2) Part 2/3- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjY4IV7PyO4
3) Part 3/3- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLcofr4zdjY
Recovery Is Always Possible
If one is ill, the Almighty can always heal him. (Chovos Halvovos 4:4)
If a person who is seriously ill gives up hope of being cured, this will weaken him even more. If, however, he remains optimistic that through the Almighty's will there is always the possibility of becoming well, this will benefit him both spiritually and physically.
What is also possible to recover is the films that inspired the Jews to come home to the land of Israel. After watching these films after Jew will have a sense of pride in his country, hopefully that will inspire us to have a government that believes in the Land of Israel
Love Yehuda Lave
It starts slow but has great pictures from 1935 of our history
The Spielberg Jewish Film Archive - Jerusalem of Light
This one says it is the first film made in Israel in 1911
-With the approach of Elul, the Jewish month of preparation leading up to Rosh Hashanah, the call for self-improvement is in the air. How do we transform the desire for change into practical reality? Life is a journey and the practical preparations we perform for any trip can help us map out changes in our own lives.
1. A map and GPS
Layout your long term goals. Then determine the how you will best reach your goal by mapping out a practical path and setting up short term, more attainable goals. Remember, it is what we make of the hours, days, and weeks of our lives which will determine our destiny.
2. Road signs
Seek out guidance and direction along the course of life's odyssey. Find a role model and seek out wisdom and teachers of wisdom to stand as guides for you even on the blackest of roadways.
3. Motor oil
Determination to succeed is the oil that keeps our engines in good shape. It is the fire that gives us strength to leap over the greatest of obstacles and traverse the most treacherous of paths.
4. Emergency kit containing first aid, spare tire, jumper cables, and tire inflator
Don't let one failed venture become a permanent obstacle. An excursion as tough as this one is never continuous smooth sailing. Anticipate setbacks, and don't let them leave you crippled. How we choose to deal with our challenges is what makes us or breaks us.
5. PowerAde and energy bars
Faith and inspiration are the fires that reignite our passion for the cause and fuel us with much needed energy and confidence to forge on. A mentor can provide for us a treasure house of wisdom, inspiration and encouragement. Looking for the small winks of Divine providence in our lives can help us face a challenge. Seek inspiration and you will find it.
6. A cell phone
The road of life should not be traveled alone. Let God be your partner, guide, and protector. Call out to Him because He is always there for help.
Dear traveler, all great journeys start with a first step. Don't let the expansiveness of your dream and the distance of your destination discourage you from starting to climb, one step at a time. With the proper tools, you can reach the peak of your personal mountain. Have a sweet, new year of growth and inspirationA key component of Rosh Hashanah preparation is to ask for forgiveness from anyone we may have wronged during the previous year. To the greatest extent possible, we want to begin the year with a clean slate – and without anyone harboring a grudge against us. Similarly, we should be quick to forgive those who have wronged us.
Many people have the custom of going to the mikveh before Rosh Hashanah after midday. A mikveh, which has the power to purify from certain types of spiritual impurities, can be an important part of the teshuva process.
Some have the custom of visiting a cemetery on the day before Rosh Hashanah and praying at the graves of the righteous. Of course, we do not pray "to" the righteous, but only to God who hears our prayers in the merit of the righteous.
The morning before Rosh Hashanah, we perform "Hatarat Nedarim" – annulling of vows. In Torah terms, saying something as simple as "I refuse to eat candy" can be considered a legal vow. Therefore, before Rosh Hashanah, we annul any vows, whether made intentionally or not. This is done by standing in front of three adult males and asking to be released from one's vows. The full text can be found in a Siddur or Rosh Hashanah Machzor.
The Festive Meal
During the High Holidays, a round challah is used – symbolizing fullness and completion. After making the "Hamotzi" blessing, it is customary to dip the bread into honey – symbolizing our prayer for a sweet new year.
Then, after the bread has been eaten, take an apple and dip it in honey. Make a blessing on the apple (since "Hamotzi" did not cover the apple) and eat a little bit of the apple. Then say, "May it be Your will, God, to renew us for a good and sweet new year." (OC 583)
Why do we ask for both a "good" AND "sweet" year? Doesn't the word "good" automatically include "sweet?" Judaism teaches that everything happens for the good. It is all part of the Divine will. Even things that may look "bad" in our eyes, are actually "good." So we ask that in addition to good, the year should be a "revealed" good – i.e. one that tastes "sweet" to us.
On Rosh Hashanah, we add the paragraph "Ya'aleh V'yavo" in Grace After Meals.
Symbolic Foods
On Rosh Hashanah, we eat foods that symbolize good things we hope for in the coming year. We contemplate what these foods symbolize, and connect with the Source of all good things. Here is a list from the Talmud of symbolic foods customarily eaten on Rosh Hashanah. (The food and its related meaning are written in capital letters.)
- After eating LEEK or CABBAGE, say: "May it be Your will, God, that our enemies be CUT OFF."
- After eating BEETS, say: "May it be Your will, God, that our adversaries be REMOVED."
- After eating DATES, say: "May it be Your will, God, that our enemies be FINISHED."
- After eating GOURD, say: "May it be Your will, God, that the decree of our sentence should be TORN apart, and may our merits be PROCLAIMED before You."
- After eating POMEGRANATE, say: "May it be Your will, God, that our merits increase as the seeds of a POMEGRANATE."
- After eating the HEAD of a sheep or fish, say: "May it be Your will, God, that we be as the HEAD and not as the tail.
You can also use other foods and make up your own "May it be Your will…" For example, eat a raisin and celery, and ask God in the coming year for a "raise in salary" (raisin celery)!
Rosh Hashanah Prayers
Since there are so many unique prayers on Rosh Hashanah, we use a special prayer book called a "Machzor."
In the "Amidah" and "Kiddush" for Rosh Hashanah, we say the phrase "Yom Teruah." However, if Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat, we say "Zichron Teruah" instead. (If one inadvertently said the wrong phrase, he needn't repeat the prayer.)
The supplication "Avinu Malkeinu" should be said on Rosh Hashanah, except when Rosh Hashanah and Shabbat coincide, since supplications are not said on Shabbat. If Rosh Hashanah falls on a Friday, "Avinu Malkeinu" is not said at Mincha.
During the High Holidays, the curtain on the ark is changed to a white one, to symbolize that our "mistakes will be whitened like snow."
The "Amidah" prayer of Musaf contains three special blessings: "Malchiot" (praises to God the King), "Zichronot" (asking God to remember the merits of our Ancestors), and "Shofrot" (the significance of the shofar).
The chazan (cantor) for the High Holidays should not be chosen for his vocal talents alone. Ideally, he should be over 30 years old, God fearing, learned in Torah, humble, and married. Rather than cause strife in the community, a Chazzan under the age of 30 who possesses the other qualifications, may serve.
Since it is a question as to whether the "She'hechianu" blessing should be said on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the custom is to eat a new fruit or wear a new garment – and say "She'hechianu" upon it.
The Shofar
The essential mitzvah of Rosh Hashanah is to hear the shofar.
The shofar used on Rosh Hashanah should be a curved ram's horn, and longer than four inches. It is permitted to use the shofar of an animal not ritually slaughtered.
The minimum Torah obligation is to hear nine blasts. However, given a doubt whether the sound should be a groaning type of cry (Shevarim), or a sobbing weep (Teruah), or a combination (Shevarim-Teruah), we perform all three sounds – each preceded and followed by an unbroken blast, Tekiah. Three of each set results in 30 blasts total, which remove all doubt that the Torah precept has been fulfilled.
The shofar is regarded as a spiritual alarm clock, awakening us from our slumber.
The shofar should be blown during the daytime. Everyone should stand, and have the intention that their obligation is being fulfilled.
Before blowing, two blessings are recited: "To hear the sound of the shofar," and "She'hechianu." Once the blessings have been made, one may not speak until the end of the shofar blowing.
A woman may sound the shofar for herself after saying the blessing. (Sefardi women do not say a blessing.) A child who is old enough to be educated regarding mitzvot is required to hear the Shofar.
The shofar is not blown when Rosh Hashanah falls on Shabbat.
During the chazan's repetition of the Musaf "Amidah," an additional 30 blasts are blown in the various combinations.
It is the custom to blow 40 extra blasts at the end of services, bringing the total to 100.
It is customary to prolong the final blast, called "Tekiah Gedolah."
Other Customs
It is customary to greet others with: "L'shana Tova – Ketivah vi-chatima Tova." This means: "For a good year – You should be written and sealed in the good (Book of Life)."
One should try not to sleep or go for idle walks on the day of Rosh Hashanah. (The Arizal permits a nap in the afternoon.)
It is advisable to avoid marital relations, except if Rosh Hashanah falls on the night of the wife's immersion.
If a Bris Milah falls on Rosh Hashanah, it should be performed between the Torah reading and the shofar blowing.
Tashlich
The "Tashlich" prayer is said on the first afternoon of Rosh Hashanah, by a pool of water, preferably with fish in it. This prayer is the symbolic casting away of our mistakes. Surely we do not "rid our sins" by shaking out our pockets – rather the Jewish approach is deep introspection and commitment to change. Indeed, the whole idea of "Tashlich" is partly to commemorate the Midrash that says when Abraham went to the Akeida (binding of Isaac), he crossed through water up to his neck.
If Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbat, "Tashlich" takes place on the second day. If "Tashlich" was not said on Rosh Hashanah itself, it may be said anytime during the Ten Days of Teshuva.
Both the body of water and the fish are symbolic. In Talmudic literature, Torah is represented as water. Just as fish can't live without water, so too a Jew can't live without Torah.
Also, the fact that a fish's eyes never close reminds us that, so too, God's eyes (so to speak) never close; He knows of our every move.
This is the text of "Tashlich:"
Who is like You, God, who removes iniquity and overlooks transgression of the remainder of His inheritance. He doesn't remain angry forever because He desires kindness. He will return and He will be merciful to us, and He will conquer our iniquities, and He will cast them into the depths of the seas.
Give truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham like that you swore to our ancestors from long ago.
From the straits I called upon God, God answered me with expansiveness. God is with me, I will not be afraid, what can man do to me? God is with me to help me, and I will see my foes (annihilated). It is better to take refuge in God than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in God, that to rely on nobles.
Many people also read Psalms 33 and 130.
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