shavua tov:))

This Monday we will iyH meet for 30 minutes 12-1230 ny time.

It has been an amazing week.  The Rav's shiurim were beyond words, inspiring and powerful.

I even had the chance to meet some of you  in person for the first time and that was spectacular- I'm still flying from the feeling of it all.

For those of you who couldn't make it, it was recorded.

Here is the poem that one of our chaburah members composed while learning the sefer Da es Atzmecha;

By: D.R.

I wanna be a ballet dancer.
Without a coat to weigh me down.
The garment was soft and pink and wool
But I'm no fool.
I know its place. I know its face.
I hear it, see it, every step I trace.
It's right there waiting to take my place.
But I'm a pure neshama
G-d told me so.
So let me dance and let me glow.
I want to move
I want to shine
I want to reveal this neshama of mine.

If you can, please be on live on Monday, so we can discuss Shavuous and some ideas and how it ties into the last five chapters in Da es Atzmecha.

Love, aviva rus

Reminder: Da Es Atzmecha and Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh

Tomorrow,  from 12-1230 NY time, we are reviewing chapters 1-5 iy'H.

Please be on the phone if you have any questions or thoughts that you would like to share.

16 days to Shavuous!

Bilvavi 1: section 3 70. we must recognize this aspect of our yetzer hara in us- false views and foolish thoughts he sends us 71. since this is deep in our soul, the feeling of everything that exists is Hashem's creation is hard to attain 72. a person is a microcosm of all  existence, any evil we see in creation is in us. (Harav Yerucham Levovits zt'l of Mir= there exists in man's soul a zoo; in our example=thinking we created ourself) 73. 74. So we can't jump over this stage even if it seems simple, like a ladder building up toward self mastery  -since deep in the soul there is a force that feels otherwise, emunah isn't sufficiently clear. 75.. Age doesn't matter. A soul without clear and pure emunah is missing the ultimate light- needed to generate all the other illumination in Torah and mitzvos.  Constructive Worrying Iyar 19, 5774 · May 19, 2014 Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson Print this Page There are only two things to worry about:your mind and your actions. "What am I thinking about?" and "What am I meant to do?" Of course, you should be thinking good thoughts. Of course, you should be doing good things. The world around you may be in shambles—including, perhaps, yourself. Your knowledge of how things should be and what you are actually doing are so far apart, you cannot see yourself changing anything. That’s His job. He will make a bridge from your thoughts to your deeds and together they will become the most powerful instrument in the world- Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Reminder- we are IY'H meeting tomorrow at noon NY time

We are continuing with Chapter 5 in Da es Atzmecha

(some amazing questions to answer this week)

 Da Es Atzmecha: Getting to know Your Self

Chapter 5:

Eradicate Desire and find Joy:

(ratzon-ratz-run- quick movement to acquire something)

There are two places to find joy:

1. you can find joy in acquiring something you don't own yet that you have ratzon for.

2. joy from your own existence; the natural state of a person is to be happy- when want things other than that, ratzon- removes the joy from a person's soul(97).

Become aware that "uprooting desire will uncover a more peaceful and happy world" (99)

How? When see self as a neshama that lacks nothing, no longer feel the need to acquire things.

Rambam: Happiness does not reside in things that are external to a person, but within. There true pleasure, joy, and peace exist.

Chazal: (avos 6:4) "Eat bread with salt, and drink a measured amount of water, sleep on the ground, and live a life of deprivation. If you do so, you will be happy in this world, and in a good state in the next world." 

Why shouldn't we take pleasure from food in this world? The root of the problem is not that he eats, but that he desires (105).

Desire is like suicide: It clouds our clarity of what is important in this world.

What is important in this world? to see self as a soul and feel that very real pleasure.

To DO:

1. say to self " I believe that I have a soul inside of me.  I believe that the pleasure is really present inside me."

2. be patient

3. realize you are born in this natural state of joy and desire kills it- "a desire fulfilled is less pleasurable than the absence of desire" (111)

we live in a world built on everyone's desires= destroying the world. If we nullify our will, we will feel calm and peaceful and will reach "true inner peace and complete joy of life."(113)

 Section 3: Emunah- Man and his Creator

67. first stage: There is a Creator, cannot do this on our own. Issarusa dilesato=issarusa dele'eila: effort from below bring corresponding blessing from Above=do our part then DAVEN.
    
    
68. Next must recognize in our soul that Hashem created everything. The avodah is to feel this.
    
    
69. Pharoah said “the Nile is mine, and I made myself” this midah exists in us (as the good ones of our avos do, as well)
    
    
70. we must recognize this aspect of our yetzer hara in us- false views and foolish thoughts he sends us
    
    
71. since this is deep in our soul, the feeling of everything that exists is Hashem's creation is hard to attain

FYI:::

JUST IN TIME FOR SHAVUOUS- 

A SHIUR FOR WOMEN (in passaic)

BY:

RAV ITAMAR SCHWARTZ

-AUTHOR OF BILVAVI MISHKAN EVNEH AND DA ES ATZMECHA

HOW A WOMAN CAN PREPARE HERSELF FOR SHAVUOUS AND EXPERIENCE IT FULLY

THURSDAY, MAY 29^TH, 12 PM AT KEHILAS BAIS YOSEF, 580 BROADWAY, PASSAIC, NJ

THE RAV WILL BE SPEAKING IN HEBREW WITH A TRANSLATOR FOR ENGLISH

ANYONE WHO WANTS A PRIVATE APPOINTMENT WITH THE RAV, PLEASE CONTACT

AVIVA@ABERMAN.NET

10$ suggested donation

Outline for Monday, may 5

 Da Es Atzmecha: Getting to know Your Self

Chapter 5:

Eradicate Desire and find Joy:

(ratzon-ratz-run- quick movement to acquire something)

There are two places to find joy:

1. you can find joy in acquiring something you don't own yet that you have ratzon for.

2. joy from your own existence; the natural state of a person is to be happy- when want things other than that, ratzon- removes the joy from a person's soul(97).

Become aware that "uprooting desire will uncover a more peaceful and happy world" (99)

How? When see self as a neshama that lacks nothing, no longer feel the need to acquire things.

Rambam: Happiness does not reside in things that are external to a person, but within. There true pleasure, joy, and peace exist.

Chazal: (avos 6:4) "Eat bread with salt, and drink a measured amount of water, sleep on the ground, and live a life of deprivation. If you do so, you will be happy in this world, and in a good state in the next world." 

Why shouldn't we take pleasure from food in this world? The root of the problem is not that he eats, but that he desires (105).

Desire is like suicide: It clouds our clarity of what is important in this world.

What is important in this world? to see self as a soul and feel that very real pleasure.

To DO:

1. say to self " I believe that I have a soul inside of me.  I believe that the pleasure is really present inside me."

2. be patient

3. realize you are born in this natural state of joy and desire kills it- "a desire fulfilled is less pleasurable than the absence of desire" (111)

we live in a world built on everyone's desires= destroying the world. If we nullify our will, we will feel calm and peaceful and will reach "true inner peace and complete joy of life."(113)

Bilvavi Mishkan Evneh:
Section 2: Belief in the Creator

58.  Purpose of creation is so Hashem can bestow His good on us: the good is this taste-connection to Him

59.“Thinking about Him (constantly) is the foundation of the inner life of the soul and the key to entering a spiritual life”- or else life is shallow-always remember before Whom you toil=key to unlock block of closeness to Hashem.

-.Can take many years, but know this is why you are given time, so it's not wasted time...

60. What is your primary thought when you wake up?

61. There is a Creator- must have this awareness

62. First, reflect :who woke me up...Second, speak to Hashem with simplicity:Why did U wake me up, so I can serve U

63. Begin with every hour remembering there is a Creator, then increase to every 15 minutes- eventually Hashem will gift u with always remembering He is the Creator

64. the method: quiet and simple thought and statement, repeated over and over, like the water that hit the rock in Rabbi Akiva story : recurring simplicity can break through a rock (heart of stone- yeckezkel) There is a Creator

65. True perfection=deveikus to Hashem, all else is empty, when you realize this will find that “one's entire existence at all times must revolve around Hashem...He must be sought in each situation, every place, and at all times.” 613 mitzvos and Torah=ways to attach self to Creator-in all matters, find a way to become close and connected to Hashem.

66. When you see the truth- entire life is about how to become close to Hashem- then can adopt the methods described in this book.