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Parashat Balak, July 9th, 2011, 7 Tammuz, 5771

 

Dear Talmidot, Parents and Friends –

 

1)       Faculty Devar Torah – Mrs. Michal Porath-Zibman

2)       Mazel Tovs

3)       Mi She-Berach List

 

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What Are You Waiting For?

Mrs. Michal Porath-Zibman

 

This weeks Parsha has the infamous blessings from Bilaam that are directed at Am Yisrael. In one of his observations of the way Am Yisrael camp, Bilaam states 'Ma Tovu Oholecha Yaakov Mishkenotecha Yisrael' 'How good and wondrous are the tents of Yaakov, the dwelling places of Yisrael'

 

These words are meant to be echoed by us every morning since then. Therefore, it would seem fitting to try and understand perhaps a deeper meaning in these words.

 

The Sfat Emet (19th cen, Poland) comments on this and says that Bilaam was amazed by the spirituality in the day to day mundane activities of family life. His expression was a result of his amazement that one could discover -and create- spirituality in their own homes, as opposed to needing to be in a sanctuary of some sort.

 

Rav Shimhshon Refael Hirsch (19th cen, Germany) however, makes a distinction between the word 'ohel' translated as tent, and 'mishkan' which means more of a dwelling place. Rav Hirsch says that there is a difference in the two, and that's what struck Bilaam. A tent is a place where one resides during times of transition. A dwelling place is more of a place that one declares and treats as his home, when he is no longer in transition. Bnei Yisrael were travelling in the desert, far away from any physical or even spiritual structure they could call home.  And yet...they managed to infuse their lives with kedusha, sanctity, love and holiness. Bilaam was amazed by that.

 

Often in life we find ourselves in times of transition. Waiting to graduate college, waiting to get a higher degree, waiting to change our family status, waiting for a new job, waiting...waiting...waiting. During times like these, it's easy to say: "I will make time to learn, to daven, to do chessed" and a whole variety of other things, "when such and such eventually happens". We're so busy waiting for the goal, that we often forget that sometimes in life, the journey is the goal and while on that journey, we can infuse our lives with a sense of purpose, a sacred mission, even if we feel that we ourselves are still waiting, still transitioning for and to something else.

 

May Hashem bless us that we are worthy of the blessing of "Ma Tovu Oholecha Yaakov Mishkenotecha Yisrael' and whether we are on the journey or we've reached that goal, that we are always able to live a life of true Avodat Hashem and Ahavat Yisrael.

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

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Mazel Tov 

 

Engagements:

Julie Schneider (03-04) and Shalom Schwartzben 

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

 

Weddings:

Ariella Freedman  (06-07) and Jonny Cooper 

Tova Kahn (05-06) and Daniel Bukingolts 

Rochelle Lewin ('08-'09) and Asher Landaw

Jackie Green ('05-'06) and Stephen Moster

Yhi ratzon shetivnu bayit ne'eman bYisrael

 

Birth:

Lisa (Shor) (01-02) and Josh Gottlieb on the birth of a girl

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadla lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim.

 

Birth:

Abby Malen Moskovits ('98-'99) on the birth of a boy 

Nechama (Gottlieb)(04-05) and Etan Marks on the birth of twin boys 

Yhi ratzon shetizku lgadlo lTorah lChupa ulMa'asim tovim. Kshem shenichnas lBrit kein yikanes lTorah lChupah ulMa'asim tovim.

 

Please help us stay informed - http://midreshetmoriah.org/send-mazaltov.asp 

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Mi SheBerach List

Please email midmoriah@gmail.com if there is a name you would like to add or remove!  

 

Tzuriya Kochevet bat Sara - diagnosed with stomach cancer.(7/3/11)

Shmuel ben Miriam-toddler whose cancer has returned (5/26/11)

Karen bat Lena - undergoing chemotherapy (5/4/11)

Faiga Leah bas Henya (5/3/11)

Chaim ben Chashka (3/3/2011) – diabetes complications 

Matityahu Yaakov ben Gittel Rivka (3/5/2011)

Tziporah Feiga Bat Sima Sheindel (2/26/2011)

Shira bat Deena Miriam – premature baby on a ventilator (2/19/2011)

Noa Batya bat Daniella Rut – 7 month old with leukemia (2/5/2011)

Leah Alona Bat Tziporah (2/5/2011)

Leora bat Sarah (2/5/2011)

Frimit bat Devorah (2/5/2011)

Rivah bat Jane (1/29/2011)

Amitai Yaakov ben Bracha - a 16 yr. old just diagnosed with leukemia (1/29/2011)

Dina Eta bat Chaya Tzippora Sheva (1/22/2011)

Aharon Yitzchak ben Deena Yehudis (1/6/2011)

Adi bat Zahavit (twin baby who is sick)

Reut bat Zahavit (twin baby who is sick)

Chaim Yissachar ben Chaya Mushkit (26 year old with 2 children, leukemia)

Shraga Feivel ben Sasha

Ari ben Rivka (young husband with brain tumor)

Inbal bat Nelya

Zacharia Kalman HaCohen ben Yael Margalit

Shai Ben Meital - 4 yr old with brain damage and seizures

Aviva Miriam bat Esther - 9 month old baby with cancer going through chemo

Tzipora Fayga Bat Sima Shaindel- 33 year old mother of 3 with Leukemia(9/19/2010)

Tzvi Ilan ben Gita (8/12/2010)

Chaya Tziporah Sheva bat Faiga (8/12/2010)

Chisha Bayla bat Miriam

Chaya Meira Mindel bat Chava Golda - Midreshet alumna with cancer

Refael ben Nomi- 10 month old baby who has meningitis

Avraham ben Elka (5/21/10)

Rivka Margalit bat Ita - 12 year old girl with a brain tumor (5/27/2010)

Batya Leah bat Sara - cancer

Noa Chaya bat Nava Yehudit - baby

Yehuda Moshe Yosef ben Miriam

Rayzel bat Rifka

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Midreshet Moriah

The Educational Wing

Shaare Zedek Medical Center

P.O. Box 3235, Jerusalem, Israel

tel: 972-2-652-7449 fax: 972-2-651-1524

www.midreshetmoriah.com

 

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