Tikkun Olam

As we approach the second Pilgrimage Holiday of Shavu'ot ( Pentecost , in English), which comes seven weeks after Pesach (Passover), the first Pilgrimage Holiday, we look to commemorating the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, approximately 3,344 years ago, around 1313 B.C.E. In the weeks between Pesach and Shavuot, we Count the Omer , lifting ourselves spiritually higher and higher until we reach the peak: receiving the Torah. Here is a beautiful d'var Torah (a "word of Torah") by Rabbi Avraham Arieh and Rebbetzin Rachel Trugman of Ohr Chadash , explaining the spiritual aspect of the counting of the Omer approaching Shavuot, the portion of the Torah read on the Shabbat before Shavuot (Bamidbar), and how they have a deep connection to Jerusalem , Judaism's holiest ancient city, and the day which commemorates it: Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim, in Hebrew), which was today, celebrated all over Israel. ...

I am feeling contemplative at the end of this special holiday season which began with Rosh Hashana, ten days later the holiest day of the Jewish year, Yom Kippur-the Day of Atonement-and culminated in the very festive and special holiday of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret--23 days of prayer, introspection and celebration--and after almost  a month of no blogging, I decided to finally blog, after having read a post by Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman about the nations of the world converging on Jerusalem, to show their support for Israel and the Jewish People. My last post was about the savagery and inhumanity of Islamic extremists. I have written before of the world 's antisemitism and Israel's seeming isolation among the nations of the globe. We read in the Torah portion read on Sukkot that in the end of days, all the non-Jewish nations will come to Jerusalem to serve Hashem. This sounds like a fantasy, because in today's world,  Israel is being vilified and denigrated, mocke...

                                                    While in Israel this past summer, I bought Rabbi Trugman's (of Ohr Chadash ) new commentary on the Torah, Orchard of Delights , recently reviewed in the Baltimore Jewish Examiner .  I had already been listening with rapture during Shabbatot at my younger son's home to several divrei Torah , or Torah lessons (literally,"words" of Torah), which he gave over at his Shabbat table from Rabbi Trugman's book.  The manner in which RavTrugman interweves the spiritual and physical filled me with wonderment. His teachings lend credence to physicist and theologian Gerald Schroeder's philosophy manifested in his books (two of which I have read, and a third, God According to God , which ...

This is a bit crazy, posting a blog post about a live webcast, but here is it anyway: Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman is giving a shiur (Torah lesson/lecture) right now , right here: http://www.bethereisrael.com/live Live, learn, and expand your minds in 2012!

For my women readers in Israel, here is a series of shiurim which should really interest you:  Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman is beginning classes on the fundamentals of Kabbalah and Chassidism, to be held in Jerusalem starting November 22nd. The Fundamental Concepts of Kabbalah and Chassidut for Women will be held in the Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem at the Shir Chadash shul, the first class being this Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. To get a feel for Rabbi Trugman's teachings, watch and listen to his latest shiur on the parsha we just read this Shabbat, Chayei Sarah.  See all his shiurim on the parshiot on the Trugmans' blog . He also composes music and plays the dulcimer.  You can listen to his music on the Ohr Chadash website.                                                 Rebbetzin Rachel Trugman, aside from being a wonderful human being with ...

Rabbi Avraham Arieh Trugman, of Ohr Chadash gives regular shiurim (Torah lessons) on the Torah and Jewish mysticism.  Here is one shiur on the Torah portion to be read this Shabbat, with a little niggun (musical tune, often Chassidic) thrown in to set the mood.  You can also check it out on Radio Free Nachlaot . Why not visit his and his wife's, the Rebbetzin Rachel's, blog called New Horizons , which has wonderful insights into the Torah, Jewish traditions, the Jewish calendar, prayer and mysticism?  For the month of Heshvan, or Mar-Heshvan--just feast your SOUL. (You'll find so much more meaning there, than here ): Makes perfect sense. *Copyright alert: No infringement of any text or graphic copyright is ever intended on this blog. If you own the copyright to any original image or document used for the creation of the graphics or information on this site, please contact the blog administrator with all pertinent info so that proper ...