The Weekly Mission- Torah Portion by Isaiah Rothstein

Parshat Mattos-Masei (the 3 weeks-5770) “My vows to HaShem I will pay, in the presence of his entire people, in the courtyards of the house of HaShem in your midst JERSUALAM, Hallelujah!” [i] Regardless of our age, we have always been told to mourn for the destruction of the Temple. Rabbis end their sermons with the hopeful prayer “speedily in our days,” our very prayers call to HaShem to forgive our sins of old so we may see the greatness of the Temple, and yet ”she sits in solitude! The city that was great with people has become like a widow.” [ii] When we are told to connect to something that is seemingly “irrelevant,” how do we react? “I didn’t do it; people have been mourning for the temple for almost two millennia! How am I supposed to mourn for something I have never seen!? How am I supposed to cry if I don’t know what I am crying for?” King David cries to Hashem saying “we have been led like sheep to be slaughtered, to be killed destroyed, beaten, and humiliated.” [ii...

Parshat Pinchas Reb Mosheleh was a shoemaker in a small town in Europe. In his great distress he goes over to his rebbe to ask him how to break it to his wife that he had lost his job and that their family’s financial situation was as fragile as glass. Pesach (Passover) was coming along and Mosheleh grew distressed and weary. “How am I supposed to give my whole family all the things they need for the holiday? I’m broke! (Maybe he didn’t say it like that but, use your imagination) Rebbe, I need inspiration! I need to know everything will be OK. I need a sign. I need Eliyahu Hanavi (Elijah the Prophet). His Rebbe then gives him explicit instruction assuring Mosheleh that his wife and five kids will be in good hands for Pesach. The Rebbe tells Mosheleh, “go to the town of Matzah and you will see a huge willow tree, and under that big willow tree you will see a hut and in that hut you will find Eliyahu Hanavi. The Rebbe then gives him a Carriage filled with matzah, meat, wine, and the ...

Ever since the Jews left Egypt, they’ve always had something to complain about. The Jews incessantly hassled Moshe and Aaron, whining about different and often unreasonable issues. The pattern that the Jews paved was usually very similar to the preceding and proceeding complaints. The order usually was: The Jews complain to Moshe, Moshe falls on his face (prays), and then HaShem either threatens or takes action, and then the Jews repent or are granted the object of their complaint. I think it is safe to say that HaShem supported the Jews while they were on their mission from Egypt up to Israel. He continuously spoiled us while we struggled through the desert. Even in times when we had little if any emunah (faith), HaShem still guided us like sheep. He never left us hanging. While wandering through the desert, the Jewish people underappreciated the fact that HaShem took them out from Egypt and provided food and water while en route to the Promised Land. The Jews began to co...

Weekly Mission: Parshat Korach (5770) This d’var Torah is written and read (please G-d) for the complete recovery of Shayndel Gittel bat Ayda Adina . Please say a prayer for her in your own words, with a prayer book, or good deeds. There is a story told about two great Hasidic scholars who were brothers --- Reb Zushe and Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk. Both were students of the Maggid of Mezeritch and were known for their greatness in Torah and Jewish mysticism. One time when they were passing through a certain city, they heard that a robbery took place that same day. The police saw Reb Zushe and Reb Elimelech and suspected them of the robbery since they looked unfamiliar. Thus, he arrested them and put them in jail. Upon entering the cell, Reb Elimelech grew weary as he realized that the sun was setting and he would not be able to pray the afternoon service. Because it was a jail, there was a bucket filled with feces nearby. In such surroundings, a Jew is not allowed to pray. Reb Eli...