Shalloooooommmmm sweeeetest friends!!!!
A huuuuuuge mazel tov to my beloved friends R' Shlomo and Malka Hubscher on the Bat Mitzva of their daughter Yonit!! May she and all of her siblings continue growing up in good health, prosperity and happiness!!
I don't know what to say - but on the same week of this great simcha another world changing event happened. The Cubbies!!!! Mazel tov R' Shlomo and the many long suffering Cubs fans on the victory and breaking of the 108 year streak of of no world series wins. Just as the Cubs finally broke through and won it all - so may Klal Yisrael break the 2000 year streak of having no Beis Hamikdash and see the coming of our redeemer bimheyra bi-yameinu AMEEENNNN!!!!!!!
This dvar Torah should be a zchus for R' Moshe Mordechai ben Chana, R' Noach ben Chaya Leiba, R' Yehoshua Meir ben Rochel Soroh, R' Moshe Yehuda ben Pesha Dina, R' Shmuel Binyamin ben Tishna Rochel Leah, R' Yehuda Yaakov ben Dina Chasha, R' Avraham Yitzchak ben Esther, R' Yosef Ezra ben Esther, and R' Chaim Yehoshua ben Ephraim Hakohen!!
And a zchus li-ilui nishmas Harav Hechossid R' Yisrael Tzvi ben R' Tzadok, the father of להיבדל לחיים טובים וארוכים Mori Vi-rabi Shlita.
May Hashem grant ALL of them and their families only blessings and kindness in all areas of their lives.
In Parshas Noach we read of the Mabul that destroyed planet earth and we had to start all over again. This is a good lesson for all of us. Many of us go to mikvah either from time to time or even daily. When you go under those waters it is essentially a mabul. When you come out it is a new beginning. Purity means starting again with a blessing as Hashem blessed the earth that there will never be another such destruction. So remember - no matter WHAT happened, you always have the opportunity to start all over again.
The Medrash contrasts the deeds of Noach to the deeds of his generation and says that only Noach was intimate with his wife for the sake of having children while they had no such intentions.
This is strange. Chazal tell us about the terrible sins of this generation [גילוי עריות עבודה זרה גזל] so why do they say that the point of departure between Noach and everyone else was the intention one had when with one's spouse. It doesn't really seem to be the big deal the Medrash makes out of it?!!
It seems that the Medrash is telling us the ROOT of all of their sins. When one has relations with no intention of having children what he is really expressing is that he wants pleasure without responsibility. That is the root of much evil. It is not the act itself which is so terrible but the attitude of pleasure and excitement with no repercussions or responsibilities. Just pure pleasure for the sake of pleasure. [See Rashi in parsha Beresheis on the wives of Lemech and the Ibn Ezra on Ben Sorrer Umoreh].
The Torah ALSO wants us to have pleasure but that pleasure must be framed in the proper context. We are supposed to eat and eat well but WHAT do we eat, HOW do we eat, with WHOM do we eat, what quantities do we eat etc. etc. are all very important questions.
We are supposed to have homes but WHERE do we live, how much are we investing in our homes beyond what we really need just for the sake of pampering ourselves, how much time and thought goes into our homes compared to the amount of time and effort we invest in spiritual pursuits, what is our intention when building a home etc. etc.
When one's attitude is that he or she is here strictly to satisfy the needs and wants of one's nefesh hebehemis - animal soul, then it could lead to the most egregious sins.
That is what the Medrash is telling us. Noach also enjoyed his marital life but understood that it came along with responsibility and consequences as opposed to everyone else who was just looking for a good time. If life is all about a good time then anything is possible and everything is permitted provided that it promises the rewards of immediate gratification and fun.
In our generation there is a terrible phenomenon that people push off marriage for a long time. They want to "play the field". If one is getting paid millions of dollars a year by their pro baseball team to play the field then fine. But the notion of just wanting to have fun before settling down and undertaking responsibility is antithetical to Torah values.
The elections for President are coming up. One thing is for sure. Neither candidate represents anything close to our value system. Both in their personal and public lives they are the symbol of most things that we don't want to be. אלה תולדות נח נח איש צדיק - Our role models are the איש צדיק's of the world. Not the vulgar or dishonest politicians whom we are compelled to have as our "leaders". No yeshuos will come from either of them - I promise. Yes, the president will definitely have a Jewish son-in-law but that is really no true consolation. We want to live in a world where our leaders are true role models on a moral plane and that is what we are missing.
What we can do is be role models for those around us and in that way change the world. I guarantee you - everyone reading this is a much better human being than D. or H. We have to remember who we are and what our responsibilities are in life and we will do just great.
As for the Republic - Der Aibershter feert the velt, G-d runs the show so ultimately we will be redeemed from all foreign rule and see the coming of Moshiach and the breaking of a longer dry streak than even the Cubbies had and the binyan bayis hashlishi and return to Yerushalayim bimheyrah bi-yameinu Amen!!!
Bi-ahava rabba,
Me
I would like to endore my candidate - Jay Leno. Imagine what a beautiful world it would be if people walked around laughing all day because the President is so funny. And for big decisions he can hire a bunch of Jewish guys from Teaneck and the Five Towns who will decide how much aid to give to Israel etc. etc. Whatta ya think??
