Category: Chagim

The Symbolism of the Lulav and Esrog: The Power of Potential

October 9, 2017October 18, 2022 Simcha Gittel No Comments

BS”D In the Torah we are instructed to celebrate the seven-day festival of Sukkos by taking the four species, collectively known as the lulav and esrog, into our hands: לְקַחְתֶּ֨ם לָכֶ֜ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הָֽרִאשׁ֗וֹן פְּרִ֨י עֵ֤ץ הָדָר֙ כַּפֹּ֣ת תְּמָרִ֔ים וַֽעֲנַ֥ף עֵֽץ־עָבֹ֖ת וְעַרְבֵי־נָ֑חַל וּשְׂמַחְתֶּ֗ם לִפְנֵ֛י יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֖ם שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִֽים And you shall take for yourselves on the…

Chagim, Emunah

Returning to HaShem Requires Emunah and Emunah Requires Tefillah

September 29, 2017April 15, 2018 Simcha Gittel No Comments

BS”D Seek Hashem when He can be found. Call upon Him when He is near. Yeshiya 55:6 According to Chazal the days when HaShem is most accessible are the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. It is during this special period that the doors of teshuva are wide open, when one…

Chagim, Emunah, Getting Out of Galus

What Does HaShem Want from Us on Tisha B’Av?

July 26, 2017October 9, 2017 Simcha Gittel No Comments

BS”D Tisha B’Av is a day when we mourn over the many tragedies that befell the Jewish people at this time of year- especially the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash. But how do we relate to this day in our generation on a practical level? Even if we would try to learn all we could about…

Chagim

On Kabbalas HaTorah and Letting HaShem In

May 10, 2017March 11, 2018 Simcha Gittel No Comments

BS”D When the Jewish people approached Har Sinai right before Kabbalas HaTorah, they did so כאיש אחד בלב אחד, “as one man with one heart” (Rashi, Shemos 20:2). They were actually united in two ways: They were united as a nation. Each individual was connected to his or her fellow Jews despite differences of opinion or…

Chagim, Emunah, Fundamentals in Judaism, Parsha Insights

Sefiras HaOmer and the Nature of Spiritual Growth

May 9, 2017April 15, 2018 Simcha Gittel No Comments

BS”D When it comes to spiritual growth, we naturally tend to want the process to look something like this: A never-ending series of upward movements and experiences. But in reality, spiritual growth on any level is more like this: Yet, at times it can feel like this: Life’s Ups and Downs Real growth is a…

Chagim, Emunah, Getting Out of Galus, Parsha Insights