tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32824199094518522762024-03-14T06:31:50.505+02:00Sefer Chabibi Deepest Torahrabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-55254516881232185152012-09-28T20:35:00.000+02:002012-09-28T20:38:50.504+02:00HA'AZINU; TOWER OF SALVATIONby Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
In our parsha, Ha'azinu, as for every parsha, we need to ask: what is the question and what is the answer?
In this parsha, where Moshe looks back and reflects on the life and mission of Israel, we similarly must reflect, and ask of ourselves- "What pain, has been inflicted on me, and how do I refrain from consciously or unconsciously passing it on rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-32313252280292862572012-09-25T20:46:00.003+02:002012-09-25T20:46:44.197+02:00YOM HA K'PURIM: A YOM KIPPUR THOUGHT
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen MelmanWhen the Torah calls the holiest day of the year Yom HaKippurim, on a deeper level it saying that the day is actually Yom K'Purim, meaning "a day like Purim." And if Yom Kippur is likened to Purim, then on some level one could actually say that Purim is even deeper, in that it is the root holiday after which Yom Kippur is modelled.Yes, Purim is rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-22889281859822040202012-09-21T18:10:00.000+03:002012-09-21T18:14:40.971+03:00VAYELECH: THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENERBy Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. This famous expression is so true. We always desire that which is just beyond us, that which we cannot reach, that which lies behind the fence. From the distance, it always looks better than one's own grass, one's own situation.
Every rule has its exception, or else it wouldn't really be a rule,rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-27569904155619547002012-09-16T21:02:00.000+03:002012-09-16T21:05:49.923+03:00ROSH HASHANA: CHANGELINGby Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
The word "shana" in Hebrew means many things. It is most commonly translated as year, but it also has many deeper related meanings. Shana also means "teach,"and the word "mishna," the oral teachings, comes from the same root. Shana also means "change" or "transformation." In Hebrew, "leshanot" is the infinitive form of the word meaning "to change." Sorabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-18826713610426954662012-09-14T21:56:00.000+03:002012-09-14T21:56:30.023+03:00NETZAVIM: STANDING AT THE PORTAL
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin HaKohen Melman
Nitzavim is always read prior to Rosh Hashana. It is a plaintive plea, nay warning, by Moses to the Jewish People, that they have before them a choice in life, between life and death, before good and evil, and that they should choose life.
The later Moses, Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon, aka Moses Maimonides, aka the Rambam, teaches that we rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-49011826897847039302012-09-07T07:53:00.001+03:002012-09-07T07:53:07.204+03:00KI TAVO: CATALYST NATIONby Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen MelmanWhat does it mean to be called the Chosen Nation? Actually, the term used in Ki Tavo isam segula, often translated as "treasured nation." But whether understood as chosen or as treasured, it seems to be frequently misunderstood.It does not imply supremacy or arrogance. Rather, it embraces the idea of service. As Israel is amamlechet kohanim, arabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-24782326054473108022012-08-31T20:36:00.001+03:002012-08-31T20:36:36.293+03:00KI TEITZEI: LOVING AND A HATING TONIGHT
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
Behind everything which we hate there is to be found a Divine lesson for us. Sometimes we hate a person because he reminds us of a defect in our own character. That is a Divine message. Sometimes we hate someone because they are so good that we become jealous of him and look for petty ways to find fault with him to assuage our sense of regret for our own rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-52883107071890412212012-08-24T19:21:00.002+03:002012-08-24T19:24:40.481+03:00SHOFTIM; BETROTHAL AT THE MOUNTAIN
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
Jewish DNA reflects a yearning to simultaneously ascend two figurative mountains: the universal call to serve humanity on the one hand, and the particular call to serve the Jewish people on the other hand, whereby we preserve our culture, religion and heritage and get to be alone with our G*d.
Ultimately, through fulfilling both yearnings we then come torabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-59807408968364194352012-08-17T19:16:00.000+03:002012-08-17T19:22:15.104+03:00ELUL ZEMAN; THE 40 DAYS TO DIVINE ATONEMENT
By Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
All humanity are brothers and sisters, with the same heavenly father who created us all in His image.
Our Muslim brothers have Ramadan for 40 days. Our Christian brothers have Lent for 40 days. So what do WE have? Did you know that we also have a special 40 day period which we use to draw closer to Hashem and become better Jews, just as the Muslims rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-82271221536763722582012-08-10T21:06:00.000+03:002012-08-10T21:06:22.635+03:00EQEV; THE SECRET OF OVERCOMING EVIL
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
The great Hasidic Master, Reb Tzadoq Hakohen, taught that the first time a word is mentioned in the Torah is the headquarters for that word, and aids us in truly understanding it when used in later contexts and circumstances. This week's parsha is Eqev, which means both a literal heel, as well as the idea of something following quickly in one's rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-37599813599408007002012-08-03T18:51:00.004+03:002012-08-03T19:00:28.935+03:00Vaetchanan/shabbat nachamu: THE HEART OF HEAVEN
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
"...the mountain was burning with a fire reaching the heart of heaven..."(Deut. 4:11)"
....VEHAHAR BOER BA'AISH AD LEV HASHAMAYIM...
"When you give your heart to someone, you've touched heaven."
I call heaven and earth as witnesses for you today...." (Deut.4:26)
"HA'IDOTI VACHEM HAYOM ET HASHAMAYIM V'ET HA'ARETZ..."
Aretz and Shamayim, the earth rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-75180096428651939342012-07-27T20:24:00.002+03:002012-07-27T20:26:04.214+03:00DEVARIM: SECRET OF THE ASHTEI ASAR
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
Seven - eleven. Seven is the holy number marking the dawn of creation. Eleven is the number heralding the final redemption, when we will see in each other our deepest connection. The number eleven is the number of brotherly unity, the same brothers who begged Yosef for forgiveness in unity as one heart. The Great Shabbos is coming soon when the heart of rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-45951075139577623422012-07-20T19:09:00.005+03:002012-07-20T19:09:45.058+03:00MASSEI: A PLACE IN SPACE; A PLACE IN TIME
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
This d'var Torah is dedicated to the aliyah of the neshama of my blessed father, Israel J. Melman, Yisrael Yehoshua ben HaRavYaakov Hakohen Melman, z"l. This past week, the 27th of Tammuz was the anniversary of his tenth yahrzeit. My father was a great physicist and inventor who saw the awesomeness of G*d in the rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-18933451496336933782012-07-13T16:42:00.001+03:002012-07-13T16:46:05.467+03:00PINCHAS: DAUGHTERS AND FESTIVALS
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
Judaism has been responsive to women's concerns since its inception. Any alleged signs of discrimination had more to do with combating the cultural mores and social norms and customs of the general culture which the earliest Hebrews absorbed. But Judaism itself had always ascribed a high premium and an esteemed sense of worth to its women and their rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-91564715019039148962012-07-06T10:02:00.001+03:002012-07-06T10:03:59.937+03:00BALAK: WHAT COLOR IS YOUR RAINBOW?
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
This week's commentary is dedicated to my beloved late mother, Esther Melman, z"l, (Esther bat Baruch) whose second yahrzeit fell out this week, on 11 Tammuz. May her memory be for a blessing!
Bilaam the Sorcerer, sent by the Moabite king Balak to curse Israel, ascends three hilltops in all, building seven altars on each, seven spiritual vantage rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-9162850403249173612012-06-29T15:58:00.000+03:002012-06-29T16:01:06.731+03:00HUKKAT: INSIDE/OUT
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
How much of life is seen as a zero sum game? How often do we view our neighbor's gain as our loss? This jealousy/covetousness is the source of evil. When we believe that there is not sufficient abundance in the universe for all of us we resort defensively to a hoarding posture. So, homeopathically, we must eliminate this zero sum thinking with a ritual rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-54431561356581923072012-06-25T06:12:00.001+03:002012-06-29T15:59:53.366+03:00KORACH: THE FLAW AND THE THAW
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
Korach was a man ahead of his time. He was in the right place, at the wrong time. The right goals, but the wrong motivation. He made a claim for equality and egalitarianism - even democracy, but went about it in a way which slandered a righteous, selfless man and sowed divisiveness and disunity among the people.
Korach asked Moses "who put you over rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-70203801168357133822012-06-18T22:03:00.001+03:002012-06-25T06:13:08.906+03:00SHELACH; AGENTS OF THE EXILE
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
Exile can be a state of mind. But it can also be very real. The Nation of Israel was on track to be united with the Land of Israel, when the sin of the spies caused a deep rupture, thus delaying the reunion until the passing of the generation that was accustomed to a negative slave mindset. Thus the exile of the mind led to an exile of the body. Our rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-73546383352894594572012-06-08T08:22:00.003+03:002012-06-08T08:23:52.528+03:00B'HA'ALOT'CHA; EXPLORING HUMILITYby Rabbi Baruch Binyamin HaKohen Melman
The Torah tells us in this week's parsha, B'ha'alot'cha, that Moshe was"anav mikall adam," meaning that he was"the humblest of all men."
What does that really mean? Now you must understand that this was in the context of Miriam's famous slander episode, by her referencing his marital situation. How did he react to her behavior? Did he submit meekly to herrabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-8218910736551468162012-06-01T19:39:00.002+03:002012-06-01T19:40:31.341+03:00NASO: GIVING YOUR A.L.L.By Rabbi Baruch Binyamin HaKohen Melman
In this week's parsha, Naso, we have two seemingly unconnected ideas. One, the priestly blessing, is the age-old formula for the kohanim to bestow blessings upon the people. The other is the trial by ordeal of the "sota," the accused adulteress. We will see that they are not so far apart, that everything in Torah deeply connects in an organic, integrated rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-67663084835782957102012-05-25T20:23:00.001+03:002012-06-01T19:40:16.031+03:00BEMIDBAR; TO SWALLOW THE HOLINESSby Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen MelmanBamidbar, the name of this week's parsha, means, "in the wilderness." What is the difference between the rugged wilderness and the serpentine alleyways of the city? Exposure.Military doctrine shifts radically owing to the marked contrasts between open spaces and crowded marketplaces. So too, in the war between light and darkness, between sin and salvation, rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-66491323737170815092012-05-18T05:18:00.001+03:002012-05-25T20:24:03.453+03:00Behar/BECHUKOTAI: HOLY BEAUTY SLEEPby Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
The secrets for successful relationships are found in this week's sedra, Bechukotai. It is also referred to as the "tochecha," or The Great Reproof. Hidden within its dire portents of doom are also the dire secrets of life. The antidote is provided along with the warning. The contraindications are listed on the label.
Whether concerning our Divine Spouse rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-2455961998025439482012-05-12T00:36:00.000+03:002012-05-12T00:39:00.131+03:00EMOR: BETWEEN THE MEMSby Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
Blemishes are a problem. Whether for a teenage girl or for a Temple offering, having a blemish is not a good thing. Sometimes just a scratch or a bruise is enough to render an offering unacceptable. This might strike us as odd. How seemingly superficial. Certainly it would seem that we should not be judged by appearances. Character is so much deeper than rabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-87631116246330515852012-05-05T00:18:00.003+03:002012-05-12T00:38:45.590+03:00Acharei-Mot/KEDOSHIM: Love Your Neighbor as Yourselfby Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
In Leviticus 19:18 there is the most awesome and complicated mitzvah in the Torah:"Love your neighbor as yourself, I am Hashem. Ve'ahavta leReyacha kamocha, ani Hashem."
My secret for remembering that this mitzvah is Lev 19:18 is as follows. Now once I explain my secret I guess it won't be much of a secret anymore, but here goes:
Lev, although short forrabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3282419909451852276.post-9452749720917540832012-04-27T07:19:00.002+03:002012-05-05T00:23:08.410+03:00TAZRIA-METZORA; DESTROYER OF WORLDS
by Rabbi Baruch Binyamin Hakohen Melman
Tazria -Metzorah, this week's parsha, discusses the cleansing process of the leper, as well as the purification processes for bodily secretions of a reproductive nature, both male and female. It must be made clear that this is not referencing a physical uncleanness. Rather, it is solely discussing a spiritual form of impurity.
In fact, the English wordrabbimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07892658940449733484noreply@blogger.com1