Dr Michael Khanin was the last Sofer to leave the USSR. He is also my teacher in learning about the very special profession and work of a Sofer. In this video, Dr Khanin shares with us his amazing story of how he came to be involved in Sofrut and his journey from the USSR to Israel. The viewer has the opportunity to also see him working through a variety of video clips shared in the video as well as a few individual pictures showing the quality of his beautiful writing.
In our fourth lesson in the holy work entitled Shaarei Kedushah written by Rabbi Chaim Vital (student of the Arizal) – we continue the theme of acquiring Ruach HaKodesh – Divine Inspiration.
Don’t be fooled by the beautiful kitchen you see in the picture above. Living in Israel is for the most part nothing like this. We (those in Israel) live in most simple and humble apartments with barely enough space to swing a cat. There are of course some truly beautiful apartments for the super wealthy – and for some 7-10 million Shekels one can get quite a remarkable apartment! But when we speak about the “average” apartment – we mean pretty much the average box-like area most people will live in their entire lives.
The Torah teaches us to look after our brother. We find out the importance behind this commandment and how fast we must react to help another! Our initial teaching comes from a verse in Parshat Behar.
We continue on with a powerful teaching from the Midrash that this world is like a water-wheel with buckets on either side. As the one bucket fills with water, the other is being emptied and when the empty bucket is again lowered and fills up with water from the well underneath, it is the other bucket that then becomes empty.
Weath and poverty are in the hands of G-d. We would do well to internalise this message and assist others in need when we can help, because the world is a wheel that goes around. Sometimes those on top can be on the bottom, and sometimes – then – those on the bottom end up on the top.
We must help each other whenever we can. That is our obligation and our duty. This fascinating lesson and textual teaching from the original sources shows us just how serious the Torah takes the commandment of charity – Tzedakah.
(Apologies for the strange black flash at the beginning of the video.)
The Jewish people have experienced tremendous tragedy over the past week. While many are aware of the major attack in the Chabad synagogue in Poway, many are not aware that during the week there were yet another two attacks – both totally unprovoked – and upon emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
I have compiled a few videos below for the interested reader to spend some time watching more about the Poway attack and the real heroes and heroine of this story.
Purim is over – for this year… but it’s always good to remain connected with happy times! Here are some video clips showing the largest Megillah written in the world. It was completed in 2017 (where have I been?!) Being a Sofer, it is interesting to see this massive document. On the other hand, the Mitzvah of writing a Megillah by no means extends to breaking world records. Rather, one writes to fulfill the Mitzvah of reading (literally hearing) the Megillah. Of course, if one’s eye-sight is not up to par and one actually needs a world-record-size Megillah, then it’s all the more so worthwhile! The Megillah is 27 Metres long and is written on deer skin.
*Picture above is three columns of a Megillah I wrote
In Lesson 3 of this remarkable work of Rabbi Chaim Vital – the Shaarei Kedushah – we take a leap (perhaps a hint to the process of moving from the physical world to the spiritual – that sometimes we need to make a quantum jump!) and branch off from Chapter 1 to Chapter 3. We’ll be returning shortly to Chapter 1 – but the purpose of this jump is to show the viewer (the reader) what lies in store for those who wish to pursue the roads to holiness.
Rabbi Chaim Vital teaches us that the body is simply a garment for the soul. The soul is essential. The body is secondary. It is there to allow the soul to express itself. The Torah is composed of 613 Mitzvot – 248 positive commandments and 365 negative commandments. The soul’s spiritual makeup is made in this way, and the body is made as a perfect fit for the purpose of the soul.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe shares the concept of “acts of kindness.” It is one which is far removed from the way most of us think. While we consider those who may lack – but who survive – as having enough, the Rebbe teaches that this is not the concept of the Mitzvah of kindness that the Torah teaches…
