Blog – Page 36 – Study Torah Online: Live and Interactive Torah Learning with Rabbi Eliyahu Shear

A Flood – and A Glimpse into the Life of Noach – a “Crazy” Man Who Well Knew What He Was Doing

Randy Wagner might have seemed crazy – but he knew what he was doing!

Can you imagine what life was like during the Generation of the Flood? People were going about life as usual, while a lone man spent a year building a massive ark. People would walk by and laugh, “What are you doing Noach?” they would ask. And Noach would tell them, “I’m building an ark. A flood will be coming soon and it will destroy the entire world!”

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Charity is a Mitzvah Too! (Parshat Re’eh)

I often become startled – if not embarrassed when I find myself around those who hate to give. Pirkei Avot 5:13 teaches us that there are four types of givers. There is one who wishes to give but that others should not. He begrudges others! There is one who believes that others should give, but that he does not have to. He begrudges himself! There is one who gives and believes that others should give too. He is a Chassid (pious person)! Finally there is one who believes that he does not have to give, nor should others. He is wicked! When I find a situation of someone asking for help (especially a person dressed in rags – God forbid) other than considering my own responsibility to give, I find myself reciting this Mishnah. Indeed, the Mishnah is telling us the truth!

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The Story of The Carpenter and The Two Brothers

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

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My Journey to Become a Sofer – Part 4 – Finding a Teacher

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Though still teaching via Skype (from this website) and being involved in some other Torah projects, I felt that I needed some other type of career path. I was looking for something more stable in terms of earning a regular income. Living in Israel is not so simple! Making Aliyah over the age of 30 brings with it tremendous tests in terms of one’s finances! Those who don’t take the “dive” to come to live in Israel, lack an awareness of just how difficult it is to earn a proper income here.

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My Journey to Become a Sofer – Part 3 – Simple Beginnings

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I hope that my posts about my story to becoming a Sofer will also be of aid to those who may be wishing to learn the art of Sofrut. In fact, the journey is not an easy one. If one doesn’t know where to start, then there’s not much of a beginning! One finds oneself wondering what to even do! My own journey started out with a lack of knowledge of knowing what to do. It then developed into a “better idea of things.” Thereafter it seemed like things could still improve, but I’d find out later that I had chosen the wrong path!

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The 42 Journeys of Life – Parshat Masei

The Baal Shem Tov teaches: The 42 journeys of Bnei Yisrael from Egypt to the Land of Israel are a reflection of the 42 journeys that each person experiences throughout their lives…

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My Journey to Become a Sofer – Part 2

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I remember when I was coming closer to Yiddishkeit (i.e. following in accordance with the laws of Judaism and really becoming aware of what being Jewish is all about). I obtained a beautiful book written in English. “The Wisdom in the Hebrew Alphabet” by Michael Munk. It is all about the Hebrew letters. Based upon the Gemara Shabbat 104a, it discusses at length the wisdom behind the letters, their meaning, and the reasons behind their shapes. That Gemara in Shabbat is absolutely fascinating! It’s not supposed to be read at just face value!

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My Journey to Become a Sofer – Part 1

Sofer - a Jewish Scribe — Sofer – a Jewish Scribe

[Please become a member of our site and gain access to my story of becoming a Sofer. Your support will assist me to complete my studies. Thank you.]

Rabbi Meir said, “When I came to Rabbi Yishmael, he said to me, ‘My son, what work do you do?’ I said to him, ‘I am a Sofer (scribe).’ He said to me, ‘My son, be careful with your work, because your work is the work of Heaven. Maybe you will leave out a letter, or add an unnecessary additional letter. Consequently, you will destroy the entire world!'” (Gemara Eiruvin 13)

Continue reading “My Journey to Become a Sofer – Part 1”

The Magic of Our Words – Parshat Balak

Aladdin's Magic Lamp — Aladdin’s Magic Lamp

Parshat Balak tells us the story about a king ready to destroy the Jewish people. His reasoning – without any provocation or cause – based on made-up images that perhaps only a lunatic could consider. Having seen that Bnei Yisrael were successful in destroying the two kings – Sichon and Og, he imagined that he was next in line. His plan – to hire a magician to curse the Jewish people into oblivion.

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Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher – The Tur

Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher (1269- 12 Tammuz 1343) was one of the foundation builders of all of Jewish law as we have it today! He was the son of Rabbeinu Asher – known as the Rosh (“the Head” – an acronym for Rabbeinu ASher). The Rosh was one of the three pillars upon whom Rabbi Yosef Karo – the author of the Shulchan Aruch – would base his magnum opus. It is indeed the Shulchan Aruch which determines the majority of Jewish law today! Those wishing to become Rabbis must pass examinations showing competency in certain sections of his work. Ideally – a true Rav should be competent in the entire Shulchan Aruch! If that can be said of the Shulchan Aruch, then let us not treat lightly the words of the Chida – Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Azulai, who said that without a proper study of the Tur and its commentaries, one cannot begin to determine Halachah!

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