bs"d
http://www.shemayisrael.com/orgs/key/shlokey.htm
http://artscroll.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/prayer.pdf
http://artscroll.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/prayer.pdf
Because Am Yisroel and Hashem is One, if any part of Am Yisroel is unhealthy (in a spiritual way because of sin), by extension the sin affects all of us. Like a part of the body that is sick (like a finger), it affects the person. What will we accomplish if we amputate the diseased limb. We will lose the use of that limb.
We of course can convince ourselves that the limb isn't all that important since after all we have Baruch Hashem so many healthy limbs and we should focus only on the healthy limbs that we have.
Or.... If we internalize the concept of Areivus (Being a guarantor for our fellow Jew) we understand that once the Israelites entered Eretz Yisroel, they were Areivim, guarantors of their fellow Jew and accountable. A sin of a fellow Jew affected the Klal, the community, and the Klal is punished collectively for the sin of the Yachid, the individual.
So how can we compensate for the loss of a limb that is not working properly?
Areivim as we mentioned above means guarantor. Why do we need guarantors? If someone is negligent and doesn't pay back that which he owes, others, his guarantors, then are responsible to pay back the loan. That is the obligation of the Areiv, the guarantor.
If a Jew sins, it some way takes away from the merit of the whole. If a Jew does a Mitzvah, it adds to the merit of the whole. In the case where an individual sins, if others understand that they are Areivim, guarantor, this means they need to better their own performance of the Mitzva in order to pay off the negative balance of their brother who for whatever reason came short in doing his/her fair share. So therefore, one who thinks of himself as an Areiv can for example, make a deal with Hashem and say
Or.... If we internalize the concept of Areivus (Being a guarantor for our fellow Jew) we understand that once the Israelites entered Eretz Yisroel, they were Areivim, guarantors of their fellow Jew and accountable. A sin of a fellow Jew affected the Klal, the community, and the Klal is punished collectively for the sin of the Yachid, the individual.
So how can we compensate for the loss of a limb that is not working properly?
Areivim as we mentioned above means guarantor. Why do we need guarantors? If someone is negligent and doesn't pay back that which he owes, others, his guarantors, then are responsible to pay back the loan. That is the obligation of the Areiv, the guarantor.
If a Jew sins, it some way takes away from the merit of the whole. If a Jew does a Mitzvah, it adds to the merit of the whole. In the case where an individual sins, if others understand that they are Areivim, guarantor, this means they need to better their own performance of the Mitzva in order to pay off the negative balance of their brother who for whatever reason came short in doing his/her fair share. So therefore, one who thinks of himself as an Areiv can for example, make a deal with Hashem and say
"Usually Hashem, I am not so careful with putting on Tefillin with the utmost Kavana, concentration. Hashem, today I am putting on Tefillin and saying each and every word in the Bracha very carefully and will read and concentrate on the reading of each and every Parsha, Torah portion, that is written in the Tefillin and I have in mind it is a zechus, a merit, for Ploni ben Almoni, my brother, my friend or my son who unfortunately for whatever reasons is not putting Tefillin and Hashem, I want you to please put the extra merit of my efforts into his bank account, to settle the books so to speak, so he is in the clear."
Know that the next time the Areiv, the guarantor, meets Ploni, he will have love in his heart. He will not think of Ploni as someone who is taking him away from Torah and Mitzvoth but someone who is bringing him closer to Hashem, more than any other Rebbe he had. The love of the Areiv's heart will flow and he will pray and ask Hashem to please have Rachmanus, have mercy on Ploni because he is the reason the Areiv has become more ehrlich, a better and more sincere Jew. Those tears of love for one's brother will reach the Kisei Hakovod, G-d's throne up in Heaven, who will then reevaluate the situation.
Know that the next time the Areiv, the guarantor, meets Ploni, he will have love in his heart. He will not think of Ploni as someone who is taking him away from Torah and Mitzvoth but someone who is bringing him closer to Hashem, more than any other Rebbe he had. The love of the Areiv's heart will flow and he will pray and ask Hashem to please have Rachmanus, have mercy on Ploni because he is the reason the Areiv has become more ehrlich, a better and more sincere Jew. Those tears of love for one's brother will reach the Kisei Hakovod, G-d's throne up in Heaven, who will then reevaluate the situation.
True Ploni sinned and deserved the consequences. Yet, the decree is now being reevaluated because Ploni is being Mezakeh, causing merit for others. Ploni on his own, is probably incapable of stopping himself from sinning. However, if he is helped from Above in Heavenly Court, anything is possible. Hashem can turn his zedonos, his purposeful sins, to zechuyos, merits, via his brothers who are depositing into his bank account. Imagine if there are many Guarantors and Ploni's bank account keeps earning money. It's a win win situation for all!
This we daven, pray, will surely be the catalyst for Hashem to perhaps take away the stumbling blocks that is stopping Ploni from keeping Torah and Mitzvoth and give him understanding of why his actions are wrong and instill a fear of Hashem and a love and desire to do what is right and good in the eyes of Hashem and surely, collectively, we become a healthier and stronger whole. In fact we never even thought that we had been weak but now that we are so much stronger we can thank Ploni for helping us become stronger than we ever thought possible.
This we daven, pray, will surely be the catalyst for Hashem to perhaps take away the stumbling blocks that is stopping Ploni from keeping Torah and Mitzvoth and give him understanding of why his actions are wrong and instill a fear of Hashem and a love and desire to do what is right and good in the eyes of Hashem and surely, collectively, we become a healthier and stronger whole. In fact we never even thought that we had been weak but now that we are so much stronger we can thank Ploni for helping us become stronger than we ever thought possible.
Written on and in honor of Yom Chevron the 29th day of Iyar when Chevron was liberated in the 1967 the Six Day War. May Hashem help us to join all as One in order to make His Name Great!
Ve`haya Hashem lemelech al kol ha`aretz, bayom hahu yihyeh Hashem echad u`shemo echad
On that day, Hashem will be King of all the land; on that day Hashem will be One and His Name will be One.
Zechariah (14:9)
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Sincerely,
Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch. May their memories serve as a blessing.
Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com
Sincerely,
Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch. May their memories serve as a blessing.
Most of these emails are posted on Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com
Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog.
