Mar 27, 2022

Raize Guttman 03-27-22 (24 Adar II 5782)

Shabbos Rosh Chodesh is this shabbos.

4 steps to Cheirut (freedom): 

Parsha Shekalim – Everyone had to donate a ½ shekel – the concept of giving – 1st step in becoming free is when you stop thinking about yourself and focus on others. – when you only think about yourself, you are a slave to yourself.

Parsha Zachor – getting rid of Amalek – You can’t be free when you are bogged down with all the doubts, fears, anxieties trying to take us away from Hashem.

Parsha Parah – Red Heifer – when a person is unpure, the ashes are sprinkled on him. Walking toward purity.  Get involved in purity and mitzvot.  In Tehillim 34:15, ס֣וּר מֵ֭רָע וַעֲשֵׂה־ט֑וֹב Sor mei’rah – get away from bad, and v’aseih tov – and move toward the good.  The Gemara says that a person who comes to purify himself, gets help from above.  Do what you can and ask Hashem for help.

Parsha Ha Chodesh – One of the greatest gifts we received is the power of renewal, and the ability to start again. The first mitzvah the Jewish people got while still in Mitzrayim.  We needed this koach of renewal before we left, as we were on the 49th level of impurity.  Hashem said, " no you are not slaves, you are a great nation."


Mar 20, 2022

Raize Guttman 03-20-22 (17 Adar II 5782)

Today is the Levaya of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky zt"l

From a young age, Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt"l was known as an iluy, (a prodigy) in the Torah world, and as he grew, so did his outstanding capabilities in leadership of Klal Yisrael. He was the son of the Steipler Gaon and nephew of the Chazon Ish.

In 17 days will be Rosh Hashanah Nissan.  It is said that the geulah (future redemption) will come in Nissan.  We must prepare ourselves spiritually.



To watch the levaya of Rav Chaim click here:https://www.torahanytime.com/#/post?id=40951

Our learning today is dedicated to our dear Chaya Rivka bat Malka.  May she have a refuah shalemah! 💜

Mar 13, 2022

Raize Guttman 03-13-22 (10 Adar II 5782)

 Purim


Our learning today is dedicated to our dear Chaya Rivka bat Malka.  May she have a refuah shalemah!

Mar 12, 2022

Raize Guttman 03-06-22 (03 Adar II 5782)

 Rosh Chodesh Adar II

In Adar we read about the Mishkan in all the parashiyot. The Mishkan is the dwelling place for Hashem, in our hearts.   We have to make the effort to feel joyous and be in tune to the spiritual surroundings.  We need to go deeper and live with our neshama.

Parsha Zachor is read this next Shabbos in Shul, we get rid of Amalek.  We remove all doubt so we can feel Hashem with every fiber of our being.  Everything that happens  in life is Hashgacha Pratis.


Raize Guttman 02-27-22 (26 Adar I 5782)

 Parsha Vayetzei - Chapter 31 - Verse 3-4

For the first time Hashem talks to Yaakov, and tells him to return to his birthplace and that he will be with him. How do we get to have the Shechinah with us? By being righteous, like Sarah; by being in eretz Yisrael (Midrash); by dedicating oneself to others. Bring Hashem into your life.   

Yaakov tells his wife he worked honestly. The Shulchan Aruch says to work honestly and diligently. You need your hishtadlus, but your parnassa comes from Hashem.


Raize Guttman 02-20-22 (19 Adar I 5782)

Parsha Vayetzei - Chapter 31 - Verses 1-2

Lavan’s sons see Yaakov’s sudden and great wealth and assume he stole it from Lavan. They do not understand that Hashem has a plan.  There is more to the world than what you can see. Yaakov sees Lavan look at him with huge anger and realizes it’s really time to go.  The meaning of this is that you can destroy someone with a look, or you can elevate someone’s spirits or reassure them with a look. Panim (face) also means (inside) in Hebrew. For example, one can radiate on one’s face the beauty that lies on the inside, or one can show the distain and other negative feeling that’s on the inside.


Raize Guttman 02-13-22 (12 Adar I 5782)

 Parsha Vayetzei - Chapter 30 - Verses 37-43

The Midrash tells us that the Torah goes into explicit detail in this story because every piece has deeper meaning.  Yaakov is not just peeling sticks.  The fact that Yaakov took these 2 trees was about bringing tremendous unity in the world, which will come when Moshiach ben Yosef appears.

When Yosef was born, the power of Moshiach ben Yosef came into the world.  And Yaakov understood this.   His job is to unite the Jewish people and bring a tremendous achdus (unification) into the world.  But before that there has to be unity in the world between the forces of good and evil and Yaakov decided that when Yosef was born he knew that was the time to start, that is why he took the Luz tree (forces of good), and Arnon tree (forces of evil) to do what he did.