http://blog.thefoundationstone.org Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from The Foundation Stone Blog Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:26:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2012/01/03/strength-from-brokenness/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2012/01/03/strength-from-brokenness/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:46:05 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6351 “I had not always believed that strength could come from brokenness, or that the thread of a divine purpose could be seen in tragedy. But I do now (Max Cleland).” (“Seven Levels of Teshuva: Avraham and Healing”) The Torah uses a single verse to teach us that Jacob had a remarkable approach to life. (“A Different [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2012/01/03/strength-from-brokenness/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/30/shabbat-prayers-blessings-of-morning-shemah-illuminate-our-eyes/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/30/shabbat-prayers-blessings-of-morning-shemah-illuminate-our-eyes/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:38:40 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6313 “Illuminate our eyes in Your Torah.” The theme we are using this Shabbat is how Shabbat is an experience of the World-to-Come (See: “Kabbalat Shabbat-A Single Utterance”). The Talmud offers two powerful examples of the Special Light of the World-to-Come: “And it shall come to pass in that day that there shall not be light, but [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/30/shabbat-prayers-blessings-of-morning-shemah-illuminate-our-eyes/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/27/master-of-memory-vii-a-long-speech/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/27/master-of-memory-vii-a-long-speech/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 16:50:56 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6288 “Good deeds can be shortly stated, but where wrong is done, a wealth of language is needed to hide its deformity (Thucydides).” Wow! Judah’s speech to the Egyptian viceroy is certainly a long one. What made him think that the Viceroy would allow him to make such a lengthy presentation? If Judah was speaking through an [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/27/master-of-memory-vii-a-long-speech/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/26/the-debt/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/26/the-debt/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 19:17:03 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6277 In our society, we assume that if someone saves another person’s life, then the person saved owes the person who saved them. However, in some societies, the opposite is true, the person who is saved is owed by the person who saved them. In fact, in some societies, if someone saves another’s life, he is [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/26/the-debt/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/26/every-man-for-himself/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/26/every-man-for-himself/#comments Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:56:51 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6272 “Say the word and I’ll turn you loose I got mine now you get yours Just like you I’ve got my price Sure is nice that someone paid I’ve got my ticket out of here But for you, I fear, it’s much too late It’s nothing you can blame me for In love and war It’s every man for himself ‘ - Steppenwolf, *Every [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/26/every-man-for-himself/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-psalm-115-a-commitment-to-use-my-life/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-psalm-115-a-commitment-to-use-my-life/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:08:27 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6269 This question was asked before Rabbi Tanchum of Neway: What about extinguishing a burning lamp for a sick man on the Sabbath? — Thereupon he commenced and spoke: You, Solomon, where is your wisdom and where is thine understanding? It is not enough for you that your words contradict the words of your father David, [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-psalm-115-a-commitment-to-use-my-life/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-rosh-chodesh-tevet-third-paragraph/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-rosh-chodesh-tevet-third-paragraph/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:59:37 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6261 The Theme of this paragraph of Hallel is Trusting God: See “Hallel Rosh Chodesh Tevet: Paragraph Three”  “Trusters” and “Chanukah Hallel Paragraph Three: Becoming Trusters.” “Let all those who put their trust in You rejoice (Psalms 5:12),” because You took vengeance upon Babylon (Tenth of Tevet); “let them ever shout for joy,” because in Persia, You [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-rosh-chodesh-tevet-third-paragraph/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/spiritual-tools-tzitzit-from-chanukah-to-the-tenth-of-tevet/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/spiritual-tools-tzitzit-from-chanukah-to-the-tenth-of-tevet/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 18:55:13 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6258 Tzitzit are always associated with light; they are even described as Clothes of Light. In this, they are also associated with Hanukkah, the Festival of Light. When we hold our Tzitzit during the Shema, we hold all four corners in our hands so that we are surrounded by Light. This is a perfect Kavanah to [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/spiritual-tools-tzitzit-from-chanukah-to-the-tenth-of-tevet/feed/ 1 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-rosh-chodesh-tevet-kavanot-i/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-rosh-chodesh-tevet-kavanot-i/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:48:06 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6256 Many of the verses in the concluding Psalm of the Hallel resonate powerfully on Rosh Chodesh Tevet, the month in which Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian hordes lay siege to Jerusalem: “I called to the Creator of Heaven and Earth from a tight spot (inside besieged Jerusalem), and He answered me broadly.” Sefat Emet: The Baal Shem Tov [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/25/hallel-rosh-chodesh-tevet-kavanot-i/feed/ 0 http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/24/kavanot-rosh-chodesh-tevet/ http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/24/kavanot-rosh-chodesh-tevet/#comments Sun, 25 Dec 2011 03:35:44 +0000 Rabbi Simcha Weinberg http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/?p=6250 We derive the appellation for God’s Name, used in the Rosh Chodesh Mussaf – Additional Prayer – from the combination of letters and vowels of the following verse: “Declare the greatness of God with me, and let us exalt His Name together.” (Psalms 43:4) I. Individual Divine Providence There are those who believe that God is so [...]]]> http://blog.thefoundationstone.org/2011/12/24/kavanot-rosh-chodesh-tevet/feed/ 0