This email dedicated by:
Mr. Eric Bakke
In honor of Rabbi Yakov Lazaros of Congregation
Bais Chabad of Framingham
Iyar 20, 5771 · May 24, 2011
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Editor's Note:
Self-esteem.
It's a basic human need, vital for self-development. It provides us
with a sense of competence and enables us to successfully deal with the
challenges of our lives.
But what is self-esteem? And how can we acquire a healthy sense of
self, independent of the values and judgments of those around us?
In this week's Torah portion, G‑d commands Moses and Aaron to count
all the members of the Jewish people who go out to war. From the
greatest to the lowliest, each individual is counted as no more, and no
less, than one.
At some point in our lives, we may need to "wage war"—to battle
against prevalent norms, or to fight to preserve our values. To stand
tall in the face of overwhelming opposition, we need to foster within
ourselves a sense of worth not founded on the opinions of others.
True inner confidence is born of the knowledge that we "count," that
we are important, and that we have a unique and indispensable
contribution to make in this world. G‑d, who is the essence of goodness,
created us, and therefore we too have an inherent goodness.
This week, G‑d teaches us a fundamental lesson—you count and matter to Me!
Chana Weisberg,
on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team |
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| To Warm Your Heart |
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I felt physically enveloped in holiness as I watched each
resident enter the room and step into a private place where soul meets
Creator . . .
By Miriam Duskis
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After waiting for what seems like an eternity, his wife places a
plate before him. He takes a look, and all he sees is a hard-boiled egg
and a potato!
By Yossy Gordon
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No task was beneath this great Torah scholar as he created a blazing fire in the fireplace, unpacked the
food from the sack and lovingly fed the children . . .
By Shula Bryski
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For the family of four, being Jewish meant nothing but an endless stream of discrimination and anti-Semitism.
By Jessica Naiman
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From their lookout, the Jews trembled in fear that the cruel
Cossacks would decide to search the hills, and their hiding places would
be discovered . . .
By Yerachmiel Tilles
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| Let's Get Practical |
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Getting your head out of the street, and the street out of your head.
By Tzvi Freeman
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Bonfires, Jewish Unity parades, bows and arrows and more. Find
out what is traditionally done on Lag BaOmer and why . . .
By Naftali Silberberg
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We don’t usually think of the kitchen as a holy space. Yet
eating, when done mindfully, is a holy act which renders all your
cooking utensils divine instruments . . .
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I believe we are instructed not to kneel when we worship. Is this correct? If so, what is this instruction about?
By Baruch S. Davidson
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We are commanded to “redeem” firstborn sons after they reach 30
days of age. What is the significance of this rite, and how is it done?
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| Looking Forward |
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It’s my favorite oxymoron: If one indeed lives in the future, it’s not the future anymore, is it? And if one only thinks he’s living in the future, then he's not really living there, is he?
By Yanki Tauber
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Where have all the Jews gone? At 1.8 children per Jewish family, we aren’t even replacing ourselves.
By Yossy Goldman
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According to the Mishnah, “Ten things were created at twilight.” What is twilight, and what is its significance?
Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe
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| Video |
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How to tackle times of emotional or spiritual desolation.
By Chana Weisberg
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Itche and Jono ride through the desert on goats. Why? Watch the video and find out . . .
Dovid Taub & Jonathan Goorvich
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The Torah was given to the Jewish people in the Sinai desert.
Why did G‑d choose such a desolate place to reveal this most precious
gift?
By Nissan Dovid Dubov
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| For Your Shabbat Table |
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Numbers in the Book of Numbers: 4 camps, 12 tribes, 273 surplus
firstborn, 22,300 Levites, 603,550 Israelites—each of whom count . . .
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To us on earth, the stars seem tiny and insignificant. Yet each is a powerful and unique force.
By Tali Loewenthal
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There are times when we must wage an external battle, and there
are times when we must safeguard our internal treasures . . .
By Chana Weisberg
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A census is a “head-count.” The greatest of the great and the
smallest of the small all count as one person, no more, no less.
By Mordechai Wollenberg
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It may be tempting to claim a deferment from duty, but the
truth is that when fighting G‑d’s fight, everyone is a professional
soldier.
By Elisha Greenbaum
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Why the detailed counts of the Israelites? Who cares?
By Menachem Posner
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