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From Hasidic Wisdom by Simcha Raz (Elkins/Elkins) As children, we learn to speak. As elders, we learn silence. And this is the great flaw we have ù to learn to speak before we learn to be quiet. - Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav The sounds of silence are more elevated than the sounds of speech. - Baal Shem Tov FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTOR Dear TT readers, So - this is our choice. "Vehaya ekev tishma'unà veshamar Hashem Elokechah et habrit ve'et hachessedà" - 'Therefore, it will be that if you listen [to these judgments]à the Lord your God will keep the covenant and the chessed that He swore to your fathers.' Or, as stated at the end of the following chapter - "Kagoyim asher Hashem ma'avid mipneichem ken toveidun, ekev lo tishme'un bekol Hashem Elokeichem." - 'As the nations that the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.' "Ekev" - a term used twice to convey cause and effect, reward and punishment. "Ekev" - the 'heel,' that which gives [physical] support to the body and the mind; but also that which, like Ya'akov, can be our springboard to the princely heights of Yisra'el. "Vehaya" - 'And it will be,' perhaps and seemingly by chance. Yet if we but just transpose the letters, we have "Yud," "Keh," "Vav," "Keh," the ineffable Name. And then our choice is further informed by an inner, higher perception that propels us to the state of "Tishme'un" - not just hearing, but listening, and internalizing the judgments. "Vehaya" - Soà let it be. Sincerely yours, Menachem Persoff, director, Israel Center NCSY NEWS Camp Torani Progress Report... A novel approach to camping has begun with NCSY. Our new Torani camp launched itself on August 7th, with 17 boys and 18 girls. Geared for high schoolers, the boys converged in Yeshivat Har Etzion and the girls in Migdal Oz. Kids came from Switzerland and Amsterdam to join us. The idea was to form a cohesive group of motivated teenagers, happy to enjoy themselves, and eager to give to others. The first week in camp was spent energizing their spiritual sides. In addition to shiurim and learning Torah with the madrichim and staff, there were workshops and discussions conducted on current teenage topics. An evening was spent under the desert skies, singing and shmoozing and finally, sleeping to the sounds of desert silence. The group took tiyulim and received chizuk by having a good time. In their second week now, the group took on a different kind of good time. They collected their things and headed out to Kadima, Lod, and Bat Yam. There they settled into apartments and took on the task of running day camps for the local underprivileged kids. In the evenings, they visit the sick and elderly, and lend a hand to whomever needs help. Shabbat will be spent with an open oneg Shabbat for the whole town. In addition to giving to others, they also are benefitting from shiurim given by members of the local Gar'in Torani of each town. We, at NCSY, are excited about this new program and hope that the beginning of something very special has begun. NCSY b'Yisrael ̣ The Israel Center ̣ POB 37015 ̣ 10 Straus St. ̣ Jerusalem 91370 tel. (02) 500-3333 ext. 242 ̣ fax: (02) 500-1655 ̣ ncsy_isr@netvision.net.il IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ISRAELI CONSUMERS The (OU) is the kashrut symbol of the Orthodox Union. Consumers should be aware of the following: IMPORTER LABELS The Orthodox Union Kashruth Division only guarantees the kashrut of a product when the (OU) symbol appears on the original manufacturer's label. If the (OU) symbol appears only on the importer's Hebrew label, the (OU) is unauthorized. We cannot guarantee the kashrut of such items. Please report all such products to the Orthodox Union in New York via our toll free number 1-800-949-0123 (this number works only from Israel) between 4:00pm and midnight Israel Summer Time, Monday thru Thursday, and from 4:00pm until candle lighting time, on Fridays and Erev Chag. At other times, you will be able to leave a message. Or, questions and reports can be faxed to 001-212-613-0752 or emailed to kosherq@ou.org Please include company, brand and product names appearing on the original manufacturer's label, as well as name, address, and phone number on the importer's label. An (OU) on the original manufacturer's label means that the product is certified kosher by the O.U. It is recommended to check the ingredients panel for dairy ingredients. If there are no dairy ingredients, the product is pareve. (OU)D or (OU)DAIRY means CHALAVI. OU certified dairy products are CHALAV STAM in accordance with the t'shuva of Rav Moshe Feinstein zt"l, unless Chalav Yisroel is stated. (OU)P means Kosher for Passover (KASHER L'PESACH) Any questions should be directed to the above numbers Visit the Kashruth pages of the OU's website www@ou.org for kashrut alerts, and other information, and email subscription. "When you will eat and be satisfied, then you shall bless HaShem, your G-d for the good land which He has given you" (D'varim 8:10). The first three brachot of Birkat HaMazon are considered the fulfillment of the Torah's obligation to "bench". The first bracha, HAZAN ET HAKOL, attributed to Moshe Rabeinu, can be seen in the mitzva-pasuk in the words V'ACHALTA V'SAVATA UVEIRACHTA. The second bracha, AL HA'ARETZ V'AL HAMAZON, attributed to Yehoshua, can be seen in the words of the pasuk ...AL HA'ARETZ HATOVA ASHER NATAN LACH. The third bracha, BONEI (b'rachamav) YERUSHALAYIM, jointly attributed to David HaMelech and Shlomo HaMelech, does not have specific words in the pasuk indicating it. However, T'hilim (137:6), "May my tongue cleave to my palate if I do not remember, if I do not raise Jerusalem above my greatest joy" will do nicely as a pasuk for the third bracha. Both p'sukim, V'ACHALTA V'SAVATA and TIDBAK L'SHONI, have the same G'matriya (3824). ET HASHEM ELOKECHA TIRA. HaShem, our G-d, we shall revere. ET comes to add. Also Talmidei Chachamim. We should revere them too. And, adds Rabbi Aharon of Karlin, they too must revere G-d. Australia usually switches to daylight savings time at the end of October. This year, they are switching at the end of August... to accommodate the Olympics. How about that!? JTYLTK [The Ekev Homepage]
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