Ki Seitze - Avoiding Gossip

What does the midrash mean when it says that 'a person can not see their own blemish?' What are the primary causes of the tzora'as affliction? How does the negativity embodied in speaking gossip spread? How does speaking gossip lead to denying Hashem's existence? What is the rectification of this, and how does it lead us to the times of Moshiach?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 24:24

Tazria-Metzora - Love vs Gossip

What can we uncover by looking at the punishment the Torah metes out for the sin of gossip? Why is he sent out of the encampment when he is stricken with spiritual leprosy (tzara'as)? Why does he call out 'impure, impure?' Why are the merits of the one who spoke gossip taken away and transferred to the one he spoke about? What is the depth of the concept of loving one's neighbor as oneself? How does one develop that love?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 29:12

Ki Seitze - Compassion and Fellowship

What is the depth of the idea of sending away the mother bird when taking the chicks? Why does the Gemara say that it is improper to say that this mitzvah indicates that Hashem has compassion upon the animals? Why does our midrash indicate the opposite? How does fulfilment of this commandment bring closer the days of Moshiach? What is the connection to the mitzvah of steering away from gossip? Why does the midrash conclude in that context, as well, with the concept of the coming of Moshiach?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 27:05

Ki Seitze - Honest Accounting

Why does the Torah focus on the sin of Miriam, one of the greatest prophetesses of all time, when warning us of the sin of Lashon Hara (gossip)? Why does the midrash specifically point out the individual sins of Eve, Sarah, Rachel, Leah and Miriam? Why does the Midrash teach us that in Moshe's prayer for Miriam, he recalled his own sin in speaking Lashon Hara? How can we honestly look at our shortcomings and become greater people? Why is the person with Tzara'as (spiritual leprosy) enjoined not to touch or disdain their affliction?

Find out in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 25:14

Vayeshev - Making of a leader

Why does the Torah stress that Yosef brought a negative report of his brothers to his father? Why does the midrash stress that all of his travails were a result of specifically this negative report? What is the meaning of the brothers' statement to Yosef, 'Will you be king over us?' Why is Yosef held to such a high standard when he asks Pharaoh's winebearer to remember him?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 21:44

Metzora - Unconditional love

In light of the destructive effect of Lashon Hara, we discuss the healing power of unconditional love, in this week's parsha podcast.

Running time: 16:48

Tazria - Milah, circumcision and words

What is the connection between the concept of circumcision and Lashon Hara, destructive speech? What is the power of words? Why is Man referred to as a 'speaking spirit?' Why does the Torah want us to constantly be speaking words of Torah? What does it mean that circumcision pushes away spiritual leprosy?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Running time: 14:04

Tazria-Metzorah - The Metzorah/Niddah connection

Why do we mainly find this unusual sickness in regards to the concept of lashon hara - forbidden speech? Why does this sickness cover the skin? Why do we find that this sickness can also be found on one's house and clothing? Why is the Kohen the one who is in charge of this evaluation? Why is the metzora sequestered for seven days? What does it mean in the medrash when it says that tzara'as is a result of a mother who was not careful in the laws of family purity? Why does the niddah count seven clean days? What is the connection to the counting of the seven weeks of the Omer? Why was the punishment of Chava that she would have a period where blood flows out of her - how does this rectify the sin?

Find out in this week's Parsha Podcast.

Ribono - strength through song

I must say that I was not sure if there would be much response to my anti-Loshon-Hara drive, and I was scared to look at my stats to see how many people downloaded Rav Kessin's shiur. I was truly impressed at the amount of response that it actually got. If you haven't yet heard it, please see the previous posts.

In any event, I wanted to share something with you, that perhaps will also give chizzuk, perhaps in a slightly different way. A while ago, the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation asked me to put together a song on the concept of Shmiras Halashon, and Hashem gave me the gift of a beautiful niggun. The words are an abbreviated version of the tefillah of the Chofetz Chaim asking Hashem to help us guard our tongues.

The words are as follows:

ריבונו של עולם, יהי רצון מלפניך קל רחום וחנון שתזכני היום ובכל יום לשמור פי ולשוני מלשון הרע ורכילות, ויהיו כל מעשי ודיבורי לשם שמים
Master of the world, may it be Your will Merciful and Compassionate God that You give me the merit today, and every day, to guard my mouth and tongue from speaking negative speech and slander. And may all my actions and words be for the sake of heaven.

I hope you will learn this song, allow yourself to hum it or sing it, and maybe teach it to someone as you change the topic from whatever negative speech may have been spoken, or even tell them they can download it right here.

Click here to download Ribono, courtesy of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation.

If you are keeping the second Sefirah, here is an a capella version of the song.

You can right click and choose download to get it onto your computer.

This song also appeared recently, most beautifully done, on an album by Shea Rubenstein.

Moshiach, now? part III

I took the four parts of Rav Kessin's shiur (see previous post) and combined them into one mp3. The total running time is 1 hr. 50 mins. This is a shiur that will change your outlook and really give you a deeper understanding of what is going on.

http://www.arigoldwag.com/Rav Mendel Kessin on LH.mp3

Again, you can listen to it here, or right click and choose download to copy it to your computer or mp3 player.

Moshiach, now? part II

You know, I don't think there is anyone who will say that we aren't in a very significant moment in history. As I have said in the past, I do not like to make predictions, and the main reason is because predictions for the near future look rather silly when they do not come true. I honestly think that what is currently going on is heading in a certain direction, and it doesn't take a genius to see. If I am right, it is truly the time for us to start doing more than just talk. It is rather easy to jump from one blog to another and find something to buzz the brain and be excited about. And while it is nice, and I'm sure Hashem is happy that we are looking forward to Moshiach, Hashem wants action. I'm sorry to say this, but it's not worth too much when we sit around for an hour and check every news source to see if Obama is going to be Gog. It's just not. What is worth something is actually doing something.

Well, you say, it is hard to do something, after all, what can I do? I am just a little Jew, I may not really know too much, can't really learn too well. Well, I tried the daf a bunch of times. That didn't go. I tried out your podcast too, Ari. That was cute. But what can I really do? Come on now, does my little mitzvah really make a difference? Anyway, I'm inconsistent, and the one time I try just won't cut it. Why bother?

This is how the yetzer hara talks. He convinces us to give up before we have even tried. Now I'm quite sure that I have may have lost you by now, because I stopped talking about Moshiach, but guess what, this has everything to do with Moshiach. Moshiach can not come until we get ourselves together. And the main people who need to do that is us - because we know better. The Satan has nothing to say about people who aren't frum, because they just don't know. It is we who are stopping Moshiach from coming. It is we, with our petty שנאת חינם, believing that we are better than every other person who isn't as frum as us, doesn't learn as much as us, doesn't daven as long as us, hasn't been to the right Yeshivas, doesn't have the yichus we have, doesn't live in Israel, doesn't want to live in Israel, and on and on and on. We are so full of pride - we are Gog. Yes, we are the most prideful individuals that exist in the world, and we hate anyone who isn't like us. We are holding up the show, and a lot of people can die because of our pathetic outlook on life. Is it any wonder that the entire world hates us so much? It's middah k'negged middah, because we hate each other. They hate us for no reason, because we hate each other for no reason.

But it doesn't have to stay that way. We can learn to love. And I'm going to ask you to make a small investment right now. Please, please download the following two parts (each split in two) of a speech about Lashon Hara by Rav Mendel Kessin. You may have heard it before, or you may not have. Either way, this is the time to listen to it. You will get a different perspective that will make you want to be more careful about this mitzvah, and it will help you love your fellow more.

After listening to the shiur, please, please click on the last link and purchase the Chofetz Chaim's lesson a day, or go out to your local seforim store to buy it, and take a minute each day to learn a halacha. Maybe even read that halacha a few times until you have it memorized. This is a concrete effort than anyone can do that will bring Moshiach in a more merciful way.

I apologize if I came off too strong, and the truth is that I am speaking to myself as I write this as well.

http://torahvideo.com/jewish-torah/tapes/POWEROFSPEECH1A.mp3
http://torahvideo.com/jewish-torah/tapes/POWEROFSPEECH1B.mp3
http://torahvideo.com/jewish-torah/tapes/POWEROFSPEECH2A.mp3
http://torahvideo.com/jewish-torah/tapes/POWEROFSPEECH2B.mp3

If it is too much to listen to all at once, you can come back later, or right click and choose download to listen later on your computer or mp3 player. But I have a feeling that once you start, it will actually be hard to stop listening.

I will do this bl'n, and I hope you will too.

Here is the link to the book, which is about $17 + shipping.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0899063217

One last thing. If this is powerful enough for you to copy, paste and send to someone you know, please don't send it to that person who 'really should be hearing it,' but rather to someone you care about who will appreciate your love for them, and will truly bring about an increase in ahavas Yisrael and diminish שנאת חינם.