Frum Torah perspective on Hurricane Sandy

The non stop  media coverage on Hurricane Sandy has us listening to many reporters, politicians  meteorologists and others in expressing their personal observations on the devastation and power of the storm. We hear about how mother nature did this and how surprised  and shocked they are. How could this happen? the waves washed out the entire man made boardwalk? the sand dunes just washed away. 

As frum Torah yidden our response and reaction to a devastating Hurricane should not be with words such as Surpprised, or shocking, our reaction and lesson is we are AWED by the power of hashem. We don't see these events on a daily basis, however when an extraordinary event happens we cant be surprised by it. We are in awe of the gevurah of the eibishter we see it is the YAD HASHEM. We say gevuros 3 times a day in shmone esrei. In the shir shel yom on Monday we say  ברוח קדים תשבר אניות תרשיש hashem can destroy mighty ships withan easterly wind. We know that hashem can do this. What we are in awe of is the change of the natural tevah we are used to on a daily basis. We understand and know as true maaminim what the gemara in Chagiga (12a) tells us that hashem told the waves to stop so to he can tell the waves to storm the shore.  

When and what bracha do you make on a Hurricane

From a Lakewood news site- Bracha for Hurricane sandy.

The Mechaber (227,1) paskens one makes the bracha of “oseh maaseh breishis” on very strong winds. Suffice it to say hurricane strength winds fall into the Mechaber’s category of strong winds. The question is how strong should the winds be to make the bracha at the ideal time.

Lakewood poskim have told us the tzibur should wait until there is sustained winds of over 60 mph. Since the storm is expected to intensify over the course of the day, one should wait until the evening hours when the wind will be howling at nearly 80 mph.

Tomorrow morning one doesn’t make a new bracha as it is the same storm as today

Monday of taanis Behab בה'ב references hurricane, Rabbanim call for Yom Tefilah

                                                             A prayer for Hurricane Sandy
                                                        כלה שוד ושבר סער וסופה
                                       "Bring an end to plunder, destruction, storm and tempest"

As Hurricane Sandy is expected to hit the tri- state area, Rabbanim are asking all to daven and pray as

today Monday, is the third fast day of what is known as  בה"ב. Many will daven a special tefillah that begins with, "Water and waves overcoming us and we ask hashem to spare us from harm"...                                           
                   ....אפפונו מים עד נפש באנו בעמקי מצולה גלי ים עברו עלינו
Waters encompass us to our very soul, we have arived at the furthest depths, the waves of the sea poured over us, the roaring waves of the deep cover us..we tremble because of our sins..we hold tradition that prayer,repentance ad charity shatter evil decrees..spare us from plague
The tefillah ends with asking hashem to save us from harms way and not have middas hadin.

Rav Shteinman calls on Chizuk in Shemiras shabbos in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy

                                                                  רוח סערה עושה דברו
Rav Shteinman was asked  by Lakewood residents with what can they be mechazek with as Hurricane Sandy threatens the New Jersey.  His response was "To be mechazek in Shmiras Shabbos" when asked what area in particular he said in the area of carrying to make sure there is a kosher Eruv. He concluded with a Bracha that no one should be in harms way.

Mandatory and Voluntary evacuations for towns near Lakewood, NJ due to hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy Evacuations at  jersey shore towns.
updated 12:00 pm October 29th  for Monmouth County
http://www.app.com/viewart/20121028/NJNEWS/310280100/Evacuations-ordered-in-Monmouth-and-Ocean-Counties?odyssey=tab|mostpopular|text|NJNEWS

Mandatory:

Manasquan (certain areas)                           
Rumson (certain areas)
Belmar
Brielle (certain areas)
Long Branch (certain areas)
Sea Bright
Wall (certain areas)

Voluntary:
Asbury Park
Keansburg
Little Silver
Middletown
Union Beach

updated: 11:12 pm Sunday October 28th some Long Branch and Asbury park residents ordered to leave.
http://www.app.com/viewart/20121028/NJNEWS/310280053/Latest-Sandy-news-Some-Long-Branch-Asbury-Park-residents-ordered-leave?odyssey=mod|defcon|text|Frontpage

http://www.app.com/article/20121028/NJNEWS/310280053/Asbury-Park-residents-asked-evacuate-by-noon?odyssey=mod|defcon|text|Frontpage

Nationwide learning events marking first yartzheit of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt'l

Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim will be holding a  nationwide seder halimud and Divrei Zikaron in commemoration with the first yartzheit of  Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel which falls out this shabbos parshas Lech lecha. There will be a live video hook-up at various locations on Motzei Shabbos and Sunday October 28.

Baltimore: Sunday 11 Am Bnos yisroel in 6300 park heights divrei zikaron and video hookup
Brooklyn: Sunday morning  Heichal hatefillah Rav Binyomin Eisenberg shul 1650 56th
Chicago: Motzei shabbos -Chicago community Kollel 6506 North california
Cincinnati: Sunday morning Cincinati Community Kollel 2241 Losantiville Avenue
Clevland: Sunday Morning-Agudah Building(Torah life) 1851 South Taylor Road
Five towns: Sunday Morning BM Heichal Dovid 215 Central Avenue
Lakewood: Motzei Shabbos Khal Ateres Yeshaya 908 East county line- Rav Aaron Chodosh speaking
Los Angeles: Sunday Morning BM Sharei Torah 334 N La Brea
Monsey: Sunday Morning Yeshiva Sharei Torah 91 w Carlton Rd
Passaic: Sunday Morning Kol Yeshurun 540 Broadway

Montreal: Sunday Morning  Kollel Avreichim Zichron Boruch
Toronto: Sunday morning- Shoavei Mayim 2828 Bathurst

Mammeh Rochel- watch live hookup to kever Rochel yartzheit on Shabbos.

Watch live video hookup to kever Rachel  HERE  with the Yartheit this year falling out on Shabbos 11 Cheshvan many flocked to Rochel Imeinu on Thursday.

Fact checking the fact checkers - Pravda!

 Can we trust the fact checkers?
This reminds of the famous quote said by the Brisker Rav regarding the Russian newspaper Pravda which means Truth- He said it is so full of lies that even the name of the paper  and title is a Lie.

With the presidential debates behind us its now up the fact checkers to go over all the accusations and points made by the candidates during the debates. Did  president Obama go on a apology tour? as Governor Romney stated during the 3rd debate. Obama responded “this notion of me apologizing” has been “probably the biggest whopper that’s been told during the course of this campaign, and every fact-checker and every reporter that’s looked at it, governor, has said this is not true.” The fact checkers were at it and concluded that in fact the President did not issue the world apologize or say I'm sorry hence he did not go on a Apology tour this conclusion was made by factcheck.org. 

Naturally the republican fact checkers concluded that Obama did indeed apologize on behalf of the united states as Romney said during the debate" And then in those nations and on Arabic TV, you said that America has been dismissive and derisive. You said that on occasion America has dictated to other nations".
 Pravda! I fact checked it I believe Romney is right :)

Divrei Chizuk as "Vinter zman" gets underway in the yeshiva world

 Winter Zman, is well underway in the Yeshiva world, Its the longest uninterrupted zman of the year.  Many yeshivos learn the yeshivishe mesechtos of Noshim and Nezikin, the shvere Sugyos of shas. It is a Zman were many have shteiged, were many can look back years later and point to that winter zman where they reached new levels of learning.

Rav Shteinman In his pesichas hazman shmuess at yeshiva Orchos HaTorah said, that Boruch hashem as the the the yeshivos resumed learning everything becomes much easier. He than spoke about the importance of being mekabel Shabbos early, especialy on the short Fridays during the winter months. Not to rush into Shabbos at the last second, rather be ready a half hour before the Shkiah. In the Zechus of shmiras Shabbos and limud hatorah may we be zoche to shteig in learning and Yiras shomayim.

79th Yartzheit of Rav Meir Shapiro today ז חשון founder of Daf Yomi

Group sets up website to help maintain daily Daf Hayomi regimen

We are pleased to inform you of the formation of a group of new Lomdei Daf Yomi. Please see below.  Click here for website

    

 

Be more than a mere spectator at the nextSiyum Hashas!

The excitement surrounding the Siyum Hashas has inspired tens of thousands to start the Daf Yomi cycle with vigor and excitement. Scores of Jews from every walk of life, young and old, layman to scholar, have started the rewarding journey.

But what happens when the excitement of the Siyum eventually ebbs? What happens when someone can't make it to their local Daf Yomi Shiur for a day and the all-important continuity is broken? What happens when one's chavrusah drops out or they simply find it too difficult?

Introducing Lomdei HaDaf- a forum designed to help anyone - everyone - reach the end of the seven and a half year voyage with every tool at their disposal.

This exciting project is in incubation stage. We are looking for people like you for ideas and knowledge-based resources so that whoever is in need can take advantage of every available aid. Many ideas have already begun pouring in and are being implemented.

Our inaugural chizzuk gathering will be a sit-down siyum on Mesechta Brochos which will take place IY"H this Wednesday night, October 24th, in Brooklyn with Rabbi Frandshlit"a addressing the founders. For more information please email Daf@lomdeihadaf.org

Spreading the word by forwarding this email is key in getting this collaborative project viral and rolling strong.

Thank you and looking forward to seeing you not only at the siyum next week but at the grandSiyum Hashas in Yerushalayim which you and I will be celebrating in 7½ joyous and Torah-filled years, b'ymos HaMoshiach, amein! 

The jewish Shabbos Goy!

Link Here.
A fellow who was the official Shabbos goy, a Romanian cleaner named Boris, for the Nadvorna Rebbe of Bnei brak, and then later after a 3 year trip to Romania for the Seret Vishnitz community of Haifa, was determined to actually be a Jew. They determined his Jewishness by overhearing him talk about how his mother had lit candles on Friday nights, and then later hearing him singing Jewish songs he had seemingly learned in his youth. After an investigation, the chassidim brought the information to Rav Zoldan, the rav posek of the community, who continued the investigation and decided that Boris is Jewish and publicized the information to that effect. Boris was now out of a job, as they had to find a new Shabbos Goy. Wonder what happens to the Chometz that was sold to him?

Time for Chabad to unite for Rubashkin

Satmar did it, so did the Litvish yeshiva world, they rallied and came together on behalf of Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin a Lubavitcher chosid. The American livish newspaper the Yated Neeman keeps leading the way in fighting for justise on behalf of SMR. Satmar came together in making rallies all over the tri state area and collecting signatures on behalf of Rubashkin. Reb Sholom Mordechai has the zechus of bringing yidden together to fight for justice putting affiliations aside.

However  Despite many lubavichers fighting on behalf of SMR there has yet to be a unified representation from the lubavitch leadership defending and asking for justice on behalf of  Rubashkin. There were satmar Chasidim in the streets of crown heights collecting signatures last year in order to get the white house to look into the case. Perhaps the reason is that there is no unified leadership among chabad to come out together as one to fight for one of their own.

 Others have speculated that publicly rallying behind a suspected criminal would hurt the fundraising and public image of lubavitch. I hope thats only speculation but on his 53rd birthday it would be a big zechus if there is a strong showing of unity and support from within chabad on behalf of reb Sholom Mordcheh. while all legal avenues may or may not have been used, the koach of nesius ohl for someone from the mishpacha can go much further and bring a yeshuah.

No Yated nee'man this week, Ami magazine names Nat Lewin as Person of the year, Jewish lifestyle names man of the year.

The Yated Neeman did not print this week of parshas Bereishis do to the short week. There was noticeably a shortage of many food products at the stores too due to the short work week. All other Frum newspapers apparently worked overtime or prepared ahead of time and came out with their current issues. Ami has named Nathan Lewin noted attorney as person of the year for his work on the Rubashkin case. He is known for his role in defending the Jewish faith. Jewish life style magazine named Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper as man of the year for his strong support and defense of Israel and its security.

90th Agudah convention, 2012 to take place in shadow of the Siyum Hashas

UPDATE: Agudah 2012 Convention rescheduled click HERE and HERE for program and schedule.
The 90th National convention of Agudas Yisroel in America will take place December  28-30, 2012 at the (Hilton in East Brunswick, NJ). The theme for the convention is following the Siyum Hashas where 90,000 yidden came together         "Strength in Growth....Challenges in Growth"
                                             ככוכבי השמים לרב

The Motzei Shabbos session will feature a centennial banquet celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Agudas Yisroel in Kattowice, Poland.

COVENTION UPDATE HERE

Daf Yomi Commision of Agudah to Broadcast a live shiur Lichvod Siyum Maseches Brachos

The Daf Yomi Commission of Agudath Israel of America is delighted to announce a live broadcast of the upcoming nationwide shiur Lichvod Siyum Maseches Brachos.  The shiur will be broadcast live from Ahavas Torah, 7002 East Ludlow Drive, Scottsdale, AZ on Sunday, October 14, 2012 / 28 Tishrei, 5773 at 8:00 PM EST.

We are exceedingly fortunate to have one of the most prominent Rabbanim in America, addressing this event:

HaRav Hillel David, Rav, Khal Yeshiva Shaarei Torah, Brooklyn, NY

As in the past the topic of the shiur is wide open so as to attract a crowd of both those who learn the Daf and those who don't as well. It is expected that both men and women will participate in this event at all broadcast locations.

We urge all locations to contact our graphic artist and have their location details inserted on to the flyer rk@calligraphix.com. For any other information relating to this event, please contact our office by calling 212-797-9000 ext. 266 or livebroadcast.aia@gmail.com. It is fairly easy to arrange a live broadcast in any location please contact our office for full details.

Please make arrangements to join thousands of others across the country for this complimentary broadcast to be shown in your community. Joining together for this event will surely create a tremendous Kiddush Shem Shomayim.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky, on the Iranian threat.

Recently people have gone in to Rav Chaim and asked him about the Iranian threat as well as weather they should stay or go to Chutz laaretz, Rav Chaim replied;

"והיא שעמדה לאבותינו ולנו, שלא אחד בלבד עמד עלינו לכלותינו, והקב"ה מצילנו מידם".

In yearly drasha Belzer Rebbe Calls on Chasidim to sign up with specific kosher Internet provider

 In his annual  drasha on motzeh Simchas torah known as "Shteindige torah" the Belzer Rebbe concludes the yomim tovim with words of chizuk and sets expectations for his chasidim for the coming year. He spoke about the importance of davening with a kvius among other things. He mentioned the fact that the internet on one hand can be used in a positive way and for good things yet its a double edged sword and can be misused for bad things. He stated that B"H there is a kosher internet provider by the name of  (נט-צח) NET-ZACH and he called upon those who need internet access to sign up through that company in EY . The rebbe stressed Hes not talking to those who dont need the internet at all but those who do should sign on with this kosher provider and it will help them avoid the problems that occur when signing up without a kosher provider. It will also protect them from the many nisyonos and trials that go along with internet browsing.

Doin what's White

 Belz dons the white socks for Chol Hamoed too. Up to now the tradition in belz is to wear white socks only on Shabbos and Yom Tov. The Belzer  Rebbe recently stated that Belzer Chasidim  wear White socks on Chol hamoed too. Hope they all have enough pairs! Go whitesox!

Can one change the minhag in shul and do Hoshanas after Halel instead of after Mussaf

There are 2 minhagim when to do the hakafos around the Bimah when reciting Hoshanos. Minhag EY is to do it after Halel before krias hatorah which is the more convenient way since you dont have to take the Lulan and Esrog out again. The second Minhag is to do it after Mussaf where you have to take the lulav out again. There have been many halachick debates among the poskim regarding when to do it and there are many reasons both halachackily and al pi kabbalah when to do it.
 Many Shuls who had the minhag to do it after mussaf wanted to switch the minhag to the first way as a matter of convenience some took a vote others asked a shailah.

There is an Interesting story brought in sefer LEV Chaim from Rav chaim falagi HERE In the City of Izmir where the Rav wanted to change the Minhag they did it after mussaf and he wanted to do like minhag Eretz yisrael where you say the hoshanos and hakafos after hallel. They took a vote and all members agreed with the Rav to change the Minhag. there was one member of the Shul who opposed it he argued that the minhag was not just in vain and there is who to be somech on to keep it that way. The Rav decided that even if only one person opposed it was enough not to change the minhag and they kept the Minhag of hoshanas after Mussaf.