Monday, March 14, 2011

An E-mail from Tsfat


We recently received this message from Rabbi Yaakov Klein, Executive Director of the Breslov Institutions in Tsfat, Israel.

I hope this e-mail finds you happy and healthy and a big yasher koach for your support throughout the years.

What can I say? Times are tough—I'm told that people have "charity fatigue." This one and that one lost a bundle in the market. Reuven had his hours cut, Shimon took early retirement. People are worried, "Maybe I'm next." "I need to save."

Ah… but Rashi teaches us that the best way to preserve our money is to make sure that you give tzedakah, since tzedakah actually guards our money (Ketubot 66b).

And we can all agree that Hashem is a better protector than the FDIC. Wikipedia states, "Since the start of FDIC insurance on January 1, 1934, no depositor has lost any insured funds as a result of a failure.” Hashem's Torah has many years on the FDIC (3247 to be exact) and as believing Jews, we know the power of tzedakah. Especially tzedakah to aniyim hagunim. Who is more deserving than the innocent schoolchildren of Eretz Yisrael?

As you know, I have dedicated my life to building the Torah and Chesed institutions of Nachal Novea Tsfat. Especially close to my heart is the Hot Meals program at the Talmud Torah. We provide a hot meal every single day to close to 500 children. For many, this meal is their only hot meal of the day. Check out our new Hot Meals movie.

Please forward the movie link to your family and friends. For your convenience, I've included a sample e-mail for you to personalize and forward on (see below).

With blessings for continued prosperity and happiness,

Rabbi Yaakov Klein

P.S. If you have any questions please feel free to call me at 718-435-0087or e-mail me at RabbiKlein@nachalnovea.com

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Rav Mottel Zilber Purim Shiur


Received from Dovid Freidman -- thanks!

Here is the link if you would like to listen or download this shiur in English on Purim (as well as previous shiurim) given by Rav Mottel Zilber, the Stutchiner Rebbe of 54th St in Borough Park, shlita. The talk was given last Monday night at Congregation Mayan Yisrael in Flatbush.