Connect 2 Convert Newsletter Shavout 5771

8/6/2019 Connect 2 Convert Newsletter Shavout 5771

1/16

Shavout Newsleer 577

Connect 2 Convert


2/16

he first word in the

Torah is one of the

more difficult words to

translate on a simple

format. Whilst it is

usually translated in the

beginning the Hebrew

itself does not directly

translate that way and

does not lend itself to

any one simple

translaon. The Rabbis

of the Medrash provided

us with homilec transla-

ons, one of which isFor the Torah G-d created the heavens and the earth. Late

on, when the Jewish Naon is called to receive the Torah we

find that they stood under the mountain which the

homilec translaon renders that G-d lied the mountain

over them like a barrel and told them that if they accept th

Torah, fine; but if not there they would be buried and the

world would come to an end.

Shavout is the holiday that celebrates the union of Israel an

the Torah. It celebrates the mass conversion of three million

souls from being special Noahides to being Jews. Those whcome to Torah on their own and not from being born in a

house dedicated to Torah study can appreciate their ow

personal Shavout. Yet on this day all of Israel is united i

rising up early and greeng the Torah, receiving it, and

standing when the Decalogue is read just as our physical and

spiritual fathers stood at Mt. Sinai so many years ago

For those of us who are not yet Jews, it is the holiday on

which we read the words together with Ruth, Where you go

I will go; where you lie I will lie; your people is my people; and

your G-d is my G-d.

Join the Jewish Naon this Shavout in accepng the Torah

and the Service of Hashem.

Rabbi Aryeh Moshen

Execuve Director

Connect 2 Convert

T

Dear Reader,

REQUIREMENT TOCOUNT SEFIRAH

CHESSEDBy Jacob O'Brien

GEVURAHBy Aimee Carter

TIFERESBy Stephen Goldenberg

NETZACHBy Eftim Cesmedziev

HODBy Jens Juhl

YESODBy Kyle Irby

MALCHUSBy Yiskah Mosheh

POWER OF COMMUNITYBy Yael Pittman

TORAH ON ONE FOOTBy Yehoshua Parker

VAAD HADAYANIMHaRav Pinchas RabinovitzHaRav Moshe SoloveitchikHaRav Yisroel Dov Webster

EXECUTIVE BOARDHaRav Yosef EisenDr. Simchah CohenJason Shanbaum, esq.

Yehoshua ParkerChief Operating Officer

Rabbi Aryeh MoshenExecutive Director

962 E32nd StreetBrooklyn, NY 11210Tel: (917) 273-1089

[email protected]


3/16

The Requirement to Count Sefirah

The energy that G-d uses to create and sustain the world can be likened to a bright light of

illuminang existence. So bright, complex, and infinite is this light that finite beings cannot

begin to comprehend it in its totality.

As understood from Jewish myscism, during creaon, the world was gied a system of

understanding this bright light: a metaphoric system of divine traits known as Sefirot. Like a

prism breaking down light, the system ofSefirotdiffuses infinite light into ten comprehensible

manifestaons of G-ds presence. Acng as anthromorphic concepts, the Sefirotwere given to

mankind as a means to develop as a more personal relaonship with their Creator. They are, in

essence, the various personalies of G-d.

Taken literally, a sefirah translates as sphere, but is also related to the words sipur, story; safar,

number, and sfar, boundary. The gramacal similarity is instrucve: Sefirotallow us to view the

story of Creaon and its boundaries from the viewpoint of the Creator.

Relang to Torah, there is a direct comandment to count the "Omer" for each of the forty nine

days from Passover to Shavout. People count what is of importance to them, hence, each of

these forty nine days can become a means for self improvement. TheZohar HaKadosh - the

foundaonal work of Jewis myscism - compares this counng to a woman preparing herself

for her union with her husband. In preparaon for the union with HaKadosh Baruch Hu at Har

Sinai, the Jewish people had to go through an extreme purificaon of seven mes seven days,

similar to a bride that purifies herself for seven days prior to her wedding. The Jewish soul is

compared to the luchos, the Tablets that Moses brought down at Mount Sinai. Every year

there is a potenal for every Jew to have a personal exodus from the "impurity of Egypt" and

subsequently to accept the Torah.

For each week ofSefiras HaOmer, a specific character trait is focused upon, hopefully bringing

out its pure element. What are these divine traits, and how what can we learn from them?

And you shall count for yourselves,

fromthemo

rrow

oftheres

tdayfrom

thedayyoubringtheomerasawave

off

eringsevenw

eeks;theyshallbecomplete.


[email protected]

Page | 01


4/16


Chessed is kindness, the root of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and personified in this world

through the Patriarch Avrohom. True Chessedis universal and limitless: Avrohoms tent

was open to four sides, inving anyone of any creed. Chessed implies selflessness.

[email protected]

Page | 02

Gevurah is restraint, holding back from ones natural inclinaons, and is associated by

the Patriarch Yitzchok. Ulized for good, the trait ofGevurah allows a person to establish

boundaries and limits, effecvely providing definion to ones life.

Tiferes is beauty of harmony between Chessedand Gevurah, and is personified by thePatriarch Yaakov. More than just a middle ground between Avrohom and Yitzchok,

Tiferes represented an enrely new way to approach G-d: harmony and truth.

Just as Chessed, Gevurah, and Tiferes form a triangular unit, Netzach provides the long

term view. Netzach means victory, but is also translated as eternity. Associated with

Moses, Netzach infers seng lasng goals, those done for the sake of Heaven

Hod is charasmac beauty, personified by Mosess brother Aron. As compliment to

Netzach, Hodexemplifies free will choice of the moment. It is for this reason, that Hodi

gramacally linked to Hodaah, implying acknowledgment and thanks.

Yesod is the conduit by which Divine Blessing comes to this world. Translang as

foundaon, Yesodis represented by the reproducve organ, and is tasked with creang

a relaonship where Heaven touches Earth. The Patriarch Yosef is associated.

Malchus differs from all other sefirotin that it does not focus on one characterisc, but

on the totality of the parts. The first six sefirot are masculine, whereas Malchus is

feminine: it receives everything from the other sefirot as it has no light by itself

Personified by King David, Malchus is about acon and this world: it is the

applicaon of perfected character traits.


5/16


Chessed is kindness, the root of HaKadosh Baruch Hu, and personified in this world

through the Patriarch Avrohom. True Chessedis universal and limitless: Avrohoms tent

was open to four sides, inving anyone of any creed. Chessed implies selflessness.

[email protected]

Page | 03

Chessed, the ideal trait of unlimited kindnesssomething everyone needs in his or her life, be they

Noachide or Jew. Avinu Avraham expressed this best in my opinion when appealing to HaKadosh

Baruch Hu for the inhabitants of the city of Sodom. Avinu Avraham begged the Eternal One to spare the

city first for fiy, then forty-five, then aer more requests, HaShem agreed not to detroy the city for ten

righteous. These were ten righteous that Avraham did not know, had never met, and likely never

wouldif they existed at all. The great Chessed Avraham exercised is an example to us all, showing usthat we should all show kindness, even to those we do not know or are even invisible to us.

Chessed is important to me not only because of Avraham's example, but also because of Moshe's

inummerable example's, and HaShem's return of mercy when appropriate. In addion to following

Mitzvos, I try to follow a Torah lifestyle by following Moshe's examples. The story of the second Pesach

offering in Numbers is a favorite, as Moses hears the story of the impure men and goes to HaShem on

their behalf so that they may also serve HaShem. The stories of the bronze serpent and the scorpions

that appealed to Moses kindness also appeal to me. When I am asked by an unknown group to donate

money, I have no idea where the money is going, whether they are telling me the truth or not. I give

because I want to, based on their request, their need. If they have ulterior moves for the money, that

will be between them and HaShem.

Being a Noachide and a pre-convert, Chessedis important because it is a quality HaShem wants all of

us to have. HaShem says that He shows kindness to the thousandth generaon of those who love Him

and follow His Mitzvos, and we are always exhorted to be holy, and like Him. If He has a quality, we are

urger to have it also to be more like Him. When we celebrate receiving the Torah on Shavous, Chessed

is again that intermingled quality between HaKadosh Baruch Hu and us. The Torah is G-d's Love and

Chessedtoward us, and we cannot accept it without accepng His Love and having that Chessed to

accept and pracce what the Torah teaches. So many mes the Torah teaches "do not oppress" and

"you shall not defraud", not to menon "you shall not profit by the blood of your countryman."

Without Chessed, no one can begin to pracce Torah. Without Torah, there is no life, for it is our "life

and length of our days."

Jacob O'Brien

San Francisco, California


6/16


[email protected]

Page | 04

Gevurah is restraint, holding back from ones natural inclinaons, and is associated by

the Patriarch Yitzchok. Ulized for good, the trait ofGevurah allows a person to establish

boundaries and limits, effecvely providing definion to ones life.

Gevurah to me implies following the direcon of Hashem even when external sources try to

dissuade my path. Being able to follow the mitzvoth as directed by Hashem, can be challenging

in todays world. There are constant distracons and the body struggles to overpower the

direcon of the soul. Being able to exhibit restraint over ones inclinaons and follow the

direcon of Hashem, is part of the test I am given while here on earth.

When I exhibit Gevurah; it is fulfilling and I sense a great deal of peace. I am following Hashems

direcon by exhibing strength in character thereby drawing myself closer to Hashem.

Gevurah is required in performing certain mitzvoth. As a convert, Gevurah is important to show

that I understand the mitzvoth and can acvely integrate their performance into my life and live

as a righteous Jew. Addionally, perfecng the trait ofGevurah demonstrates my willingness to

follow the commandments of Hashem. This directly correlates to the acceptance of the Torah

for Shavuot.

Aimee Carter

Salt Lake City, Utah


7/16


[email protected]

Page | 05

Tiferes is beauty of harmony between Chessedand Gevurah, and is personified by the

Patriarch Yaakov. More than just a middle ground between Avrohom and Yitzchok,

Tiferes represented an enrely new way to approach G-d: harmony and truth.

Tiferes is a characterisc that speaks to me because it

internalizes Chesed and Gevurah. Although Chesed can

be understood as caring for another Jew, Shavous

contains the ulmate Chesed: the gi of Torah at

Har Sinai. The giving of Torah was not just kindness, but

also included the instrucons on how to overcome the

yetzer hara, instrucons for overpowering our

inclinaons. Thus, Shavous is the balance between

Chesedand Gevurah, the very beauty of our connec-

on to the Ribono Shel Olam.

As a Torah observant Jew, Shavuos is my favorite holiday

because it is the gi of Torah which separates us from the

rest of the naons, and gives us a meaningful path for

life. Shavuos also means oaths, for on this day G-d swore

eternal devoon to us, and in turn we in pledge

everlasng loyalty to the Ribono Shel Olam.

What does it mean to be a convert and live this trait?

I do not think this trait will ever be completely perfected

because everything in Yiddishkeit is an ongoing process.

We should, however, always strive to always beer

ourselves: learn more Torah, do more Mitzvahs and to

perfect our Middos (character traits).

Stephen Goldenberg

El Paso, Texas


8/16


[email protected]

Page | 06

Just as Chessed, Gevurah, and Tiferes form a triangular unit, Netzach provides the long

term view. Netzach means victory, but is also translated as eternity. Associated with

Moses, Netzach infers seng lasng goals, those done for the sake of Heaven

When I buy new clothes, I purchase them with special intent. It is easy to go to a store and buy

without thought - most people do.

There can be, however, a deeper way to buy clothes when you have in mind the purpose behindthe fabric. I bought my first pair oftzitzis with the characterisc ofNetach, performing acons that

are done for the sake of Heaven.

When I put on tzitzis for the first me, I felt my soul begin to change. I remember that moment very

well: the feeling was special, and my soul was rejoicing for the opportunity to follow G-d's word in

pracce. Like an ambassador who represents a foreign country, I feel that I am represenng the

Eternal One's word, and that is BIG honor and responsibility.

Today, tzitzis are an honor for me. They help me focus on G-d's word, and help me to keep

improving my character. Thanks to G-d Almighty for that powerful tool that He gave us

Eim Cesmedziev

Los Angeles, California


9/16


[email protected]

Page | 07

Hod is charasmac beauty, personified by Mosess brother Aron. As compliment to

Netzach, Hodexemplifies free will choice of the moment. It is for this reason, that Hodi

gramacally linked to Hodaah, implying acknowledgment and thanks.

Quite oen, the subject of prayer has come up in discussion circles that Ive been in. Within Judaism,

I now have fairly set general prayer mes, with shacharis (morning), minchah (aernoon), and

maariv (evening) prayer services that have been wrien generaons ago. But I sll look at prayer

much the same as I did before finding my way back home to Judaismdavvening is davvening, but a

life well lived is a constant prayer.

Hodis a sephirah that encompasses many concepts of the western tongue, among these are; majesty,

splendor, praise, thanks, and submission. To take the lessons of Torah, and the mitzvoth therein, and

to incorporate them in ones daily life, is to live in a constant state of prayer. Many mes in the Torah,

the phrase comes that a person should have the fear of G-d upon them at all mes. Indeed, this is

even the purpose to wear a kippah (yarmulke), to remind oneself of this. But does this mean that one

should be in constant fear of messing up? Quite the opposite! The fear of G-d, is a recognion of

the majesty, mercy, strength, wisdom, and graciousness of the all permeang is-ness that connues

is-ing so that we can all is. The study of torah, and the performance of mitzvoth, are designed that

the will of Hashem infiltrate our lives, so that the people Yisroel not turn to rote, mindless doing,

without thought of the reason behind the doing. Doing without thinking, is a hallmark of the animal

world. Indeed, reflex acon is pure animal insnct. Doing with purpose, with mindfulness, that is the

goal of mitzvoth in Orthodox Judaism.

It is said that in the world to come, each Jew will be asked the queson, did you set aside me to

study torah? When we set aside me to study torah, when we schedule it into or day in the morning,

and evening, at set mes, giving study (Talmud) of Torah its due importance, we are given the gi of

applying our learning for the rest of our day. The study is a mitzvah, and through the mitzvah, one

gains an inmate knowledge of the other mitzvoth, that it becomes a living enty, and we can then

release this G-d willed enty into the world through doing mitzvoth. When we release the will of

Hashem into the world, the mundane is raised to holiness; by raising the mundane (chol) to the level

of the holy (kadosh), our every acon tells Hashem, you are Melech Haolam (king of the universe), I

submit to you and your will, and I thank you for giving me the opportunity to perform your will. It is a

great responsibility, and a great honor, to display your splendor to your creaon.

This, is living life as prayer. This, is what Hodmeans to me, and this is what torah allows me to

createa beauful song, resplendent with notes that have been known since the beginning of me.

Incidentally, Hodis referred to as the right foot of the sephirot, while Netzach (victory) is the le foot.

One might think that the right foot (the strong foot) would refer to victory, but in Judaism, victory does

not come without thanks and credit being given to Hashem. Perhaps in this way, prayer, thanks,

gratude, lead to victory following in stride as a natural progression of the feet.

Jens Juhl

Knoxville, Tennessee


10/16


[email protected]

Page | 08

Yesod is the conduit by which Divine Blessing comes to this world. Translang as

foundaon, Yesodis represented by the reproducve organ, and is tasked with creang

a relaonship where Heaven touches Earth. The Patriarch Yosef is associated.

The sefirah ofYesodencompasses two ideas that are very important to me. First, Yesodis considered to

be the foundaon, and it is thus represented by the procreave organs. The first mitzvah in the Torah isto be fruiul and mulply procreaon. Procreaon can happen on two levels; in the physical world,

and in the spiritual world. G-d willing, both will have an impact in my life. Spiritually speaking, a sort of

procreaon has taken place that has moved my wife and me in the direcon of the emes of Torah. Once

we go to the mikvah, iyH, we will be new Jews. Once this happens, my wife and I have the opportunity

to be the foundaon for many generaons of Jews to come. It would be an incredible honor for us to be

blessed with children that we can teach the ways of the Torah and strengthen Klal Yisrael.

Second, it is a means for translang the spiritual ideas of Hashem into reality here on this earth. Yesod

is crical to living a Torah lifestyle. In order for one to connue on the path of growth in Torah and

become closer to Hashem on a daily basis, one must be able to take spiritual ideas and translate them

into meaningful acvies here on earth. We take the mitzvos given to us by Hashem at Sinai on Shavuos

and we put them into acon. Through Torah study, we have the opportunity to learn more about the

mitzvos and refine our acons and the way that we serve Hashem. In doing so, we are able to make the

connecon between Man and G-d a lile closer, and we increase the opportunity for Divine Blessing.

This is the essence ofYesod.

Kyle Irby

Atlanta, Georgia


11/16


[email protected]

Page | 09

Malchus differs from all other sefirotin that it does not focus on one characterisc, buton the totality of the parts. The first six sefirot are masculine, whereas Malchus is

feminine: it receives everything from the other sefirot as it has no light by itself

Personified by King David, Malchus is about acon and this world: it is the

applicaon of perfected character traits.

Ever since the voice of a naon became one and said we will do and we will listen I have aached my

heart to this concept. The name Asiya which is Hebrew/Aramaic means acon and the lowest of the

worlds in which we live in. I was given this name at birth and have gravitated to living a life of acon o

being a doer. To every

word there is a meaning

and so names are impor

tant as they have spiritua

strengths that make us

prone to righteousness o

otherwise. We have a

saying in the Caribbean

that a persons name may

be too strong for them

So even the other naon

know that there are spiritual levels to name and so

Malchut which is the

applicaon of righteous

ness, understanding

beauty etc propels me to

doing the will of Hashem

It is the characteriscs o

Malchut that makes us

whole as a naon to be holy for Hashem is Holy. Its the doing of the mitzvoth of Hashem that draws us

closer to him. I believe the acon of preparing ourselves for Shavuot allows us to internalize our relaonship with Hashem. I feel movated to draw closer to Hashem and apply Malchotwhich holds all the

essence of kingship. As we prepare for Shavuot, it allows me to reflect on the preparaons that Ruth

made to receive Boaz and so she was granted the honor of being a mother of the kingship lineage.

Yiskah Mosheh

Queens, NY


12/16

Power of Community


The characterisc of kindness is a trait inslled in all of us from our forefather Avrohom. Chessed is th

nature of every Jew, rich or poor, happy or depressed. To be a Jew means to give. Sure, we might be

pushy about it, but the essence is we are going to give.

Its like when someone is running from

burning building and they say, feh, yo

had to wear the blue sweater, I bought yo

the red sweater why are you wearin

the blue sweater?

The essence is we give.

This past Succos, I was coming back from

davening, and I heard the blaring siren

of Brooklyns finest on my block

Another fire. No worries, its not m

home.

When I got closer, I realized tha

indeed my basement apartment i

Crown Heights was ablaze. My bes

friend, a tabby of sixteen years, wa

inside.

Although I couldnt save Sidney, m

friends were quick to help

providing a benefit concert so

could get back on my feet.

Selfless kindness.

This is the nature of being a Yid

Yael Pitma

Brooklyn, New Yor

[email protected]

Page | 10


13/16

Teach Me All of Torah on One Foot

The Talmud records an incident where a prospecve convert beseeches Hillel, asking lomdani

haTorah kulah al regal achas, teach me all of Torah while standing on one foot. Upon hearing the

request, Hillel responds: dont do unto others what you would not want done to you.

The Maggid of Metzritch asks a profound queson on Hillels answer. Hillel is known for saying

the converse, love your neighbor like yourself, zeh klal bTorah. Why phrase in the negave to

a convert - dont do unto others while to a Jew say in the posive - love your neighbor?

The Maggid answers beaufully, suggesng that regel achas, one foot, means at one point in

me or at one level. The convert was perhaps asking, teach me all of Torah at one level, to

which Hillel suggested, this is not the Jewish way.

The Chida, one of the later kabbalists, says that converts come into existence when the tzadikim

of the generaon do teshuva. As recalled in Mishlei, a tzadikfalls seven mes and picks himself

up seven mes. When a tzadik falls, he does teshuva, and the sparks picked are the holy

netzuztot that come into this world as converts. The same concept holds for average people:

every member of Klal Yisroel is connected to each other. When a person is having a difficult me,

it is not coincidence: the individual is helping another Jew with the same life test. Conversely,

when an individual is feeling a geshmak, happiness for life, it is because someone else is having

a difficult me with a same test. We are all connected, precisely why Hillel suggested in the

negave dont do unto others because if you do live at one level, you wont pick someone up

and you wont be connected to other Jews, the very essence of being part of Klal Yisroel.

The Pnei Yehoshua notes that word Yisroel stands for yesh sishim ribui osiot laTorah, that there

were 600,000 Jewish men (roughly 2 million including women and children) who stood at Mount

Sinai to receive Torah. The word used is osiot, which can also be translated as leer, as in the 22

characters of the Hebrew alphabet. As noted by the Pnei Yehoshua, the word osiotteaches us

that every Jew has a leer in Torah. Our leers in Torah work in a specific way: just as a one major

smudge can render a Torah scroll invalid, when the leers of Klal Yisroel become sullied, the

Jewish Naon can become ineffecve in its mission. One Jew cannot take over the domain of

another, for when we do, the enre scroll is pasul.

When we stand and accept Torah on Shavout, let us internalize that our mitzvot can be

performed leshaim Klal Yisroel, with the intent that we are all connected, and all responsible forthe beer wellbeing and security of each other, both in Eretz Yisroel and in the bier diaspora of

our days.


[email protected]

Page | 11

Yehoshua Parker

Brooklyn, New York


14/16

Announcing: Haskama from Rabbi Belsky


[email protected]

Page | 12

nyr,ugszvvhtkvsrhlt,vnceahokv,dhhrcvsrfv bfubvuvjunruv,fbh,avpheu,ugk,hntsurtuhoknktf,vesavkzuundhgu,gsv,fkh,/

Translaon: The goal of this organizaon is to

direct those who are seeking conversion

in a proper direcon. The content they produce

is very helpful and fing for this holy acvity,

and produces results.


15/16


16/16

GET INVOLVED!!!

I know what it is like. I have been there.

You want to become Jewish, but are

stuck in a Catch 22: candidates for

conversion require a mechanism to

assimilate the informaon necessary,

but not one yeshiva in America willaccept you during the conversaon

process. Alone and isolated, you might

develop false expectaons about the

conversion process, and as a result,

spend years wandering aimlessly.

Worse, lacking access to centralized

informaon, you might find religious

courts that are below standard, only to

face reconversion later.

There is no communicaon to the

people who need it most.

There is no lifeline.

This is my story. Is it yours?

Connect 2 Convert will offer interacve

video classroom training courses, test

preparaon, and a comprehensive

support network for people like you.

But we are more. We are the Connect 2

Convert community: rabbinic advicefrom sensive, erliche rabbanim, a

network of specialized shadchanim,

resume wring and jobs, and referrals

for counseling services beer aiding

the success of your integraon.

We have a Rabbinic Council to guide us.

Our launch date is soon, but we need

your help. Help build our community

with your passion, skills, and talent.

Send in your Torah, your story, your

struggle monthly Newsleers to be

emailed.

Looking forward to the road ahead.

Chag Sameach,

Yehoshua Yisrael Parker

BE A PART OF OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY

VAAD HARABBANIMHaRav Pinchas RabinovitzHaRav Moshe SoloveitchikHaRav Yisroel Dov Webster

EXECUTIVE BOARDHaRav Yosef EisenDr. Simchah CohenJason Shanbaum, esq.

Yehoshua ParkerChief Operating Officer

Rabbi Aryeh MoshenExecutive Director

962 E32nd StreetBrooklyn, NY 11210Tel: (917) 600-5073Tel: (917) 273-1089

[email protected]

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Connect 2 Convert Newsletter Shavout 5771