Sefirah: Time to count #27 "Hayom shiv'ah ve-esrim yom sheheim sh'loshah shavuos ve-shishah yamim la'omer/ba'omer"
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM????????????????????????????????
Day 41 ¨C Toeles ¡ª Constructive Purpose
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Based on the rule that one must endure social and financial loss rather than speak loshon hora, it would seem that there should be no halachic justification to speak loshon hora for a constructive purpose (l¡¯toeles). Why then does the halachah permit constructive
statements to be made?
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We have noted that all forms of loshon hora fall under one of two categories:
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1) Derogatory statements;
2) Statements which have the potential to cause the subject harm.
Derogatory speech was explained as being lowly in that the speaker focuses on the negative aspects of someone¡¯s character or behavior.
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There are times when discussing someone¡¯s shortcomings is clearly constructive, and the responsible thing to do.? This is true either: when one is attempting to assist the person he is speaking about, or when he is trying to protect others from that person.?
In such cases, though negative traits or actions are being mentioned, the statements made do not constitute loshon hora.? Destructive speech is loshon hora; constructive speech is not.? Similarly, there is no such thing as ¡°constructive rechilus¡± (gossip);
a statement can be classified as rechilus only if it is destructive.
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Nevertheless, the Chofetz Chaim refers to derogatory statements made for a constructive purpose as ¡°loshon hora l¡¯toeles¡± seemingly for lack of a better term.? We, too, have made use of the term ¡°loshon hora (or rechilus) for a constructive purpose¡± at various
points in this work.
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A great deal of sensitivity, objectivity, and knowledge of halachah is required in order to distinguish between genuine constructive speech and what amounts to nothing more than rationalized loshon hora.? The Chofetz Chaim lists several conditions necessary
for a statement to be deemed one of toeles, constructive purpose, as opposed to loshon hora.
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The conditions for a statement to qualify as constructive¡ªsoon to be discussed here¡ªmust be studied carefully before taking the liberty of making a statement that would otherwise be considered loshon hora.? It would also be wise to discuss the matter with a
competent rav, as an incorrect decision could result in irreparable harm.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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To Inspire Repentance
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God would take note of the metzora¡¯s repentance and would heal him of his affliction. The Kohen would go outside the Israelite Camp to examine the metzora. Having been declared healed by the Kohen, the metzora would begin the purification process, which included
the offering of Temple sacrifices, as detailed in the Torah.
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Having benefited from God¡¯s infinite kindness in being cured of his affliction and restored to a state of taharah (ritual purity), the person would, upon returning home, surely uphold his earlier resolutions. He would beg forgiveness of those he wronged and
strive with all his strength to avoid speaking loshon hora in the future. Thus, he would be completely cleansed of his sin.
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One may wonder why in our day the affliction of tzaraas is not manifest upon those who habitually speak loshon hora. The Chidah offers the following explanation:
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When God visits punishment upon an individual, He does it for the person¡¯s benefit, to purify him of his sins and to stir him towards repentance. Now, it was only during the Temple era that a metzora could attain taharah (purification). Today, however, when
due to our sins there is no Temple, no sacrifice, and no way for the Kohen to perform the other components of the purification process, if God were to afflict a person with tzaraas, he would remain in his impure state for the rest of his life, without any
possibility of ridding himself of it. Therefore, in the absence of the Temple, the impurity of this affliction clings only to the soul, but is not manifest on the person¡¯s body.
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Dedications and Sponsorships
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Do you know someone who needs a refuah shleima? A shidduch? Or perhaps a meaningful yahrtzeit is approaching? As a merit
for a recovery from illness or for a departed family member you can sponsor a daily email and have over 8,000 people, every day, learn and be inspired as a z¡¯chus for your loved one. Please call 845-352-3505 #113 or email
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Educational and Fun Resources for Lag Ba'Omer
Hi Everyone!
The Jewish festival "Lag Ba'Omer" is Thursday, May 19, 2022.
If you are flying over Israel on Wednesday night, May 18, and you
look down out of your plane, you will see thousands of bonfires
dotting the landscape as far as the eye can see. There are various
customs and explanations for these celebrations.
I posted on my website 48 links to learn about "Lag Ba'Omer".
The address is:
Lag Ba'Omer Spotify song playlist at:
Enjoy the bonfires!
FYI:
I am currently updating the links for Yom Yerushalayim,
Jerusalem Day, which is celebrated this year on May 29, 2022.
Educational resources:
Videos about Jerusalem:
Jerusalem Song Pages
I will be updating the Shavuot hotsites at:
Please share the links. Thank You!
Shabbat Shalom,
Jacob Richman
jrichman@...
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Today's Inspiration - Shabbat shalom!
The Rarity of Holiness
Said the Koretzer: "The learned are fewer in number than the ignorant; still fewer are the righteous; fewest are those who can truly pray. Holiness does not care to leave its heavenly abode for this mundane world, and only a few ardent supplicants can induce it to descend."
Source: Nofeth Tzufim
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MITZVAH: Hachnasat Kallah
Shalom I had an orphan Kallah contact me yesterday. She is orphaned from her father and getting married after Lag B?mer. If anyone is able to help, please be in touch.? Information will only be shared with those who assist
Thank you for sharing kindness
Shoshanah Shear
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Jerusalem Mental Health Expo
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????THE FIRST ANNUAL
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????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????MAY 16, 2022?
????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????9:30 AM - 7:00 PM
Bringing mental health awareness, education, collaboration and connection to the Anglos of Israel!
- Panels of experts addressing mental health issues
- Learn to navigate Israel¡¯s mental health system
- Meet with professional mental health practitioners
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? THE NEFESH B'NEFESH ALIYAH CAMPUS
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?10 SDEROT YITZCHAK RABIN, JERUSALEM
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? WWW.JERUSALEMMENTALHEALTHEXPO.COM
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Sefirah: Time to count #26 "Hayom shishah ve-esrim yom sheheim sh'loshah shavuos va-chamishah yamim la'omer/ba'omer"
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Awakening Holiness
Said the Apter: "Holiness has the effect of awakening holiness. It cultivates the better nature of those who observe it. We learn that when the artists who wrought the holy objects for the Tabernacle reported a surplus of materials, Moses did not ordain that no more materials should be brought, but that no more work should be done (Exodus 36:4-6). This was because the people, aroused to a sense of holiness and dedication , could not be restrained from bringing gifts as long as a holy work was being performed."
Source: Menorah ha-Tehorah
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Amen. May we be redeemed today
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Wednesday, May 4, 2022, Sharon Spira < bashert17@...> wrote: The World's Redemption
The Rozdoler paraphrased the verse in Proverbs 31:30 thus: "When Falsity will be accepted as Grace, when Vanity will be looked upon as Beauty and when the woman who fears the Lord shall be ridiculed, then the Redeemer will be compelled to rescue the world from utter corruption, and to uplift it, since it can fall no lower."
Source: Or Yesharim
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 40 ¨C Fighting Fire with Fire
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We have seen that one must be prepared to make sacrifices so that the laws of forbidden speech not be violated.
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In the world of business, when one¡¯s product is maligned by competitors, the natural and predictable reaction is to respond in kind.? Such is not the way of the Torah.? There is no basis for the notion that one who has been the object of loshon hora can respond
with a counter-offensive of defamation.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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Humbled and Contrite
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The Torah teaches that the punishment of tzaraas can take on a number of forms, and each is intended as a Divine calling to the afflicted individual. In the words of Rambam (Hilchos Tumas Tzaraas 16:10):
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The term tzaraas encompasses a number of phenomena which are totally distinct from one another. It refers to the whitening of human skin; the falling out of human hair from the head or beard; a change of color of a garment; and a change of color of the wall
of a house.1
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These [phenomena] . . . did not fall within the laws of nature. Rather, each was a sign and wonder among the people of Israel to caution them with regard to loshon hora.
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If a person would speak loshon hora, then the walls of his house would change color [and the house would be pronounced tamei (impure) by the Kohen]; if he repented, the walls would revert back to their original state [and would be purified]. If he persisted
in his wickedness until his house would have to be destroyed, then the hides upon which he would sit or lie would change color [and be declared tamei]; if he repented, then the hides would undergo ritual purification. If he persisted in his wickedness until
the hides would have to be burned, then the clothing he wore would change color; if he repented, then the clothing would undergo purification. If he persisted in his wickedness until they would have to be burned, then his skin color would change and he would
be declared a metzora. He would have to remain apart [from his fellow Jews] and his condition would become known to all, so that he would no longer take part in the conversations of the wicked, which are filled with frivolity and loshon hora.
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The Torah states: ¡°And the person with tzaraas ¡ his garments shall be torn, the hair of his head shall be unshorn, and he shall cloak himself up to his lips; 1 he is to call out: ¡®Contaminated, contaminated!¡¯ ¡± (Vayikra 13:45).
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The purpose of this proclamation was to warn people to stay away from him lest his tumah contaminate them, and to inform others of his anguish so that they would pray for him. The metzora¡¯s isolation and disgrace would humble him and inspire him to regret his
sin. He would resolve that from then on he would refrain from committing this bitter sin, and he would beg forgiveness of those of whom he had spoken disparagingly in the past.
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1. The laws of the various forms of tzaraas are detailed in the Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora (Vayikra chs. 13-14).
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Dedications and Sponsorships
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Do you know someone who needs a refuah shleima? A shidduch? Or perhaps a meaningful yahrtzeit is approaching? As a merit
for a recovery from illness or for a departed family member you can sponsor a daily email and have over 8,000 people, every day, learn and be inspired as a z¡¯chus for your loved one. Please call 845-352-3505 #113 or email
lozeri@... to sponsor or for more information on other sponsorship opportunities
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Special pre-Shavuot shiur series by Dr Beni Gesundheit via Zoom
Tefilah.org?and? Torah in Motion?present a three-part series in English by Dr. Beni Gesundheit in honor of Shavuot: May 12: Structure & Meaning of the Chagim in the Jewish Calendar May 19: Maimonides¡¯ Curriculum for the Study of the Torah May 26: The Difference of the Ten Commandments in Shemot & Devarim All classes will take place on Zoom on Thursdays at?
6:00pm Israel Time/?11:00am Eastern Time - on May 12, 19 and 26. Recordings will be available a few days after each class.
Click here for more details and to receive the Zoom link:?
The classes are free of charge but registration is required.
About the lecturer:?Dr. Beni Gesundheit is an alumnus of Yeshivat Har Etzion who gives lectures on Torah content at various colleges and communities around Israel. Dr. Gesundheit is also a pediatrician in the field of oncology and research, with a PHD in medical ethics.
Regards,
The Tefilah.org Team
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SEFER CHOFETZ CHAIM
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Day 39 ¨C Like Any Other Prohibition
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As with any Torah prohibition, one cannot justify speaking loshon hora on the basis of personal need or practicality.? A Jew must be prepared to forego his comfort, social status, and even livelihood rather than transgress Torah
Law.? Needless to say, it is forbidden to speak loshon hora to gain popularity or win friendship.
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One must not succumb to social pressure and engage in gossip, in the same way that one would not compromise his kashrus standards due to social pressure.
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It is forbidden to comply with an employer¡¯s demand that one reveal information which is loshon hora ¡ª even if such failure means the loss of one¡¯s job.
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Similarly, the commandment to honor one¡¯s father and mother does not justify speaking loshon hora.? One must respectfully refuse a parent¡¯s request that derogatory or harmful information be related.
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SEFER SHMIRAS HALOSHON
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The Metzora¡¯s Isolation
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¡°He who slanders his neighbor in secret ¡ª him will I cut down¡± (Psalms 101:5). The Talmud (Arachin 15b) interprets the latter half of the verse as a reference to the terrible affliction of tzaraas.
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The Talmudic sage Reish Lakish sees the term ¡°Metzora¡± (one who is afflicted with tzaraas)? as a contraction of ¡°one who spreads slander.¡±? ¡°Whoever speaks loshon hora will have afflictions [of tzaraas] visited upon him.¡± (ibid)
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This indicates the extreme severity of this sin, for the Torah is unusually stringent with regard to the laws of tumah (ritual impurity) as pertaining to the metzora. In the Wilderness, three distinct boundaries existed within the Jews¡¯ encampment, each representing
a different level of sanctity. From among the various types of ritually impure, only the metzora was forbidden from entering all three camps. As the Torah states: ¡°He shall dwell in isolation; his dwelling shall be outside the camp¡± (Vayikra 13:46).
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¡°Why was the metzora singled out to live in isolation? Because [through his evil speech] he caused a husband to separate from his wife, and friends to become distant from one another¡± (Arachin 16b).
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¡°R¡¯ Yehoshua ben Levi said: Why was the metzora singled out to bring two pigeons for his purification? Said the Holy One, Blessed is He: ¡®His sin was one of [sinful] chatter, therefore, let him bring an offering of chirping birds¡¯ ¡± (ibid.).
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Dedications and Sponsorships
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Do you know someone who needs a refuah shleima? A shidduch? Or perhaps a meaningful yahrtzeit is approaching? As a merit
for a recovery from illness or for a departed family member you can sponsor a daily email and have over 8,000 people, every day, learn and be inspired as a z¡¯chus for your loved one. Please call 845-352-3505 #113 or email
lozeri@... to sponsor or for more information on other sponsorship opportunities
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Are you a Chasan or Kallah? ? Or a newlywed in your first year?
¡°Hi Avigail, I¡¯m starved! So good to be home. Something smells great!¡±
¡°OMG Yaakov! I¡¯ve been waiting for you, for like, forever! You¡¯re smelling dessert. But I messed up on the chicken-veg soup. I used a pareve pot and the milky hand blender! Is it all treif?!¡±
¡°Uhhhh... I don¡¯t know.¡±
The engagement?period is such an exciting (or nervewracking?;) time. You're setting up your own beautiful new home - and in it, a sparkling kosher kitchen. You know the basics about not mixing meat and milk. But more than that? You've heard concepts like "24 hours" or "davar charif" or "keli rishon and sheini," but they occupy a fuzzy, uncertain sort of La-la-land.
Chassanim: The above scenario doesn't have?to happen to you! You can be the husband that asks his wife a couple of pertinent questions and issues a clear halachic ruling.
Kallahs: You can carry the trust your?husband places in your kosher kitchen with pride, knowing for certain that everything is 100% okay, and you're feeding him and your future family with delicious, ideal-level, food.
Email info@... for a 50% off coupon to use for the upcoming Kashrus Intermediate?course by Rabbi YZ Saberski. Want to check out his teaching style first?? Click here:?
The course is ideal for your very busy time of life: - visual (engaging slides) - interactive (Q&A throughout) - 15 short sessions(25 minutes)
Looking forward to welcoming you! (Registration closes this Sunday at 1:00PM EST.)
Sara Peltz
P.S. An ideal wedding gift for the sincere, Torah-True couple, don't you think? Reach out to info@... to gift a young couple with this eye-opening course. (They'll love doing it together!) You'll still get the reduction.
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Does anyone have S.A. Rands for Sale
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Hi,
I received a gift of canned pickled vegetables. Never having eaten that I don't quite know what to do with the pickled vegetables. Please advise.
Thanking you in advance, Deena?
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Sefirah: Time to count #25 "Hayom chamishah ve-esrim yom sheheim sh'loshah shavuos ve-arba'ah yamim la'omer/ba'omer"
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The World's Redemption
The Rozdoler paraphrased the verse in Proverbs 31:30 thus: "When Falsity will be accepted as Grace, when Vanity will be looked upon as Beauty and when the woman who fears the Lord shall be ridiculed, then the Redeemer will be compelled to rescue the world from utter corruption, and to uplift it, since it can fall no lower."
Source: Or Yesharim
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Nvidia to further expand R&D operations in Israel, hire 1,000 engineers
Hi Everyone!
This is good news.....
They have 7 centers in Israel:
Beer Sheva, Jerusalem, Kiryat Gat, Raanana, Tel Aviv, Tel Hai, Yokneam
Nvidia to further expand R&D operations in Israel, hire 1,000 engineers
Article at:
Already 502 positions listed in Linkedin
Have a good day,
Jacob Richman
jrichman@...
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Jacob Richman