Cup of Joe today, ladies. 12:45 CDT. We'll discuss the upcoming book study which begins on the 24th.
@jul, @judy-howard ,@bay, @rivkah-holland ,@kristi,@bet,@eliy

book recommendation.

https://www.korenpub.com/maggid_en_usd/torah-lights-set.html?utm_source=Koren+Publishers+English+List&utm_campaign=ea94c7b5fe-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_10_15_10_48_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_105fb00768-ea94c7b5fe-127119513&mc_cid=ea94c7b5fe&mc_eid=42ef49ba47

This is just too excellent.

There was a very moving story this week, about one of the competitors in the Invictus Games. He was a former mine specialist in the Royal Navy, who had suffered post-traumatic stress disorder. He was playing a match of wheelchair doubles tennis when he heard the sound of a helicopter overhead, and, traumatized, he froze. Immediately, his team mate went over to him, held him, spoke to him and got him to sing the song Let It Go, from the movie Frozen. And slowly he unfroze and together they went on to win the match.

It was a poignant reminder of a fundamental truth, that sometimes, alongside medical treatment, we need the touch of another to heal our pain.

Lately I’ve been thinking of how our era will be seen in retrospect. Every age worships something. Often it’s religion, but in the not so distant past it’s also been the nation, or the race, or the political ideology. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve concluded that what we worship today is the self. We seek self-esteem, self-respect, self-expression, and self-help. And it’s hugely liberating. But every form of worship has its downsides: in this case, anxiety, loneliness and depression. And it isn’t lifted by having lots of friends on smartphones and social media. It needs being together face to face.

The Talmud tells the story of a rabbi who was a faith healer. All he had to do was lay his hands on someone and they were cured. Then he fell ill and called for a friend to come and heal him. Why couldn’t he cure himself, asks the Talmud. And answers: because a prisoner cannot release themselves from prison. Sometimes self-help isn’t enough. It needs the touch or the word of an other.

That’s why community is so important. It’s where we meet face to face and give each other strength. It’s where people know who we are, and miss us when we’re not there. Community is society with a human face. It’s the redemption of our solitude.

Which is another reason to salute the Invictus Games and Prince Harry who created them. As the unfrozen tennis player said: the games gave him back his purpose and his pride. “I feel,” he said, “part of a team again, like I belong.”

God says about us in the Bible: “it’s not good to be alone.” A good society is a community of communities. Not just an array of selves.

Shabbat shalom,

Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom! Before we go "tech-less", I wanted to remind everyone of some excellent classes coming up this week:
Sunday evening at 6pm CST: 613 Mitzvoth with Bayli leading
Tuesday evening at 6pm CST: Kings & Prophets with Clear leading
Tuesday morning at 11:30am CST: Hebrew 1. Be ready to discuss what you've been studying and with questions for me about Lesson 13.
Tuesday afternoon at 2pm CST: Hebrew 2 Lesson 24 sentences?
Wednesday afternoon at 12:45pm CST: Cup of Joe with Jo
Thursday morning and afternoon: repeats of Hebrew classes with new assignments.
Of course, all of Rabbi's classes are still available as well as Sima's class on Monday at 12:30CST.
Lots of things available. Don't miss out!!!
Shabbat Shalom

613 Mitzvoth class tonight with Bayli. We're still discussing the "positive" commands. Tonight we will address #181 the Axed Heifer; #182, 225 Establishing Six Cities of Refuge/Law of Manslaughter; #183 Assigning Cities to the Levites; and #184 Removing Sources of Danger from our Habitations.
We read the entries, discuss them, read what Rabbi has written about them on his blog and discuss some more.
Join us, please.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=43.56736190000004&lon=-86.04567229999998#.W-R2ZvZFyUk

אַ֥שְֽׁרֵי־הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר ׀ לֹ֥א הָלַךְ֮ בַּעֲצַ֪ת רְשָׁ֫עִ֥ים וּבְדֶ֣רֶךְ חַ֭טָּאִים לֹ֥א עָמָ֑ד וּבְמוֹשַׁ֥ב לֵ֝צִ֗ים לֹ֣א יָשָֽׁב׃
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scorners.

2

כִּ֤י אִ֥ם בְּתוֹרַ֥ת יְהוָ֗ה חֶ֫פְצ֥וֹ וּֽבְתוֹרָת֥וֹ יֶהְגֶּ֗ה יוֹמָ֥ם וָלָֽיְלָה׃
But his delight is in the Tora of the Lord; and in his Tora he meditates day and night.

3

וְֽהָיָ֗ה כְּעֵץ֮ שָׁת֪וּל עַֽל־פַּלְגֵ֫י מָ֥יִם אֲשֶׁ֤ר פִּרְי֨וֹ ׀ יִתֵּ֬ן בְּעִתּ֗וֹ וְעָלֵ֥הוּ לֹֽא־יִבּ֑וֹל וְכֹ֖ל אֲשֶׁר־יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יַצְלִֽיחַ׃
And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not wither; and in whatever he does he shall prosper.

4

לֹא־כֵ֥ן הָרְשָׁעִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־כַּ֝מֹּ֗ץ אֲ‍ֽשֶׁר־תִּדְּפֶ֥נּוּ רֽוּחַ׃
Not so the wicked: but they are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5

עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ לֹא־יָקֻ֣מוּ רְ֭שָׁעִים בַּמִּשְׁפָּ֑ט וְ֝חַטָּאִ֗ים בַּעֲדַ֥ת צַדִּיקִֽים׃
Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6

כִּֽי־יוֹדֵ֣עַ יְ֭הוָה דֶּ֣רֶךְ צַדִּיקִ֑ים וְדֶ֖רֶךְ רְשָׁעִ֣ים תֹּאבֵֽד׃
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the wicked shall perish.

Sefer HaMidot - Rebbe Nachman

Anger


1. One who guards himself from anger, those who hate him have no dominion over him.

2. Also, he will dwell in his house, and others will not lodge in his place.

3. Through anger, one is humiliated.

4. Do not lose your temper and you will not sin.

5. Anyone who becomes angry; his wisdom and prophetic ability departs. And even if greatness has been decreed for him in Heaven, he is brought down from his greatness.

6. The Holy One Blessed be He loves one who does not become angry and one who does not harbor resentment.

7. A hot-tempered person's life is not worth living.

8. Also, all sorts of hell reign over (or afflict) him.

9. And is overcome with hemorrhoids (in the shape of figs).

10. The Divine Presence is not important to him.

11. And he forgets his learning.

12. And increases stupidity.

13. And it is certain that his sins are more than his merits.

14. Anger after eating is very damaging (t.n. See also #37).

15. The anger of a woman destroys the house.

16. Through anger one's flesh becomes emaciated.

17. It is conducive for [avoiding (or possibly: calming)] anger, to eat bread in the morning (t.n. See also #37).

18. One who does not complain about people will be esteemed in peoples' eyes.

19. Through falsehood comes anger (t.n. See also #21).

20. One with a bad temper should make a pledge and pay it immediately. Through this the anger will be annulled from him.

21. One who gazes at the face of a liar comes to anger (t.n. See also #19).

22. Through jealousy one comes to anger.

23. Through anger one incites upon oneself harsh judgments.

24. Through anger one sires foolish children.

25. Through anger, one's lifespan is shortened.

26. It is conducive to (dispelling or preventing) anger, that you lower the haughty.

27. When you don't have anger, through this you will be able, with your gaze, to humble the arrogant.

28. One who has a bad temper, it is certain that he loves honor, and even all the commandments (good deeds) he does, he only does for honor.

29. One who is angry at an honorable pauper, it is as if he taunted G-d.

30. Also, he becomes mute.

31. And becomes a leper.

32. One who breaks the vice of anger will merit a good name.

33. Sometimes anger comes through (bearing) a heavy burden.

34. Through anger comes depression.

35. Anger comes through hisbodidus (seclusion) not carried out appropriately.

36. Through choler, there is no peace.

37. Through eating, anger departs (t.n. See also #14 & #17).

38. Guard yourself from anger on a day in which you had a salvation.

39. Through (giving) charity, anger is annulled.

40. Through anger, a woman has difficulty in childbirth (or having children).

41. Anger frightens a person.

42. Anger damages eyesight