EVERYONE LOVES STORIES

EVERYONE LOVES STORIES

Everyone loves stories. Rabbi Nachman said that in the future, the stories about Tzaddikim would bring the world back to G-d. So let me tell you a few stories about my teacher, the saintly Kabbalist, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levy, master of the secrets of Torah.

A few weeks ago, I was on my way to an all-night session of prayer and Torah learning with the Rabbi. As I was driving along the highway, a police car appeared alongside my car, and an officer motioned for me to pull over.

Needless to say, it is silly to get angry at a traffic cop when you know he is merely a messenger from the Almighty. “I suppose I have not been exact in giving Maaser,” I said to my passengers, other students of Rav Leon.
The Hebrew term, maaser, means a tithe, the obligation to donate a tenth of one’s income to charity. A few months back, my wallet was stolen from my pants pocket while I was in the mikvah. When I told Rav Leon, he advised me to give a little more maaser, which was his tactful way of saying that I did not give enough. Our Sages teach that if you want to be rich, you should give maaser with an open heart, even 20% of your earnings. The more you give, the more you will get in return. Rav Leon himself gives away 60 percent of his earnings. If you don’t give at least a tenth, then G-d will collect it in some other fashion, whether through plumbing expenses, visits to the dentist, thieves in the mikvah, or traffic tickets.

The cop walked over and asked for my license and car registration. Imagine, a Hebrew speaking cop. After twenty-three years in Israel, it still fills with me with gratitude that we have our own sovereign State.

“Have you had a traffic violation within the last two years?” he asked.

I wasn’t sure. I had received a ticket for not wearing a seat belt, but I couldn’t remember how long ago it had been.

He took my papers back to his cruiser. I could see the screen of his special car computer glowing in the dark.

“Do you think the Holy One Blessed Be He has a computer as advanced as the one in that police car?” I asked the students in my car.

To make a long story short, the search on the computer revealed that I had not yet brought my car into the motor vehicle inspection center for this year’s road test. It also revealed that my seat belt violation had indeed been less than two years before. So I was given two days to do the test, along with a 200 shekel fine. “Thank you,” I said to the cop. “You have given me the opportunity to make a donation to Medinat Yisrael.”

Because of the unexpected delay, we were late. It was after midnight when we reached our destination. The synagogue was packed with local residents who had gathered for the nightlong prayer with the revered and holy Tzaddik. I did not want to go into the main entrance while Rav Leon was speaking, so I found a back door that led to a room where refreshments were spread out on tables. I waited until the Rabbi finished his opening remarks, then snuck into the synagogue and sat down in the first empty chair.

“Fishman,” the Rabbi called out into the microphone. “Kedima!”

Embarrassed by the turning heads of the crowd, I walked forward and sat down toward the front of the synagogue. Again the Rabbi’s voice called out, summoning me to the dais where he and other Kabbalists were sitting. “Be careful not to get any more traffic tickets,” were the first words he said to me. Apparently, he had had his own famous radar turned on. Imagine, if a person can see things via spiritual radar, how humbly we should always behave, knowing that the Radar of Radars is watching.

While we are speaking of cars, the other day, a student of the Rabbi was driving his brother-in-law to the hospital because he had been having terrible pains in his eyes. The student suggested they phone Rav Leon and ask for a blessing. After making a few calls, they reached another student who was at the yeshiva with the Rabbi, who does not have a cell phone of his own. After hearing the student’s request, Rav Leon asked to speak to the brother-in-law. “Can I tell you the truth?” he inquired.

“Sure,” the brother-in-law answered.

“You won’t be angry with me?” the Rabbi asked.

“Not at all.”

“What are those pornographic magazines doing in the trunk of your car?” Rav Leon asked.

The brother-in-law was speechless.

“Did you think that looking at them would be good for your eyes?” the Tzaddik asked him.

When the tearful brother-in-law admitted his misdoing, the Rabbi blessed him, gave him some Psalms and prayers to say, called “Tikun HaYesod,” to rectify his transgressions, and told him to immerse himself in a mikvah as often as he could. “You don’t need the hospital,” he told him. “If you repair the spiritual damage you caused, your eyes will feel better starting today.”

Our Sages tell us: "ãò îä ìîòìä îîê" “Know what is above from you.” And they answer, “A seeing eye, a hearing ear, and all of your deeds are recorded in a book” (Avot, 2:1). The Almighty has a top-of-the-line radar computer. All of our doings appear on His screen. And for everything we do, there will be an accounting. As Rav Leon stresses, sooner or later, anger, arrogance, jealousy, sexual transgression, speaking bad about others - all bring misfortune in their wake. It is just a matter of time. Therefore, Rav Leon teaches, a man should give up his wrongdoings, return to G-d, and be healed.

That’s the story for today. In the near future, G-d willing, we will recount some more Rav Leon stories. The moral to remember is that the possibility for improvement and health is in our hands. What we sow, we reap. As the verse implies: “Know that what is above (the decree that is written above) is îîê - from you.”

MARITAL UNION - THE SAGA CONTINUES

MARITAL UNION - THE SAGA CONTINUES 
Kabbalah is not something contrary to halacha, but rather it enhances and deepens our understanding of the Torah and its commandments.

A few readers wrote that it is OK that Fishman likes Kabbalah, but it is the halacha (Jewish Law) that people must follow. In response, it should be understood that Kabbalah is not something contrary to halacha, but rather it enhances and deepens our understanding of the Torah and its commandments. While Kabbalists generally do call for added stringency surrounding the marital union, it should not be thought that the halacha is lenient in this matter. To clarify this point, below is a very abridged version of the laws of marital relations, as recorded in the "Kitzur Shulchan Aruch," an authoritative and recognized guidebook to Jewish Law.

But first, in answer to my concerned and righteous brothers who worry about discussing these matters in public, here is a statement from the Torah giant, Rabbi Aharon Cutler, may his memory be for a blessing:

"Here I want to awaken you to a painful and shocking matter about which many people err. There are many people whom refrain from speaking about these things under the pretext of modesty. May Heaven help us! In such a fallen and licentious generation as ours, where everything is exposed without shame in the open - to speak about holiness and modesty – this is considered an affront to modesty?! Can there be a greater deception on the part of the evil inclination than this?! On the contrary, it is an absolute obligation to speak about these matters in public!"

LAWS OF CHASTITY
A man should accustom himself to be in a mood of supreme holiness and to have pure thoughts when having marital relations with his wife. He should not indulge in levity with her, nor defile his mouth with indecent jokes, even in private conversation with her.... He should not converse with her at copulation, or immediately before it, except about something directly needed for the act. However, if he is angry with her, when it is improper for a man to have relations with his wife, he may speak kind words to her in order to appease her. The marital union should be in the most modest manner possible. He underneath and she above him is considered a brazen act. Both at the same level is considered a pervert act. It is told of Rabbi Eliezar (Nedarim 20b), that he used to have marital relations with such awe and terror that it appeared that a demon was forcing him to do it. [It is important to note that the Kabbalist, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, takes exception to this, saying that if a man has relations with his wife as if demons were forcing him, then the offspring will turn out like demons, G-d forbid. Instead, he maintains that the marital act should be performed in an active, robust, loving fashion, so that the offspring will be active, robust, and loving in their service of G-d.]

When engaging in the marital union, it is proper to contemplate on matters of Torah, or other sacred subjects. While it is forbidden during the act even to utter holy words, thinking holy thoughts is permitted, and even meritorious.

It is forbidden to have intercourse by light, even if the light is shut out by means of a garment, but it is permissible if one makes a partition forty inches high in front of the light. It is also forbidden to have intercourse during the day, unless the room is darkened. At night, if the moon shines directly upon them, it is forbidden, but if it does not shine directly upon them, then it is permissible if that light is shut out by a garment.

One is forbidden to look at the sexual organ of his wife. Whoever does so is devoid of shame, and violates, "And walk humbly." Also by this, he stimulates lewd thoughts within himself. Certainly, one who kisses that place violates all of this, and in addition, he violates, "You shall not make yourselves detestable."

A person must not be unduly familiar with his wife, excepting at the regular time appointed for the marital duty, as is written, "And her conjugal rights shall not be diminished." [The number of times a week depends on his constitution, occupation, and whether he travels for work.] The time appointed for Torah scholars is on Sabbath night. One must fulfill his marital duty even when ones wife is pregnant or nursing. One must not deprive his wife of her conjugal rights, unless she consents to it, and when he has already fulfilled the obligation of having children. If he deprives his wife thereof, in order to afflict her, he violates the Divine command, "And her conjugal rights shall not be diminished."

It is the duty of every husband to visit his wife on the night she has performed the ritual of immersion. Also on the night he is to set out on a journey. When a man sees that his wife is coquetting and primping and trying to please him, he is bound to visit her, even if it is not the appointed time. From such a union will come worthy children.

When having marital relations, his intention should not be to satisfy his personal desire, but to fulfill his obligation to perform his marital duty, like one paying a debt, and to comply with the command of his Creator, with the goal that he have children engaged in the study of Torah and the practice of its precepts.... If he is overwhelmed with a craving for it and he cohabits with his wife to avert sinful lust, he is destined to receive reward for it. But it is better to conquer his passion. For as our Sages say, "A man has a small organ; if he starves it, it is satiated, and if he nurtures it, it is hungry" (Sukkot 52b). But one who has no need for it, and he deliberately arouses his lust, he is following the counsel of the evil impulse.

One should not have relations with his wife unless she has a desire for it, but not otherwise, and certainly one is forbidden to force her. Nor should one be with his wife when she is actually asleep, or when he or she is intoxicated.

Semen is the vitality of the body and the light of one’s eyes. When it issues in abundance, the body weakens and life is shortened. He who indulges in having intercourse, ages quickly, his strength ebbs, his eyes grow dim, his breath becomes foul, the hair of his head falls out, his teeth fall out, and many other ailments beside these befall him. Great physicians said that one out of a thousand die from other diseases, while nine hundred and ninety-nine die from sexual indulgence. Therefore, a man should exercise self-restraint.

MARITAL UNION - PART II

THE MARITAL UNION – PART II

Religious Jews too can benefit from a short refresher course in modesty, by being reminded of things that are easily forgotten because of the powerful temptations surrounding the marital act.

Of course, the Internet is the proper place for an educational forum on modesty. First, it will be a tikun to counterbalance the cyberspace pornography that has become a leprosy in Jewish homes the world over. We know that a little light can expel walls of darkness. Certainly, the light of our Torah, and the mystical light of our Tzaddikim, will deal a devastating blow to the forces of Amalek and Midian that are purveying their smut on the web, precisely to damage our holiness and separate us from our G-d, may Heaven help us. In the merit of our holy Torah and Sages, may all Jews download porn filters today, and may pornography be banned from the Internet, Amen.

Secondly, because the Internet reaches people worldwide, it is such a valuable tool in spreading the light of the Torah. Beginners to Judaism must begin with the truth, rather than be allowed to fall into ways of sexual transgression, that bring damage to themselves, their families, the entire community of Israel, and to all spiritual worlds. Religious Jews too can benefit from a short refresher course in modesty, by being reminded of things that are easily forgotten because of the powerful temptations surrounding the marital act.

Thirdly, as we will explain in a forthcoming blog, sexual modesty is the foundation of our exodus from Egypt and the inner theme of the Pesach holiday.

Furthermore, guarding our sexual modesty is the foundation of the Covenant between G-d and the Jewish People. It is the foundation of our holiness as G-d’s chosen nation. It is the key to our settlement of the Land of Israel, and it is the key to our security and defense. With G-d’s help, we shall explore all of these critically important matters in the upcoming weeks. Even if all of my readers should abandon this blog, I will continue to write, if only to remind myself of things that stand at the pinnacle of Creation, and at the core of our identity as holy servants of the Holy One Blessed Be He.

Therefore, let us press onward. Before moving on to the Book of Vayikra, we can learn some additional secrets about the marital union from the service of the Kohanim in the Mishkan. The master Kabbalist, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, sets them forth in his book, “Kedushat Yisrael.” He writes:

It is written, “And Aharon and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet when they come into the holy sanctum.”

The explanation of this is that the holy Torah requests that when Aharon and his sons wash their hands, they immediately raise them up, so that the spiritual lights that are emitted from the fingers will be ready to return to the head. In doing this, harmful, external spiritual forces (chitzonim) will not be able to feed off the lights of the fingers, thus insuring that the thoughts of the Kohanim remain lucid and pure. Similarly, when we come to perform the holy marital union, we must be very careful to wash our hands in the proper manner from a vessel, three times in an alternating manner, then raising them up to the head, as we have written, without reciting a blessing. This is to safeguard that your thoughts will be holy, and you will thereby merit righteous children, who will be devoted to Torah and the service of G-d. Thus we learn that great care must be taken to have holy thoughts during the holy marital union, for G-d looks down from Heaven and knows all thoughts, including the holy thoughts you have when you are with your wife, engaged in the marital union.

Regarding the kohanim, it is also written, “You shall make linen breeches to cover the nakedness of your flesh.”

This verse teaches that the holy Torah wants Aharon and his sons to dress in a very modest fashion, and not expose parts of the body that should be covered. Due to this guarding of modesty, blessing with rest on them. Similarly, when a husband and wife come to engage in the marital union, they must be careful to do so in a very modest manner. At the very least, they must cover themselves with a sheet over most of their bodies. This will prevent harmful spiritual forces (chitzonim) from negatively influencing their union.

It is also written: “A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate…. And its sound shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before the L-rd.” This verse teaches that Aharon HaKohen and his sons are to shake their robes so that the bells will make a loud noise when they go into the holy place. From this we can learn wise and proper behavior that no Jewish person so enter his house without permission, or before he rings the bell or knocks on the door, even though it be his own house – he stills needs permission to enter! In this way, he will not frighten his children or his wife. Similarly, when a husband comes to have holy marital relations with his wife, he must be sure that she is in a happy mood. He should speak words of love to his righteous mate, things that please her and make her feel love toward him. In other words, he should be sure to ring the bell – that is get her permission, and thus when the marital union is performed with great happiness between them, this gives much satisfaction to our Creator.

“He shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire… and bring it inside the veil, and he shall put the incense upon the fire before the L-rd, that the cloud of the incense may cover the covering that is upon the Testimony…”

The holy Torah commands Aharon to place the incense on the burning coals so that the cloud of burning incense will fill the inner sanctum with darkness. Similarly, when a husband and wife engage in the holy marital union, it should be in darkness. According to the secrets of Torah, it is forbidden for a husband and wife to see each others sexual organ, in order to guard the sanctity of their eyes, and in order that they be enveloped in holiness.

When marital unions are conducted in this holy fashion, great material and spiritual blessing will be drawn upon us, upon our homes, and upon our nation, from our holy Father in Heaven, and we will merit to raise righteous children, and to receive great pleasure in them. And we will merit the coming of Mashiach, our righteous one, may he come soon in our time, Amen.

[From the book, “Kedushat Yisrael.”]

KABBALIST WARNS OF WAR

KABBALIST WARNS OF WAR
"Stock your homes with water, candles, and a two week supply of food," the elder Kabbalist, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, told a gathering at the Kotel this evening. "War is imminent, and this time, the enemy has missiles far more powerful than the rockets of the Hizballah," he said. "Whoever does not take precautions and stock up with food will be neglecting the mitzvah of carefully guarding one’s life."

The Rabbi and students were gathered at the Kotel for a special Rosh Chodesh prayer. "In the month of Nisan, we were redeemed in the past, and in the month of Nisan, we will be redeemed now," he said. "This time, the army of Israel will have the upper hand, and it will bring honor to the Nation of Israel by obliterating our enemies."

Rabbi Levy said that everyone should recite Tehillim and work on repentance. He criticized the yeshiva world for not sending groups of top students to kibbitzim and non-religious neighborhoods to bring them closer to Torah. "If a fire breaks out amongst the weeds, it spreads to the haystacks as well," he warned, implying that when misfortune falls, both the wicked and righteous are engulfed in the flames. He also lamented over the plague of immodesty in the Holy Land, saying it was the prime cause of the dangerous decree hanging over our heads.

HOLINESS OF THE MARITAL UNION

HOLINESS OF THE MARITAL UNION
According to the Kabbalist, Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi, the verse, "And the men came upon the women," in this week’s Torah portion is talking about the correct, holy way of marital relations. Let me explain.
"Rabbi Shimon said: Woe to the man who says that the Torah comes to teach tales of this world and to speak about ordinary affairs.

First, it is necessary to remind our readers that there is more to the Torah than meets the eye. The existence of a deeper, secret level of Torah is beautifully set forth in the Zohar, in a passage that is worthwhile to quote in length:

"Rabbi Shimon said: Woe to the man who says that the Torah comes to teach tales of this world and to speak about ordinary affairs. If that were so, even today, we could create a Torah dealing with ordinary matters that would be far superior. But this is not the case. For all the words of the Torah are concerned with exalted matters and celestial secrets....

"The stories of the Torah are only her worldly garments, and whoever thinks that this worldly attire is the Torah itself, and not something deeper, may his soul be obliterated – he will have no portion in the world to come. For this reason, David said, "Open mine eyes, that I may see the wonders of Your Torah" (Tehillim, 119:18), meaning the things that are beneath the Torah’s worldly garment.
"Come and see. There are garments that everyone sees. When fools see a man in smart-looking clothing, they don’t look any deeper (but rather judge the worth of the man according to his clothes). However, the pride of the clothes is the body, and the pride of the body is the soul.

"In the very same way, the Torah has a body made up of the commandments of the Torah, which are called the body of the Torah. This body is dressed up in garments that are the stories of this world. The fools of the world only see the garment, the worldly narration. They do not know anything more, nor do they look beneath this outer garment. Those who understand more, do not look just upon the garment, but on the body that is under the garment. The Sages, the servants of the exalted King, those who stood on Mount Sinai, peer down to the soul, which is the principle thing of them all, and this is the real Torah. In the future, they are destined to gaze into the soul of the soul of the Torah" (Zohar, Bamidbar 152b).

More than any other subject, the Torah repeatedly elaborates in Torah portion after portion, on the detailed construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). This unusual repetition is especially perplexing when we remember that the Mishkan, was to be a temporary structure until the building of the Beit HaMikdash in Jerusalem.

Obviously, there is more here than meets the eye. Indeed, the Zohar teaches that the Mishkan contains the blueprint for all Creation. It is the point of union of heaven and earth, designed to unite the Shechinah and the Holy One Blessed Be He. In Kabbalistic terms, the service of the Jewish People in the Mishkan parallels the marital union. This is symbolized by the keruvim, the male and female figures on top of the ark that would seem to couple in a loving embrace when G-d was pleased with the Jewish People. Thus, in the supplication following the Tikun HaYesod prayer, "Yeshuat Eliahu," Rabbi Eliahu Leon Levi has written:

"Blessed L-rd, may I merit to truthfully keep the laws of family purity, and not play games with my mind, by giving in to all sorts of temptations, by saying, ‘This is permitted, and this isn’t really that forbidden.’ For behold, we have seen what the Torah has said regarding the ideal marital union, ‘And the men came upon the women’ (Shemot, 35:22), and not, Heaven forbid, in any other way, which bring about upside down couplings, causing severe judgments and increased suffering in the world."

In other words, according to the Kabbalah, the missionary position, with the man on top, facing downward, and the woman lying on her back, facing up, is the proper position for marital relations. Rabbi Levi writes: "This way of performing the marital union is the preferred and most perfect way, the way of the Torah, called "panim b’panim," and not in other positions, as stated in some books whose authors have not reached the path of truth, and wrote differently. In so doing, they have spread out a snare for all the Jewish People, and they cause them to sin and bring about the corruption of the precious soul of the Jewish People, and cast them into a cavernous pit, may Heaven have mercy."

Readers interested in learning more about the holiness of marital relations are encouraged to read Rabbi Levi’s guidelines in greater depth. The Torah commands the Jewish People to be holy, and, whether we like it or not, our holiness starts right here.