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by Rabbi Nati & Reb AkivaJudaism, Emunah, Chassidus, Kabbalah, Jewish End of Days Prophecies, Secrets & Mysteries of G-d and the Soul, living each day and connecting to G-d, blog and podcasts.
Recent podcasts
The Miraculous Sukkah of Afghanistan
26/09/2007
For Rabbi Nosson (Mark) Sachs, a Reserve Chaplain in the U.S. Army, building a Sukkah last year in Afghanistan against all odds showed him Hashem’s hand more clearly than almost any other experience of his life...Four days before Sukkot Rabbi Sachs opened the boxes and immediately realized they didn’t hold two Sukkahs, but the broken parts of a single small pop-up Sukkah.Sukkot was starting on Friday afternoon, so Rabbi Sachs had to quickly design and build a new Sukkah. He sketched plans and brought them to the sergeant major involved with the base’s engineering corps to see if they could build it...“How long do you think it will take to build it?” Rabbi Sachs asked. “The holiday starts in four days.”“Maybe we could finish it by December,” the sergeant major replied...Read the whole thing, here at BeyondBT.
Thank You and Chag Samayach!
26/09/2007
by Akiva at Mystical PathsDear Friends:For those who sent donations and tefilos for the kevrai tzaddikim in the Ukraine and Uman, thank you! Your prayers were delivered to the sites, may they have been accepted in Heaven and may Hashem grant you plentiful blessings.For those who sent donations for the needy of Jerusalem and the Shomron (West Bank), thank you! Funds are being distributed, and you've eased the difficulties and brightened the holidays for those in need. May Hashem relieve your difficulties and grant you joyous days.Tonight starts Succot, the festival of booths (boy I hate the English descriptive names). This time is known as Yom Simchasaynu, the days of our rejoicing! Having come before the King, and trusted in the True Judge, now we celebrate the joy of spending time with our G-d. Avinu Malkaynu, our Father, our King. Now is the time we rejoice in being together with our Father.Now is also the time when we pray for peace and blessings for all the nations of the world. As is written, if the nations only knew of the incredible blessings of this time, they would rush to help the Jewish people rebuild the Beis HaMikdash. Unfortunately, many have not learned.May everyone have a joyous Succot, and may we merit to spend time with our Father, our King, our G-d, with the rebuilding of the fallen Succah of Dovid HaMelech (King David) in Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) Habnuya and the coming of Moshiach Tzidkaynu.Blogging note, with the holiday tonight through Shabbos, normal blogging won't resume until Sunday. During Chol HaMoed, the intermediate festival days of Succot, we tend to break a bit from our normal blogging pattern, so expect some different postings during that time. Chag Samayach!Support the Path! - Posted at Mystical Paths, MPaths.com.
Quantum States and Halacha
26/09/2007
by Your-Name at Mystical PathsAccording to quantum mechanics, nothing at the subatomic scale can really be said to exist until it is observed. Until then, particles occupy nebulous "superposition" states, in which they can have simultaneous "up" and "down" spins, or appear to be in different places at the same time.Observation appears to "nail down" a particular state of reality, in the same way as a spinning coin can only be said to be in a "heads" or "tails" state once it is caught.According to quantum mechanics, unobserved particles are described by "wave functions" representing a set of multiple "probable" states. When an observer makes a measurement, the particle then settles down into one of these multiple options.Quantum mechanics is the science of the smallest components and forces in the physical universe. This is the level where things like light and subatomic particles, the smallest pieces that make up physical substances, are studied and, to some exent, understood (or at least observed, they may not know all the 'how it works', but they do know 'it works like that' by watching it).In halacha, Jewish law, we hold by the pasuk "the heavens are Hashem's, but the earth is for the children of man", interpreting this to mean that halachic decisions are made here on earth (by appropriately qualified rabbaim). Even if a heavenly voice rings out "it's that way", the ruling of the earthly court holds.In the time of the Sanhedrin, the great court, Rosh Chodesh, the beginning of the new month, was declared by observation, meaning witness testimony. But, how can observation by people actually change the world, setting the day of the new month?While I don't have a spiritual answer, I can say that in the science of today, observation by an earthly source has been shown to directly change the physical!Support the Path! - Posted at Mystical Paths, MPaths.com.
A Word for Succot
26/09/2007
by Akiva at Mystical Paths(Mishnah Succah 3.7) The minimum size for an estrog, Rabbi Meir says, is the size of a walnut. Rabbi Yehudah says, (the size) of an egg --- and the maximum size, for one to hold two (the esrog and lulav together) in one hand, in the words of Rabbi Yehudah. Rabbi Yossi says, even one (it takes) both hands (to hold) is valid.(Baraita from Gemora Succah) Rabbi Yossi said, it happened that Rabbi Akiva entered synagogue with an estrog (so big he had to carry it) on his shoulder. Rabbi Yehudah said to him, is this proof (that a huge esrog is kosher)? They (the Sages) told him (told Rabbi Yossi), this lacks hadar (it's not pretty, and the Torah says to take a pri etz hadar, a beautiful tree fruit).Whether a tiny esrog the size of a nut, or an egg, or a large esrog that takes two hands and a backpack to carry it, may you be blessed with a kosher and beautiful estrog this Succot.(Sefer HaMinhagim of Lubavitch, Succos, gives an interesting kabbalistic custom) One only takes one esrog, one lulav, and two aravos (willow twigs) [that's straight halacha] - but more than 3 haddasim (myrtle twigs) may be taken. (as per the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 651)(the words of the sefer say) I have heard of various individuals being instructed to take 4, 12, 13, or 26 haddasim (myrtle twigs), but NOT 9, 68, or 69. (custom cited per the sefer Kol Bo)Support the Path! - Posted at Mystical Paths, MPaths.com.
Amazing True Story...
26/09/2007
by Nava at Mystical PathsYoni, an Israeli Defense Force soldier stationed in Hebron, was shot by an Arab terrorist. It happened very early in the morning, and no one else was awake to hear it. Yoni passed out and was bleeding steadily, his life was heading toward a silent end.But another soldier stationed nearby heard the shot and went to investigate. He found a fellow Israeli soldier bleeding to death. He tried the best he could to stop the bleeding and called for help. Waiting for help to arrive, he kept applying pressure to the wound- literally holding Yoni's life in his hands.Yoni was taken to a hospital in Be’er Sheva where he underwent surgery. Yoni's parents were notified and they rushed to the hospital. Imagine the fear of the parents who were only told "your son has been injured and is in the hospital." When they arrived the doctor told them that Yoni was shot but will be alright. Had it not been for the immediate actions of the other soldier, their son Yoni would have bled to death. It was a miracle that the other soldier heard what no one else heard, and managed to locate Yoni as quickly as he did. The parents wanted to thank that soldier, but he had just left the hospital after hearing that the soldier he helped would survive.While recuperating at home, Yoni and his parents called the army to find out the name of the other soldier so they could thank him personally. Unfortunately, that soldier's name was not recorded and although they tried to ask around they simply couldn’t track down who that other soldier was.Yoni's mother knew that the important thing of course is that Yoni is well, yet she couldn’t help feeling that as long as she couldn’t meet and thank the solider who bravely saved her son’s life- the entire frightening episode is still not fully over. Not being able to thank the soldier continued to give her an empty feeling… but then she had an idea.The couple owned a grocery store in Kiryat Malachi (a town near Ashkelon), so they decided to put up a sign in the store, describing what happened, figuring that Israel is a small country and eventually they might found out who the mystery soldier was.Months passed with no response. Finally, one morning about a year later, a woman customer noticed the sign hanging by the door of the store. She recalled how happy her son Yair was when he came home one Friday night and told them how he heard a shot and was able to save another soldier’s life in Hebron. She went back and told the owner of the store. The story matched. The two women now decided to try to reach their sons on cell phones and see if they could meet at the store. Fortunately it turned out that both the young men and even the fathers were able to all meet that afternoon at the store.The families soon gathered for an emotional "rendezvous". The soldiers recounted army experiences and finally after all this time Yoni’s mother could stand up and thank Yair for saving her son’s life or as she put it, “You saved my world”. She looked forward to feeling “completion” after all this time by thanking the soldier, but little did she know that the story was hardly complete.After the tearful thank you, Yair’s mother quietly pulled her aside and asked to speak with her outside. The two women went out alone. And she asked Yoni’s mother: “Look at me- you don’t remember me?” “No, I’m sorry did we meet before? she responded. "Yes. You see there is a particular reason I came into your store today… I used to live here and this time I was just passing by but I wanted to give you my business, even though I was only buying a few things.”“What are you talking about? Yoni’s mother asked. “Twenty years ago I used to live around here and came all the time to buy milk and bread... One day you noticed that I looked really down and you were so nice and asked me why I was so down and I confided in you. I told you that I was going through a very difficult time and on top of that I was pregnant and planning on having an abortion. As soon as I said “abortion” you called your husband over and the two of you didn’t seem to care about your own store but sat down and patiently listened to me and I remember what you said.“You told me that it is true that I was going through a hard time but sometimes the good things in life come through difficulty, and the best things come through the biggest difficulties. You spoke of the joy of being a mother and that the most beautiful word to hear in the Hebrew language is “Ima” (mother) when spoken by one’s child.. you both spoke and spoke until I was convinced that I actually should have this baby- so you see G-d paid you back!”What do you mean? asked Yoni’s mother. I had a boy twenty years ago that you saved by telling me to think twice before doing the abortion. With happy tears she declared, "My beloved Yair wouldn’t have been alive if not for you. He was the one you were looking for. He was the one who grew up to save your son, Yoni’s life!"http://www.friendsofefrat.org/idf-story.phpSupport the Path! - Posted at Mystical Paths, MPaths.com.
