Korbonos Sacrifices

Nefesh Hachaim, (by Chaim Volozhn, the student of the Vilna Gaon) explains,
that the reason for the korbanot (sacrifices); the sacrifices serve as the food of the world:

Just like when a person doesn’t eat, his or her soul begins to leave, and he or she feels faint; so too, when the world does not have the Beit Hamikdash, where the sacrifices (food) can be brought, the world becomes faint.

The world becomes faint, because there is no karbanot to keep the world’s soul (Hashem) in it.

This is one of the reasons, why the world today, is really detached from spirituality, and anything beyond the physical; as opposed to how it was in past.

Short Thought - Spirtual Beings

We are not human beings, having a spiritual experience;
We are spiritual beings, having a human experience!

Short Thought: We Carry the Temple in our Bodies

We all carry a small Beit HaMikdash, within our body, and in our soul.

When we build ourselves, through improving our lackings; we are in a sense, building the third and final, Beit HaMikdash.

Definition of True Faith

A lecturer was speaking in front of an audience. He mentioned, how important it is to keep Shabbos.

One of the people in the audience, stood up and said: “What does keeping Shabbos have to do with Amunah (faith)? I don’t have to keep Shabbos, and I can still believe in G-d.”
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The speaker answered with an example:

A man was climbing a mountain. He was very close to the peak, when he reached a place, that was pure ice. He struggled a long time, and was able to progress a little higher. But then, he could go no further.

Looking up high on the mountain, he noticed that there was a small tree on the summit. He managed to lasso the tree, and started to pull himself up. But then he heard the sound, of the tree starting to crack.

He then called out to G-d: "G-d help me.”
G-d answered: “If I help you, will you believe in me?”
The man answered:” Yes, for sure, just save me!”
G-d answered: “If you really believe in me, then let go of the rope!”
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They lecturer then turned to the man who had asked the question:

“The same is true of you. You will believe in G-d, as long as it has no practical application to you and your life. But when it comes to letting go of your rope, and closing you business on Shabbos, you are afraid to let go.

You have created G-d in your own image. You do not believe in G-d, you only believe in yourself.

If you truly want to connect with G-d, then you have to have Bittel, and do what G-d wants.
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The same applies, to connecting to the Rebbe. Even though one may not understand everything the Rebbe said, or one may find it uncomfortable, to do the opposite of ones nature; nevertheless, this is how one grows, and unites with the Rebbe.

Joke - China

My Friend: Do you know that, China has a standing army of 100 million soldiers?

Me: Sure their standing, they have no place to sit down!

What to do with Stolen Money

A man said to a Rov: “I want to give Tzedakah (charity), from stolen money.”

"The Rov answered: “I wouldn't accept any money, that was earned that way.”

To which the fellow said: “I would like to give it to someone, who will use it for good.”

The Rov said: “Dirty money, can't really be used for anything good.”

The fellow asked the Rov, "So what can I do with it?"

The Rov answered: "I think you should burn it!"

The name Chana (Hannah)

Chana: Light up the world!

Question:
Can you tell me what the name Chana means?

Answer:
The Hebrew root of Chana is “Chen”, which loosely means "charm." It is the Hebrew term, that describes that elusive trait, possessed by certain special people, that makes them particularly lovable.

A charming person, is someone whom you simply enjoy being around, and always come away from their presence, feeling good.

True charm comes, from the soul. Every soul is charming, but that charm is not always visible. When the light of the soul shines outward, and is manifest in our physical self, some of our inner purity is shared with others; and therefore, we are charming.

So the name Chana really means, "one whose soul, shines through her body."
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The ultimate goal of Jewish spirituality, is to refine the body; so that it becomes a vehicle, that expresses the light of the soul.

This mission is reflected, in the three pillars of Jewish life: kosher eating, holiness in marriage and the sanctity of Shabbos.

All three help bring the charm of the soul, into the body, and the physical world:

1. The first pillar of Judaism: Kosher.
Eating is the most basic of physical activities. The laws of Kosher, are a means, to make the act of eating holy.

Every meal has to be thought out, and considered, to ensure that it touches the divine. This brings soul and transcendence, to the otherwise instinctive bodily act, of eating.

2. The second pillar: Family Purity.
Food sustains the body, but intimate relations, between man and woman, actually create that body.

The laws of family purity, are the Torah's guide, to bring sanctity and endurance, into marriage and intimate relationships.

These channels imbue the union of man and woman, even in the most bodily and physical sense, with sanctity and holiness.

3. The third pillar: Shabbos, sanctifying time.
Rather than seeing our lives, as an endless cycle going nowhere; Shabbos brings a sense of purpose, direction, and holiness, to the week.

Shabbos takes an otherwise mundane and drab life, in this physical world; and adds soul, spirit, and light and vitality.
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This is the name Chana. The three Hebrew letters, that spell the name Chana, stand for these three special Mitzvos. The letters are CH - N – H: which stand for Challah, Niddah and Hadlokas Haner.

Challah means loaf; and though today, we use this word for our Shabbos bread, in the Torah, it refers to one of the laws, of keeping kosher.

Niddah, refers to the laws of Family Purity.

Hadlokas Haner, is the lighting of Shabbos candles; which bring an aura of sanctity and light, into the home.
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This is the unique charm, that is contained in the name Chana- the power to bring the light of the soul, into the body.

You have the name, you have the charm; so light up the world!