand sanitizer in each pocket are sure signs of anxiety.

3. Avoid fear-mongers

Fear fuels fear. You will see people displaying all sorts of strange behaviours in their bid to avoid getting the virus. A lot of it is nonsense, like my taxi driver who was wearing a mask and gloves but was then busy rubbing his eyes after he handled the money in his pocket! The more you spend time around those who almost get a sense of comfort from catastrophizing and talking about doomsday scenarios the more their anxieties will rub off on you. Just as you will do your best to minimise your risk of exposure to the virus, you need to do the same with people who fuel your stress.

4. Guiding children a) Children absorb what they see around them. It is vital that parents understand the difference between normal and excessive precautions. Your aim as parents is to model the “safe but not excessively safe approach”, so children can learn how to keep safe without intensifying their anxiety. b) It’s a scary time for everyone, but pretending nothing is happening is not going to alleviate a child’s anxiety. They will be aware of what’s happening in the world, so if you don’t talk to them about it they will instead believe the “fake news.” Talk to them calmly and patiently using age appropriate language about what is going on and reassure them about why they don’t need to worry. Be willing to answer their questions and encourage them to speak up if they have any further worries. c) Kids often feel safe with rituals and naturally more anxious children will tend to resort to various rituals and obsessive behaviours in the hope of protecting themselves from the virus. These rituals and behaviours can quickly increase and cause much distress to a child. So look out for: •

excessive hand washing and other hygiene behaviours,

•

excessive avoidances

•

excessively checking themselves and other family members

•

being overly particular in saying the words of davening or doing certain mitsvos

•

taking on unrealistic kabolas

•

asking for constant reassurance

The earlier you identify the anxiety signs, the easier it is to work with the child to reduce their unhealthy behaviours. Sometimes you will need professional help to guide you in helping your child. Many schools have their own counsellors or, if not, can refer you to an appropriate professional.

6. It’s Ok not to feel OK Uncertainty is the root cause of anxiety and, in the current chaotic situation there has never been greater uncertainty. It’s normal to be feeling panicky and vulnerable so instead of denying and suppressing your feelings, make space for them and allow them to be there. We have to be Ok with not feeling Ok. We don’t know how everything is going to unfold, but we do know that Hashem is looking after us. This is our certainty and it is to the One Above where we should place our trust. As I heard from one Rov- “every time you wash your hands, remember whose Hands you are in!”

7. Take recommended precautions Most viruses – coronavirus included – are spread through everyday contact, such as a cough, sneeze or touch. Where possible, try to avoid close contact with those who are not well and do your best to practice good (but not obsessive) hygiene habits, such as washing your hands thoroughly before eating and not touching your face. Keeping your immune system healthy and happy is important too, through eating a balanced diet, regular exercise and getting a good night’s sleep.

8. I need help True strength is being able to admit that you are suffering and need help. Have the courage to reach out and ask for support from those who can help you. If you are struggling to cope, consult with your GP and other mental health professionals so they can advise you on what you can do to reduce your anxiety.

May Hashem protect us and that we should merit a swift yeshua.

Yaakov Barr is an accredited psychotherapist and a clinical supervisor treating adult and adolescents in London. He has an MSc degree in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and specialises in anxiety disorders. He is a psychology columnist for Hamodia.

Relaxing Breathing

Slow, calm breathing lowers the heart rate and takes away feelings of stress and tension. and it’s really easy to do. a) Sit in a comfortable position in a comfortable chair with your feet flat on the floor b) Very slowly and gently breathe in through your nose, counting slowly to 4 c) Hold your breath for a second and then d) Very slowly breathe out ideally through the nose (or your mouth if more comfortable) counting slowly to 6 and as you do say tell yourself to relax.

e) That’s it! Repeat this for 5 mins.

If you feel at all lightheaded or dizzy it means you are breathing too strongly or deeply - so try doing it more calmly and less deeply. At first it might be better to practice this in a calm room, with the lights dimmed and some relaxing music before doing it in other less relaxing places.

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

A Time to Spread Positivity The Corona virus has transformed the world, at least for the short term. We're always thinking deeply about what message can we absorb, what we can learn, what can we do, but to me there is a very striking message, which is literally – one person sneezes on one part of the world and the whole world is impacted. That is how interconnected we are.

It literally may have been a simple thing as a bat in the middle of a market in China landing on a chicken, someone buying it, not cooking it properly and the whole world is turned upside down. It started from one sneeze, one handshake at a time, and it spread from person to person. Within a short few days or weeks, the entire planet is impacted. Look at the power of one tiny bit of contact, literally one handshake at a time.

really positive energy and we can go home that night and forget about the interchange. However, that sweet, positive interchange spreads from one person at a time with one handshake at a time, one smile at a time. Sooner or later, maybe even a few weeks later, it will end up in a marketplace in China, in a government agency in Australia and in a shantytown in Brazil. All over the world, they will be feeling the impact of that conversation.

What that shows us is something absolutely incredible. I could have a conversation with you and one of us can spread to the other some

In fact, this is happening all the time. We are all being impacted by conversations with one another. The more positive we are, the more we work on ourselves and the more we become holier, wiser or deeper people, the more we are spreading out positive energy that within several weeks has already touched the whole world. Vice versa is true. When we are angry or resentful, that negative energy is touching the entire planet.

When we stop and think about that, it is actually dramatic and unbelievable.

Often we think that these little things don’t do anything. What Corona virus teaches us is that little things actually do have an effect and things transfer from one person to another. This is not just on a mystical level, but even on a

Rabbi Daniel Rowe Executive Director of Aish UK

very simple natural level.

The more we work on ourselves, the more we calm ourselves down before a tense situation or stop and think what Hashem would want us to say or what is the right thing to do here and then do it, that will not just impact the immediate conversation. That will, sooner or later, literally impact on some level the entire world.

We might not know right now the extent in which we are being lifted when somebody is giving us a positive message, but that really flows from person to person to person like a nice little handshake that also took place in a market in China or anywhere else.

We can likewise be the originators of so much goodness.

Obviously right now the priority is to avoid too much contact to try to keep the spread of the virus low. Everyone should be healthy, especially those who are old or have compromised immune systems should be well and healthy, but let us also understand and realize how single little interactions literally transform the world. This is not just on some metaphoric level, but they literally change the world.

Let us think more deeply about how our little bit of goodness now spreads.

While we are trying to help others who may be having a difficult time and help those in isolation, and even way beyond, long after the virus is gone, we can virally be spreading goodness and literally lifting the entire world!

Apr 2019

‫פסח ניסן תש"פ‬

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The Takanos of Rav Akiva Eiger during the Time of the Cholera Epidemic When we have the situation of the Corona virus, we look for a precedent of how gedolim have conducted and guided the Jews under similar circumstances.

One such precedent that is being evoked is the cholera epidemic of 1830 where Rabbi Akiva Eiger wrote a letter. It’s printed in some editions of the chiddushim of Rabbi Akiva Eiger in Maseches Nedarim, but it is originally in the Igros Sofrim, the letters of Rabbi Akiva Eiger (29) where he wrote to his student, Rabbi Eliyahu Gutmacher zt’’l.

There is a widespread practice at a bris that people try to daven and shed tears at the time that the baby is crying. This is the revelation of Rav Eliyahu Gutmacher, who taught us that one can daven at the time of a bris when the baby is crying.

Rabi Akiva Eiger gave the following number of suggestions in the time of the Cholera epidemic.

Spacing of Minyanim. No more than fifteen people should be allowed in the shul at the same time. He recommended that this be enforced by the police.

He wrote that it would probably help if his name was invoked. We see that even at that time they understood the importance of physical spacing. Rav Akiva Eiger explained that gathering in a very narrow place is not correct.

The Recitation of Various Tehillim. At this time, it is recommended to say chapter 91 – Yoshev b’seiser, which is the shir of pegaim to keep away pega (harm) and also chapter 142.

The Recitation of the Parsha of Ketores. Although, nusach sefard says ketores daily, nusach ashkenaz does not necessarily incorporate parshas haketores in the daily tefillos.

Rav Akiva Eiger recommended the recitation of ketores daily because we know that ketores wards off plague.

Be Careful Not to be Too Cold.

He recommended wearing flannel covering over one’s stomach to keep a person warm.

Not To Eat Bad Foods Especially gherkin. Apparently, pickles and cucumbers in those times were not healthy.

Rabbi Daniel Gladstein Rov of Kehillas Ahavas Yisrael

When a person is worried and sad, it lowers their immunity. It diminishes their ability to ward off disease and illness. A person should be careful to keep themselves in a proper frame of mind.

Night Air. Rav Akiva recommended that a person shouldn’t walk outside at night because at that time they considered the night air to be unhealthy.

Change Clothing Often.

Sunlight and Fresh Air. He said that it is good to walk, breathe air, and open the windows in the morning. This way when the sun shines, the air can come into the rooms. Sunlight is good. We know that the sun is healing.

Be Careful Not to Have Dirt or Filth in the House. This is something that we understand that needs extra caution.

Although to us many of these recommendations are obvious, it is interesting to hear what the recommendations were and how a way a gadol b’Yisrael adjured his students and followers a hundred and ninety years ago at the time of a serious epidemic.

Do Not Worry and Distance Yourself From Sadness. Rav Akiva Eiger very importantly advises that a person should not worry and should distance himself from sadness.

May the Ribono Shel Olam watch over all of Klal Yisrael, our families and the entire world until the coming of Moshiach, may it be quick in our days.

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

Don’t Worry Be Happy

B

efore a frum Jew eats, he always examines the hashgacha on the food. So too, in a difficult situation before a person eats his heart out, he should first examine the hashgacha pratis in the situation and then he won’t eat himself up.

We should constantly internalize the hashgacha pratis in every situation and realize that Hashem is directing everything that happens constantly.

The Ohr Hachaim teaches us that there is not one moment in a person’s life in which Hashem is not involved in all his needs, in his physical and all other needs.

At every single moment, Hashem is involved in a person’s need.

A person should stay strong.

He does need not worry or fear anything.

The Chofetz Chaim has a beautiful insight in the hoshanas that we say, “hoshana

chita michagav, hoshana dagan midalekes, hoshana nefesh mibahala.” We ask Hashem to save the wheat from the grasshopper, the grain from being burnt, and people from panic. The Chofetz Chaim explained, just as a grasshopper destroys the wheat crop, and fire burns up grain, that is the same way that panic destroys a human being.

It is imperative that in this difficult time we preserve our inner peace, simcha and menuchas hanefesh.

When the Belzer Rav was escaping Europe during the Holocaust, it was a harrowing and dangerous escape. After the war, the Belzer Rav shared with the Boyaner Rebbe how during his escape at one point he stopped the car and stepped out. All the people with him were bewildered. They were in a dangerous situation; every moment was critical. What made him stop and leave the car?

He told the Boyaner Rebbe, “I didn’t share with the others the purpose for stopping the car, but I will tell you now why I did it. I stopped the car because I thought to myself, ‘What does the Yetzer Hara want from me

Rabbi Elimelech Beiderman Be’er Mayim

now?’ What is he want of me now? I know that he wants to make me anxious and take away my

menuchas hanefesh. This is something that I will not allow him to do.’”

We see from this story the greatness of the Belzer Rebbe.

His concern when escaping the dangers of the Holocaust was how he would not let the Yetzer Hara take away his menuchas hanefesh.

Although we are not on the level of stopping the car during war, but we do need to rest our minds a little bit. We should rest our minds from all the tumult in the news. We should do hishtadlus and take the precautions that we need to, but, as the Yesod HaAvodah writes, we do not need to keep up with all the news.

To join Rabbi Beiderman's Whatsapp Group, contact +1 845 293 2166

Apr 2019

‫פסח ניסן תש"פ‬

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Rabbi Moshe Tuvya Lieff Morah D’Asra of Agudath Israel Bais Binyomin in Brooklyn

Let Your Child Participate in Doing Mitzvos When I was younger, there were gedolim who used to come to our city to collect tzedakah. These were very great people. One of them was Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, who was Rav Shach’s son-in-law among other gedolei Yisrael. I remember how Rav Chaim Stein would send me and other young men to drive these tzaddikim in a car to help them collect tzedakah. We would do this between the yeshiva’s sedarim.

My friend, Rav Mordche Dov Kuval, is a big tzaddik in Cleveland Heights. When we came to Murray Kuval, he would call his sons, “Boys, get your checkbooks.” His boys were young, aged eleven through thirteen. I remember how they scurried upstairs and brought down their checkbooks.

Their father had created a checking account for them. When the father wrote a nice donation for

this rosh yeshiva or gadol, they would also write a donation. They felt like a million dollars giving their five or ten dollar check because they were writing a check like their father.

Do you think these boys will act disrespectfully to their rebbeim the next day in yeshiva? They were involved in helping the rebbe.

They feel like a million dollars.

Let your children see and participate in mitzvos.

There’s an unbelievable

organization that started in Flatbush and has spread all over the world. It is called Chasdei Lev. Before Pesach, they give rebbeim basic Pesach products for a nominal price.

I was at one of the earlier meetings with Rav Reuven Feinstein discussing it. The rebbe pays a minimal fee about 400 dollars and the yeshiva pays some money and the rebbe receives about 3,500 dollars worth of goods. The organization collects money and buys the products wholesale.

The sale takes place in a huge area. Fathers come with their sons.

The boys first give the rebbe a sefer, a new book that just came out.

They then give him a cup of coffee.

The rebbe drives up in his minivan and the order is all processed.

The boys bring cases of grape juice, wine, matzas, meat, fish, and chicken. After that, the boys thank the rebbe.

Do you think these boys will act disrespectfully to their rebbeim the next day in yeshiva? They were involved in helping the rebbe. They feel like a million dollars. Their parents are teaching them to give with their heart. It’s not enough to just give – you have to give with your heart. Everything you do, you should do with your heart.

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

Smile :-)!

When walking through the streets now, we get a feeling of what Elul used to look like. During Elul in the altei heim, people were more serious. Nobody thought of doing aveiros.

Rabbi Shraga Kallus Rosh Kollel, Kollel Hora’ah L’Rabanim

as heard by Rabbi Avrohom Chaim Slansky

Now with the Corona virus, crime has been down. People are not busy with materialistic superficialities.

People are not busy with other things.

You don’t hear about anything.

Everybody is waiting. They are all waiting – what is going to be? What will be with me? What will be with Klal Yisrael? What will be with the whole world? That is what it used to look like during Elul in the alter heim.

This is a time for introspection.

Someone once walked past Rav Yisrael Salanter during Elul. The atmosphere of Elul was written all over his face. He looked like we do now during COVID-19.

Rav Yisrael Salanter turned to him, “Reb Yid, where is your smile?”

The man was shocked. “Rav Yisrael – Elul!”

Did he think that Rav Yisrael didn’t know it was Elul? From Pesach until Yom Kippur, Rav Yisrael would be preparing.

Rav Yisrael explained, “I know that it’s Elul. But why do I have to suffer?”

Your face is a reshus harabim. It is public property. Whatever is in your heart is your own private property.

Your expression on your face is public property because everybody sees it.

A person should think what Hashem wants from him. Hashem wants a person to come in with a big smile. If we are healthy, we should thank Hashem that we are healthy.

If someone is sick, we can daven with him and give him chizzuk and

If my purpose in life is to do G-d’s will.....

Grow,

Then that means,

And teach.

That no matter what,

I can fulfil my purpose.

Wherever G-d puts me, With whatever G-d gives me, I can fulfil my purpose.

Even within the four walls of my house, I can still be kind, A phone call,

Even within the four walls of my house, I can still pray,

An email,

Connect,

I can fulfil my purpose.

Communicate with Him.

Advice, and support.

If meaning and fulfilment means happiness, And if my purpose in life is to do G-d’s Will…

I can fulfil my purpose.

Even within the four walls of my house, I can still learn,

Then that means, I can be happy.

Develop, (BASED ON THE TEACHING IN PIRKEI AVOS: ‘THE WORLD STANDS ON THREE THINGS - TORAH, AVODAH (PRAYER), AND ACTS OF LOVING KINDNESS’)

strength.

The situation is not one that a person should be broken. Even if in your heart you are broken-hearted, your face is public property. Smile when you are with others even though the situation may be serious. When you go home, give your family a smile and say, “Baruch Hashem, we still have each other.” Call your mother or grandmother and ask how she is managing.

Smile. Strengthen the person near you. When you see someone on the street, smile at him. We have to strengthen ourselves and others.

We are for sure in the tzurah of what it looks like when Moshiach comes. We don’t know if he will come now, but there is a good chance.

There has never been a better chance in the world because everybody in the world has come to the realization that there is nothing important except for ruchniyos and Olam Habah. Gashmiyus isn’t important to anyone. Even the nations of the world have developed a new perspective on life.

At the seudas haMoshiach, we will all hold hands together. And if you feel like my neshama is holding your hands, don’t worry – it’s not catchy.

Apr 2019

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Lessons for

I

THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS

n this Dvar Torah, I will focus on one aspect of this and will cite sources and stories from Chazal and our Torah leaders, that guide us as to how we should be acting and what we should be thinking during these trying times.

The first aspect is in terms of our actions – the Gedolim have clearly told us to follow the instructions from the authorities with regard to the regulations intended on stemming the spread of the virus. This in and of itself is a fulfillment of the Torah Mitzva of ‘Venishmartem b’nafshoseichem’ – you will guard your bodies. This may at times require not fulfilling all the other Mitzvos in the ideal way, for example, if people have to be in quarantine, they will not be able to pray in a Minyan. However, the following story demonstrates how, in times of danger to health, the primary focus must be on the Mitzva of ‘Nismartem b’nafshoseichem’.

A man was very unwell and he was instructed by the doctors that he needed to eat on Yom Kippur, but he refused to listen, and planned on fasting. When the great Rav Yisrael Salanter, zt’l, heard this, he came to the man and tried to persuade him that he had to eat. When the man remained in his stubbornness, Rav Salanter made a powerful point: The yetser hara is always trying to persuade us not to perform Mitzvos, but in your case, you are exempt from most of the Mitzvos, so the yetser hara has a dilemma of what it can do to hinder your avodas HaShem.

Its solution is to focus on the one Mitzva that you do have – to guard your health!

Hence, its attempts to make you want to fast when you are forbidden to do so1! We are not exempt from every Mitzva, but it is clear that the Mitzva to guard our health is of primary importance at this time.

Once a person is doing all the necessary hishtadlus (effort), then the question arises as to what is the appropriate attitude that he should have.

There have been a number of cases of panic among people, expressed in various ways, but their common denominator is that they have caused some people to react with great fear and dread of what may happen. The following Gemara2 indicates that this does not seem to be a correct, or healthy, approach. A student 1 Heard from Rav Mordechai Goldstein, shlit’a.

2 Brachos, 60a.

was walking in the marketplace, and he began to sigh, indicating his fear of upcoming events. Rebbe Hamnuna told him that by sighing, he would bring upon himself suffering, based on a verse that states that the very thing that a person was afraid of, came upon him. We learn from here that there can be situations where the fear of something happening can be more damaging than the actual thing itself.

The following story involving the Rambam able expresses this point: The Rambam was a leading doctor in Egypt. He was once pressured by a

jealous Egyptian doctor to a dangerous competition to prove who was the superior doctor.

Each doctor would give the other a poison and he would have to use his medical expertise to protect it from harming him.

The Egyptian doctor gave the Rambam a poison, but the Rambam was able to use his great knowledge to dilute its effect and he emerged unharmed. When the other doctor took the Rambam’s poison, he began to become ill. The Rambam gave him suggestions of what to do to save him, but he did not trust the Rambam and suspected that these suggestions would make it worse. Soon, the doctor became very ill and died. It then emerged that the Rambam had not given him a poison at all, rather it was a normal drink, but the doctor worked himself into such a frenzy at the potential harm of the ‘poison’ that his worry caused him to make his fears self-fulfilling. This teaches us that the worry of possible sicknesses can be more damaging than the sickness itself.

What then, can a person do to avoid

Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen Rabbi for Keter HaTorah

falling into this cycle of damaging fear?

The answer is to remind himself that once he has done all the necessary hishtadlus to protect himself, then there is nothing he can do and he is totally in the hands of HaShem. At that point, there is nothing to worry about, because we know that HaShem only does what’s best for us. Yet another story demonstrates this point as well: the great Brisker Rav was in Europe at the beginning of World War 2, subject to the relentless bombings of the German invasion. There were times when he was very anxious about what to do in order to be in the safest situation, and there were other occasions where he was completely calm. When asked about this seemingly contradictory behavior, he explained, that he was anxious in situations where there were various things that could be done to protect himself, and so he was concerned that he would fulfil the Mitzva to guard one’s health to the best of his ability. But there were other times, when he had made all possible effort, and there was nothing left to be done – in those situations, he was totally calm because he knew he was in the hands of HaShem3.

In addition to all these sources, a verse in Mishlei4 seems to address the exact situation we find ourselves in at this time.

The verse states “the spirit of a man with overcome his illness, and a broken spirit, who will carry it.” The commentaries5 explain that a person should accept what comes upon him with happiness and love, and if he is of good spirit, then his body will be able overcome illness. However, if he is feeling broken, then he will not be able to strengthen himself, and will be susceptible to illness. What is remarkable is that the Targum Yonasan6 translates the word for illness into the word, ‘korhaneih’ which sounds eerily similar to the word Korona.

It seems clear that HaShem is communicating to us through all these sources that the correct attitude to have is one of vigilance, but with calmness and trust, remembering that HaShem is protecting us. May we merit to see a speedy end to this dreaded disease, and all the world will experience a refuah sheleimah.

3 4 5 6

Heard from Rav Mordechai Goldstein.

Mishlei, 18:14.

Rashi, Metsudas David, ibid.

An ancient commentary on Tanach who received a tradition going back to Moshe Rabbeinu.

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

KEY POINTS FROM THE SANZER REBBE’S ADDRESS • Corona teaches us emunah. You have to believe even in what you can’t see.

happiness and calmness in the home. Especially this year.

• We need to improve, but not by focusing on what others need do better! Not by fixing others chilul Shabbos, for example, but by looking inwards to our own shortcomings.

• We live in very sensitive times. Children can be scared for life.

• Everyone is nervous and worried. Pre – pesach is always a nervous times ; now so much more so.

• Let us work on being bsimcha. Be calm, don’t be nervous with your spouse and children.

• Fights and arguments are worse than anything else.

• Don’t add chumras to pesach on the cheshbon of your children.

• Brothers should learn together. Everything should be done with a smile and calmly.

• Take the time to learn with your boys calmly and patiently.

• Add chesed. If your big girls can, let them help families who don’t manage on their own. Find other ways to help other people.

• Spend quality time with you daughters.

• If we do chesed, Hashem will do chesed with us.

• Ladies –this is not a time to do spring cleaning

• Children – being together with your parents a whole day can lead to misunderstandings. Remember kibud Av v’Em is a mitzvah that will grant you a long life.

• One minute of anger is worse than chometz • Pesach will be kosher regardless; your children will be ok if you focus on them.

• The family of the bnei yissacher used to sweep the house before bdikas chometz and that was it.

• It is much more important to focus on the

“ONE MINUTE OF ANGER IS WORSE THAN CHOMETZ”

• Al pi Torah, we #must listen to all governmental and medical rules. By being careful we can save many lives in particular of the elderly and sickly.

We are Mechalel Shabbos and even Yom Kippur for something can lead to Safek Pikuach Nefesh, how much more important it is to keep strictly to the guidelines.

• A person must be more careful not to harm others then to harm himself.

• There can be a chain event where a careless person can lead to harm down the chain. Be careful!

• Everyone should say a few kapitals of tehilim every day.

• Being good to others means doing so both beruchnius and begashmius

Apr 2019

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Rabbi Aron Moss Nefesh Community in Sydney, Australia

Question of the Week:

This coronavirus thing has really thrown me. I feel like I’ve lost all sense of certainty. No one knows what will happen next. How do we stay sane when we don’t know what’s lurking around the corner?

Answer:

It is not that we have lost our sense of certainty. We have lost our illusion of certainty. We never had it to begin with. This could be majorly unsettling, or amazingly liberating.

This tiny virus of 125 nanometres* has sent the entire world into chaos. All of our plans are up in the air, markets are going crazy, entire countries shutting down, and we have no clue what the future holds.

But that is always the case. We never know what the future holds. We only think we do, and keep getting surprised when things don’t pan out the way we expected. Now the mask is off. We have to admit our vulnerability.

What will happen next? We don’t know. Our experts don’t know. Our leaders don’t know. Only G-d knows. And that is the point. Only G-d knows.

Close your eyes and feel the uncertainty, make peace with it, let yourself be taken by it. Embrace your cluelessness. Because in all the confusion there is one thing you know for sure. You are in G-d’s hands.

Keep calm. Panic and fear are also contagious. Take every precaution as advised by health authorities. Wash your hands well.

And every time you do, remember whose hands you are in. *A nanometre is one billionth of a metre.

516.668.3725 meaningfulminute.org @meaningfulminute Rabbi Dani Staum, LMSW Rabbi, Kehillat New Hempstead, Rebbe/ Guidance Counselor – ASHAR, Principal, Ohr Naftoli, New Windsor Sign up to receive Stam Torah via email each week at: www.stamtorah.info

Accept What He Wants The noted Chassidic Rebbe, Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berdetichev was once walking with a group of Chassidim when suddenly he stopped and said to them, “Do you know what I would do if I was Hashem?”

You could imagine that all the Chassidim leaned in. The Rebbe was going to reveal what he would do if he was Hashem.

Reb Levi Yitzchak smiled and he said, “If I was Hashem, I would do exactly what He’s doing because if I was Hashem I would understand that the world is exactly how it needs to be. Kol mah d’avid Rachmana l’tav avid.”

Rabbeinu Yona writes in Shaarei Teshuva that bitachon means that a person always believes that Hashem could do anything. He could change anything in a moment. It doesn’t mean that He will, but that He could.

Of course we daven that things should change and that things should improve quickly, but we also daven to Hakodosh Boruch Hu that He give us the ability and the fortitude and the courage to accept His will so that we can grow in whatever way He wants us to.

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

Serving Hashem Under Any Circumstance Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson Yeshiva.net

There was a very special Jew whom I knew, Reb Mendel Futerfas. Reb Mendel was a real yarei Shamayim. Yiddishkeit was engraved in every fiber of his being. He was a smart, wise man. Reb Mendel was a Russian Jew who was a chossid. He was sent to Siberia for fourteen years.

Siberia was one of the work camps that the Communist Bolshevik regime created. Millions and millions of people were sent to the work camps in Siberia and living conditions were horrific. It was bitterly cold. Temperatures could go to 70 below zero. There was illness, malnutrition, freezing barracks, and backbreaking labor. Some prisoners were just shot and killed. Most people sent to Siberia didn’t survive.

Reb Mendel was exiled to Siberia for fourteen years. I knew him after he came out of Russia. He managed to escape the Soviet Union in the 1960s. I knew him in the 1980s and 1990s.

He went through so many difficulties in his life that when he would speak, you knew you were speaking to a person that paid a price for every word. Things were not superficial.

Reb Mendel shared with me the following story which left an indelible impression on me.

He told me that in the evenings, after a long day of backbreaking labor, the people in the barracks would reminisce the good old days. Most of the people imprisoned were cultured, educated people, because those were the ones that Stalin knew posed a threat to the Communist regime. Any man who had a mind of his own and was successful had a high chance of being sent off to Siberia.

Huddled together was a popular actor from

Russia. There was also a military general who had been imprisoned, tortured and exiled to Siberia. The others in the group consisted of a professor, a journalist, a priest, a businessman, a novelist, and a lawyer among others.

Everybody started to talk about the good old days of their glorious lives when they had been popular, affluent, respected, and influential with beautiful families. They had lived nice, comfortable lives and were successful people. Now they had nothing; they weren’t even sure that they would survive for much longer.

The actor started to weep. The journalist cried with him and the general sobbed along.

Soon enough, the whole group was crying. They were all musing and sharing the misery of what they used to have and now they lost it all. They ended up in Siberia with nothing, treated like pieces of garbage.

There was one man who was not sobbing.

That was Reb Mendel Futerfas. One of the non-Jews turned to him and said, “I know why you are not crying. You probably always were a loser and you still are a loser. And when you have nothing, then you have nothing to lose.

You have no reason to cry. But we had glorious careers and that’s why we are crying.”

Reb Mendel had been an affluent person beforehand. He turned to them, “Actually, I was a very successful businessman and I lost it all. I also am married; I have a wife and children whom I miss terribly. I lost a lot. The reason why I’m not crying is this: My main occupation I did not lose.”

They jumped at him, “What do you mean you didn’t lose your main job? What job do you have here? To fell trees all day in a Siberian forest and die from the cold?”

He said, “My main occupation before I was sent to Siberia was that I was a servant of Hashem. That job I still have now. Nobody took that away from me. Before I was exiled to Siberia, I served G-d through running my business, giving a lot of charity and living a very nice and comfortable life. Today, I still serve G-d. I serve G-d as a Siberian prisoner. Yes, the circumstances of my life have changed, but my main occupation, my identity, and dignity has not changed. I am in exactly the same position.

I was chosen by G-d to serve Him, to bring a little bit of light into the world and I’m still doing that even though the circumstances have

changed.”

“I am sad. I am pained. I miss my old life. I want to return to my family. I want to return to a normal life, but I am not in despair. My soul has not been snatched away from me. My sense of inner resolve and dignity and confidence has not been taken away from me because who I was, I still am and my primary vocation in life I still maintain. I am a servant of Hashem in this world. I serve G-d. I am a chossid. I am a Jew who works for Hashem.”

That story by Reb Mendel Futerfas touches me very deeply. What I take of it is – the circumstances of life changed.

We wanted to be somewhere else. We had plans to travel. We expected things to be different. We anticipated life to look like something else. Part of these plans did not include us staying in the house with every shul closed down. People created trajectories and to-do lists. Then it was snatched away. Hashem caught everybody off guard.

But I want you to remember, your core self you did not lose. Don’t get stuck in the circumstances. You were a servant of Hashem and you am a servant Hashem. You were created to serve Hashem. You are a messenger of Hashem. You are an ambassador of love, light, hope, healing and redemption and you are still and ambassador of the Ribono Shel Olam; an ambassador of love, light, healing, redemption, Torah, simcha, emunah and bitachon, Yiddishkeit, yiras Shamayim , ahavas Hashem, ahavas haTorah and ahavas Yisroel.

That is something that nobody and nothing can take away from you.

Yesterday Hashem wanted me to serve Him in one way. Today Hashem wants me to serve Him in a different way. Three weeks ago, Hashem wanted me to serve Him in one way.

Today Hashem wants me to serve Him by being in my home and serve Him here. This is how He wants. And if this is how He wants me to serve Him, that’s how I will serve Him. Never forget who you are, why you are created and remember that is timeless. It accompanies and follows you throughout your entire life.

Apr 2019

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What Are You Taking From All This?

Rav Shai Atari Derech HaBaal ShemTov

Soon the Corona virus will be over. Hashem will not forsake us and it will finish. My question to you is: How did you grow from the Corona virus? How did Corona change you?

Afterwards, we will look back and think, “We were by the Corona.

We heard everything. We went through all the panic. Did we grow from this experience? Did it change us?”

Don’t say, “The main thing is that it passed.” What did we gain?

Nothing? Did Hashem sent the virus for no reason?

Let us pass through this challenging period and grow from it.

Corona sounds like keru na – call out to me. Let us grow in our prayers.

Let us grow in our achdus. Then we will have something to show for this challenging time period.

To join HaRav Shai Atri’s Chizuk Whatsapp Group, contact +972 58 313 9000

Bubby's Blog The two brothers, the famed Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk and Rabbi Zushe of Anipoli, often wandered about together, posing as simple beggars. They would mingle with the masses, listening, teaching, speaking, helping and guiding whomever and whenever they could.

Once, while they were traveling with a group of vagabonds, members of the group were accused of being thieves, resulting in the entire bunch being thrown into jail.

Confident of their innocence and eventual release, the two brothers sat quietly. As the afternoon progressed, Rabbi Elimelech stood up to prepare himself to pray the afternoon service.

“What are you doing?” his brother asked.

“I’m getting ready for minchah,” replied Rabbi Elimelech.

Rabbi Zushe pointed at the pail in the corner of the room. “It is forbidden,” he said, “to pray in this cell, because the odor coming from that pail makes the room unfit for prayer.”

Dejected, the holy Rabbi Elimelech sat down.

Soon after, Rabbi Elimelech

began to cry. “Why are you crying?” said Rabbi Zushe. “Is it because you are unable to pray?” Reb Elimelech answered affirmatively.

“But why weep?” continued Rabbi Zushe. “Don’t you know that the same G-d who commanded you to pray, also commanded you not to pray when the room is unfit for prayer? Be happy that G-d has afforded you the opportunity to obey His law at this time, no matter what it is.”

“You are right, my brother!” exclaimed Rabbi Elimelech, suddenly smiling. The feelings of dejection banished from his heart and mind, Rabbi Elimelech took his brother’s arm and began to dance from joy as a result of performing the mitzvah of not praying in an inappropriate place.

The guards heard the commotion and came running.

Witnessing the two brothers dancing, the guards asked the other prisoners what had happened. “We have no idea!” they answered, mystified. “Those two Jews were discussing the pail in the corner, when all of a sudden they came to some happy conclusion and began to dance.”

“Is that right?” sneered the guards. “They’re happy because of the pail, are they? We’ll show them!”They promptly removed the pail from the cell! **** As Jews, we need to know that refraining from a Jewish practice such as attending synagogue because of a danger to life and health is as much a mitzvah as engaging in those practices under normal circumstances. We need to joyously thank G-d for allowing us to fulfill his Holy Will, whatever it is. And, perhaps, in merit of that joy, He might just take the pail away...

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

If there’s one shiur to listen to today go to Torah Anytime and listen to this one.

RABBI YOSSI BENSOUSSAN Don’t survive in quarantine; Thrive in it!

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

STUCK AT HOME WORKING? Let us make your lunch break that much better... Lunch & Learn from the comfort of your own home!

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Apr 2019

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‫בס”ד‬

Is Coronavirus Impacting Your Finances?

If so, you’re not alone… It’s having an impact on the majority of the world. Jobs, business, savings, investments, pensions and more, are all at risk. These are difficult times, and the crisis comes at a time in the Jewish calendar which carries its own stresses and concerns, but it is also times of miracles and redemption.

Managing Finances Having a clear idea of your income and expenses is the first step in creating financial stability. Now more than ever!

1. Together with your spouse, map out your combined current income. Don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be totally accurate!

Email us at admin@mesilauk.org to get a copy of our helpful online Budgeting Workbook.

2. Estimate your weekly or monthly expenses during this period. Try to determine how much you’ve been spending in different areas over recent weeks.

3. Identify expenses that can be lowered. These are extraordinary times that may require extraordinary measures.

4. If standard of living is being modified, calmly communicate to family members. Explain how many people all over the world are doing the same.

5. Compensate for lowering standard of living by raising standard of living.

•

Spend more quality time together

• Keep the good mood with positivity and humour.

Young children will likely not remember the coronavirus but they will remember the atmosphere at home during this time!

Mortgages If the crisis has affected your income in a big way, you may be concerned about how to keep up with your mortgage payments (or personal loans). Here are some quick tips but be in touch for more information.

1. Up to 3 months available to all homeowners who are up to date on mortgage payments.

2. Buy to Let landlords whose tenants have been financially affected are also eligible. Landlords are expected to pass the relief onto their tenants.

3. You do NOT need to have coronavirus to qualify. Any reasonable explanation such as loss of work will suffice and no affordability test or proof is required.

4. No capital repayment during this period but interest will continue to accrue so your payments might go up after the mortgage holiday.

Credit Cards There may be a temptation to use credit cards to bridge the gap between income and expenses. It is never a good idea to use credit cards without knowing when or how you’ll be able to pay back especially in these uncertain times. Before spending money on a credit card: 1. Is this a necessary expense? Distinguish from necessities and luxuries.

2. Prioritise your payments. Pay for bills as and when you need to.

3. “Borrow” from your savings. If you do have a necessary expense which can’t be delayed and you don’t have the money at hand, borrow money from your savings to tide yourself over this period. Repay the “loan” back to your savings account as soon as possible 4. If you have exhausted all other options, and you feel you need to use your credit card, ensure to prioritise the credit card repayments so you aren’t hit with high interest fees.

FREE WEBINAR NEXT WEEK: More details to follow

Financial Tranquility, in a Storm of Uncertainty We’re here to address all your concerns during this difficult time, please call 0333 344 1711 or email admin@mesilauk.org.

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

Stuck at home?

We need you!

Learn and connect with your fellow Jew while staying safe at home.

Sign up to be a Phone and Learn – PaL tutor. é www.phoneandlearn.org ” info@phoneandlearn.org Phone and Learn phoneandlearn ¸ 0800 055 3276

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HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita said“Everyone must be mechazek to refrain from Loshon Hora. anyone who strengthens himself in shmiras haloshon will protect him and his family members from becoming sick.

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Oneg Shabbos Chizuk Issue 245b

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