<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Rabbi Yehuda {Leonard} Blank MS, BCC
Vice President of Professional Development and External Affairs
Chair of the Chaplaincy Commission
Rabbinical Alliance of America/Igud HaRabbonim
917-446-2126 rablenblank@gmail.com
=August 21, 2025, 27, Av 5785=
===============================================
I am dedicating this article in memory of Mrs. Pessie Rosen, Pessa bas Menachem Mendel a”h who was nifter this past Friday afternoon August 15th, Chaf Alef, Av. The levaya which was held this past Sunday morning, August 17th, at the Bialystoker Synagogue was attended by hundreds of men and women. She was a person who loved doing chesed. She had a vivacious personality and greeted everyone with a warm and endearing smile. She loved to host people in her home and accepted all that H gave her with love.
When my Kallah came to the Lower East Side, even though Pessi was not well, she welcomed her with a warm embrace. Pessi was very excited to know that we were going to a family lechaim to announce our engagement and that she would be the first person to wish us mazal tov. She also put a hand made mazel tov sign on her front door for us to see when I brought my Kallah back to her apartment. This is just one example of Pessi’s sterling middos and immense caring for others. Yehi Zichra Baruch May her memory be a blessing.
========================================================================
What was the Rosh Yeshivah’s Unusual Request? Yeshiva World, August 22,2023
“Rosh Yeshivah HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein made a rare request during a sicha he delivered in his home on Thursday evening.
“Those who speak words of chizzuk to the public, even in chadarim [boys’ schools] and yeshivos ketanos and gedolos, it’s kadai to speak about Ahavas HaBriyos and V’Ahavata L’Reiyacha Kamocha – it’s a Klal Gadol B’Torah,” HaRav Edelstein began.
“There’s a Gemara – ‘Amar Rebbe Akiva – Zeh Klal Gadol B’Torah.’ What is a ‘Klal Gadol B’Torah?’ I’ve already said this – there’s a little sefer from Rebbe Chaim Vital called Shaarei Kedushah – that midos tovos are the yesod.”
“It’s not written in the Torah about midos tovos – it writes about gaava regarding a melech – but it doesn’t write about anger and all other types of midos. There are many good midos that aren’t written about in the Torah.”
“That’s because this [midos tovos] is the yesod of nefesh ha’adam – that’s what Rebbe Chaim Vital writes in Shaarei Kedushah. That without middos tovos, a person is not a ben-adam [person]. The shleimus of a person is being a ba’al midos tovos.”
“Therefore it makes sense that if one is speaking words of chizzuk that it should be about midos tovos. Whoever speaks words of chizzuk to the public, it’s clear that it is kadai, what is best, where the greatest zechuyos are – is regarding midos tovos. And when one speaks about it – it has an influence.”
“Each one should speak about middos tovos, divrei chizzuk, v’ahavata l’reiyacha kamocha, v’halachta b’drachav [one should follow in Hashem’s ways],” the Rosh Yeshivah concluded.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)