Mailing List Service Felist.Com -*-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friend: This week Divrey Torah provided by ArtScroll.com. Please also take to consideration two small pieces of information bellow, before the article of Rabbi Twersky. _____________________________________________________________ On August 4, 2001 please join other people in saying the Shema for Peace in Israel. Please visit [1]http://www.shmapeaceproject.com for more information. The web site has all the details and a copy of the Shema prayer in case you do not have it handy. Please forward this information to as many people as you can. _____________________________________________________________ Update for Katzin Family provided by Michelle M.: Hello again... (I'm sorry for the repetition of this of those of you who have read it, but please continue reading for further news following.) I wrote earlier to most of you to please daven (pray) for a new born baby boy who was born with major complications. As many of you know, Rabbi and Mrs. Katzin are major pillars (of just few existing) of the Russian Ba'aley Teshuva community. They have helped countless people along their paths to Yiddishkeit as well as many others in times of distress - this incredibly loving and giving family now needs our help. In the previous e-mail I wrote a bit of good news such as that the baby breathes more on its own, and that it has opened its eyes (which I heard are a beautiful blue); but also that the situation is still extremely critical because he didn't receive enough oxygen at the time of birth. Mrs. Katzin for the first time attempted to feed the child (the natural way). I spoke with Mrs. Katzin, and with much clear headed wisdom, she spoke to me about the many things people take for granted, such as something as simple as swallowing, and being able to feed your child. Please continue daven (pray) for baby (Yakov ben Sarah) and for Mrs. Katzin (Sarah bas Itta). Thank you. _____________________________________________________________ Are you afraid to speak in public? 80% of people say their greatest fear is public speaking! This week's BooksNews features may be able to help. When you are asked to speak at a "Bris" (Circumcision) and don't know what to say - "Entering the Covenant" should be the first book that you reach for! Need a thought that you can share around your Shabbat table? [2]ArtScroll.com features a weekly "Parsha Talk" selection! This week, we feature a selection by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D. ________________________________________________________ [parashahtalkhead2.jpg] Excerpt from [3]Living Each Week, by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D Parashas Vaeschanan I pleaded before G-d at that time, saying . . . "Let me go over and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan" . . . and G-d said "Speak no more to Me of this matter" (Deuteronomy 3:23-26). The Midrash relates a long dialogue between Moses and G-d, with Moses invoking various arguments to revoke the Divine decree that he may not enter the Promised Land. G-d told Moses that each generation has its leader, and the period of leadership is preordained. The predestined time had arrived for Joshua to assume the leadership, and there was no way that this could be delayed for even a single moment. To this Moses responded, "Well, then, let Joshua be the leader, and I will be his disciple," and G-d agreed to this. Joshua then entered the Sanctuary, and Moses remained outside and observed the Divine cloud descending upon the Sanctuary as it had so often done when G-d had spoken with him. When the cloud lifted and Joshua emerged, Moses asked him, "What did G-d say to you?" Joshua responded, "All those years when G-d spoke privately to you, did I ever ask you what G-d had said to you?" Whereupon Moses exclaimed, "I will die a hundred deaths rather than experience one moment of envy!" and surrendered his soul to G-d. Of all the negative traits which can afflict the human being, envy is perhaps among the most abhorrent. Solomon refers to envy as something which "rots the bones" (Proverbs 14:30). Although the Talmud finds a redeeming value in it when envy of anothers knowledge stimulates one to learning (Bava Basra 21a), Rabbeinu Yonah feels that this is a rather undesirable motive for acquiring wisdom, and that it would be far preferable for one to desire wisdom for its own sake rather than out of envy. Moses was ready to make whatever sacrifices G-d would request of him, in order that he be granted this single wish to set foot on the holy earth of Israel. Yet the awareness that he could continue to live only under circumstances that would arouse envy within him was enough to cause him to forgo the most fervent wish of his life. The ethical work Orchos Tzaddikim states that the envious person, one who desires that which others have, is essentially in disagreement with how G-d has distributed His bounty among people. The envy that Moses experienced when he witnessed Joshua in communion with G-d made Moses realize that he could harbor a feeling that differed with the Divine will, and Moses felt that a life wherein ones will deviated from the will of G-d was not worth living, regardless of what other rewards might be reaped. The ideal goal in life is described in Ethics of the Fathers (2:4): "Make His will your will." A true awareness that one was created for the specific purpose of doing the will of G-d would make a person dedicate his entire life to fulfilling that purpose. Although we may not be able to reach the degree of perfection achieved by Moses, we must nevertheless strive for this goal. Envy is both futile and deplorable. Envy will not result in ones getting the coveted object, and accomplishes nothing except tormenting a person. Moses welcomed death rather than the harboring of so abhorrent a trait. Even if one does not have this level of spirituality, ones desire to live may actually be diminished by the anguish of envy. In order to achieve even a modicum of happiness, one must rid oneself of envy. Excerpt from [4]Living Each Week, by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D ________________________________________________________ ArtScroll Summer Schedule! Please note all orders placed online after Thursday at 3:00 pm will ship on Monday! 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