🎶 Your Requests! MUSICAL SESSION 2 for WhatsApp

Boruch Hashem. I hope you can enjoy this video in place of an episode of The Late Parsha Show. It's some clips of my talented friend Aviro and I jamming in Yeshiva, covering different great songs you requested: Yogaati -Eli Marcus, Yesimcha -Avraham Fried, Nigun Hishtatchus, and Ani Maamin -Abie Rotenberg Since this is the 2nd week in a row with no TLPS episode, if you're interested in reading, I would like to share a quick holy word. (Though it's really just a practical lesson:) There's so much to be said about both Tazria and metzora. So many ways to go about the concept of Tzaaras. From the bit I've learned, the Rebbe seems to favor the explanations that show tzaraas in the most positive light, as A direct blessing and an opportunity for even more from Hashem. I actually did make a video last week explaining this, but I didn't release it as after watching the final edit, I felt I didn't do it justice. (Whether or not chassidus needs my fat ego getting in the way of it's dissemination is something I'll let my friends scream at me for. ;) ) But I'd really like to share the practical part. And it's twofold. The whole "Rechilus" (gossip), "Lashon Hara" (speaking badly about someone), and "Motzi Shem Ra" (speaking untruths that are damaging to someone) scene is definitely one that we can start to clean up in our own individual lives. I'd go on, but who am I to preach? So, just sayin. To copy chabad.org: The laws of lashon hara are too lengthy to include in one article. In fact, Rabbi Israel Meir Hakohen of Radin wrote an entire book about these laws. The book is called Chafetz Chaim (which caused the author to be known as the “Chafetz Chaim”) too. The name is inspired by the verse in Psalms, “Whoever of you desires life (chafetz chaim) . . . guard your tongue from evil . . ." Nevertheless, here is a brief overview of some of the laws, mostly gleaned from Chafetz Chaim: Lashon hara literally means “bad talk.” This means that it is forbidden to speak negatively about someone else, even if it is true. It is also forbidden to repeat anything about another, even if it is not a negative thing. This is called rechilut. It is also forbidden to listen to lashon hara. One should either reprimand the speaker, or, if that is not possible, one should extricate oneself from that situation. Even if one has already heard the lashon hara, it is forbidden to believe it. On the contrary, one should always judge one’s fellow favorably. If one has already heard the Lashon Hara, it is forbidden to believe it. Nevertheless, one may suspect that the lashon hara is true, and take the necessary precautions to protect oneself. It is forbidden to even make a motion that is derogatory towards someone. One may not even retell a negative event without using names, if the listeners might be able to figure out who is being spoken of. In certain circumstances, such as to protect someone from harm, it is permissible or even obligatory to share negative information. As there are many details to this law, one should consult a competent rabbi to learn what may be shared in any particular situation. -End chabad.org copy. I have personally cracked down much harder on myself in this area and I know, it ain't easy to catch the tongue, but it's so very worth it. To think a second before answering someone's well intended question that might lead to talk about someone else, and definitely in general to think twice before I speak, I'm loving it. (Not to mention doing G d's will.) And lesson 2 is that we must realize and/or remember that G d is good. The epitome of goodness. Anything we may be experiencing that doesn't seem good is really, really, good. Now, without any prior inspiration or explantion, both these lessons by themselves may sound cheesy and quite generic. But I'm just trying to get the ego out of the way, and - since I didn't manage to create a video-, deliver the really practical bottom line stuff. Bottom line: Get Moshiach mode on. Increase in Limud haTorah, Ahavas Yisroel, and Simcha -which breaks boundaries- and it will break down any concealment of Hashem's goodness and show us the treasures that we may have never seen within it all. (Much like the home with Tzaaras and the treasure within ... ;) Eli.