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Parshas Re’eh / Shabbos Mevorchim

Friday, 26 Menachem Av 5774 / August 22, 2014

The Tests of Life By Yossi Goldman

Will the real prophet please stand up?

There are false prophets out there;

there always have been. Way back in

the times of the Bible, the Torah was

a l r e a d y w a r n i n g u s

(in Deuteronomych. 13) that we would

encounter individuals who look like

prophets. They might even seem to

make miracles like prophets, but, in

truth, they are false prophets.

Why then would G‑d allow a false

prophet to make a miracle or do won-

drous things that are really impres-

sive? The answer, says ourParshah, is

that G‑d is testing us. If we really and

truly love G‑d with all our heart and

soul, then we won’t be impressed by

any fancy wonders or miracles. The

acid test will always be: does this

would-be prophet encourage us to

follow G‑d’s laws, or to ignore them?

And if this “prophet” is not faithful to

the word of G‑d, then he is no

prophet, but an imposter.

If you thought that life’s tests were

over when you finished school, guess

again. There are many tests in life, and

they can be much more difficult than

chemistry or physics. And there isn’t

that much homework we can do to

prepare for these kinds of tests, either.

Poverty is a big test of faith. Even

affluence can be a test that’s tougher

than we think. Failing health is no easy

one, and tragedy is worse. Every indi-

vidual faces his or her own unique

tests and challenges. We might wish

the other fellow’s tests upon ourselves,

but our tests are ours and ours alone

to deal with. What tempts one person

may not tempt the next. What is diffi-

cult for me might be simple for you,

and vice versa. If we remember that

the challenge of the moment is, in fact,

a test, we might be better able to han-

dle it and pass the test.

But we don’t always realize that this

may just be our very own personal,

spiritual challenge, perhaps even the

most important one of our entire exis-

tence. We don’t necessarily appreciate

that our souls might have come down

to this world for the express purpose of

passing these tests.

So we rationalize.

If there is a G‑d in the world, where

was He at Auschwitz?

If G‑d didn’t intend for me to

take the money, why did the

boss leave the cash register

open?

If this relationship is wrong,

why does it feel so right? This

poor woman is locked in a

loveless marriage. Isn’t she entitled

to a little happiness? Shouldn’t I be

there for her?

If G‑d really wanted me to

keep Shabbat, why is my biggest

turnover on Saturday?

If a yarmulke was meant for me to

wear, why am I bald? I can’t even

find any hair for the darned clip!

But if we accept the concept of a test

of faith, then it becomes easier to

deal with the challenges, as formida-

ble as they may be.

The question remains: Why does

G‑d test us? Is it really—as our Par-

shah explains—“to know whether we

do, in fact, love G‑d with all our heart

and soul”? Doesn’t G‑d know all that

already? How will we enlighten Him

one way or the other? Is there any-

thing G‑d does not know?

T h e ans we r , ac c o rd in g t o

Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (in his

classic collection of chassidic dis-

courses, Likkutei Torah), is that it is

not for G‑d to know, but for us to

know. Of course, G‑d knows. But He

places tests and obstacles in our

path, so that when we overcome

them we develop and bring to the

fore the inner, latent love of G‑d that

was always there inside our hearts

and souls.

When we pass life’s tests, we dis-

cover that we do have that inner

strength after all, that we really are

believers who are profoundly con-

nected to G‑d, and that our commit-

ment is true and genuine. In passing

life’s tests we become more confident

in our own moral strength, and en-

riched and ennobled with a higher

awareness of G‑d. This is why we

are stronger after conquering these

hurdles than we were before we

faced them.

We don’t go looking for tests. Every

morning in our prayers we ask G‑-d, “Lead us not to temptation.” But if it

does come our way, we must appre-

ciate that it is critical to our success

as moral human beings and as com-

Chabad of Beverly Hills 409 Foothill Rd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Chabadofbeverlyhills.com

Rabbi Yosef Shusterman

310-271-9063

The Chabad Weekly

This Shabbat we bless the month of Elul, the final month of the year before Rosh

Hashana. One of the most fundamental principles in

Judaism is that a person can always change for the good. Regardless of one's past ac-

tions, the only requirements are remorse for misdeeds, the resolve not to repeat them, and a sincere desire to draw closer to G-d.

This process of returning to one's true, inner nature (which is essentially good in the Jew)

is known as teshuva, to which the entire month of Elul is dedicated.

Unfortunately, the concept of teshuva is sometimes misconstrued. "Becoming a baal teshuva" is not just for Jews who were never exposed to Torah and never had a chance to

learn the basics. The greatest rabbis and scholars are also obligated to "do teshuva," for when it comes to levels of holiness and purity, there is no end to up. Only G-d can assess what is in a person's heart, ignoring

the externals. On the contrary, a person who was raised in a religious home is better

equipped to "do teshuva," armed with the benefit of a Jewish education to guide him. The story is told of a teacher in a "baal te-shuva" yeshiva who, in the course of an

audience with a certain Chasidic Rebbe in Israel, described how wonderful his school

was. In the midst of the conversation, he felt a sudden need to clarify that he himself "was

not a baal teshuva." "And why aren't you a baal teshuva?" the

Rebbe gently chided him. "Doing teshuva" is not a one-shot deal. A Jew

doesn't become a "baal teshuva" by begin-ning to perform mitzvot and assuming that he's made it. The initial turning toward G-d

may be revolutionary, but teshuva is an ongo-ing process. Every day we are faced with choices; every day is a new opportunity to

elevate and refine ourselves. The upcoming month of Elul is a particularly good time to

renew our resolve…

(From: L’Chaim #1132 )- lchaimweekly.org

Shabbat Schedule

Announcements:

Yartzheits: Yosef Boden-

stein – Av 27, Evelyn

Sternlight – Av 27, Laura

Siegel – Elul 1, Yosef ben

Shlomo Esmailzadeh - Elul 1.

Happy Birthday to Avraham

Moradian, Chani Mintz,

Aura Mishel, Rafael Mora-

dian, Josh Neufeld, Daniella

Hatanian, Shmuel Sulami,

Chayale Kesselman and

Sholom Dovber Ganjian.

Happy Anniversary to

Rabbi Mendel and Aidie

Shusterman.

Tehillim 8:00 AM

Shacharit 9:30AM

followed by

Kiddush,

Cholent &

Farbrengen

Pirkei Avos 6:15 PM

Mincha 7:00 PM

followed by

Seuda

Shlishit

Shabbat ends

8:13 PM

Vol. 17 Is

sue 45

B”H

mitted Jews that we face up to the chal-

lenge.

May we never be tested. But if we are,

let us remember that it is a test. Please

G‑d, we will pass with flying colors.

Chabad.org

GOOD SHABBOS!

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

Sunday 8:00 AM

Gemara – Tractate Sanhedrin

(men)

Monday 8:00 PM

Chumash (men and women)

Tuesday 8:00 PM

Gemara B’Iyun

Tractate Kesuvos (men)

Wednesday 8:30 PM

Halacha and Tanya (women)

Thursday 10:00 AM

Chassidus (women)

Daily

Chassidus 6:45 AM– 7:15 AM

Halacha Between Mincha

and Maariv

Daily Minyonim Weekday Shacharis: 6:00 AM & 7:30 AM

Sunday Shacharis: 7:00 AM & 9:00 AM

Mincha/Maariv: 7:25 PM

Story of the Week:

Being too poor to afford a ride to his rebbe, the holy Reb Elimelech of Liszensk, the great Reb David of Lelov went by foot. On the way, he met a wealthy chasid traveling to Reb Elimelech in his own carriage. He offered Reb David a ride and assumed that he was a poor beggar trying for better luck in a different town. Under this assumption, the wealthy chasid began joking with and mocking Reb David. Reb David remained silent as the chasid belittled him for the entire journey. When they arrived in Liszensk, the wealthy man went to speak with Reb Elimelech immediately. Reb David, however, spent a few hours meditating and preparing himself to meet with his Rebbe. Reb David finally went in and stayed clos-eted with Reb Elimelech for over two hours. Upon leaving the Rebbe's room, Reb David explained to the wealthy chasid that he would be remaining in Liszensk for some time and concluded, "Return without me, but you should make sure that on the way back, if you hear a cry of distress, answer the call." The chasid realized that Reb David was no mere beggar, and assured him that his advice would be heeded. When the chasid was half-way home, he heard a cry for help. Following the cries, he came upon a carriage stuck in deep mud. The chasid tied a rope from his carriage to the other carriage and carefully pulled the

carriage and its owner out of danger. Then, the chasid took the owner, a wealthy government official from Warsaw, home with him. He gave him clean cloth-ing, fed him, and kept him until he had recovered from the traumatic ordeal. Within a few days, the official returned to the chasid's home, asking, "How can I repay you?" The chasid said, "It is enough of a reward to know that I have saved the life of an-other human being." "At least," begged the official, "let me have your name and address so that I can record it and remember it always." To this request the chasid conceded. Months passed and the wheel of fortune turned for the chasid. He became so impoverished that he was forced to be-come a beggar. From town to town the once wealthy chasid went begging for money. One day, while begging in his own city of Warsaw, a passenger in a fancy carriage called out to him. The chasid began to run away, but the carriage pursued him. "Stop, I must speak to you," said the passenger. The chasid stopped running. "Do you recognize me," asked the man to the chasid. "No," was the chasid's reply. "What is your name," the man asked. Upon hearing the chasid's name, the man, now governor of Warsaw, said, "Ten years ago you saved me when my car-riage was stuck in the mud. What has happened to you over these years?" The chasid retold the turn of events of the past ten years. The governor exclaimed, "I never did repay you for saving my life. Accept, therefore, this check for 2,000 rubles." The chasid was overjoyed. He started a business and once more became suc-cessful. The chasid wished to speak with a tzadik to better understand these turn of events. His rebbe had passed away. So he went to visit the Lelover Rebbe, not

knowing this was the Reb David from some ten years before. Reb David asked the chasid to repeat what had transpired over the past dec-ade. He then said to the chasid, "Know, that because you mocked me the entire way to Liszensk, death was decreed for you on High. I, however, knew of the decree and told Reb Elimelech about it. We spent two hours discussing ways to have the decree lifted or lessened. Through prayer and meditation we were able to have the decree changed to ten years of poverty. Now that you have completed those ten years, the wheel of fortune has once more turned in your favor and you will return to your prior wealth and position."(From: L’Chaim

#1335) - lchaimweekly.org

HaYom Yom Menachem Av 27 The month of Elul is the month

of reckoning. In the material

world, if a businessman is to con-

duct his affairs properly and

with great profit, he must peri-

odically take an accounting and

correct any deficiencies... Like-

wise in the spiritual avoda of

serving G-d. Throughout the year

all Israel are occupied with To-

rah, Mitzvot and (developing and

expressing) good traits. The

month of Elul is the month of

reckoning, when every Jew, each

commensurate with his abilities,

whether scholar or businessman,

must make an accurate account-

ing in his soul of everything that

occurred in the course of the

year. Each must know the good

qualities in his service of G-d and

strengthen them; he must also be

aware of the deficiencies in him-

self and in his service, and cor-

rect these. Through this excel-

lent preparation, one merits a

good and sweet year, materially

and spiritually.

The anticipation of the Redemp-

tion should be so powerful that

one actually considers the Re-

demption a reality. When this

happens, one should share this

feeling with others, telling them

that we can actually see the

coming of the ultimate Redemp-

tion. Furthermore, even a person

who has not fully internalized the

concept of the Redemption in his

own mind should make efforts to

spread this concept to others,

beginning with his own family

and circle of acquaintances. Why

should one's own failure to inter-

nalize these concepts cause

others to be denied this knowl-

edge?(The Rebbe, 30 Av, 5751 - 1991)

PIRKEI AVOS This is the way to Torah: Eat

bread with salt, drink water in small measure (Ethics 6:4)

Someone once came to Rabbi Akiva Eiger to inform him that one of his students was living in abject poverty. "It's a pity, Rabbi," the man said. "Every

night he eats dry bread, recites the Shema, and goes to sleep."

Said the Rabbi, "It's a much greater pity when a person

eats the finest roast chicken for dinner but goes to sleep without saying the Shema."

(From: L’Chaim 483) - lchaimweekly.org

There is a famous story from the

Midrash that relates to this week's

Torah portion.

A very pious land-owner was punctili-

ous about following the Torah's com-

mandment to give one-tenth of his

produce to the priests. When this

righteous Jew saw his end approach-

ing, he called his son and heir over to

him and cautioned, "The Almighty has

always been generous with us. I have

always given 100 of our 1000 bushels

to the priests. You must make sure to

do the same."

That year, at harvest-time, the son

followed his father's wishes. He gave

100 of the 1000 bushels as the tithe.

The following year, however, he de-

cided to "save" a little, and gave only

90 bushels. The next year, strangely

enough, the fields only produced 900

bushels. Having incurred such a tre-

mendous loss, the son decided to only

give 80 bushels that year. And, low

and behold, the following year the

fields only produced 800 bushels.

Year after year, this scene repeated

itself, until the once lush and prosper-

ous fields were only producing 100

bushels. The son had still not gotten

the message. His friends and relatives

tried to intervene. They went to visit

the son dressed in festive clothes,

bringing along food and wine.

"We have come to celebrate your good

fortune," they said.

"You mock me and my change of

fate," he told them angrily.

"No," they contradicted him. "We

have come to celebrate your elevated

state," they said somewhat sarcasti-

cally. "You see, in the past, your fa-

ther gave 10% of his produce, 100

bushels, to the priests, and the rest

remained for him. Now, it seems that

G-d has elevated you to the status of

priest. He is giving you the 100 bush-

els and keeping the rest for Himself."

No one ever became poor from giving

charity. By giving charity we are as-

sured that G-d's blessings will also be

bestowed upon us generously.

(From: L’Chaim #1282)

- lchaimweekly.org