measuring Ahavas and Yiras Hashem

Today, the fifth of Kislev, is the 80th Yartzeit of Hagaon Rav Baruch Ber Leibowitz Zatztal. His son-in-law Hagaon Rav Reuven Grozovsky Zatztal, related the following:

Rav Yisroel Salanter once remarked; Why do the wicked ones hate the righteous, more than the righteous hate the wicked? He answered; we are not as righteous as they are wicked. Rav Baruch Ber explained; the wicked ones hatred is based purely on bad character traits, thus no great effort is demanded to obtain the hatred. On the other hand, the despising that the righteous have for the wicked, is based on an abundance of Ahavas Hashem, which needs to be attained. He added; I measure my Ahavas and Yiras Hashem by the degree to which I despise evil.

When Bocherim who were protesting the actions of Zionist youth were hit by them, Rav Boruch Ber said; It is Min HaShamayim, in order that Bnei Torah should understand to distance themselves from Zionism. It is comparable to one who wants to distance his son from a dog, he incites the dog to scare his son, and this teaches him to stay away. He added; You see, this is Zionism, when you take-up the battle for Kovod Shamayim, then they strike you.

the Sentry 

Jeckes Museum

Jeckes Museum

"The German-Speaking Jewry Heritage Museum was founded in 1968 by the late Israel Shiloni, and prior to being moved to the Tefen Industrial Park in 1991, the museum was situated in the Nahariya Municipality's building. In 2004, a collaboration contract was signed between the museum administration and the administration of the Association of Israelis of Central European Origin, and one year later the new museum was inaugurated."

likely pretty reform and non-religious but i really don't know
it's near mt meron

For all who are fooled by secular politicians

A father appeared at an Al Taharas HaKodesh Cheder in Yerushalayim, and requested to enroll his two boys. As the Cheder learns in Yiddish, which the children don’t speak, the Menahel asked the father why he chose this type of school. The father related the following, hard to believe story; “I am a ba’al teshuva. I was visiting my father-in-law, who is Chiloni, and he told me; ‘Now the children are yours, in fifteen years they’ll be mine.’ When I asked him to explain this queer statement, he said; ‘The entire Chareidi community is in a downward spiritual spiral. According to the plans already in place [in the schools], in just fifteen years the Chareidim will be significantly secularized. At that time, your children will revert to respecting me [and my ideals]. Only one group, the students of Rav Auerbach, are holding their-own.’ I am taking his words seriously, and I would therefore like to enroll the children in this Cheder.” It seems like the shver is following the news, and has put together all the many pieces of the puzzle. Only, truth be told, the shver is not up on the news, rather, he is one of the main characters in creating it; for his name is none other than Binyamin Netanyahu.

The Sentry

Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita on kiruv

The Kesef Mishne (end of Ch. 6 of H. Ovos Hatumah) writes that a mikveh does not effect purification for a person still immersed in it, but only he has left it. Similarly, those who engage in outreach work must realize that they cannot make do with delivering several shiurim in the hope that they will have the desired effect. Even those who become observant can fall by the wayside after the initial period, if they do not receive emotional support subsequently. Their mentors must follow in the footsteps of Avrohom ovinu. He did not make do with making speeches and inspiring his followers, but rather became a father for many thousands of his followers, who became members of his household. It is especially incumbent on kiruv organizations to ensure that young people find appropriate marriage partners.

Based on droshos by Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita, raavad of Yerushalayim.  To receive these weekly divrei Torah email benipray@netvision.net.il.

Quotes from writer E.B. White

"One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy."

"Prejudice is a great time saver. You can form opinions without having to get the facts."

"The world is full of people who have never, since childhood, met an open doorway with an open mind."

"Explaining a joke is like dissecting a frog. You understand it better but the frog dies in the process."

"There's no limit to how complicated things can get, on account of one thing always leading to another."

"Don't write about Man; write about a man."

"Life is like writing with a pen. You can cross out your past but you can't erase it."

"To achieve style, begin by affecting none."

"We should all do what, in the long run, gives us joy, even if it is only picking grapes or doing laundry."

"When an American family becomes separated from its toothbrushes and combs and pajamas for a few hours it considers that it has had quite an adventure."

"Everything in life is somewhere else and you get there in a car."

"Most people believe almost anything they see in print."

"By comparison with other less hectic days, the city is uncomfortable and inconvenient; but New Yorkers temperamentally do not crave comfort and convenience- if they did they would live elsewhere."

"I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world."

"When your stomach is empty and your mind is full, it’s always hard to sleep."