Be'er Mayim Chaim Wellsprings of Chassidus & Jewish Meditation: 09/01/2009

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Today is the Shpoler Zeide Yorzeit

Here are some stories and songs/niggunim:

It is said that both the text and the moving melody of this supplication
were composed by the renowned righteous man Reb Arye Leib, one of the
followers of the Baal Shem Tov. He was known as the Shpoler Zeide having
lived in the city of Shpole in the Ukraine. He is remembered as a great
exponent of Ahavat Yisroel, the his love for fellow Jews. This melody was
chanted by the Shpoler Zaide before the midnight prayer bewailing the
destruction of the Temple, "Tikun Chatzot."

The text is divided into four stanzas. Each verse is sung in Hebrew, Yiddish
and Russian (a mixture of White Russian and Ukrainian). The first section of
the melody is sung with the text and the musical refrain, without words,
follows. Only the first verse is sung on this record in three languages. The
same melody may be used for each succeeding verse.

This soulful melody is a dialogue between the Almighty Father and His
children, the people of Israel. The Father looks for His children in the
Diaspora, Galut, and implores them to return home to the Holy Land. "Where
have you been that you have forsaken Me?" He inquires of His children, "Dear
children, please return home, I feel forlorn without you." The children's
answer is "But, Father, how can we return when there is a guard blocking the
door?"

Hupp Cossack! http://www.chabad.org/254254

This triumphant tune is associated with the a Chassidic Rebbe's
self-sacrifice in saving the life of a fellow Jew. The story: It once
happened that a Jew who had rented an inn from the local landlord had fallen
behind in his payments and was jailed. The landlord announced that on a
particular day this Jew was to be dressed in a bear costume and to compete
in a dance contest with the Cossacks. The Shpoler Zeide put his life on the
line and secretly took the place of this unfortunate Jew dressed in the
costume and won the dance. Eliyahu HaNavi taught the Zeida how to dance!
This is the song to which they danced.

The Birth of the "Shpoler Zeideh" http://www.chabad.org/140557

Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022
eFax: 1-832-213-3135
join the mailing list to keep updated about new projects here:
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Monday, September 14, 2009

Dveykus IV

And sometimes I close my eyes...

Someone once asked me how in the world could I concentrate with my eyes
closed, without looking in the siddur?

The truth is, I look in the siddur for most of davening, its only the
amidah, the silent shemoneh esrei where the conflict begins...

On the one hand we always say osios machkimos - the letters make one wiser.
There is a spirtiual light within the holy letters of the Hebrew language.
Especially if we see them written in Kesav Ashuri like in the Sefer Torah.

On the other hand, when I close my eyes, my concentration is so much
stronger, nothing to see and distract me. My mind begins to focus inward.
Sometimes I can see the letters in my mind. I draw them like glowing coals
in my mind's eye.

Other times I am free of letters, no letters just thoughts.

Still other times the kaleidoscope of images in my minds eye explodes with
brilliant colors, shapes and forms, full of the fire of prayer.

Some people close their eyes to escape and to stop seeing the world.
Some people only see the world for the first time truly, when they close
their eyes.

Like Rebbe Nachman's story about the Beggars, the Blind Beggar sees the
reality so much that he is blind to the falsehood of the physical world of
lies.

What do you see when you close your eyes?

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Selichos

Selichos - Forgiveness
The Tiferes Shlomo of Radomsk taught:

We know that all the Jewish souls are a G-dly portion from above. A person
should always be attached to his supernal roots in the higher worlds like a
branch is attached to the tree. However once a person veers off the straight
path of righteousness his sins and transgressions form a barrier that
separates him from G-d.

This is the meaning of the verse "because with You is forgiveness." It means
that we are parying and beseeching Hashem to forgive our sins in order that
we can once again be reunited "with You," attached in rapture and dveykus.
Then there will no longer be any barrier separating between us and Hashem.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Your help please with a letter

I am in the process of applying to several grants and foundations to help me
produce more translations and sefarim as well to start the Jewish Heritage
Experience

If any of you have benefited directly or indirectly in any way from the Noam
Elimelech or other work I have done or am working on and you wish to help
please read on

If you would be so kind as to email me or send by traditional (snail) mail
how and why this work helped you, inspired you or why you believe in what we
are doing and please email or mail me your
recommendation/support/endorsement letters this can be helpful to me in
securing funding to make these dreams a reality.

Letters can be emailed to chassidusonline@gmail.com
or sent to
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
10 Nachal Uriah St Apt 7
Ramat Bet Shemesh Alef, Israel

Thanks for all your help and support!
Wishing all of us a fruitful healthy and happy new year
Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
info@chassidusonline.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022
eFax: 1-832-213-3135
join the mailing list to keep updated about new projects here:
http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim

Dveykus III - the mystic quest

Sometimes I choose the siddur:

Which Siddur?

OK I admit it, I have a problem. I collect siddurim. Which do I use? Almost
all of them. Depends on my mood or Mochin gadlus or katnus - small minded or
expanded consciousness.

Keser Nehora - Berditchiver Siddur - I have two of them I recieved from my
Rebbe himself.
Ksav Ashuris - Ashurite Torah Script Siddur - This handwritten siddur is
always on my Rebbe's shtender.
Shela HaKadosh Siddur - Bach's Haskama says if you daven from it your prayes
will be answered. The Sulitza rebbe shlita (whom I was close to when I lived
in the US) uses this.
Rav Yaakov Emden - Yaabetz Siddur - I have my Rebbe's old one, I use for
Kiddush Friday nights (has his wine stains) My rebbe uses this for special
occasions, Seder Night, Shofar Blowing etc.
Arizal Siddurim - these are full of Kabbalistic Yichudim and Divine Names
(my Rebbe uses them during Shaking of the Lulav).
Toldos Aharon's Siddur - Standard Nusach Sefard, small size clear print and
has Shem Havayah with Shiluv Adon"y and Tefillos from rav Arele and other
Tzadikim
Biala Siddur - Also in Ashuri script, but printed as opposed to hand
written, easier to read, has interesting minhagim and commentaries
Ben Ish Chai Siddur and Lashon Chachamim - I used this one for years till it
fell apart and recite many of his tefilos
Avodas Elimelech - A siddur with Rebbe reb melech's commentray collected
from Noam Elimelech
Tzolasa D'Yisroel - A siddur with Baal Shem Tov's commentray collected from
many seforim

I switch off. But on a daily basis I use Keser Nehora - Berditchiver Siddur.
Sometimes I try to have in mind the kavanos.

Which Siddur inspires you?

Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
www.chassidusonline.com
chassidusonline@gmail.com
info@chassidusonline.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022
eFax: 1-832-213-3135
join the mailing list to keep updated about new projects here:
http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Chassidus Wiki

Please participate in adding your own articles and editing the dynasties
listings so we can create the online Chassidus encyclopedia together!

http://chassidus.wikia.com/wiki/Chassidus_Wiki

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Fw: Baal Shem Tov 1

My friend Reb BenTzion sent this to share with you all:

BS"D

Chai Elul 5767

Birth of the Baal Shem Tov

Day that the Besht revealed himself

Birth of Shneur Zalman of Laidi, The Alter Rebbe of Lubavitch

Day that Menachem Mendel shlita, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, compiled HaYom Yom

20 or so years ago I was driving somewhere and listening to a cassette of The Basic Principles of Chabad Chassidus, by Rabbi Shloma Majeski. He was discussing Hashchocha Protes, or G-dly direction in our lives, when he illuminated the point by mentioning that the Baal Shem Tov was able to see G-ds hand directing a leaf blowing in the wind.

Just then, as I was driving and thinking about that incredible image, a leaf blew right across the windshield of my car!

And I thought WOW! If the Bescht were driving right now, he would have been able to see Hashem directing that leaf. So I leaned forward to see better, looking for the hand of Hashem.

Since then, I try to see Hashem's hand in all that happens to me and those around me and to view life as directed down to the smallest detail by the Abishter.

But I had questions: Hashem doesn't have hands like we know them: the use of the word hand is only metaphorical, to allow us to begin to visualize and comprehend Hashem who is totally incomprehensible to us (see Tanya). Yet the statement that the Baal Shem was able to see the hand of G-d also has to be taken at P'shat face value. He WAS able to see the hand of G-d. But how?

We learn that in the time of Moshiach, (not immediately, but during one of the phases of the process) we will be able to see G-dliness in everything around us: in a blade of grass, a pebble, a piece of paper. We will be able to see the G-dly spark in ALL material objects. But when it says that we will be able to see the spark in everything, it means EVERYTHING…from the macroscopic level where objects have discernable shapes (i.e. it's a rock) to the microscopic where we begin to see things on the molecular level. And beyond that to the nano… and beyond that to the nuclear level…both materially and spiritually.

Imagine an infinite zoom microscope that is focused on a rock. You first hold the rock in your hand, it looks smooth and round. In the macro all you see is a smooth stone. When you place it in the microscope, as you increase the magnification you begin to see a cratered, pitted surface made up of striated bands of color. As the magnification increase and we delve into the microscopic depths of the rock we are opened up to worlds within worlds until we get to the nuclear level where the rock no longer exists, all we see are swirling protons and electrons.

Now take this imagery to the spiritual plane.

If we look at a finite macroscopic object, we can see the G-dly spark that illuminates the stone and therefore it exists. But each level of spiritual magnification reveals yet again G-dly sparks, but of a different nature…down to the nuclear level which again shows G-dly sparks as to that level.

But EVERYTHING contains G-dly sparks, including the air we breathe and which surrounds us.

If we place a molecule of 'air' into our infinite zoom microscope construct, at some level, that molecule of air will be indistinguishable from the previous molecule of rock. Not only that, but the dividing lines between what is rock and what is air will also be indistinguishable both physically and spiritually.

And this is how I believe we can begin to understand the P'shat of the statement that the Baal Shem Tov was able to see G-ds hand in a leaf blowing in the wind.

The leaf and the wind, on the most fundemental of spiritual (and physical) levels, are ONE with G-d and intimately connected to our Creator. His Hand is present in all things, physical and spiritual; therefore the Baal Shem Tov was able to discern the Hand of G-d. And if we keep trying….

Bentzion Ziskind Meltzer

Chai Elul 5767

Bentzion Meltzer

For more info and to subscribe:

Publicize the Teachings of the Baal Shem Tov
Bentzion Meltzer
www.besht-yomi.org
bentzion@besht-yomi.org

In honor of Chai Elul a story about Rav Chaim of Czernowitz

Once Rav Chaim of Czernowitz author of the Be'er Mayim Chaim fell critically
ill. He was bed ridden with a high fever, literally at death's door. In his
delirious feverish state he had a dream like vision in which he saw the
founder of the Chassidic movement the Holy Rav Yisrael ben Eliezer the Ba'al
Shem Tov zy"a.

Rav Chaim began to cry and plead with the Ba'al Shem Tov to entreat Heaven
for mercy on his behalf . The Ba'al Shem Tov asked Rav Chaim what merits he
had, that could persuade the Ba'al Shem Tov to ask on his behalf? Rav Chaim
answered him:

"My rebbe and teacher the Zlotshuver Maggid's custom was every Shabbos to
speak about the holy Ba'al Shem Tov and relate a teaching he had heard from
his mentor, a story or parable during the mystical third Shabbos meal of
Shalosh Seudos. Once, due to his intense passionate cleaving to G-d in
dveykus and rapture, my rebbe forget to do this and they almost brought the
Mayim Achronim water for him to wash before the Bentshing - the grace after
the meal, when I reminded him."

"If so," said the Ba'al Shem Tov to Rav Chaim, "then you have a complete
recovery." And so it was.
(Ma'amar Mordechai of Slonim #3 p101)

Elul 18 is the birthday of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of
Chassidism

Dveykus Part II - How

I became Frum because I was convinced Torah was truth.
I became Chassidish because I was searching for G-d.

How do I try to achieve dveykus?

It depends on my mood and my emotions.

Do I feel happy, sad, depressed, joyful, energetic, lethargic, bitter-sweet,
aflame, ecstatic, tired, burned out, excited?
Each feeling and emotion force me to try a new method:

Sometimes I use a siddur, and sometimes I close my eyes.
Sometimes I saw gently and Sometimes violently.
Sometimes I gesticulate and gesture and Sometimes I stand still like a stone
statue in awe.
Sometimes I daven silently with only my lips moving, and Sometimes with in
silence I scream.
Sometimes I chant tunelessly and Sometimes I sing a niggun in my mind.
Sometimes I daven fast and Sometimes slow.

Then come the dangerous questions:

(When) Do I sacrifice halacha for dveykus?
Do I go back and repeat words, or is that assur?
Do I chase away foreign thoughts or try to uplift them?
Do I meditate or daven?
Do I pray for solely for physical needs or spirtual ones?
Do I skip parts of the service to keep pace with the chazan or do I just
daven at my own pace anyway?
Do I add my own words (even in another language) to the davening or leave it
as is?
Do I daven in shul, or stay home and daven without a minyan for better
concentration and a slower pace?
Do I let zman tefillah or krias shema pass or even disregard and forget
about them completely?

What about preparation, tehillim, mikva, learning before davening and
davening before davening?

maybe there is too much I. Maybe my dveykus is a lie.
Is the quest for dveykus just the yetzer hara?
maybe I am chasing a dream.
Maybe I should just give up and daven like everyone else.
Or maybe that is the yetzer hara telling me to give up?

Do you give up? Sometimes I do...
Sometimes I dont give up, and just keep trying.

Dveykus Part I

I was re-reading several posts on one of my favorite blogs here:

http://asimplejew.blogspot.com/2006/10/cross-pollination.html
http://asimplejew.blogspot.com/2006/10/therefore-any-connection-isnt-deep.html
http://asimplejew.blogspot.com/2006/10/others-admitted-it-was-lost.html

This is a topic that on the one hand I dont like to talk about because too
many times it involves personal feelings and emotions. One the one hand how
dare we challenge such great figures such as the Satmar Rav on his stance
mentioned in the above posts, or even the Rebbes of Chabad who felt their
divisions or understanding of Chassidus or their label of Polish or Chagas
was true?

On the other hand rather than challenge, agree, disagree or label,
(something I too am guilty of sometimes) I would like to try an exploration.
That is I would like to attempt to explore the heart and soul of personal
dveykus which as Rebbe Nachman was quoted is something so personal and
unique that often times we cannot even describe it to ourselves.

So instead of labeling or stuffing anything into neat boxes and ramming it
till it fits! I want to open my own experiences to my readers. Some of you
may readily dismiss this, others may feel that I am sharing something too
private, however I feel that there is no other way.

Too many of us have suffered as we seek Hashem alone. You are not alone, the
Ba'al Shem Tov's creation of Chassidus was an attempt to make sure that we
are never alone in this quest.

Who wishes to join me? Read on...

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Audio Download for Chai Elul

Why-Study-Chassidus?_Cure for Today's Disease.mp3

Based on the Sichos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Zatzal

In Hebrew and English

Kol Tuv,
R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim
www.chassidusonline.com
info@chassidusonline.com
Phone: 972-2-992-1218 / Cell: 972-54-842-4725
VoIP: 516-320-6022
eFax: 1-832-213-3135
join the mailing list to keep updated about new projects here:
http://groups.google.com/group/beermayimchaim

Fw: Sunday Night is Chai Elul!

Sunday Night is Chai Elul, the 18th of the month of the Elul. It is the birthday of the Holy Ba'al Shem Tov the founder of Chassidut, whose students we so admire and study through Be'er Mayim Chayim.

In the honor of this day, we are pleased to bring reflections of him through the eyes of the Kedushat Levi--whose book we hope im yirtzeh Hashem to publish soon-- and the Noam Elimelech--whose book were were zokeh to publish last year.

Kedushat Levi:

The Holy Tzadik and Rebbe Rav Levi Yitzhak of Berditshev was born in the year 500 of the Hebrew calendar which is around 1740 and the Holy Ba'al Shem Tov twice honored his students with cake and drinks to toast his birth saying: "A soul has come down to this world that will be an advocate for good on behalf of our brethren Bnei Yisroel." (Eser Oros 3:1)

To understand the power of the Kedushas Levi's soul we must read the words of the founder of Chassidus our master the Holy Ba'al Shem Tov, who once told his students "At the time the holy soul of Rav Levi Yitzhak of Berditshev came down to us, the accuser Satan prosecuted and said 'the actions of this holy and lofty soul will nullify the entire process of free choice since the entire world will repent and do good, and desist from evil. Then what good will my own position be?' Hashem answered Satan, 'this soul will serve as the Rabbi to several different cities and others will chase and persecute him [because of his beliefs], together with the burden and yoke of the Rabbinate it will weaken him enough that his influence will wane to the point where it will not nullify free choice.' " (Toldos Kedushas Levi Munkacz 1:3)

Rebbe Elimelech:

The soul of our master the G-dly Ba'al Shem Tov, may his merit shield us, included all the souls of the Jewish people. This story is well known, how our holy and awesome master the Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk was greatly pained and distressed wondering why he never knew the Ba'al Shem Tov?

He therefore had a great longing to somehow see the Ba'al Shem. Therefore once he heard someone knocking on his window pane at midnight, and it was revealed to him that he would be able to see the holy Ba'al Shem Tov.

Across from the Rebbe's home was a low hill and the Rebbe saw there a great fire blazing, and within the flames the vision of a man. They told Rebbe Elimelech that this was the holy Ba'al Shem Tov. Afterwards, this image burst forth into a myriad of 600,000 sparks and within each spark of the fire was an individual image of the holy Ba'al Shem Tov, hinting that the Baal Shem Tov himself included all the six hundred thousand souls of the Jewish People of Klal Yisroel.

(from Rav Yitzchak Eizik of Spinka's approb. To Sefer Baal Shem Tov)

Rav Avraham Yehoshua Freund the Av Beis Din of Nasoyd once told how our master the holy Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk was once walking together with his student the author the Maor VaShemesh, the rabbi of Cracow, Rav Kalinymous Kalman Epstein to the local Bais haChaim – the cemetery. When they arrived there they saw a pillar of fire descending from the heavens and in the flames there was a vision of a man. The pillar of fire reached the ground and returned to the sky once more. Afterwards Rebbe Elimelech told his student that he should mark that exact location where the pillar of fire had touched the ground, since Rebbe Elimelech explained, that is where he wished to be buried after his passing. The Rebbe Reb Melech then said: "That figure of a man in the flames was none other than the G-dly Rav Yisroel Ba'al Shem Tov of Mezibuz, may his merit shield us and all Yisroel! Truly he was a blazing fire even in his own lifetime, except that fire was covered by his skin.1

(Gedulas20Yehoshua p14)