Parshas Shoftim

"Where is that great medic who really knew what he was doing?? We
really need him now."
"He was so busy taking of other people's wounds that he didn't take
care of his own. He got so sick he had to be evacuated."

The king of Israel always had a Torah with him and read it daily "in
order that he should fear the L-rd and keep His commandments".
(Divorim17:18-19) Rav Dovid Bleicher HY"D (one of the Novardok Roshei
Yeshiva murdered in the holocaust) explained that even though a king had
responsibilities for all of the Jews' spirituality, he always had to make
sure
that he took time for his own!!

In order to successfully influence others, we have to make sure that we
have been influenced ourselves.

Have a great Shabbos !!

Rabbi Chaim Flom

Dear Rabbi Flom,
Wasn't the Novardok Yeshiva one of the big Mussar Yeshivas in Europe? Is the Novardok Yeshiva in Yerushalayim from the remnant of the Yeshiva in Europe?
Sincerely,
Mark

Dear Mark,
Without going into great detail, I'll give you a quick rundown on the "Mussar Yeshivos". Rav Yisroel Salanter was the "father" of the modern day "mussar movement". Based on Rav Yisroel's students and student's students 3 basic schools of mussar developed. 1) Kelm led by Rav Simcha Zissel Ziv--The basic idea was a person could reach ultimate closeness to G-d if he thought a lot about the greatness of G-d. 2)Slabodka led by Rav Nosson Zvi Finkel---The basic idea was a person could reach ultimate closeness to G-d if he realized the great potential of a human being. 3) Novardok led by Rav Yosef Yoisel Horowitz ----The basic idea was that a person had to "work on" his middos, and this would bring him to ultimate closeness with G-d. All of this is a very brief synopsis. None of these schools reject another, but it was a matter of emphasis. About Novardok today: Rav Yosef Yoisel's son-in-law was Rav Avraham Yaffen who started the Novardok Yeshiva in New York (run for years by his son and Rav Nekritz, a son-in-law). A grandson opened a yeshiva in Israel, but the Novardok building off of Shmuel Hanavi street, that you're probably familiar with, was founded by Rav Ben-Zion Brook, a star pupil of Rav Yosef Yoisel.
If you want more specifics, please let mr know.
Take care.
Rabbi Flom

Shalom:

While reading the portion of this week Torah Shoftim I remembered a Parashat where Moises ramban of Blessed Memory is told by his father in Law that in order for him to be well and efficient handing wisdom and justice to all Am Israel he had to divide duties making groups of 10, 100, and 1000.."

quote:

I selected wise and well known men from among your tribal leaders, and appointed them as your leaders- captains of thousands, captains of hundred, captain of fifties, captain of teen, and police for your tribes. Shemot 18:17-18.. Moses father in law said to him What you are doing is not good. You are going to wear your self out along with this nation tht is with you. Your responability is to great...shemot 18:21- But you must also seek out from among all the people capable, G-d fearing men- men of truth, who hate injustice. you must then appoint them over as leaders o thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, and leaders of tens...Shemot 18-23 ... If you agree to this, and G-d concurs, you will be able to survive. This entire nation will then also be able to attain its goal of peace.

I do not know if I come to be off track. But

quote:

Rav Dovid Bleicher Hy"d ( one of the Novardok Roshei Yeshiva murdered in the Holocaust) explained that even though a king had responsabilities for all the jews´spirituality, he always had to make sure that he took time for his own!!

The above mentioned Torah Shemot portions might very well spark some wisdom over all the same idea touched over Shoftim parashat and rav Dovid Bleicher(of Blessed Memory) explanation.
Lej Leshalom

Dear Ochao,
You are definitely correct that we see from Yisro and other places, that it is important when helping others to look after our own physical and psychological needs. When you fly on an airplane they always say" put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others".
Take care and good Shabbos.
Rabbi Flom