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Tefillah (Mordechai Shapiro)
We sometimes convince ourselves that Hashem is too busy running the world to listen to us, with our trivial requests and inadequate praise and thanks… He’s got bigger things to worry about these days, right? Actually, we couldn’t be more wrong. We are Hashem’s children and we must know without a doubt that we are being heard – and not only that – but are being answered as well!
Lecha Dodi – (Baruch Levine)
Later, when they had some quiet time to talk, Yisro said, “I was just wondering, we haven’t had more than a few moments to chat. Where are you from?”
The boy looked pained, then stared down at the floor and said softly, “Ramallah.”
Yisro’s heart skipped a beat. He was sure he’d heard the boy say “Ramallah,” a large Arab city on the West Bank. Quickly he caught himself, and then realized that he must have said Ramleh, an Israeli city. Yisro said, “Oh, I have a cousin there. Do you know Ephraim Warner? He lives on Herzl Street.”
The young man shook his head sadly. “There are no Jews in Ramallah.”
Meloch – Carlebach (Ishay Ribo)
One of the main mitzvos of Rosh Hashanah is to accept and crown Hashem as King of the Universe. So in order to properly do so, we must actualize in our minds and hearts the fact that Hashem truly does rule over the world and everything in it. Easier said than done? Maybe.
Yedid Nefesh (MBD)
When you love someone, there is nothing that you won’t do for them. Seemingly insignificant tasks are no longer tedious but are held in the utmost import and are done with zing and flourish. Think of all the things that we do for our loved ones, spouses, children, etc. What we do for others shows the love we have for them. This is the way we must act towards Hashem, because He is our Loved One – our most Beloved.
Achas Shoalti (Yingerlich)
This is Yiddishkeit in a nutshell, ladies and gents. Read, reap & repeat.
Yom Zeh Mechubad (Dovid Gabay)
Just as the salt of our Shabbos tables is used to enhance the taste of the delicacies before us, the choice of song is of utmost importance and must enhance the spiritual taste of our Shabbos tables.
Bilvavi – 1971 (Ohr Chodosh)
From a young age, we busy ourselves in the building of our internal Mishkan – brick by brick, with every single experience, tragedy and triumph – so that Hashem will take permanent residence inside our hearts. Our hearts – our one true faithful guide.
Ana Melech (MBD feat. YBC)
There is a story of a young, newly married man who came to complain to Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein zt’l. He said that as much as he admonished his wife, she was never ready on time to light the Shabbos candles, and he asked for advice on how to remedy the problem. Reb Chatzkel bluntly responded, “You pick up a broom.“
Nechumeh (R’ Shimshy Neiman)
While time heals a mourner’s pain, the discomfort that we feel for the loss of the Beis Hamikdash can only be remedied by it being rebuilt. Only then will we have our true nechama – “Nachamu, Nachamu Ami yomar Elokeichem…..”
🕯 Reb Meir Zlotowitz zt’l (1943-2017) – 30th of Sivan
His eyes glimmered like crystal and were filled with love and kindness. His smiling face was warm and radiant. His voice was pleasant and sweet. Just who was this Tzaddik, about whom so many amazing things have been said? Why exactly did everyone so greatly admire and adore him? Let’s read a few things about one of the greatest figures of Yerushalayim, a man simply called Reb Aryeh, and then maybe we’ll have a better idea.