"Instead of stinging nettle, myrtle will rise" (Isaiah 55:13)
 "Instead of evil, good will rise." (The Malbim's Interpretation)
Myrtle Rising
  • Blog
  • Comments Disabled
    • Privacy Policy
  • Aliyah
    • Mini-Intro
    • General Cultural Insights
    • School Tips
  • Kli Yakar Index
  • Most Popular
  • Contact

The Lag B'Omer Tragedies

30/4/2021

2 Comments

 
UPDATE 2/6/21: Thank you very much to the caring reader who pointed out there was actually no stampede & also cared enough to explain why it's so inappropriate to describe the catastrophe as a stampede.

This post was written very soon after the catastrophe with the information at hand (both from reports & from my sons) and also before eyewitness reports came in. My apologies for using disrespectful or inaccurate terms or reporting. Those have been changed.


Living in a charedi area of Eretz Yisrael always means the day of Lag B'Omer comes alive with music bursting from homes and cars as we gratefully leave that first part of the Omer behind—those weeks that forbid public music.

But this year, Lag B'Omer remains quiet.

I can't even hear the faintest strain of melody or the vaguest beat of bass tones.

And we all know why. 

The shocking tragedy actually started when we heard reports of a motorcycle-car collision between 2 frum drivers outside of Beitar Ilit, in which the young male motorcyclist died from his injuries.

That shocking tragedy Erev Lag B'Omer preceded the horrific event that occurred later on Lag B'Omer itself. 

I didn't understand at first what happened in Meron or how it happened. And the full details still aren't available.

At first, news outlets reported a stampede occurred because a balcony collapsed. Then the balcony became bleachers. Then they said nothing collapsed; the catastrophe occurred due to a closed in area with a ramp & stairs, which causes a downward momentum difficult to halt (in other words, there was no stampede either).

However, my teenage son's friend said that he was on the bleachers, which were shaking, and indeed, he said there was some kind of collapse. So I don't know.

But having lived in Eretz Yisrael for over half my life and having been in crowds here and knowing how these things work, I wondered out loud how such a deadly disaster could have occurred.

After all, despite copious propaganda to the opposite, frum Jews are actually very good at looking out for both themselves and others together.

We saw this during Rav Ovadia Yosef's funeral, which reached over a million participants, yet nary one death from crowding or trampling.

The police hadn't prepared for such a massive turnout, so it was mostly the people themselves who prevented any tragedies.

For instance, participants formed protective rings of space around parents with small children to prevent the children from being crowded, suffocated, or trampled.

The few who passed out or suffered medical problems were supported until a sea of helpful hands managed to pass a stretcher to them, and then people managed to move (without trampling others) or passed the person on the stretcher via the crowd to the waiting ambulances.

That's just one example.

So in Meron, I knew that people would shout back about other people having fallen or being squished, and that call would be repeated back until other end of the crowd.

But my son pointed out that music blasted from the speakers, preventing such shouts from being heard.

Oh. I'd forgotten about that part.

Yes, they cut out all the music as soon as they realized what was happening. But a lot of heart-breaking damage had occurred already.

And yes, one particularly large chassid managed to hold back the crowd to rescue someone from the ground.

Probably others also managed to save lives. 

​But the death toll still horrifies and shocks.

Knowing 2 sons had headed to Meron, I made the same phone calls everyone else was making at that time.

I got ahold of one immediately because he and his friend got stuck at a gas station halfway down Route 6.

This prevented them from being in Meron at the time of the disaster, baruch Hashem. 

They said that suddenly dozens of buses packed with people started filling up the parking lot. They saw people streaming off the buses, very emotional and in a state of disarray (like a boy missing a kippah and one shoe). 

That's when my son and his friend found out what happened.

But like a lot of others, I couldn't get through to my other son (who already arrived in Meron) because of the overloaded cell service.

​I only managed to reach him in Meron at 4 in the morning (with loudspeakers blasting names in the background: "To So-and-So—please call home!") to discover he hadn't been at the exact site of the tragedy, but he and his friends helped a couple of ambulances get up the hill. (Some of the ambulances were sliding or skidding; not clear why.) 

What a heartbreaking contrast to the story my other son heard while still stuck at the gas station.

A Zaka volunteer arrived at the gas station in a state of shock & wearing stained clothes. He plopped down to rest and his traumatic experience came pouring out to the people around him, saying something like:

"There I was zipping a body into a body bag in order to prevent bizayon hameit [desecration of the dead] when the front of his jacket started vibrating—his cell phone. I took out the cell phone, glanced at the screen, and saw the word Ima—Mother. What could I do? What was I supposed to do? Answer and tell her I'm right in the middle of declaring her son a fatality? What exactly was I supposed to do? What?"

No one had words for such an awful situation. Just everyone's hearts went out to him.

We still don't know all the details of exactly what happened.

In the car-motorcycle collision, we don't know which driver was at fault.

In Meron, people point fingers at the actions of the police (with good reason), but we still don't know exactly how and to what extent. (UPDATE: As more eyewitness reports pour in, it's increasingly looking like the police not only caused the entire disaster, but even made things worse. That's how it appears with the information available up until now.)

For the people in the crowd, they live with the horror that, against their will, they were part of the crush against their fellow Jews, something they desperately tried to avoid.

And we're still waiting to hear from the Gedolei HaDor on the issue.

In particular, I'm waiting to hear the words Rav Itamar Schwartz, whose insights and mussar always help so much.

Yet from whichever angle you look, there is an obvious bein-adam-l'chavero (person-to-person) message here—especially since it occurred during the Omer, which mourns the death of Rebbe Akiva's students in a plague resulting from a hairline deficiency in bein-adam-l'chavero.

Exactly what? Not sure. Like I said, still waiting to hear from the Sages who really know.

May all the ill & wounded of Am Yisrael please merit a complete refuah.

And may Hashem please bring the Geula with compassion & may we only hear good news.

2 Comments

A Poem for Lag B'Omer by Nechumelle Jacobs

29/4/2021

0 Comments

 
​Here's another wonderful poem by Nechumelle Jacobs to help us access the essence and segulot of the day...
Picture

LAG B'OMER 5781

​On Lag B’Omer what do we celebrate?
Rebbe Shimon’s life we encapsulate

Love of Torah was his one desire
He studied in conditions so dire

At his petira, the sun did not set
So now we light fires, not to forget

Throughout his lifetime, no rainbow did appear
It was in his zechus, as to Torah he did adhere

The Zohar Hakodosh, he did write
He learnt Torah with great delight

From his Torah, the world he did enhance
So now on his Yartzeit we sing and dance

Many an upsherin is held in Meron
And his input to Torah continues on

Rebbe Akiva’s myriads of talmidim he did replace
His devotion to Torah shone a glow to his face

Toras HaNister through his teachings he did reveal
So on Lag B’Omer, his Yahrtzeit — hisorerus we feel

This year as we watch the fires ignite and burn
Let’s utilise the opportunity, to Hashem return

For when to Torah we are steadfastly bound
Moshiach ben Dovid will finally be crowned
​
Then the Yesoidus HaTorah will be disseminated
And with Kedusha the world will be illuminated

*  *  *

​On this day in the Midbor our first mann did arrive
Let us use the hashpous — ask that parnosa thrive

©Nechumelle Jacobs—28th April 2021

For more poetry by Nechumelle Jacobs, please start here:
​http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/faced-with-grace-a-heartfelt-experience-captured-in-poetry-by-nechumelle-jacobs

0 Comments

The Holy Side of Fake: Rav Avigdor Miller on Parshat Emor

28/4/2021

2 Comments

 
In Rav Avigdor Miller's dvar Torah for Parshas Emor 4 - Gaining a Good Name, we learn about living kiddush Hashem (sanctifying Hashem's Name).

Rav Miller starts off with a detour into descriptions of dying al kiddush Hashem. But the main meat consists of living kiddush Hashem, which is the big challenge of our generation.​

Practical Ideas for Fulfilling Kiddush Hashem

Any Jew who looks even slightly Orthodox merits the opportunity (and the obligation) of kiddush Hashem.

Rav Miller lists some ways to fulfill this powerful mitzvah:

  • Honoring every person, Jewish or not...even if they don't honor you.
  • ​Honest in your business dealings.
  • You refrain from retaliation in response to being put to shame.
  • You're pleasant with a pleasant countenance.
  • You're polite.
  • You agree with people as much as you can (without sacrificing your principles).
  • You speak gently to people.
  • ​You try to make people happy (without sacrificing your principles).
  • You move from your seat on the bus or bench to accommodate 2 people who clearly wish to sit together.
  • When you hold the door open for another, you face them & smile.
  • You say thank you when anyone holds the door open for you.

You don't need to be a tzaddik to do these.

Rav Miller states that any ordinary Jew who upholds the above earns special recognition from Above.

​Page 7:
“Oh,” says Hashem, “that’s My servant — that’s the man I love.”

The Rambam tells us that: alav hakasuv omer, about this person the possuk says, “Vayomer li, Hashem said to me, “Avdi atah, you are My servant;” it means that’s your form of serving Me — not by how you die but by how you live.

On the bus, in the street, in the store, harei zeh kideish es Hashem — you are bringing glory to My name.

Let's Get Real about Being "Real"

Rav Miller confronts a mentality espoused today, but one that actually causes a lot of harm:

The "be natural" mentality.

Be natural, be yourself, be true to yourself, let it all hang out, feel free, free to be you and me, be real, just bein' honest, and so on.

Needless to say, being true to yourself and being honest and all that can be expressed in a beneficial manner.

It depends.

But most people do not emulate the above in a way that benefits them or others.

A lot of those liberating mottos lead to self-indulgence and self-centeredness.

​And it sure ain't pretty (page 9):
So you can’t say, “I don't care about what people think; I just want to find favor in the eyes of Hashem.”

Oh no!

Hashem says if you don't care about people I don't care about you either.

Kol sheruach habrios nocheh himeno, if people are satisfied with you, ruach haMakom nocheh himeno, then Hashem is satisfied with you (Avos 3:10).

You hear that? A tremendous statement.

Hakodosh Boruch Hu is actually insisting that you have to exert yourself that people should like you — and even though you're not so likeable; Hashem Himself knows you're not likeable but He wants people to like you anyhow.

And so your job is to be a cunning fellow, and not follow your nature.

You have to be artificial all the time. You hear that word? Artificial.

Not to be natural.

Natural means you get down on hands and feet and you'll eat from a plate on the floor — why bother to sit at a table?

And you don't need a spoon. You'll put your face into the plate and you'll lick it up.

​That's natural. 

Natural means you’ll sit in public and put your fingernail into your ear or your nose and then take it out and inspect the results of your mining expedition.

Exactly.

Some even insist that you accept the real, natural them without them having showered or brushed their teeth.

Probably, we've all noticed that those who pride themselves on "being real" and "natural," those who insist on being themselves (at all costs!) tend to also be very "honest" and open and "real" about their negative thoughts and feelings—no matter how hurt or distressed all their honesty and authenticity make others feel.

Yet in today's world, tact & diplomacy & self-restraint often get you labeled as "repressed" or "fake."

Yes, there are people who pretend to be nice as part of their plot to exploit or abuse others.

But that's not who Rav Miller means.

I also find it enormously helpful that Rav Miller fleshed out why being liked in This World gets you brownie points with Hashem.

After all, don't we know charismatic people who win the popularity contest, but are actually snakes and cause a lot of harm?

Again, that's not really who Rav Miller means and he explains more on page 10, where he starts off by stating the main intent we should have while behaving in such a lovely manner:
A person has to be unnatural if he’s going to succeed at living a kiddush Hashem.

No matter what he’s feeling, he continues to maintain the proprieties, the derech eretz, that cause people to think well of him.

He knows that he’s always on display and that he’s making a show for Hakodosh Boruch Hu.

Earn Millions by Working for Hashem

Rav Miller likens the kiddush Hashem personal project to becoming a millionaire: A self-made millionaire does not make his million over night.

He starts by earning a few dollars, then builds and saves up over time.

And that's what we can do too.

On pages 11-12, Rav Miller relates a story I never heard before, about the time he spent a month with a new family near the Lithuanian seashore.

On his daily walks, he drummed up plans on how to please them; the idea was part of his personal mussar program.

​He concluded the story with:
And it worked – I fooled them.

Rav Miller didn't actually fool anybody, of course. He was a genuinely good person. But he uses self-effacing wit to drive home his point.

​On pages 10-13, Rav Miller offers lots of advice on different ways to be appealing and make people feel good.

Finally, he concludes with the original message: 

We fulfill the above in order to fulfill our mission as Hashem's messengers in the world.

We feel fake, hypocritical, or awkward as we do it because we know we are far from that ideal. 

Yet striving to fulfill our role as Hashem's messengers in the world can be exactly what propels as closer to that goal.
Picture

Don't forget to check out the Practical Tip on page 15.

Credit for material & quotes goes to Toras Avigdor.


2 Comments

The Wonderful News We've All Been Waiting For: Hashem Granted Rachel Naomi bat Esther Chana a COMPLETE Recovery

27/4/2021

2 Comments

 
I'm thrilled to be able to report that Rachel Naomi bat Esther Chana is home.

Her family was even able to make a seudat hoda'ah (a gratitude feast) last Shabbat!

It's been a whirlwind ride ever since we first encountered her distraught husband pleading with us to daven & do good deeds for her life and the life of their baby.

And now that's all in the past and we'll all be able to remove her name from our davening lists on Lag B'Omer!

A massive yashar koach to each and every person who davened and/or performed good deeds on behalf of her and her baby.

May she and her husband continue to raise their family in good health and with tremendous nachat!

For previous posts regarding Rachel Naomi bat Esther Chana:
http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/please-pray-for-rachel-naomi-bat-esther-chana-her-newborn-son-rach-hanolad-ben-rachel-naomi

http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/another-happy-update-on-rachel-naomi-bat-esther-chana

​update-on-rachel-naomi-bat-esther-chana-plus-urgent-prayers-requested-for-the-sweet-4-year-old-rafael-melech-ben-esther.html
Picture
2 Comments

A True Story Of How Tzedakah Saves A Person From Death–Even After He Was Already Dead

26/4/2021

0 Comments

 
Yesterday, a frum man in his late 20s sat down to eat his lunch near where my husband sat.

He invited my husband to a Torah shiur (class) he gave every Monday night at Tzomet Pat in Yerushalayim. (My husband couldn't recall more information than that—not even his name—I'm very sorry. But if you're in that area Monday night, maybe you'll get lucky and find it.)

Giving a weekly Torah shiur comprised part of his self-improvement program after his brush with death around 6 years ago.

This is what he told my husband...

Meeting Malach Hamavet, Plus Being Put on Trial

At around age 22, this young frum man was racing down the road at around 240 kph/149 mph—for no other reason than the reckless thrill of it—when he crashed into a cement barrier.

His soul left his body and he hung around in the air for around 15 minutes, watching the ambulances arrive & the paramedics fight to bring him back to life.

​Then he found himself face-to-face with an terrifying black figure sporting a head shaped like an upside-down artichoke covered with eyes. Two big eyes looked out from the front of the head and the rest of its head was covered in eyes, like the pattern of artichoke leaves covering the artichoke.

It was Malach Hamavet—the Angel of Death.

(BTW, Judaism does hold a tradition that Malach Hamavet is covered with eyes.)

Two dogs accompanied Malach Hamavet, along with many other black figures.

(Interestingly, in Tehillim 22:17, David Hamelech pleads with Hashem: "For dogs have surrounded me; a band of evildoers has encompassed me..." and in Tehillim 22:21: "Save my soul from the sword; my only one from the grip of a dog"-- yechidah, translated here as "only one" is also another name for the soul.) 

​Grotesque and terrifying, Malach Hamavet started challenging the young man: "Why did you do this? And what about this? And this-and-such?"

The young man could not answer because you cannot lie (not even tepid excuses or accidently-on-purpose passive-aggressive stuff) in the World of Truth.

He knew he lacked real justifications for the accusations of Malach Hamavet.

Then Malach Hamavet and his frightening escorts took the young man through different worlds, where he saw angels with wings, until they arrived at the Beit Din shel Maalah (the Heavenly Court).

The young man could not see the judges.

​Also, family members who'd already passed on stood in the background, but were not allowed to approach him.

​(Meaning, they weren't allowed to help or defend him.)

In general, he was finding the whole experience terrifying beyond imagination.

The Beit Din was about to deliver their verdict when the young man's deceased rav showed up.

(Rav Yazdi, a disciple of Rav Kaduri.)

Rav Yazdi brought a little boy before the Beit Din, who testified that this young man assisted with a kimcha d'Pischa organization (a project to collect & deliver kosher-for-Pesach food to any Jews in need prior to Pesach).

"Because of him, I had what to eat on Pesach," concluded the little boy.

​With that, the young man found himself whisked out of the Heavenly courtroom & woke up in his physical body.

Fortunately, he embraced his second chance and straightened out the lax parts of his Torah observance, upholding the mitzvot with renewed enthusiasm.

The Importance of Chessed, Tzedakah, and a Connection with a Real Rav

It helps to see how the chessed we do really does matter.

Sometimes, religious girls' groups or schools go to help at a food bank or collect clothes & items for a gemach, and many other chessed activities.

Boys collect for their yeshivah, help out with kimcha d'Pischa, etc.

Many of us have engaged in such projects.
​
It feels more like a lark, a social activity, but it really means something in Shamayim—as shown clearly in the true story related above.

Also, connecting to a real rav helps. We hear these stories and they feature truly special rabbanim (many times, chassidic Rebbes of yore—but apparently, any real rav helps!).

Who we choose to follow matters.

A rabbi with good intellect (and maybe also charisma, plus enthralling oratorical skills), but lacking in middot and true spiritual greatness, will not be the one to come rescue you as you stand before the Beit Din shel Maalah.

(I mean, after all, we never hear stories in which a regular Rabbi Ploni Almoni intervenes.)

Furthermore, even after Rav Yazdi passed away, the young man still considered Rav Yazdi "his" rav.

So apparently, as long as you still consider yourself a talmid or chassid of that rav, his merit helps you.

We should also say Tehillim/Psalm 22 with a LOT of kavanah (heartfelt sincerity)!

And finally...don't drive recklessly!
Picture
When you save others, you also save yourself.

0 Comments

How One Man Worked on His Middot When Everything Stood Against Him

25/4/2021

0 Comments

 
For whatever the reasons, some middot take years to refine.

Sure, certain behaviors change in a snap. 

For example, if you indulged in a certain undesirable behavior without thinking about it until someone pointed it out AND you clearly understood its negative effect AND you weren't emotionally attached to the behavior...then desisting from it occurs almost automatically.

But other behaviors are more deeply entrenched. 

The 3 Major Influences on Middot

As mentioned in a previous post (http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/seeing-ourselves-through-hashems-eyes-by-using-a-measuring-scale-of-0-10), there are 3 influences that cause attachment to a behavior, whether for better or for worse:
​
  • (1) It's innate; you were born with it.
  • (2) Upbringing; you were raised that way.
  • (3) Culture; your environment encourages that behavior.

This is why one sibling raised by physically & verbally abusive parents will develop into a person of solid middot and abhor hurtful words or violence of any kind...while another will also become physically & verbally abusive—or worse.

It used to be that a person raised by dysfunctional parents had at least one positive influence going for them: the surrounding culture.

But nowadays, the surrounding secular Western culture has decayed so badly that even a person with innately good tendencies may have nowhere to turn outside of himself for guidance.

But some people have all 3 influences going against them.

That's the worst.

Yet improvement is still possible.

​So let's look at that.

The 3 Strikes against Rav Hoffman

In Secrets of the Soul, Rav Shlomo Hoffman describes his years-long struggle to develop sever panim yafot—a pleasant countenance & consideration of others.

Just the thought of difficulty in this area boggles the mind of some people.

For example, in the perky smiley culture of America, smiling & pleasant countenances are expected. Sure, some people go around like a gloomy Gus and some American subcultures thrive on bitterness & melancholy.

But a permanently dour expression is not socially acceptable. It's even considered weird.

To naturally upbeat, happy-hearted people who even smile or laugh when they shouldn't, the idea also sounds strange.

Yet we all have at least one middah that for us personally, it's a big struggle to master.

So let's take a look at Rav Hoffman's own description of himself before his rabbanim started working with him on sever panim yafot & connecting to others:

  • Innateness
Rav Hoffman always possessed an introverted, serious personality, even as a child. 

He also possessed a superior intellect from the time he was young.

He revealed that he'd never felt much social need. He also said he possessed a tendency toward sadness and introversion.

Rav Hoffman also admitted that back then, he thought he should be grave & somber—he saw it as a virtue.

Rav Gedaliah Eiseman (in a sincere effort to help the young Rav Hoffman) once told the young Rav Hoffman that Rav Hoffman was a good-hearted person, but a sad type.

"You enjoy your sadness more than being happy with life," Rav Eiseman once told him (page 271).

The Spinka Rebbe once told Rav Hoffman, "Rebbe Shlom'ke [the Rebbe of Zvhil] planted within you the ability to listen to the plight of others, share their burden, and help them."

​"Planted within you" sounds like the ability didn't exist on its own prior to the Zvhiler Rebbe's intervention.

  • Upbringing
The book never mentions the emotional atmosphere of Rav Hoffman's childhood home.

It's clear that both his parents were good, dedicated parents. But what about happiness or outgoingness?

No clue.

Yet we know Rav Hoffman endured ongoing stress & trauma throughout in his childhood from other causes.

Born in Czechoslovaki in 1922, he grew up in Selish in a chassidish family, followers of the Spinka Rebbe. (Selish is the same town featured in A Daughter of Two Mothers.)

The young Rav Hoffman quickly surpassed the level of the local cheder, so his father hired private tutors to learn with him.

But his father suffered from asthma, which worsened in 1933.

Realizing that the climate of Eretz Yisrael could help his asthma, the entire family set out for Eretz Yisrael...but encountered many hardships along the way, which stretched out the journey for months.

Finally, the family settled in Haifa.

Haifa summers are hot & humid—a big change from Selish. Also, a secular Leftist presence overwhelmed Haifa, which is why it used to be known as "Red" Haifa.

How did it feel to be a devotedly chassidish boy in Haifa at that time?

Not sure. The book doesn't say.

In addition, the Jews of Eretz Yisrael still chafed under British occupation.

The Nazi Holocaust was just beginning, which meant a continuous stream heart-breaking news from Europe over the next 12 years, plus dealing with traumas of those who managed to flee.

At age 14, Rav Hoffman moved to a yeshivah in Yerushalayim.

​Impoverished like most of the country at that time, the yeshivah lacked the means to adequately care for a young student so far from home, and he found the transition difficult & unpleasant for a long time.

Only at age 16 did he enter into the heartfelt care of Rav Isaac Sher & Rav Meir Chadash at Yeshivat Chevron. 

4 years later, when Rav Hoffman was age 20, his father passed away, giving Rav Hoffman even less reason to smile.

So the circumstances of his upbringing (through no fault of his devoted parents) did not exactly facilitate a happy heart.

  • Culture
Not sure about the surrounding culture of Czechoslovakia, but Israeli culture isn't particularly smiley. Yes, Israeli culture tends toward optimism and humor, but I'm not sure what things were like in Haifa in the 1930s. 

Culture shock, poverty, being among anti-religious Jews and increasingly hostile Arabs & Brits (though the Muslim mayor of that time was friendly toward Jews) don't sound like happy influences.

Based both on what is known & what can be inferred, it seems like Rav Hoffman had all 3 strikes against him.

He even suffered from what many people suffer from: the certainty that his problematic behavior is not only not a problem, but that it's even a virtue!

In other words, as Rav Eiseman noted above, Rav Hoffman wanted to remain in his self-absorption & moroseness.

(Apparently, he was never rude or mean to people. As Rav Eiseman said, he was a good-hearted person. But the young Rav Hoffman did not seem to connect to others emotionally & he was not a happy person.)

Yet when I knew him in his 80s, he had a permanently pleasant expression on his face, even when not actively smiling. He appeared soft & approachable. He smiled and laughed easily.

But apparently, that change did not come easily.

As Rav Hoffman himself stated (page 218): 

"People think I was born this way, but the truth is that had it not been for Rav Isaac, I would rarely ever smile." 

The Influence of Rav Isaac Sher

How did the transformation occur?

​Very slowly over many years.

First of all, Rav Isaac Sher (Rav Avigdor Miller's rav from Slabodka) started off by teaching the young Rav Hoffman not to fear his yetzer hara.

Rav Sher held many private sessions with Rav Hoffman dedicated to self-improvement via self-awareness.

Initially, Rav Sher's desire to discuss Rav Hoffman's yetzer hara offended Rav Hoffman. Rav Hoffman invested so much in his Torah learning and following halacha, he perceived the discussion as unwarranted criticism.

But upon perceiving Rav Hoffman's hurt feelings, Rav Sher immediately reminded him of the Gemara Sukkah 52a, which states that a greater person possesses a greater yetzer hara.

Knowing that Rav Hoffman considered Rav Sher to be much greater than him, Rav Sher said (page 190), "So if I am greater than you, apparently I have an even bigger yetzer hara. So don't be offended when I say that you have a yetzer hara too."

Then Rav Sher explained that the only difference between him and Rav Hoffman is that Rav Sher had spent 60 years dealing with his yetzer hara, and therefore gained the experience and coping mechanisms necessary to teach others.

"So don't be offended when I tell you that you have yetzer hara," said Rav Sher. "We all have a yetzer hara. The only question is how we deal with it."

Furthermore, Rav Sher empathized with Rav Hoffman, revealing that when the Alter of Slabodka first confronted the younger Rav Sher with an aspect of Rav Sher's yetzer hara, Rav Sher also took offense!

​Over time, Rav Sher even shared his own inner conflicts & struggles against his yetzer hara with Rav  Hoffman.

First, Rav Sher shared his own weaknesses, and only after sharing his own, he discussed Rav Hoffman's weaknesses.

At one point, Rav Sher even said (page 314), "When you get old, your yetzer just gets more powerful. You have no idea what a hard battle I have against it, now in my old age. You don't understand that for old people, it even harder to work on our middos."

On page 216, Rav Hoffman presents an anecdote from one of his private sessions with Rav Sher.

Rav Sher even assigned Rav Hoffman "smiling" homework, such Rav Sher's insistence on him wearing a smile whenever he entered Rav Sher's house.

In addition, Rav Sher gave him chessed homework, such a taking on a small resolution in chessed on Erev Rosh Hashanah.

Interestingly, Rav Hoffman asked him why Slabodka yeshivah placed such an emphasis on chessed.

Rather than berating him for asking such an obvious question or mocking him or giving him that raised-eyebrow look meant to make the questioner feel innately defective, Rav Sher simply explained why chessed was so important.

Rav Sher also used humor to give mussar.

And yes, Rav Sher occasionally spoke to Rav Hoffman with more bluntness, like the time Rav Sher compared him to a hazardous pit in a public street, causing damage to everyone around him with "that glum expression on your face."

But not out of impatience or snarkiness or insensitivity; only when Rav Sher saw bluntness as truly the right method for that moment.

Rav Sher's investment in bringing out Rav Hoffman's sever panim yafot, his ease of smiling & laughing, and consideration of others (especially within Rav Hoffman's marriage) continued until Rav Sher's passing in 1952. 

The Influence of Rav Meir Chadash

​After 3½ years at Yeshivat Chevron, during which people worked with the young Rav Hoffman's lack of sever panim yafot, Rav Meir Chadash finally told him (page 173):

"Ever since you came to the yeshivah, your gravity and your moroseness have just been getting worse. For some bachurim, it can take half a year to free themselves of it, and for others even a whole year. I've been waiting for you for three and a half years to break out of it. When are you going to grow up and stop with your narishkeit?"

And yes, the 20-year-old Rav Hoffman felt insulted.

He felt he was doing his best to learn with hasmadah and expected a compliment, not a rebuke.

Yet the idea that his gravity & moroseness displayed immaturity rather than superiority sank in after a while.

He later noted that he davka needed these exact words, especially his behavior reframed as "narishkeit" to break out of his unhealthy mentality.  

Please also note that Rav Chadash refrained from anger or shouting. Nor did he speak out of impatience.

Rav Chadash saw Rav Hoffman every day for nearly 4 years and only chose those specific words when he saw that not only was nothing else working, but that Rav Hoffman was even getting worse.

3½ years is a long time to wait before getting tough with someone you see every day.

The Influence of Rebbe Shlom'ke of Zhvil

Yeshivat Chevron of the 1930s lacked a dormitory for their students.

So the boys rented rooms in the homes of nearby families.

Rav Hoffman merited to stay in the home of the Rebbe of Zhvil.

In addition to absorbing the Rebbe's influence via observation, the Rebbe stimulated the middah of empathy within Rav Hoffman by having Rav Hoffman read the Rebbe's kvitelach (written requests from his chassidim) to teach Rav Hoffman to feel the pain of others and help them carry their load.​

9 Lessons Learned from the Above

Other great talmidei chachamim also invested in Rav Hoffman along the way, but it's too much to include all the stories.

Anyway, what can we learn from all this?

After all, you might be thinking to yourself: Oh, for crying out loud! Do you know how spectacular I would be by now if Rav Sher had invested in me with a self-improvement program specially designed for my particular needs, and if Rav Chadash also invested so much in me, along with other great Sages, AND I had lived in the home of the Rebbe of Zhvil?

It's true that Rav Hoffman got very, very lucky. And he was always the first to admit that.

Now, I don't know if Rav Hoffman is being too harsh in his own self-description.

Was he really that emotionally stunted in his youth? Did he really lack a certain amount of empathy? He certainly presents himself that way and quotes his rabbanim as viewing him that way. But who knows for sure?

Regardless, the first lesson is that despite Rav Hoffman's initial offense and hurt feelings upon receiving mussar from the these great Sages, he listened.

Even when he argued back to defend himself, he did so with questions ("Why does the Rosh Yeshivah think I have a yetzer hara?...What did I do wrong?") and then actually listened to the answers.

So that's Lesson #1: If someone whom you know is a great person offers you a critique, you should listen & try to understand as much as you can. Sure, you question the person. But make sure you listen to the answers.

Lesson #2
There's no shame in hurt feelings or feeling offended. It's all part of the process. The truth hurts...and that's okay. It's normal. Feeling hurt doesn't mean you're silly or inferior.

Lesson #3
Progress in the toughest, most ingrained areas can take years. That's normal and you should not be put down for that, nor should you feel ashamed or like a failure.

Lesson #4
A tough case is no cause for hopelessness.

Look at how Rav Chadash & others worked with the young Rav Hoffman for nearly 4 years—and Rav Hoffman not only showed no improvement, he even got worse!

According to their own words quoted in the book, it simply took the rabbanim a while to figure out the right way to get through to Rav Hoffman. And it took Rav Hoffman a while to even understand what was wrong.

Lesson #5
Everyone faces an inner challenge hard for them individually.

Most us probably feel mystified by the thought that merely smiling—or simply not going around all morose—could take years.

For most of us, that would be a very easy issue.

​But for Rav Hoffman, it was one of the most difficult things for him to deal with.

So even if we don't have that particular issue, we have another one.

Likewise, we should strive for compassion toward others who struggle with an issue that we find all easy-shmeezy.

Lesson #6
We all have a yetzer hara. EVERYONE. What makes you greater or lesser is how you deal with yours. That's all.

That's basically the only difference between a great person and a lowlife.

Lesson #7
If you can, find a mentor. A genuinely good mentor is invaluable.

This is increasingly challenging in our generation. But prayer helps achieve this.

Lesson #8
Even with everything against you, you can still make progress. You can even succeed.

Lesson #9
Learn not to fear your yetzer hara.

Learn to cope with it instead.

​There are more lessons, but that's all I could come up with for now.

For more on Secrets of the Soul, please see:

​the-problem-is-not-sin-but-how-to-cope-with-it.html

the-unique-torah-view-on-flaws-sinning-and-teshuvah.html
Picture
0 Comments

The 2 Most Beneficial Ways to Respond to Bizayon (Cringe-Inducing Experiences)

22/4/2021

0 Comments

 

Approach #1: Thanks for the Salvation & Atonement, Hashem! I Love It!

Jews with a deeply ingrained authentic Torah outlook behave much differently than regular people.

For example, the Bitachon Weekly for Parshat Shemini related an anecdote about a tzaddik named Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kohn who lived in Yerushalayim.

When Rav Kohn faced different routes to get from one place to another, he chose the route that led him past his antagonists, who then yelled at & made fun of him.

Ironically, Rav Kohn took pleasure in this public humiliation & degradation.

He knew that the searing trial of bizayonot (humiliations; degradations) rescues a person from terrible suffering, both in This World and the Next.

The people who heap scorn & humiliation on others are absolutely not right.

But if it does happen, then Rav Kohn's example is one to take heart from.  

Approach #2: Hey, At Least the Fools are Enjoying Themselves!

Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman exemplified another approach.

As Rav Shteinman passed by a place where some boisterous young fellows standing outside started screaming at and ridiculing him, the men accompanying the rav wanted to disperse the obnoxious group.

But Rav Shteinman stopped them.

"Let the boys enjoy themselves," he said. "They appear to have pleasure in making fun of me; let them continue."

Let's take deeper look into this intriguing response.

Certainly, Rav Shteinman knows Jewish Law soundly condemns such disrespectful behavior.

If anyone would have asked Rav Shteinman if such behavior is allowed, he would have condemned it in the strongest terms.

But for himself, being a genuine talmid chacham, he realized the value of bizayonot.

And he decided to focus on the pleasure of his fellow Jews.

Now, the kind of person who behaves like the obnoxious fellows above generally acts out of a rowdy & uppity enjoyment of such behavior.

Again, it's severely wrong for them to act this way.

Just the fact that they derive so much pleasure from ganging up against an elderly man to verbally abuse him shows how degraded they are on the inside.

They evidence a disturbing lack of shame, not only to behave with such obnoxious disrespect, but to do so publicly, exhibiting to all exactly how deplorable they really are.

Yet Rav Shteinman focused on the pleasure (however twisted) they received from their despicable behavior.   

Self-Experimentation: An Attempt at Imitating Rav Shteinman

Clearly, facing bizayon with equanimity—or even as an act of submitting to the twisted pleasure of one's bullies—proves very challenging.

Bizayon HURTS.

That's why the Torah outright forbids onaat devarim (verbal abuse) or causing others any kind of pain—emotionally or mentally or physically (unless it's somehow truly beneficial to the other person, like medical treatment or to stop someone from harming himself with a bad decision or action).

That's why Judaism views humiliation as a form of murder.

Again, the Torah views mocking or degrading or abusing another person as absolutely awful.

In other words: God Himself condemns such behavior.

However...

...if you find yourself on the receiving end of bizayon, the above examples offer helpful ways to handle it.

And no, the above are not just for "very great people."

After reading the above, I found myself in a mildly embarrassing incident during which I felt others were smirking at me.

Despite the mildness of it (and even the lack of certainty regarding whether anyone was actually smirking at me), it really stung.

But Hashem made me remember Rav Shteinman's example, and I did my best to mentally re-orient myself to focus on the idea that I was giving them enjoyment (if indeed the were smirking at me)—even if it's a very debased level of enjoyment.

And it really did take the sting away. Also, it amused me to do it. (Responding like this to bizayon is an act of absurdity, if you think about it. You could see something like this happening in a comedy scene.) 

The feeling of amusement also helped dilute the feelings of emotional discomfort.

So yeah, even if you can't emulate this wholeheartedly (like I couldn't), it is still definitely helpful.

Other times, I struggled to respond to obvious bizayon with appreciation & simcha, but found that very challenging.

Despite knowing what our Sages say about the value of bizayon, I still find myself doing what I can to avoid it!

Just being honest about where I'm really holding (i.e., a fairly mediocre level).

Nonetheless, it helps to know you definitely receive reward for responding to bizayon with silent joy, appreciation, humor, or altruism.

Remember, that searing sting of bizayon prevents all kinds of terrible suffering.

While I personally am not on the level to actively seek out bizayon (because despite my intellectual understanding of its value, experiencing bizayon still makes me cringe), we definitely benefit from just the act of trying to shift our perspective to that of Chazal—as exemplified by Rav Kohn & Rav Shteinman.

What Chazal Say about Bizayon

The Arizal and the Ramak (Rav Moshe Cordovero) stated:
"...that if people would know the benefit of bizayonot, they would seek this out in the marketplaces and the streets."

In Shaarei Kedushah/Gates of Holiness (Chelek I, Shaar 6), Rav Chaim Vital wrote:
And if you had eyes of intelligence, you would seek out someone to bother you... 

Again, the whole idea is a bit of a paradox because on one hand, causing bizayon to others is HORRIBLE.

Seriously. You can plunge yourself straight to Gehinnom just for that.

On the other hand, we should strive to respond to bizayon according the principles laid out above.

(Bizayon's power of atonement & salvation derives davka from the fact that it really is so dreadfully painful.) 

​May we all please receive the siyata d'Shmaya we need to succeed!
Picture
Note: You can sign up for the Bitachon Weekly here:
thenewbitachonweekly@gmail.com


0 Comments

Rav Avigdor Miller on Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: Practical Steps toward Mining Your Inner Gold

21/4/2021

0 Comments

 
In Rav Avigdor Miller's dvar Torah for Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim 4 - Emulating Him, Rav Miller emphasizes the importance of "kedoshim tihiyu—you shall be holy."

It's one of Judaism's most important commandments for a Jew because it encompasses everything a Jew needs to do.

A Jew who strives to be holy will also be ethical, loving, kind, compassionate, wise, keep Shabbat, keep kosher, avoid lashon hara, and much more.

​And being holy starts on the inside.

Why should we be holy?

Because Hashem is Holy.

Just like people imitate the superficial fashions of royalty, we should strive to imitate the Holiness of our King: Hashem.

That is the path to fulfilling our soul's purpose in life.

​So what's an important step in achieving this?

Look at what the Torah says about Hashem.

On pages 6-7, Rav Miller discusses the anthropomorphic descriptions of Hashem: a strong arm, flaring nostrils, jealous or angry or happy feelings, and so on.

He explains the Rambam's view of it and other views, and why the anthropometrism is so meaningful (despite its lack of accuracy—Hashem isn't physical).

​Page 7:
Let's say you want to be a public speaker.

So one of the great teachers of public speaking once wrote a book and he said that if you want your audience to fall asleep on you so speak in abstractions.

Abstract ideas are difficult to keep your mind on it and after a while your attention wanders and you fall asleep.

Talk about abstract ideas, concepts that are far from the mind, and they’ll be sleeping in no time.

You want people to listen to you? Speak about things that are actual objects.

Speak especially about people.

Do that and you’ll get their interest because people are interested in people.

​They can picture people because it's like themselves.

How to Emulate Hashem's Love

Rav Miller offers the example of ahavat Yisrael.

Hashem is the biggest Ohev Yisrael possible.

He loves you much more than any human being loves you or ever could love you. 

So if Hashem loves Jews (and Hashem loves everybody, but especially the people He chose who chose Him too), then we need to work on loving Jews too—with particular emphasis on those who actually follow the Torah (or at least try to).

Jews who keep Torah are the ones who still choose Hashem. With all our imperfections, at least we do not reject Hashem.

​We should actively seek out the positives in different frum communities and also each other.

Even if someone misses the mark, we can still appreciate their intentions.

For example, a lot of frum women who dress immodestly feel like they davka make a kiddush Hashem by dressing so fashionably.

That's their sincere intention.

Others claim to do it for their husband, yearning to always find favor in his eyes & be a good, pleasing wife.

They are wrong to sink to immodesty on both accounts. Yet their intentions are good. And you can still see them as basically good (albeit misguided) based purely on their intentions.

(Side note: And if you do discover an opportunity to enlighten them about genuine kiddush Hashem or pleasing their husband without transgressing the Torah, approaching them with feelings of love & appreciation in your heart increases the likelihood of acceptance because you see them as good, wonderful women—and you don't relate to them with a totally lack of sympathy, as if you wholly despise or condemn them, as if you have no flaws to work on within your own self.)​

2 Baby Steps toward Fulfilling "Kedoshim Tihiyu"

As usual, Rav Miller offers baby steps to increase one's holiness.

He uses the example of a regular woman on the phone who has been chitchatting (i.e., for social enjoyment, not essential issues) for a long time.

A short to medium chat can be a nice mental respite that re-energizes a person.

But now it has been a very long chat.

So she thinks to herself (page 8), “Maybe I shouldn't talk so much on the telephone. I should fulfill the mitzvah of kedoshim tihiyu now and hang up the phone.”

Part of being kadosh is not showing off or making her friend feel unworthy. So she shouldn't announce her holy intention, but make some other excuse.

​Another idea can be utilized at a Shabbat meal when everyone feels the need to offer their opinion.

Rav Miller suggests thinking: “Kedoshim tihiyu! Hashem doesn’t open His mouth to speak unless it’s needed so I’m going to be like Him.”

Look, if something really needs to said, you can say it.

But a lot of times, it's not absolutely necessary.

Rav Miller acknowledges that maybe you cannot restrain yourself for the entire meal.

But even 5 minutes is an accomplishment!

Those 5 minutes already start training you and reinforcing a good habit.

​As Rav Levi Yitzchak Bender once said: 
​For every Jew contains within a precious gem, only that gem is covered and invisible.

And through a little bit of self-sacrifice—sleep a little less, eat with a bit less taavah and the rest of the matters of kedushah—that precious gem is revealed.

It's the same fundamentally Jewish idea.

(When all sorts of talmidei chachamim from different groups, cultures, and eras all say the same thing, then you know you're dealing with an authentic, fundamentally Torah view.)

More Practical Suggestions

On pages 9-10, Rav Miller offers ideas for what to talk about when you do need to talk.

​On page 10, he also explains the great value of the book Tomer Devorah:
...it’s worth making the time to study the Tomer Devorah even if it’s just to get a glimpse of the greatness that is expected from the Jewish people.

​The words of that little sefer have already entered the bloodstream of the Jewish people – you may not be aware of it, but these middos, the way they have been explained in the Tomer Devorah, have become our national possession and the ideal to which we strive.

He follows that up with an example from Micah.

Basically, every time we use our abilities for something not in the spirit of Torah, it's the same as a person who receives a monetary stipend, and who then uses that money to buy stamps & stationery to send insulting letters to his benefactor!

Yet his benefactor continues to supply him with the means to buy stationery.

Hashem relates to us with this same humility and forbearance.

Likewise, says Rav Miller (gleaning from Tomer Devorah), we too should relate to others with humility & patience.

(There are exceptions when you should not be so nice to a bad person—or times you should even fight fire with fire. But in general, keeping score and responding to a negative behavior with your own negative behavior or even revenge...this reduces your holiness.)

​On pages 12-13, Rav Miller describes one example of how to do this in marriage.

On page 13, he offers examples of how to do this in business situations.

On page 14, he states suggestions for doing this in marriage (a different suggestion from the one above) and in social situations.

A significant component of this is your intention.

Sure, you can do all the above for the sake of peaceful relations with others.

And that's a very positive reason.

But Rav Miller recommends taking it one step further and thinking to yourself that you wish to fulfill the above for the sake of fulfilling the command: "kedoshim tihiyu."

For yet another doable tip, please check out the Practical Tip on page 15.

Bringing Forth Your Inner Gold

Let's conclude with the final words of Rav Miller on page 15:
When you practice what we spoke about tonight you’re going to cause your latent abilities, the hidden middos which reflect all the ways of Hashem, to come to the surface.

​By means of modeling your behavior and your thoughts and your actions after His, then kedoshim tihiyu – you’re going to become more and more perfect all the time because it will bring forth from the recesses of your soul all of the golden qualities that you have within you.
Picture

Credit for all quotes & material goes to the gold mine that is Toras Avigdor.

0 Comments

Young Father of 3 Desperately Needs a Kidney (Blood Type A or O)

21/4/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
0 Comments

Probing the Bitachon Paradox

20/4/2021

0 Comments

 
Relating to the concept of bitachon (trust in Hashem) gets confusing sometimes.

On one hand, it's often presented as a way to get what you want.

Like, if you trust in Hashem that a disease or another unpleasant issue will pass, then it will—that's one message we often receive.

And it's often true.

We hear both stories about that happening and even experience it ourselves.

But it's not always true.

Bitachon also means accepting the worst as the very best thing that could happen; it's all from a loving God.

So it's a paradox that you can & should expect the best—yes, according to your definition of best.

But also to accept that when your definition of best doesn't happen, then that's also very good.

​(I'm not on this level personally. Just laying it out and trying to work it out myself...)

Surviving and Even Thriving in a Body that Should Not Even Exist

This blog already described the mind-boggling bitachon of Rav Gershon Leibman here:
​http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/an-extraordinary-example-of-bitchon-plus-4-ways-regular-people-can-seek-to-emulate-this-level

But the Bitachon Weekly for Parshat Tazria-Metzora revealed further details of this extraordinary Jew.

A person involved in preparing Rav Gershon's body for burial noted that his body exhibited such severe physical trauma, he shouldn't have been able to exist: "...and how he existed, nobody knows."

And this revealed the paradox of bitachon that existed within Rav Gershon himself.

For example, when the Nazis invaded the town where Rav Gershon lived, Rav Gershon only stood behind the door to the beit midrash—and the Nazis never found him.

So his bitachon saved him.

Yet the Nazis captured him in the end and Rav Gershon spent time in a ghetto, plus several concentration camps.

Eyewitnesses testify that the Nazis beat Rav Gershon to death 3-4 times—yet he not only survived each lethal beating, but thrived for decades afterward in a body unsuitable for survival.

​So on one hand, Rav Gershon's incredible level of bitachon did not rescue him from torturous physical suffering...but on the other hand, it allowed him to not only survive each lethal beating, but enabled him to thrive on miracles until the end of his life.

For decades, Rav Gershon maintained a youthful & energetic demeanor—in a body that wasn't even viable.

​To me, his most extraordinary quality was his level of inner joy despite all the suffering & trauma he endured.

And I think that's the lesson right there:

Maintaining bitachon definitely reaps blessing and even miracles.

But not always in the way we want or expect.

Sometimes yes...but not always.

However, someone who truly internalizes a state of bitachon will maintain a state of simcha no matter what.

May we all merit to achieve complete bitachon in Hashem.
Picture
0 Comments
<<Previous
    Privacy Policy

    Picture
    Please note this is an affiliate link. Meaning, I get a small cut but at NO extra cost to you. If you use it, I'm grateful. If not, you still get a giant mitzvah connected to Eretz Yisrael.


    Feedburner subscription no longer in operation. Sorry!

    Myrtle Rising

    I'm a middle-aged housewife and mother in Eretz Yisrael who likes to read and write a lot.


    Picture
    Sample Chapters

    Categories

    All
    Aliyah
    Anti Jewish Bigotry
    Anti-jewish-bigotry
    Astronomy
    Book Review
    Books
    Chagim/Holidays
    Chinuch
    Coronavirus
    Dictionaries
    Emuna
    Eretz Yisrael
    Erev Rav
    Gender
    Hitbodedut
    "If The Torah..."
    Jewish Astrology
    Kav Hayashar
    Kli Yakar
    Lashon Hara
    Love
    Me'am Loez
    Minchat Yehudah
    Mishlei/Proverbs
    Netivot Shalom
    Parenting
    Parsha
    Pele Yoetz
    Perek Shira
    Pesach
    Politics
    Prayer
    Purim
    Rav Avigdor Miller
    Rav Itamar Schwartz
    Rav L.Y. Bender
    Recipes
    "Regular" Jews
    Rosh Hashanah
    Society
    Sukkot
    Tammuz
    Technology
    Tehillim/Psalms
    Teshuvah
    The Lost Princess
    Tisha B'Av
    USA Scary Direction
    Women
    Yom Kippur

    Jewish Blogs

    Daf Yomi Review
    Derech Emet
    Going...Habayitah
    Halacha Q&A
    Hava haAharona
    Miriam Adahan
    My Perspective

    Shirat Devorah
    Tomer Devorah
    Toras Avigdor
    True Tzaddikim
    Tznius Blog

    Yeranen Yaakov
    Rabbi Ofer Erez (Hebrew lectures)

    Jewish Current Events

    Hamodia
    Sultan Knish
    Tomer Devorah
    Yeranen Yaakov

    Jewish Health

    People Smarts

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    RSS Feed

    Copyright Notice

    ©2015-2022 Myrtle Rising
    Excerpts and links may be used without express permission as long as a link is provided back to the appropriate Myrtle Rising page.

Home/Blog

Most Popular

Kli Yakar in English

Aliyah

Contact

Copyright © 2023
Photos used under Creative Commons from Brett Jordan, BAMCorp, Terrazzo, Abode of Chaos, Michele Dorsey Walfred, marklordphotography, M.Burak Erbaş, torbakhopper, jhritz, Rina Pitucci (Tilling 67), Svadilfari, kum111, Tim simpson1, FindYourSearch, Giorgio Galeotti, ChrisYunker, Jaykhuang, YourCastlesDecor, bluebirdsandteapots, Natalia Medd, Stefans02, Israel_photo_gallery, Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, BradPerkins, zeevveez, dfarrell07, h.koppdelaney, Edgardo W. Olivera, nafrenkel88, zeevveez, mtchlra, Liz | populational, TraumaAndDissociation, thinboyfatter, garofalo.christina, skpy, Free Grunge Textures - www.freestock.ca, Nerru, Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith, trendingtopics, dolbinator1000, DonkeyHotey, zeevveez, erix!, zeevveez, h.koppdelaney, MAURO CATEB, kevin dooley, keepitsurreal, annikaleigh, bjornmeansbear, publicdomainphotography, Leonard J Matthews, Exile on Ontario St, Nicholas_T, marcoverch, planman, PhilWolff, j_lai, t.kunikuni, zeevveez, Ian W Scott, Brett Jordan, RonAlmog, Bob Linsdell, NASA Goddard Photo and Video, aaron_anderer, ** RCB **, Tony Webster, mypubliclands, AntonStetner, Zachi Evenor, MrJamesBaker, sammydavisdog, Frode Ramone, Wonder woman0731, wrachele, kennethkonica, Skall_Edit, Pleuntje, Rennett Stowe, *S A N D E E P*, symphony of love, AlexanderJonesi, Arya Ziai, ePublicist, Enokson, Tony Webster, Art4TheGlryOfGod, seaternity, Andrew Tarvin, zeevveez, Israel_photo_gallery, Iqbal Osman1, Matt From London, Tribes of the World, Eric Kilby, miracle design, RonAlmog, slgckgc, Kim Scarborough, DonkeyHotey, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, h.koppdelaney, gleonhard, Pedro Travassos, nociveglia, RonAlmog, Israel_photo_gallery, Septemia, Paulann_Egelhoff, Tatiana12, MAD Hippies Life, Neta Bartal, milesgehm, shooting brooklyn, RonAlmog, smilygrl, gospelportals, leighblackall, symensphotographie, zeevveez, Kyknoord, wotashot (taking a break), Tambako the Jaguar, bitmask, Arnie Sacknooson, mattymatt, Rob Swystun, zeevveez, Dun.can, Tim Patterson, timeflicks, garlandcannon, HRYMX, fred_v, Yair Aronshtam, zeevveez, Ron Cogswell, FindYourSearch, Israel_photo_gallery, Serendipity Diamonds, zeevveez, Steve Corey, Dominic's pics, leighklotz, Stefans02, dannyman, RonAlmog, Stephen O, RonAlmog, Tips For Travellers, Futurilla, anomalous4, Bob Linsdell, AndyMcLemore, symphony of love, andydr, sara~, Gamma Man, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, robef, European Southern Observatory, Brett Jordan, Johnny Silvercloud, Israel_photo_gallery, smkybear, --Sam--, Paulann_Egelhoff, Selena Sheridan, D'oh Boy, campbelj45ca, 19melissa68, entirelysubjective, Leimenide, dheera.net, Brett Jordan, HonestReporting.com, Iqbal Osman1, One Way Stock, Jake Waage, picto:graphic, Marcelo Alves, KAZVorpal, Sparkle Motion, Brett Jordan, Ambernectar 13, Howdy, I'm H. Michael Karshis, Steven DuBois, Cristian V., tortuga767, Jake Cvnningham, D'oh Boy, Eric Kilby, quinn.anya, Lenny K Photography, One Way Stock, Bird Eye, ell brown, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Kevin M. Gill, lunar caustic, gerrybuckel, quinn.anya, Kaz Andrew, kodomut, kayugee, jintae kim's photography, Futurilla, terri_bateman, Patty Mooney, Amydeanne, Paulann_Egelhoff, Mulling it Over, Ungry Young Man, Ruth and Dave, yangouyang374, symphony of love, kennethkonica, young@art, Brett Jordan, slgckgc, Celestine Chua, rkimpeljr, Kristoffer Trolle, TooFarNorth, D'oh Boy, Grace to You, LittleStuff.me, Kevin M. Gill, philozopher, traveltipy.com, Alan Cleaver, crazyoctopus, d_vdm, tonynetone, penjelly, TheToch, JohnE777, hello-julie, DaveBleasdale, Michael Candelori Photography, andessurvivor, slgckgc, byzantiumbooks, sasha diamanti