Pasuk (4:25) False images: ------------ "When you will give birth to children and grandchildren and you will have been long in the land, you will grow corrupt and make a carved image of anything, and you will do evil in the eyes of Hashem your God, to anger him." We see from this Pasuk, what can bring about ones corruption in life. One's being "long in the land", and used to the habitual performance of the Mitzvos, can bring about such great sins, such as worshipping idols. Rav Mordechai Gifter quotes the Rabbienu Yonah (Sefer Shaarei Teshuva), who quotes a Pasuk from Yeshaya (1:28) that, "The willful sinners and transgressors will be broken, but those who forsake Hashem, will cease to exist". A person who sins and realizes his wrongdoing, is at least like a broken vessel, with some pieces remaining. While those who do Mitzvos by routine, they will cease to exist, they will not earn a portion in the World to come (Olam Haba). One may ask, why is someone who does the Mitzvos out of routine worse off than someone who is a willful sinner? The major difference between the two, is that the willful sinner knows that he is doing wrong, but he feels that he is unable to conquer his strong desires. However, if he happens to gain some inner strength and tries to correct the wrong, he may return to Hashem. While the one who performs the Mitzvos out of routine, he doesn't think about what he is doing, and has a good chance to loose what he now has in the future, and he may not even realize his great loss. Vacation time: ------------- Vacation time can be used for positive things. One can use this time to make a stop in one's daily work, which at times may bring one to act routinely, without thinking of where he is heading. Let us use this time to think where we are heading, and if we are utilizing our inner strength the way we are supposed to, and let us not wake up when it is already too late. Become old: ---------- Rav Pliskin asks, why does "begetting children and grandchildren", lead to corruption? What is the connection in the Pasuk? He explains that the word "Vehnoshantem" (and you became old), that one is already now used to what he has, and he no longer appreciates it. When one begins to take for granted what he has, and no longer feels the pleasure which he used to feel, one starts to be blinded from the good which Hashem has granted him. People in life, usually enjoy new things, a new house a new car, yet after a while, this feeling of joy to what Hashem has granted him, starts to fade. Let us take time in our life, to stop and look back for what we should have gratitude to Hashem, for the good which he has blessed us with. Pre-Tisha B'Av Thoughts: ----------------------- Rabbi Pesach J. Krohn writes (Echoes of the Maggid pg 272), that there is a Gemarah in Yoma (9:b) which teaches us the reason for the destruction of Second Beis Hamikdash (Temple). Chazal explain the reason behind the destruction, that it was due to "Sinaas Chinam"(baseless hatred). The word "Sina" (hatred) does not only refer to the regular meaning of hatred, rather it can also cause a different form of "Sina". It can also be the type that one causes another to "feel hated", by showing that one shows favoritism to another. At times we may ignore other people or do other actions, to make them feel not wanted. This is also a form of hatred, for even though we may not hate the person, we make them feel hated. On this Tisha B'Av, let us all take it upon ourselves to improve the way we treat and act with others. By one acting in a way which would make another feel hated, can prevent the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdash. Halacha: ------- In this week's Parsha we are commanded to keep the Shabbos. Amongst other laws of the Shabbat, there is the law of Muktza. I will discuss one aspect of Muktza. Moving a fan on Shabbos: ----------------------- When dealing with an electrical lamp, one is forbidden to move it on Shabbos. A lamp which was lit at the "entrance of the Shabbos" (Bein Ha Shmashos), is considered like a "lit candle", that the whole body of the lamp becomes a "base to the flame" (in our case - the electrical current), and it is forbidden to move it even if one needs its place or it itself(Gufo U M'komo), and even after it extinguished. Since it has no practical function on Shabbos, it may not be moved for any purpose. However, when dealing with a fan, where the electrical wires do not heat up (like in the case of a lamp), we do not say that it becomes a "base to the flame" (electrical current), and one is allowed to move the fan, if one needs the place or the fan (he wants it to blow on him). If one wants to move the fan so it shouldn't get damaged or so it shouldn't get stolen, he should not move the fan in this case. One still must be very careful that the fan does not get unplugged, and that the buttons don't get pressed. One must also be careful that he doesn't block the front of the fan, and thus blocking the airflow, for this may make the fan work extra hard. (There are those who prohibit, the movement of the fan, if you don't want it to blow towards you.) (Taken from the Sefer - Piskei Teshuva page 66)