Tu b'Shevat

Hi,

Tu b'Shevat [celebrated on Monday February 9 this year] is the equivalent of January 1 in the Jewish tithing calendar for Israeli produce - it is the first day of the financial year. Therefore, tree-fruit which blossoms before Tu b'Shevat is tithed as part of one tithing cycle, and tree-fruit which blossoms after Tu b'Shevat is tithed in a different cycle.

To celebrate this day, and to express gratitude for the edible fruit of our trees, many Jews eat fruit on Tu b'Shevat.

(Mishneh Berurah 131:31)

[How do the different tithing cycles work? I'm glad you asked:
Each year's produce is tithed differently. In all non-shemitah years, 2% goes to the Kohanim and 10% to the Levites, but in certain years another 10% is brought to Yerushalayim to be eaten there, and in other years that last 10% is given to the needy.
Also: one may not tithe one year's produce using another year's produce.
Aren't you glad you asked?]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Law leads to morality

Hi,

I know this one will be controversial, but it's a fascinating assertion, with great basis in Jewish tradition:

"Careful observance of law is the only path to perfection of morality."

(Chazon Ish, Emunah UBitachon)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Passing of Rabbi Noach Weinberg

Hello,

Today [Thursday], the Jewish people lost one of our most devoted teachers, a man who truly loved all, and sought to help all: Rabbi Noach Weinberg, zt"l.

My parents were involved with Rabbi Weinberg's "Aish haTorah" yeshiva back in the late '70s-early '80s. I have a photograph somewhere of me sitting on my parents' couch, next to Rabbi Weinberg, a Steinsaltz gemara open in front of us. I was maybe 9 or 10 years old, and wearing a "Yerushalayim" t-shirt and shorts, sitting next to a great rosh yeshiva who took the time to talk to me.

Seven or eight years later, I attended a day-long "Discovery" seminar for yeshiva students at Aish haTorah, and then a Shabbat at the yeshiva two years after that.

In later years I became a skeptic of some of the Aish haTorah program, and once had the chance to question Rabbi Weinberg about aspects of the Torah Codes. Although I couldn't accept his answers, it was clear that he genuinely believed in the program, and in applying it to wake Jews to their magnificent heritage.

Over the years I had the chance to hear Rabbi Weinberg speak several times, both live and otherwise. He was always electric, his hearty smile, his wonderful accent, his love of people... he was one of those people who make an impact on you because of their sincere warmth, even before you get to their message.

We were blessed to have Rabbi Weinberg among us as long as we did. He was a present to us from the דיין אמת (the Judge of Truth) who has now removed him from among us. May He send us more Rabbi Weinbergs, soon.

Yhi zichro baruch, May his memory be for a blessing,
Mordechai

Making light of a child's impropriety

Hi,

"A sage entered the home of a righteous Jew, and that righteous Jew had small children who would address each other by saying, 'Son of a Zonah [promiscuous woman], give us such-and-such.' The righteous Jew laughed.

"The sage said: Children who already know what 'son of a Zonah' means are accountable if they slander or curse their parents. Even if their parents are not offended, we may not permit them to slander, curse or strike their parents!"

(Sefer Chasidim 543)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Offering blessing to others

Hi,

"If a Kohen refuses to bless the nation (as he is instructed to bless them in Bamidbar 6), then he will not receive blessing from Gd.

"A Kohen who does bless the nation, though, will receive blessing as well, as Gd said (to Avraham), 'I will bless those who bless you.'"

(Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Prayer and the Raising of the Hands [for the blessing] 15:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A reminder to think ahead

Hi,

Note: Mishlei frequently uses adultery as an allusion for other sins, specifically straying from service of Gd.

"Will a person stoke a fire in his cloak, without burning his clothes? Could a person walk on coals without burning his feet? So, one who lives with his neighbor's wife; one who so much as touches her will not be cleansed."

(Mishlei [Proverbs] 6:27-29)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Get moving!

Hi,

"Rabbi Tarfon said: The day is short and there is much work to do, and the laborers are lazy and there is much reward, and the employer is demanding."

(Pirkei Avot 2:15)

Have a great day,
Mordechai