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[Aspaqlaria]

Aspaqlaria

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Birkhas Avos
 
Posted: 02 May 2007 09:18 PM CDT
http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2007/05/birkhas-avos.shtml


This chart combines the ideas contained two earlier divrei Torah.

The first is the idea of the Vilna Gaon that the first berakhah of the Amidah, Birkhas Avos, consists of iterations of variations on Moshes praise for Hashem - HaKeil, HaGadol, HaGibbor VeHanorah. See Mesukim MiDevash - Tetzaveh pp. 3-4.

The second is the concept that the berakhah follows a structure first used by David haMelekh and appears a number of times in Nakh. (Mesukim MiDevash - Behar pp. 3-4)

My combining the two, we not only identify the five iterations of the same basic idea, we can explain how and why they differ.

I recommend printing it on the other side of the same piece of paper as this chart on the structure of Shema, to produce a page one can keep in their siddur.

 
This posting includes a media file: http://www.aishdas.org/asp/avosStructure.pdf

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The Five Hardest Words
 
Posted: 01 May 2007 10:22 PM CDT
http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2007/05/the-five-hardest-words.shtml


At Mussar Kallah V, R Ephraim Becker said something that really resonated with me.

Of all the phrases in English that one could say  and mean what one says  which five words are hardest?

R Becker offered the sentences. Im fine. How are you?

To say Im fine and really mean it, one must have bitachon, belief that the A-lmighty is in control, and  therefore that everything that happens in ones life happens for a good purpose.

Whenever things are going well, R Becker said, a strange bird called a Yeahbut flies into the room. My wife made me a special dinner? The Yeahbut flies in, Yeahbut usually I get home well after dinner time, and need to reheat a cold meal. There is always some reason why the good isnt perfect. Even the perfect vacation must end. The yacht one always dreamed of is great until he comes by with a bigger yacht.

The only way to be truly content, to be happy with what ones lot, is if one has bitachon. This imbues what we have with purpose, and what we dont have  we also know that too is for a good reason. See this thought for Shabbas Nachamu for more on the connection between spirituality and happiness.

To really ask How are you? you have to care about the answer, and really want to know how the other person is.

Therefore, Im fine. How are you? can only really be said by someone with a strong and healthy relationship with his Creator and with other people.

Five words that contain the core of the entire Torah

 

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