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Words written by R' Asher, Menachem Av 5738
The main thing is simple faith and stubbornness, so as not to be broken when one is depressed. With the same breath that G-d reveals Himself to you, you should live with Him in his distress of His children, who live with needless hatred and in all the different evil ways which disturb G-d's connection with us. Then G-d brings upon us an awakening of His pain, so that we can participate in His pain and so that there will be a place for Him in the world of asiyah, our world, from which the life force of all the worlds stems. When G-d does not have a part in this world below, we have no nurturing powers from above, and all the springs are stopped up. And as G-d has mercy on is creatures, He causes us to have pain and suffering, so that we will cry to Him and arouse His mercy on His nation, and redeem us soon.
Rather than crying out from the depth of our hearts that there should be an end to all our troubles and that we should remain silent about all our pain and suffering which is the pain of G-d's love, we cause ourselves to descend into depression and cling to the Evil Inclination which is the opposite of holiness. The reason for this is because how little we are submissive, and we waste our lives without any soul searching and descend very low. Because of that we harden our hearts and waste away our souls and our length of days, and lose our worlds, this one and the next.
We therefore have to be constantly on guard and not to forget for even a single breath about our cleaving to the Creator wherever we are, and to cry out to Him until He takes pity on us and takes us out to the great light. Even from the deepest of the depths He hears our voice ("because You hear the prayer of every voice").
(Translated)
… The main thing is simple faith and stubbornness, so as not to be broken when one is depressed. With the same breath that G-d reveals Himself to you, you should live with Him in his distress of His children, who live with needless hatred and in all the different evil ways which disturb G-d's connection with us. Then G-d brings upon us an awakening of His pain, so that we can participate in His pain and so that there will be a place for Him in the world of asiyah, our world, from which the life force of all the worlds stems. When G-d does not have a part in this world below, we have no nurturing powers from above, and all the springs are stopped up. And as G-d has mercy on is creatures, He causes us to have pain and suffering, so that we will cry to Him and arouse His mercy on His nation, and redeem us soon.Rather than crying out from the depth of our hearts that there should be an end to all our troubles and that we should remain silent about all our pain and suffering which is the pain of G-d's love, we cause ourselves to descend into depression and cling to the Evil Inclination which is the opposite of holiness. The reason for this is because how little we are submissive, and we waste our lives without any soul searching and descend very low. Because of that we harden our hearts and waste away our souls and our length of days, and lose our worlds, this one and the next.We therefore have to be constantly on guard and not to forget for even a single breath about our cleaving to the Creator wherever we are, and to cry out to Him until He takes pity on us and takes us out to the great light. Even from the deepest of the depths He hears our voice ("because You hear the prayer of every voice").
At this time of year, we, at "Yad Ezrah", feel a great responsibility resting on our shoulders, as we prepare for the major project of the year- the Pesach food packages distribution. We receive many anguished pleas from needy families, and we want to be able to tell them that they are on the "good green list" and will receive basic food necessities for Pesach. I stand before them and their children or elderly parents, and I so much want to merit bringing them happiness and not to disappoint them. I know they are not asking for extras, and are really lacking the bare minimum.
Hashem gave me the great zchut of knowing you, a true Ish Chessed, who hears the pain of others, and even hears the silent cry of the sick and disabled. I daven and hope, and I feel that if Hashem put us in this position, it is our merit, and one of the greatest moments in our lives that gives meaning to our existence, and opens up for us various locked gates that we wish would open. Please, continue to be a loyal supporter in your generous way.
As you know, we at Yad Ezrah try to help and fill the needs of our destitute brothers from all spectrums of the Jewish community in Israel. There are thousands of needy families that we have to help this year. We are in contact with them throughout the year, and we want to continue to help them this Pesach as well. We are also in close contact with Jews in Sderot and Nitzan-Gush Katif evacuees, poor families of soldiers who would often rather stay on base when they have time off then go home where there is no food, as well as other cities and settlements throughout the country. In fact, I just received an email from Sderot asking for help in providing basic Pesach provisions.
We hope to help 6000 families at certain levels but of these, at least 1,200 families are in critical financial situation. These families will not be able to make Pesach without our help. We would like to provide them with a respectable Pesach package that includes everything they need for the Chag. Each family package costs about 800 NIS, and we are counting on you to help make this distribution a reality. You are one of a quality team of donors that we feel comfortable to turn to. Your help is significant and your donation makes the difference to the poor families. I Thank you for keeping the flame of unity burning and reaching out to our brothers who are calling out and waiting for you to listen and heed their cry.
The Zchut of R’ Asher Ztz”l and your true Chessed will stand for you and your family, that you will have a Chag Sameach V’Kasher, Chag of shalom and family unity, nachat, serenity, Bracha, gezunt, shefa and peace, and we should all merit a speedy and painless redemption, B’Midat Harachamim.
Yours,
Zvi Waldman
http://www.yadezrah.org.il/
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The eighth day of Chanuka, what is known as “Zot Chanuka”, is a very special and powerful day.
The Rebbe of Ruzhin Zt”l wrote that this day is so powerful that what great Tzadikim can accomplish on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the simple Jew can accomplish on Zot Chanuka.
R’ Chaim form Sanz and the Rebbe of Kubrin wrote that the day of Zot Chanuka is a day that can bring Health, Children and Parnassah, because on these days of Chanuka we can achieve a special light of Chessed shining from locked and hidden places.
The Bnei Yissachar also writes that the last day of Chanuka is a segulah for the remembrance of barren women.
We, the chaverim, are now on our way up to Meron, as was the minhag of Reb Asher zt”l on Zot Chanuka, to pray at the holy gravesite of Reb Shimon bar Yochai, who was the great light of Am Yisrael, to daven that he beseech on us and all Am Yisrael, and of course we will mention all of our friends and partners in our tefillot for brachot and yeshuot, and we will pray that we all be redeemed on an individual and general level, bekarov.
At this time of the year, as we prepare to stand humbly before Hashem on the Yom Hadin and beg for His mercy and kindness, we are reminded of the words of Rav Asher Freund zt'l, the founder of Yad Ezrah, that true humility is achieved, only when there is a sincere concern for the pain and suffering of our fellow Jews.
Yad Ezrah has always identified with the distress of its fellow Jews, and has strived to effectively alleviate it, with dignity. As the Yomin Noraim approach, our immediate challenge is to enable thousands of hungry families to celebrate the upcoming holidays, joyously and in tranquility. With your kindness, together we can make it happen.
In the merit of your generosity, may you and your family be blessed with nachas, good health and prosperity, and may all of your hearts' requests be fulfilled letova.
Yad Ezrah is now preparing for its yearly Hachnassat Orchim at the Holy Gravesite of the great Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai.
Lag Ba'omer was very close to Reb Asher's heart, and he would often stress the importance of offering food and drinks to those who come up on Lag Baomer to pray at the holy tzion of Reb Shimon Bar Yochai. Reb Asher himself invested much energy into founding the enormous Hachnassat Orchim operation that Yad Ezrah continues each year in Meron and encouraged others to follow suit, emphasizing that one who toils on behalf of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai merits great salvation.
Furthermore, Reb Asher wrote in one of his letters, "…the masses who stream throughout the year to the gravesite of the saintly Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai zy"a, who is the foundation of our existence until the coming of Mashiach, speedily in our days…"
Close to one million people from all over the world arrive in Meron on Lag Ba'omer. Among the masses of people who arrive are people who do not have even bread to put on their table, people who are hurting and suffering – who have come to pour out their hearts to Hashem Yitbarach at the holy kever of Reb Shimon. For over thirty years now, Yad Ezrah extends itself to the needs of these people in a very tangible sense. Yad Ezrah provides hundreds of thousands of weary travelers with both cold and hot drinks, as well as with sandwiches, cakes, and pastries.
As Pesach fast approaches, we are in intense preparation for our annual Pesach distribution.
For Reb Asher zt"l, who founded Yad Ezrah, the Maot Chitim project was the apple of his eye. He taught us that giving basic food to hungry people – nourishing and reviving their souls both physically and emotionally, is the purest form of Hashem's revelation in the world that transforms the Midddat Hadin to Middat Harachamim.
Yad Ezrah is currently investing the maximum efforts all over the world to approach its friends and raise the large funds necessary for this Kimcha De'Pischa project. However, at the moment, we are in immediate need of the fundamental monies which will enable us to continue forth with the project.
Reb Asher zt"l bequeathed a brachah for a good and meaningful life to all those who assist in the Yad Ezrah effort of easing the burden of our struggling brethren.
Please help us bring the Simcha of the Chag to our dear brothers and let them, as well, experience the feeling of Bnei Chorin together with their families.
Yad Ezrah is hoping to provide many needy families with a special Purim endowment “Bo Bayom”, on Purim itself, but we need YOUR help to make this a reality.
As the Rambam says, the only way we can experience true Jewish happiness on Purim, is if we know that we brought happiness to sad people, who without our assistance, would not be able to feel the true happiness of Purim.
To quote:it is preferable for a person to elaborate in the mitzva of Matanot La'evyonim than to elaborate with his meal and with sending Mishloach Manot to his friends, for one who brings joy to the hearts of the poor... resembles the Shechina. (Rambam, Hilchot Megilla, Perek Bet, halacha 17)
Thousands of Jewish children and their families cannot rejoice on Purim as the other children delightfully wave their graggers in the air, for they are filled with hunger & pain. As the joyous day of Purim approaches, let us attempt to heed their silent cries, & fill their homes & hearts with joy. In this merit may Hashem heed each of our individual silent cries as well, for He knows our unspoken needs as well.
With your openhanded donation, you can bring the spirit of “Venahafoch Hu” into the home of a Jewish family, turning their darkness into light, & in the merit of your dedication, may we all soon rejoice in the ultimate “Venahafoch Hu”, as this long Galut comes to a close, & we embrace the Final Geulah.
In honor of the yahrzeit of the Volednicker Tzaddik who promised that whoever will merely touch his tzion will have great yeshuot, a minyan of Reb Asher zt"l's chaverim, lead by Rabbi Zvi Waldman, traveled to the kvarim of Reb Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, his Talmid Muvhak - the Maggid MiMezritch, Reb Zushe Me'annapoli, Reb Yisrael Dov ben Reb Yosef (the Volednicker - who was known as a poel Yeshuot in a manner above nature), the Baal Hatanya, Reb Nachman MiBreslov, REb Levi Yitzchak MiBarditchev, and more Kivrei Tzadikim. The group also merited being at the original Beit Knesset of the Baal Shem Tov where he established the foundations of Chassidut and passed on his legacy to his close Talmidim. There is a tradition that the Baal Shem Tov declared that in this Beit Knesset is a shaar that leads straight to Gan Eden.
May all the tefillot be answered letova!
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