Rabbi Seraya Deblitzky’s Fear of the SHULCHAN ARUCH

My very favorite Jewish stories are those which show Yir’as Ha’onesh. Or better yet, a specific form thereof: being awake and aware of the halachic import of unnoticed details. As these are about as common as moon rocks on planet earth, I try to reproduce them whenever possible.

Here is such a beautiful story about Rabbi Seraya Deblitzky, a man after my own heart:

The rabbi, accompanied by a relative, visited a Jewish childhood friend who was no longer Torah observant. As they departed, Rabbi Deblitzky’s company tried to close the apartment door after them. Whereupon, the rabbi lunged onto the breach and prevented the door closing with a foot in the door.

When asked why, the rabbi explained their host had a female Philippino nurse, and closing the door all the way would have meant placing the man into a Yichud situation. The facts of the man’s flagrant non-observance, and old age were wholly irrelevant.

Judaism is about Fear of Heaven. Fear of Heaven is all about fear of violating halacha. Therefore, the ultimate Jewish mindset is being observant (and therefore “observant”) of the smallest “מצוה קלה”. And, yes, the title is meant to reference that horrible phrase by the Kotzker Rebbe…

These are the kind of stories which warm my heart and make me so jealous.

(Found in Ikvesa Demeshicha #350)

Want Mashiach NOW? Restore the Davidic Monarchy Already!

Since Mashiach must anyway start out as king, per Rambam Hilchos Melachim 11:4:

ואם יעמוד מלך מבית דוד הוגה בתורה ועוסק במצות כדוד אביו כפי תורה שבכתב ושבעל פה ויכוף כל ישראל לילך בה ולחזק בדקה וילחם מלחמות ה’ הרי זה בחזקת שהוא משיח אם עשה והצליח ובנה מקדש במקומו וקבץ נדחי ישראל הרי זה משיח בודאי ויתקן את העולם כולו לעבוד את ה’ ביחד שנאמר כי אז אהפוך אל עמים שפה ברורה לקרוא כולם בשם ה’ ולעבדו שכם אחד.

And while you’re at it, please help restore the Beis Hamikdash, true-to-life Jewish prophecy, and the real Sanhedrin (as the framework of all this) and more.

Why the ‘Little Red Hen’ Stopped Baking Bread

The Modern Little Red Hen

Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat. She called her neighbors and said, “If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat.  Who will help me plant it?”

“Not I,” said the cow.

“Not I,” said the duck.

“Not I,” said the pig.

“Not I,” said the goose.

“Then I will,” said the little red hen. And she did. The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain.  “Who will help me reap my wheat?” asked the little red hen.

“Not I,” said the duck.

“Out of my classification,” said the pig.

“I’d lose my seniority,” said the cow.

“I’d lose my unemployment compensation,” said the goose.

“Then I will,” said the little red hen, and she did.

At last, it came time to bake the bread. “Who will help me bake the bread?” asked the little red hen.

“That would be overtime for me,” said the cow.

“I’d lose my welfare benefits,” said the duck.

“I’m a dropout and never learned how,” said the pig.

“If I’m to be the only helper, that’s discrimination,” said the goose.

“Then I will,” said the little red hen.

She baked five loaves and held them up for her neighbors to see.  They wanted some and, in fact, demanded a share. But the little red hen said, “No, I can eat the five loaves.”

“Excess profits!” cried the cow.

“Capitalist leech!” screamed the duck.

“I demand equal rights!” yelled the goose.

And the pig just grunted. And they painted “unfair” picket signs and marched around and around the little red hen, shouting obscenities.

When the government agent came, he said to the little red hen, “You must not be greedy.”

“But I earned the bread,” said the little red hen.

“Exactly,” said the agent. “That is the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants.

But under our modern government regulations, the productive workers must divide their product with the idle.”

And they lived happily ever after, including the little red hen, who smiled and clucked, “I am grateful. I am grateful.”

But her neighbors wondered why she never again baked any more bread.

Found here.