Iran’s Attack on Israel
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GOOD MORNING! How do you know whether or not you should marry a person? Many people go by their "gut feelings." The problem is - sometimes you don't know whether you have a burning heart ... or heartburn. If you can't answer "yes" to the following 3 questions, don't marry the person you're dating:
A soul mate is really a goal mate - two people who ultimately share the same understanding of life's purpose and therefore share the same priorities, values and goals.
The majority of marriages today end in divorce. Those who answer "yes" to each of these 3 questions have a good chance in succeeding to build a happy marriage. Those who cannot answer "yes" to all 3 questions are likely entering a marriage that will leave them disappointed, unhappy and single again.
However, if you are already married - Here are:
"Rule #2 - Always focus on your own responsibilities and what you can do for your spouse - not on your spouse's responsibilities and what you think your spouse should be doing for you. If you see a tissue on the floor or dirty laundry, pick it up; if you don't, then you are leaving it for your spouse.
"Rule #3 - Appreciate whatever your spouse does and express your appreciation both to your spouse and to the Almighty. Be sincere and frequent in your praise.
"Rule #4 - Be totally committed to your spouse and to the marriage. Your number 1 responsibility is to make it work. Too many people have one foot out the door or fantasize about 'maybe I should have married someone else I dated.' My father told me that he and Mom were awarded a prize on a recent cruise for the longest marriage amongst the passengers (soon to be 65 years!). People asked him, "How did you stay married so many years to the same woman?" My father replied, "When we got married we tied the knot with a square knot, not a slip knot.'"
For more on "Marriage" go to ShabbatShalomAudio.com!
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Torah Portion of the Week
Toldot
Rivka (Rebecca) gives birth to Esav (Esau) and Ya'akov (Jacob). Esav sells the birthright to Ya'akov for a bowl of lentil soup. Yitzchak (Isaac) sojourns in Gerar with Avimelech (Avimelech), king of the Philistines. Esav marries two Hittite women, bringing great pain to his parents (because they weren't of the fold).
Ya'akov impersonates Esav on the counsel of his mother in order to receive the blessing for the oldest son from his blind father, Yitzchak. Esav, angry because of his brother's deception which caused him to lose the firstborn blessings, plans to kill Ya'akov, so Ya'akov flees to his uncle Lavan (Laban) in Padan Aram - on the advice of his parents. They also advise him to marry Lavan's daughter.
Esav understands that his Canaanite wives are displeasing to his parents, so he marries a third wife, Machlath, the daughter of Ishmael.
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Dvar Torah
based on Love Your Neighbor by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
The Torah describes Esau's garments as "the coveted ones" (Genesis 27:15).
Why coveted ones? Esau coveted the regal garments of Nimrod; he killed Nimrod and took the garments. Whenever Esau served his parents, he wore these garments, which were his best clothes. Esau was an evil man. It is despicable to covet, to murder and to steal. Yet, we see that even though he is evil, there is something positive that we can learn from Esau (besides not emulating his immoral ways) ... he strove to serve his parents in the best possible manner.
How great is the mitzvah, the commandment, of honoring one's parents? The story is told of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Ilem who was once told in a dream, "Be happy, for you and a butcher named Nanas will be neighbors in the World-to-Come." Upon awakening, Rabbi Yehoshua was quite shaken. He had devoted all his time to studying torah and fulfilling commandments; how could an ordinary butcher have sufficient merit to be his neighbor in the World-to-Come?
Rabbi Yehoshua traveled with his students from town to town until he found Nanas, the butcher. Overwhelmed that a famous sage came to visit him, Nanas humbly asked Rabbi Yehoshua why he had come. When Rabbi Yehoshua asked him what mitzvot he was performing, Nanas replied, "I have elderly parents who are helpless. I give them food and drink, and wash and dress them daily."
Upon hearing this, Rabbi Yehoshua kissed him on his head and said, "I am truly fortunate to have you as my neighbor in the World-to-Come!" (Seder HaDoros, part 2, p. 196)
CANDLE LIGHTING - November 5
(or go to http://www.aish.com/sh/c/)
Jerusalem 4:11
Guatemala 5:14 - Hong Kong 5:26 - Honolulu 5:35
J'Burg 6:09 - London 4:07 - Los Angeles 5:39
Melbourne 7:41 - Mexico City 5:42 - Miami 6:19
New York 5:31 - Singapore 6:33 - Toronto 5:46
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
One of life's greatest mysteries is
how the boy who wasn't good enough
to marry your daughter can be
the father of the smartest grandchild in the world.
-- Jewish Proverb
| With Deep Appreciation to Robert Steinberg Greenwich, CT
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