www.myrtlerising.com/blog/how-to-overcome-the-terrorist-klippah-of-zeresh
Please see here for a bit more on the topic: www.myrtlerising.com/blog/how-to-overcome-the-terrorist-klippah-of-zeresh Thank you so much to N.E.J, who forwarded to me the following: Kiddush Hashem Reminders for Purim: Just in the interest of not being a holier-than-thou hypocrite regarding costumes of other cultures: I confess that in the past, my children have dressed up as indianim and British soldiers in the style of the Queen's Guard. I admit I bought those costumes without any further consideration than my child's own enjoyment. Also, I think the Japanese-lady costumes for little girls are adorable. But I live in Eretz Yisrael. If I lived in the USA, I probably would avoid those costumes for the reasons stated above. (Sadly, hostile reactions are a very real concern nowadays.) (Although I suspect that no Brits, including the Queen's Guard themselves, would be offended by the sight of a little Jewish kid prancing around in a polyester imitation. So probably "British soldier" is an okay extra-cultural choice.) And I think the Yemenite-Jewess costume for little girls are absolutely lovely. Yet I have personally seen Moroccan Jewish girls dressed in the Yemenite-Jewess costumes. Hopefully, no Yemenites were offended by non-Yemenite little girls dressing like them. In fact, I'm sure they weren't offended one bit. I hope. And yes, in all seriousness...WATCH OVER YOUR CHILDREN!!! B'ezrat Hashem, may we all have a safe & joyous Purim full of light & daat. Links to Enhance Your Purim ExperienceHere are Purim links to lectures from Rav Itamar Schwartz in English, Hebrew, and Spanish: https://bilvavi.net/sugya/purim.droshos Purim Q&A from Rav Itamar Schwartz: http://www.bilvavi.net/files/Bilvavi.Purim.QandA.pdf Rav Avigdor Miller on Purim: http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/purim-with-rav-miller-fun-reading Here is a post on the segulah for the fast of Ta'anit Esther: www.myrtlerising.com/blog/a-special-segulah-for-the-fast-of-esther Here are past Purim posts of this blog: www.myrtlerising.com/blog/category/purim Before we get to women on Purim...do you ever suffer from niggling Purim questions to which you never found the answer? (Like, if Purim exemplified salvation, then why did Queen Esther need to stay intermarried to such a repulsive menuval? How much & what should I drink on Purim? And what's the deal with Haman's grandchildren learning Torah in Bnei Brak—how did THAT happen? And more...) Then please see this Purim Q&A: https://bilvavi.net/files/Bilvavi.Purim.QandA.pdf (It includes the following for women too.) Here are some practically & spiritually helpful advice & insights from Rav Itamar Schwartz, as published on the Bilvavi website (with which Rav Schwartz holds no connection), as excerpted from a lecture by Rav Schwartz (much of the following apply & benefit men too): There are a lot of aspects to Purim. The halachah of intoxication applies only to men, and the parameters of this halachah is explained by the Poskim. I received the following from a couple of different sources, apparently from Rabbi Avitan. I never knew any of this about Purim Katan, which is today Tuesday until sunset: Tsadikim say that the light of Purim Katan (the small Purim) is brought upon all those who feel small in the sense that they need a yeshua (salvation); those who feel little because they are lacking in something. Thank you very much to the wonderful women who made sure I saw this & encouraged it to be shared!
Reposted from previous years: A wonderful reader just sent me the following information, indicating that today, the 23rd of Sivan (June 26 this year) is an auspicious day for tefillah.
Why? Indicated by the following:
On the 23rd day of the 3rd month--“Hu Chodesh Sivan” -the king’s scribes wrote all that Mordechai had dictated to them.
(It's very worth reading the whole article.) May we all find the opportunity to use this special day and may all our tefillot be answered l'tovah. (And thank you, wonderful reader, who alerted us to this special opportunity.) torasavigdor.org/purim-with-rav-avigdor-miller-full-book/
(A 189-page extravaganza!) https://torasavigdor.org/rav-avigdor-miller-on-pur-purim-and-the-holocaust/ torasavigdor.org/rav-avigdor-miller-on-purim-yom-kippur-and-drinking/ torasavigdor.org/rav-avigdor-miller-on-esthers-silence/ torasavigdor.org/rav-avigdor-miller-on-how-to-be-a-purim-drunk/ torasavigdor.org/rav-avigdor-miller-on-the-real-takeaway-of-purim/ https://torasavigdor.org/purim-mesibah-1981-2/ Here are Purim Q&As from Rav Itamar Schwartz:
http://www.bilvavi.net/files/Bilvavi_178_Purim_Living%20with%20Purim%20P'nimius_5781.pdf More Purim Q&A from Rav Itamar Schwartz: http://www.bilvavi.net/files/Bilvavi.Purim.QandA.pdf Here is a post on the segulah for the fast of Ta'anit Esther: www.myrtlerising.com/blog/a-special-segulah-for-the-fast-of-esther Here are past Purim posts of this blog: www.myrtlerising.com/blog/category/purim You can see past Purim posts by clicking "Purim" in the Archives list on the sidebar, or simply click this link: http://www.myrtlerising.com/blog/category/purim
If you don't feel like scrolling through it all, here are the most essential:
For a few years now, I've been concerned about the response of the Jewish newspapers (including blogs) to acts of Jew-hatred and any kind of discrimination against Jews. Jews who aren't fully committed to Torah observance mean well, yet lack the knowledge to respond properly. But even some frum Jews get sidetracked - and again, it's all with the best of intentions. Everybody cares about our fellow Jews getting hurt or harassed. But much of what people mention is either not the solution or not the full solution. I wanted to write a post on this, but Toras Avigdor beat me to it by putting out a brilliant 8:24-minute video. In the clip, Rav Avigdor Miller explains how to completely overturn even the most genocidal gezeirah. Then, at 5:25, he does something he acknowledges that many people don't like (but he does it anyway because it's absolutely necessary & absolute emet); he speaks of what he personally witnessed in Europe leading up to the Shoah, after Hitler (yemach shemo) was already in power...and what we can learn from this to apply to our times. And also, in the name of the Chafetz Chaim, he blames the newspapers run by assimilated Jews. And while this blog is far from being a newspaper, blog posts are the modern take on newspaper columns. So I'm taking his comments as personal mussar for myself too. Anyway, the video packs a powerful punch. Yashar koach to Toras Avigdor for putting together such an important message at such a crucial time. Here it is: Rav Avigdor Miller on Our Response to Antisemitism (Please scroll down to the last video.) Note #1: It looks like this class was filmed in Rav Miller's later years. There are English subtitles for those who can't hear the rav clearly. Note #2: Also, at minute 6:30, Rav Miller quotes the Chafetz Chaim regarding the Jewish community there of that time: "...ki ein bayit asher ein sham mes - There was no home which didn't have there a mes" from Sefer Shemot 12:30, regarding the Plague of the Firstborn in Egypt. In Sefer Shemot, the word mes (or met) means "dead." But in the clip, Rav Miller translates it as "spoiled" for a metaphorical interpretation. (Please see Yaak's comment below for clarification.) May Mashiach please come in a sweet way.
NOTE: For anyone who misses waking up at the crack of dawn on Taanit Esther, please know that the article below states that the entire fast day is an auspicious time for prayer and requests. After all, this is the fast that saved the Jews from Haman back then. (Also, a summary of the linked article is in the comment section below.) Giving any kind of tzedakah and reciting Psalm 22 (whether once or 7 times, as recommended by the Kav Hayashar) is an excellent thing to do throughout the fast day. Saying a lot of Tehillim on Taanit Esther & Purim is very auspicious, if you can manage it. The main thing on Taanit Esther is pouring out your heart and asking Hashem that He help you in the zechut of Esther Hamalkah & Mordechai Hatzaddik. Please see A Spiritual Remedy Guaranteed to Work on the Fast of Esther to see how you can effect your own salvation (or the salvation of others).
The fast starts at the crack of dawn, and the full segulah starts from that moment. |
Myrtle Rising
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