Starting this week, Rabbi Zev Leff will be giving a weekly class on Even Shlaima, the classic compilation of hashkafic writings of the Vilna Gaon. The class will be broadcast live by Zoom every Wednesday, in English, for free, at 8:50 p.m. Israel time, 1:50 p.m. EST and 10:50 a.m. PST.

The study of this classic sefer will be preceded by learning some halachos that apply between Man and his fellow. Currently, the rabbi is focussing on the laws and ethics of business dealings.

For information about where and how to obtain a copy of Even Shlaima with or without English translation, email me.

The class is free. but donations and sponsorships are most welcome. Contact szjessel@...

Jewish men and women around the world can tune in to the live broadcast by Zoom or by phone. So please share this information with anyone in the world whom you think might be interested and post it on any groups or lists you deem appropriate. It's the same link every week, so you can save this email for future reference. If you want to get a weekly email reminder/update about the class, send me your email address and I'll add you to my reminder list.

The shiur is recorded, in case you miss a week. The recordings are available by request, from Rav Aaron Krokocki at raaronk@... .

Rabbi Leff has asked us to raise funds to upgrade the security of his moshav, which is close to Arab villages. Please write to me if you would like to make a donation.

Here is the Zoom information. Please mute yourself once you're in the shiur.

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Be well,

Shlomo Zalman Jessel

Amid all the tragedy, heartbreak and the tears, Israelis remain supportive of each other. This spirit will keep us strong. In that light, I will be posting stories of events and encounters that show our solidarity each week at this time.? These will be stories of unity, hope and triumph to remind us why we came to Israel and why we are here to stay.?

Saba Menahem’s Tale

With the war going on, everyone in the family seems to have something important to do but me. Tova & Spike are in school or with their youth groups making care packages for our chayalim. Lucy and Emunah are picking vegetables somewhere down south. My role seems to be doing some fill-in shopping while everyone else is contributing to the war effort. It’s what I do anyway, but Lucy jokes that I oversee the home front command.

Very funny.

Well, this week, my downstairs neighbor, a single mother, called us in the afternoon and asked if Emunah or Lucy were around to be with her 4 year-old son for the afternoon because she needed to rush to the doctor and her husband was still? in Gaza. Neither of them was home, I explained, but I was available. She was hesitant, at first, after all, my Hebrew isn’t all that good, and she wasn’t sure if I would be up to sitting for a 4 year-old. For that matter, neither was I, but I wasn’t about to admit it. I reassured her in my broken Hebrew that ‘hakol yihye beseder ‘ – it’ll all be fine –and headed over to her place. ??

Noam turned out to be a pleasure. We drew pictures, played with stickers, kicked a soccer ball in the little park across the street and went to the local makolet for 2 Kinder eggs – one for each of us. (I let him keep the little toy inside). The 2 hours flew by, and not once did Noam make fun of my Hebrew. And after it was all over, Noam gave me a big hug and asked his mother if ‘Saba Menahem’ can come over again to play.

Don’t get me wrong. Tova and Spike are the best grandchildren anyone can have. But I can definitely get used to this kind of home front command duty. I’ll gladly throw in some fill-in shopping, even if I don’t get to keep the Kinder toy.?