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GOOD MORNING! Three weeks to Pesach and counting ... It's time to give some thought to making the Seder more enjoyable and effective in creating a warm family experience. Most Jews would like their children to feel positively about being Jewish. You cannot transfer your feelings, but you can create the atmosphere and the experience which will engender positive feelings. Anyone I have ever met who loved being Jewish, fondly reminisced about their Zaideh (grandfather) presiding over the Shabbat table or their Bubbie (grandmother) lighting Shabbat candles ... and their Seder! You are a link in that chain!
Q & A: HOW DO I MAKE MY SEDER ENJOYABLE, CREATIVE AND MEANINGFUL?
Remember that the Seder is for the kids, to transmit our history
and understanding of life. You've got to make it interesting and
intrigue them to ask questions. If a person asks a question, he'll
be inclined to hear the answer! The only way to transmit your love
and feeling for Judaism is through shared, positive experiences. You
need to be excited about the Seder! Some ideas from Rabbi Shimon
Apisdorf's Passover in a Nutshell:
Also, check out http://www.aish.com/stopLH for "The 4 Questions of Loshon Hora" for the Seder!
Torah Portion of the Week
Tazria
The Torah continues with the laws of physical and spiritual purity. The focus of this portion is upon tzora'as, a supernatural physical affliction sent to warn someone to refrain from speaking badly about others. The disease progressively afflicted home, clothes and then one's skin - unless the individual corrected his ways and followed the purification process stated in the Torah.
There are two types of speech transgressions: (1) Loshon Hora
(literally "evil tongue") - making a derogatory or damaging statement
about someone even though you are speaking the truth. (2) Rechilus
(literally "tale bearing") - telling someone the negative things
another person said about him or did against him. Check out
http://www.chofetzchaim.com for daily lessons in Shmirat HaLoshon,
proper speech - or call (800) 867-2482 for books and tapes! Also,
check out http://www.aish.com/stopLH for "The 10 Rules of Loshon
Hora".
Dvar Torah
based on Growth Through Torah by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
The Torah states regarding tzora'as (see above in Torah Portion for definition):
"All the days the plague is in him ... he shall dwell alone; outside the camp shall his dwelling be." (Leviticus 13:46)
Why is the person who is afflicted with tzora'as (who is called the metzora) commanded to dwell outside of the camp?
The Sages teach us in the Talmud (Erchin 16b) that since the
metzora caused the separation of friends by speaking against others, he too should be separated from others.
This is not revenge, but to teach a lesson. Being all alone is a great distress. Everyone needs other people. While some people have a greater need to be around others, being in isolation causes much suffering. When the metzora spoke against a person he caused bad feelings and the isolation of that person from friends and family. By feeling the isolation himself, he will be more careful with his speech.
PIRKEI AVOT 2:20
"The day is short, there is much work, the workers are lazy, the
reward is great, and the Master is insistent."
-- Rabbi Tarfon
CANDLE LIGHTING - April 4:
(or go to http://www.aish.com/candlelighting)
Jerusalem 6:22
Guatemala 5:55 Hong Kong 6:21 Honolulu 6:27
J'Burg 5:45 London 7:18 Los Angeles 5:57
Melbourne 5:48 Miami 6:20 Moscow 6:54
New York 6:05 Singapore 6:54
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Watch your thoughts,
for they become words.
Choose your words,
for they become actions.
Understand your actions,
for they become habits.
Study your habits,
for they will become your character.
Develop your character,
for it becomes your destiny!
With Thanks tof |