Ask The Rabbi

Ask the Rabbi - 244

Become a Supporter Library Library

Ask the Rabbi

10 July 1999; Issue #244



KotelKam

Contents

Jennine Wessell from Jefferson, Ohio wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

From the KotelKam, you see over to the left on top of some buildings six large stars on pedastals. I would love to know what they are, and what they are for?


Dear Jennine Wessell,

What you�re seeing is a large monument to the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust. There are six large tubes with flames inside each tube, and six Stars of David, one star on top of each tube. The five Hebrew letters of the word "yizkor" � "G-d will remember" � are written there, one letter between each tube.

The kotelkam is a 24-hour camera at Jerusalem�s Western Wall. It�s at http://www.kotelkam.com.


THANKS!

Contents

Name@Withheld wrote:

Dear Rabbi,

Last year, on the 6th of Adar, our then almost three year-old son was miraculously saved from being run over by a car (which in order to turn, drove backwards on the pavement, didn�t see my son, knocked him down and stopped just as the back-wheels of the car were touching him). The driver, a young man with his mini-van full of friends, admitted that he just stopped his car without knowing why. He didn�t hear my screams or the screams of a bystander who pulled my scared-to-death child from beneath the car. You won�t believe that my son, who was taken in ambulance to the hospital, didn�t have a scratch. A true miracle. We hosted a "mesibat hodaya" (thanks-giving celebration). I did some soul searching asking myself, "why did this happen; what did G-d want to get through to me?"

My question is: What would be the proper way to thank Hashem this coming year on the anniversary of this date for the great kindness He bestowed � and always bestows � upon me and my family, especially this time for letting us keep our three year-old. How should we celebrate this special day?


Dear Name@Withheld,

You should celebrate every year by hosting a fancy, festive meal. Invite a lot of people and tell about the miracle. As King David said in Psalms, "In a large group of people I am going to praise You." You should light candles and recite Tehillim (Psalms) of thanks at the meal. Give extra charity on this day; perhaps give the numerical value of your son�s Hebrew name. (Each Hebrew letter has a different numerical value.)

Which reminds me of a story. Many years ago in Williamsburg, NY, a wealthy man was called upon to say the blessings over the Torah. After this honor, he publicly pledged 47 dollars to charity. "Why 47 dollars?" they asked him. "In honor of our Grand Rabbi, Rabbi Yoel Teitlebaum. The numerical value of his name, �Yoel,� is 47. Hearing this, the Grand Rabbi called out: "Back in Europe they used to call me �Yoelish.� " (Yoelish = 357)


The Public Domain
Comments, quibbles, and reactions concerning previous "Ask-the-Rabbi" features.

Contents

Re: Torah and Nature:

I�d like to subscribe to Ohr Somayach�s "Torah and Nature" publication. As a frum (Torah observant) molecular biology grad student, I am occasionally asked "Does your research conflict with your belief in G-d?" My response is that my research only strengthens my belief. For me, understanding the intricacies of natural phenomena is one way of developing an appreciation of niflaos haboray (wonders of the Creator). I�d also like to thank you for the incredible work you do, especially for Ask the Rabbi. Kol hakavod and yasher kochachem.


Re: Ask the Rabbi:

Love the little humor you inject into your "Ask the Rabbi" answers. That is what makes it so special.

A Bubbe <Abubbe@aol.com>



� 1999 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved. This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior permission. We also encourage you to include this material in other publications, such as synagogue newsletters. However, we ask that you contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.


This publication is available via E-Mail


Ohr Somayach Institutions is an international network of Yeshivot and outreach centers, with branches in North America, Europe, South Africa and South America. The Central Campus in Jerusalem provides a full range of educational services for over 685 full-time students.

The Jewish Learning Exchange (JLE) of Ohr Somayach offers summer and winter programs in Israel that attract hundreds of university students from around the world for 3 to 8 weeks of study and touring.

The Ohr Somayach Home Page is hosted by TeamGenesis
vj_bar.gif (1798 bytes)

Copyright � 1999 Ohr Somayach International. Send us feedback
Dedication opportunities are available for Ask The Rabbi. Please contact us for details.
Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) EIN 13-3503155 and your donation is tax deductable.