Parshas Naso

(The Segulah of Learning Zera Shimshon)

The Parsha tells us that anyone who doesn’t see the Kohen to bring terumos and maaseros will end up having to see the Kohen for a failed marriage (he will bring his wife to the Kohen to drink Sotah water).

The Gemara in Shabbos (119a) tells us that when we take maaser we become wealthy. When a person lives the way he’s supposed to, and does the mitzvos, he becomes wealthy. Whereas, when he avoids his obligations, he loses two things -wealth and his marriage.

When we do what we’re supposed to do we get rewarded. When we don’t do what we’re supposed to do we not only don’t get rewarded, but often get punished as well. Sometimes when something seems hard to do, if we could put it into perspective and think about what we gain and how important it is it may be a lot easier.

Source: Zera Shimshon Parshas Naso

Naaseh V'nishma: Shavuos Repost

A little something about Shavuos I wrote last year here.

Have a good y"t! May it be a meaningful personal Kabalas HaTorah for you and yours and may you accept it with its kessarim.

Kesser (כתר) is a remez to the specific gifts we were given with the Torah. (I don't know the source of this...)

כ- כח ת- תיקונים ר- רצון 

כ-We were given the ability to perform all the mitzvos, an extra koach to stand up to our yetzer hara and be mikayem kol hatorah. 

ת- We were also given the ability for our mitzvos to affect the world and higher worlds! 

ר- Finally, we received the cheshek, the ratzon, to keep the mitzvos. In order to live by all the mitzvos in the Torah we need this undying will. During Matan Torah Hashem placed the deepest desire to fulfill all His commandments into every single Yid's neshama.

Every Shavuos is a reenactment of Matan Torah. It is a chance to revitalize our Yiraas Shamyim and recommit to keeping all the mitzvos. We receive these matanos anew every year...if we want them. R' Matisyahu Solomon says that we can procure these gifts for ourselves by davening with kavanah  and joy and have the special kavanah of collecting these gifts when we say "Ata B'chartanu" and "...Zman Matan Torahseinu."

Chag sameach!

Parshas Bamidbar

(The Segulah of Learning Zera Shimshon)

The Midrash in Bamidbar Rabbah (2:2) tells us that at the time of Matan Torah Bnei Yisroel saw that the malachim were grouped around flags, and they said that they wanted flags as well. Hashem told Moshe to make them flags as they desired.

The purpose of a flag is such that everyone knows their place and peace reigns in the camp. The angels have flags, and so they get along well. Bnei Yisroel wanted this everlasting peace as well.

When there is peace nothing can harm us. The flags unify each shevet and delineate where everyone is supposed to be and thus what they are supposed to do. When this is clear, there is shalom. The Satan's source of power is confusion and lack of clarity, which causes machlokes among people. Shalom is a kli that holds bracha. 

When there is peace among us, the Satan cannot harm us.

Source: Zera Shimshon Parshas Bamidbar

Parshas Behar-Bechukosia

(The Segulah of Learning Zera Shimshon)

Behar

The pasuk that commands us regarding shemittah begins in plural and changes to singular: "Ki savo'u -- When you (plural) come into the land...shanim tizra sadecha -- for six years you (singular) should sow your field." Why the change? Also, why does the wording make it seem like it's an obligation to sow the field when we know the mitzvah is to let the land lay fallow in the seventh year for shmittah?

After Moshiach comes, says the Zera Shimshon, the world will revert back to the likes of Adam HaRishon kodem hacheit and we will not have to work for parnossa. However, a Jew that is not on this level of acting righteously and therefore is not zoche to this bracha, he will have to work, ie. plow the the fields for six years. This is why this part of the pasuk is written in singular. Only the individual that is not living his life accordingly will have to work.   

Bechukosai

The Torah says, "go in My statues," "observe My commandments," "perform them." When it gets to the klalos one might expect it to follow this pattern and say, "If you don't go in My statutes," "if you don't observe My commandments," etc., but it uses different terms instead.

The Zera Shimshon questions why the Torah seemingly repeats itself and why the lashonos with the klalos are different than that of the brachos.

He goes on to explain that every person is obligated to love mitzvos and hate aveiros. If he doesn't love mitzvos he may may not have the excitement and energy to fulfill them properly. If he doesn't he aveiros he can easily slip up and sin without intending to. Emotions play a large role in our actions.

The pasuk repeats itself to make a point. "If you will go in My statutes" refers to feeling hatred for aveiros, and "observing My commandments" is about loving mitzvos. If we reach this level of love for mitzvos and hate for aveiros then we will reach the level of "performing them" properly.

The language when it comes to the klalos is different, because it is saying that if you don't reach this level of "performing them" properly (loving mitzvos and hating aveiros) it will bring you to a situation in which you do not listen to Me.

Carelessness within mitzva observance is a slippery slope and once someone stops caring about committing transgressions, he might even come to the place where he finds mitzvos repulsive.

This is why the parsha tells us that if it comes to the situation in which Klal Yisroel reaches this stage that Hashem will ch"vsh act to us in the same fashion and come to hate us and give us anything good at all.

Source: Zera Shimshon Parshios Behar, Bechukosai

Parshas Emor

(The Segulah of Learning Zera Shimshon)

This week's parsha talks about the commandment that Kohanim should not become impure. The Midrash in Vayikra Rabba (26:6) talks about how because Aharon and sons had such yiraas Shamayim they were given this mitzvah until the end of time.

This particular mitzvah is singled out here (among other mitzvos exclusive to Kohanim like not marrying a divorcee), because no matter what Kohanim are not allowed to become tamey, and they will always have this special relationship with Hashem.

One might think that in these times when it is assumed that everyone is impure because we have no parah aduma that it wouldn't make a difference if Kohanim became impure as well. However, this mitzvah reflects the promise that Hashem will always have this relationship with Kohanim, that He will dwell amongst, essentially, them even among impurity.

This is a lesson about Kohanim, but to take a leap here and add my own personal take on this Torah...there is so much impurity in our world, and we often do things that contribute to this. However, like last week's parsha taught us, we can always be separate, holy, even amongst impurity.

Source: Zera Shimshon Parshas Emor

From Behind the Lines

Let's talk about this blog's title.

What's the battle? Where's the battle? Why do I think I'm a warrior? Who is fighting?

Okay, so clearly, shidduchim is not a battle, nor a battlefield, in a literal sense. It isn't a fight. But I do feel like this stage of my life is often a struggle for my own sanity, my own sense of self, my own confidence in myself and what I'm doing, and a battle of wits (sometimes).

If we really have to break it down (though I personally like the ambiguity in it, because it leaves something for each of you to interpret), the warriors are the singles who are forced into the foray of battle. Regardless whether they want to fight or not, regardless of whether they've found their armor or not, they will take hits. Maybe not all. Maybe some will get to the other side unscathed, but if they are forced to stay in this war long enough, they will have to nurse some wounds at some point.

The fight is for self. The fight is for not losing what is dear to one's sense of worth, his values. Perhaps a tad dramatic, yes, but think about it. This journey forces one to take a look at himself/herself and decide what he wants to keep and what he wants to let go.

The struggle is dealing with everyone else that pops up along the way. Perhaps it's a well meaning friend, shadchan, random whoever, who unwittingly hits you where it hurts. Because in battle you're always on guard.

The battle is inside the head and heart of the single. S/he can choose to ignore, mute, disregard, compartmentalize it. S/he can exaggerate, exacerbate, and emphasize it. We all have that choice. Perhaps at one point one way is better than the other. Sometimes the battlefield is quiet, and sometimes it's deafening. Sometimes it's dark, and sometimes it is light. Sometimes we fight alone, and sometimes we have others by our side.

We all have armor of some sort hopefully, and while I choose to often fight without parts of it, perhaps you show up with it on. No two experiences are alike. We're all just doing our best to get through this unharmed.

Be True to You

Stay strong
And be true
Stay disciplined
Be you

Don't let life
Bog you down
With all its
Valleys and its crowns

Keep trucking
Along
Write your own lyrics
To your song

Live life
With intention
Don't just coast
Not paying attention

No decision
Is a choice too
Just 'cuz it's hard
Doesn't mean it's out of true

We're all in own cars
Even if on the same street
Different experiences
Punching a different time sheet

You only have
One life to live
So much to do
All this to give