אתה זוכר מעשה עולם - You remember the deeds of al

Hi,

The following parable is meant to explain the praise expressed in the sentence, "You [Gd] remember the deeds of all," from the Rosh haShanah davening:

"This may be compared to a man whose young son says something wise, so that the father turns to him and enjoys his wisdom. Granted that the father's grasp and wisdom is incomparably greater than the child's, still, he lovingly reduces himself to the intellectual level of the child, to appreciate and enjoy the child's accomplishment.

"'You remember the deeds of all - You lower Yourself, as it were, to enjoy and be satisfied with our small deeds and service."

(Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev, Kedushat Levi for Rosh HaShanah, as cited in Shaarei Armon pg. 242)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The essence of Judaism eludes us

Hi,

"In our "enlightened" times, Jewish souls are deceived by the delusion of "double concealment." Too frequently, we offer lifeless prayers in the midst of animated personal conversation and drag ourselves through the details of Orthodox Judaism. We have forgotten the purpose of life, while observing its regulations. We have lost our sense of divine yearning and subsequently have stopped yearning ourselves. We proceed cheerfully with the business of establishing institutions and supporting more Jewish causes, not realizing that the essence of Judaism eludes us.

"Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev once gathered all the Jews of Berditchev in the main synagogue, rose to the bimah and called out: "Jews, do not forget there is a Gd in Heaven!" To this end our beis medrash was established -- to stop the inertia of apathy, to tear away at least one mask of concealment and call out "There is a Gd in Heaven!""

(Rav Moshe Weinberger, Jewish Action, Fall 5760)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The purpose of a miracle

Hi,

"Know that via miracles, all can see that the world was created, and that there is a Cause above all Causes that created the world, and that all realms were created other than blessed Gd."

(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi, Chanukah: Kedushah Rishonah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The power of miracles

Hi,

“Know that via miracles, it becomes obvious to all that the world was created, and that there is a cause for all causes who created His world.”

(R’ Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi, Kedushah l’Chanukah 1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Why send meraglim [spies] to Israel?

Hi,

"It appears that Gd's essential intent was to send Gd-fearing, complete people, whose entire goal was the service of Gd. Gd-forbid, it was not for them to tour the land and see its material aspects, but rather Gd instructed Moshe to send people who already served Gd in order for them to make their mark as servants of Gd there, through Torah and prayer, in order to draw life and spiritual influence from the heavenly Israel to the earthly Israel, so that the land of Israel itself would long for the arrival of the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov."

(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi to Parshat Sh'lach)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Succot: Repentance generated by love

Hi,

"It appears correct to me that in the days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur each person's eyes are open to examine his ways and return to Gd, each person according to his insight will be praised... and one who trembles at the word of Gd will act according to the heights of his insight to repair that which he had corrupted. This is repentance generated by awe.

"After Yom Kippur, when people become involved with succah and lulav and the four species... then this repentance is repentance generated by love."

(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi for Shabbat Shuvah)

Moadim l'simchah,
Mordechai

The point of being elevated

Hi,

"When Gd elevates a person in status, he should not take pleasure in his own ascent. Rather, his essential focus should be on elevating others, guiding the nation of Gd in the path of Gd, and elevating sparks to Gd."

(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, Kedushat Levi to Parshat Vayyigash אנכי אעלך גם עלה)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Is it Pesach or is it the Festival of Matzah?

Hi,

"Pesach is identified in the Torah as Chag haMatzot [the festival of matzah], but we call it Pesach [Gd passed over the Jewish homes and did not harm them].

"The reason for this is the biblical verse, 'I am for my beloved, and my beloved is for me.' We speak of the praise of Gd, and Gd speaks of the praise of the Jewish people."

(Taamei haMinhagim 498, from Kedushat Levi to Parshat Bo)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The meal of the angels

Hi,

"Why did Avraham provide the visiting angels a meal of meat, rather than fish?

"Because he wished to be energetic in performing mitzvot for them. Preparing meat involves many mitzvot, such as shechitah, salting the meat and removing prohibited parts, but no such mitzvot are involved in preparing fish."

(R' Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev, Kedushat Levi to Parshat Vayyera)

Have a great day,
Mordechai