Libi BaMizrach

This essay was adapted from a longer chapter in a forthcoming sefer on the Yamim Tovim, presenting the Torah of HaRav Michel Twerski שליט״א and prepared with his blessing and encouragement. Elul is often described as a time for introspection, improvement, and teshuvah . We ask ourselves familiar questions: What have I done wrong? What do I need to fix? Where have I fallen short? These are important questions, certainly. But perhaps they are not yet the deepest question of Elul. To understand Elul, we need to return to its beginning. Rosh Chodesh Elul was the day Moshe Rabbeinu ascended Har Sinai for the third time. The first forty days had ended in catastrophe, when Moshe came down carrying the first Luchos and found Klal Yisrael worshipping the Egel . Those Luchos were shattered. The second forty days were days of pleading, as Moshe begged Hashem to forgive Klal Yisrael. But those days are described as days of anger, yemei ka’as . Only the third forty-day period — from Rosh Chode...

I heard the sad news yesterday of the loss of one of my favorite songwriters...a genuinely good person who brought joy to so many.  Famous to some only for her physical appearance, she wrote some absolutley beautiful and touching ballads that touched the hearts of many, and was known for her kindness, generosity and deep faith. This is my favorite Dolly song ... it contains a powerful and much needed Elul message (I bolded a few particular lines).    Hello God Hello God, are you out there? Can you hear me, are you listening anymore? Hello God, if we're still on speaking terms Can you help me like before? I have questioned your existence My resistance leaves me cold Can you help me go the distance? Hello God, hello, hello? This old world has gone to pieces Can we fix it, is there time? Hate and violence just increases We're so selfish, cruel and blind We fight and kill each other In your name, defending you Do you love some more than others? We're so lost and confused ...

Channel 13 reports that elements associated with the Peleg Yerushalmi have been exploring the possibility of yet another Chareidi political party formed with several leading figures unsatisfied with the “mainstream” parties — one that would take an even more uncompromising position against military service. The name it has taken is “Code Black” (Tzeva Shachor) from the network  they developed to alert supporters when military police attempt to arrest Chareidi draft evaders. Demonstrators are then dispatched to obstruct the arrest. At almost the same moment, a very different Chareidi political movement has begun taking shape around Moti Leitner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh. Leitner argues that genuine full-time Torah learners must be protected, but that the great majority of Chareidi men should serve in the military or perform meaningful national service. He speaks openly about teaching mathematics and English, preparing young people to earn a dignified living, representing workin...

An Elul question about the boundaries of our grief A recent family message about the death of another young person during Bein Hazmanim began with words that were entirely natural: “Terrible. It seems that the middas hadin has really been strong against us at this time. There have been so many tragedies lately.” I shared the sorrow. There is something especially heartbreaking and frightening when a young person dies, particularly someone we know or to whom we feel some connection. Hashem yerachem . May the family somehow be given the strength to endure its terrible loss. But one word stopped me: “lately.” In the past few weeks, news sites serving chareidi and yeshiva communities have reported a horrifying series of deaths during bein hazmanim . The headlines have spoken of a “ black and horrifying twenty-four hours ,” of “tragedy following tragedy,” and of families suddenly losing their children. A VINnews op-ed by Yehuda Dov asked, “ How Many Will We Cry For This Bein Hazmanim ...

The release of a new documentary about Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, The Darkest Light , has once again opened a discussion that many in the Jewish world thought had quieted down years ago. Rabbi Harry Maryles recently addressed the subject in a thoughtful post, “The Sad Legacy of Shlomo Carlebach” . Harry goes considerably further than merely acknowledging Carlebach's influence on Jewish music: he compares his lasting musical impact on Jewish music to that of Beethoven and the Beatles on all music. But in light of the serious allegations made by women who say that Carlebach sexually abused or mistreated them, Harry questions the continued veneration of the man. I understand his position. But as I thought about it, I realized that my own feelings about Shlomo Carlebach are considerably more complicated. In fact, the most accurate thing one can probably say about his legacy is simply this: it is complicated. Period. Carlebach and the Orthodox World It is worth remembering that Carleb...

VIN recently published an article entitled “How Many Will We Cry for This Bein Hazmanim?” , calling attention to the preventable deaths and injuries that occur from those who behave recklessly when having fun during Bein Hazmanim. I submitted the comment below, but VIN chose not to publish it, so I am posting it here. ---UPDATE---  After a two day delay (usually comments are published within hours at most, and usually much less) VIN did publish the comment. I wrote to thank them. Nevertheless, I am leaving this posting here, as I think it makes an important point. ----------- I cannot know why it was rejected. Perhaps it was simply an editorial decision. But I cannot help suspecting that the editors were concerned about the criticism they might receive for publishing a comment that some readers would label “anti-Chareidi,” or irrelevant to the specific subject of the article. If so, that reluctance is itself part of the problem. A community cannot honestly examine itself if even a ...