Sorry...

Shalom Everyone!
I just wanted to inform the velt that today I will IY"H be leaving for camp and I will be gone for the next 2 months. I won't have my laptop with me so I wont be posting more songs till I get back. But have no fear- This gives everyone a great opportunity to chazer (review) all the songs posted thus-far, especially with all of the weddings going on this summer B"H!
Please feel free to leave comments with ideas for songs or any criticism whatsoever.
Kol Tuv- I'll miss you all...
--CR
ps. Make sure to "spread the words!!"

Ahavas Olam

אַהֲבַת עוֹלָם תָּבִיא לָהֶם, וּבְרִית אָבוֹת לַבָּנִים תִּזְכּוֹר

"A love that is eternal may you bring them, and the covenant of the forefathers upon the children may you recall." (Musaf for Rosh Chodesh)

My good friend, Rav E. L. Shlit"a, shared some ideas with me that he saw from Rabbi Zev Leff Shlit"a, explaining the two concepts mentioned in this Tefilla, namely: Ahavas Olam (Eternal Love), and Bris Avos (Covenant of the Forefathers). The Dover Shalom (Rabbi Shalom Rokeach, the first Belzer Rebbe) speaks about how this Eternal Love is referring to the times of Mashiach when Hashem's love for us will clearly be seen once we are no longer in exile under the subjugation of other nations. He also adds that with this Eternal Love and the covenant with our forefathers, Hashem will make the Mizbe'ach (altar) in the 3rd Beis Hamikdash eternal; there will never again be a churban (destruction). Another famous pshat, also told over in the name of the Dover Shalom, is that this bris mentioned here is the Bris Bein Habesarim that Hashem had with Avraham avinu, a covenant stating that Avraham's children will be many and basically that Hashem will ultimately redeem them, among other things. Finally- it is important to note that although the Zechus Avos (Merits of our Forefathers) may have run out according to Chazal, the Bris Avos is a Bris Olam, an eternal covenant.
B'derech agav- I've been attending a Kiruv Training Seminar over the past few weeks and in discussing proofs that the Torah was divinely written, and not made up by some guy, this concept of Bris Olam was brought up. If someone was trying to make up a Torah for people to follow, and claim that it was given to them by G-d, why would they take a chance and write that the Jewish people will last as a nation forever? It's a huge risk! Not only that but the Torah continues to say things contradicting that prediction! It says how the Jews will be scattered around the world, they will be hated and persecuted! If I were trying to convince people that the Jews would last forever, I would say the total opposite! How will they ever survive if they are constantly persecuted and thrown out of their land? So it's pretty clear that no one in their right mind would make something like that up. So, like Abie Rotenberg said: "It had to be Hashem." (And btw- not only is it totally ridiculous for someone to make these contradictory predictions up, the crazy thing is-it's exactly what happened!!! Just look at Jewish History! A proof that Judaism is the true religion is simply the fact that we are still around. It's absolutely Yad Hashem (the Hand of G-d)! (Find out more about this typa stuff at Aish.com and Kiruv.com)

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(Top pic courtesy of Kumah.org)

(Bottom pic courtesy of HolocaustResearchProject)

Yosis Alayich

יָשִׂישׂ עָלַיִךְ אֱלֺקָיִךְ, כְּמְשׂוֹשׂ חָתָן עַל-כַּלָה

"Your G-d will rejoice over you, like a groom rejoices over his bride." (Yeshayahu 62:5 words are changed around a little bit)

This Passuk (which is also mentioned in Lecha Dodi) is speaking of Hashem's relationship with Yerushalayim when once again His Shechina will rest within her In the coming of the Beis Hamikdash. The Malbim addresses an interesting question. If one looks at the relationship between Hashem and Yerushalayim/the Jewish people over the past 1939 years since the destructing of the 2nd Beis Hamikdash, it seems more like it will be a REmarriage when Hashem brings Mashiach to us with the 3rd Beis Hamikdash. It seems more like we are divorcees to Hakadosh Baurch Hu at this point-But from the Passuk it doesn't sound like that! Whats pshat? So The Malbim would like to say that from this Passuk we see that the future marriage between us and Hashem wont be like a normal remarriage, which isn't as filled with extreme joy as a regular marriage. Rather, the remarriage between us and Avinu Shebashamayim will be as happy and exciting as a newly married couple. We should celebrate this chasuna very soon BB"A.
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(Pic courtesy of JerusalemPartners)

Sos Asis

שׂוֹשׂ אָשִׂישׂ בַּה', תָּגֵל נַפְשִׁי בֵּאלֺקַי, כִּי הִלְבִּישַׁנִי בִּגְדֵי-יֶשַׁע מְעִיל צְדָקָה יְעָטָנִי, כֶּחָתָן יְכַהֵן פְּאֵר, וְכַכַּלָּה תַּעְדֶּה כֵלֶיהָ

"I will rejoice intensely with Hashem, my soul will exult with my G-d, for He has dressed me in clothing of salvation, in a robe of righteousness has he cloaked me, like a groom who axalts [himself] with splendor, like a bride who bedecks herself with her jewelry." (Yeshayahu 61:10)

Why is there a change in Hakadosh Baruch Hu's name? First it says "I will rejoice intensely with Hashem(Adon...)," and then it says "My soul will exult with my G-d(Elokai)."
So- it is a well known concept that Hashem's name is used differently in different places to pinpoint certain attributes of His. When the name "Adon..." is used it connotes Hashem's attribute of Rachamim-mercy. And when the name "Elokim" is used, it expresses Hashem's attribute of Din-Justice. That being said, Rabbi Yoseph Kimchi points out that in the first phrase the verb is in a double form, alluding to both the Guf (body) and the Neshama (soul). Both of these aspects of a human being rejoice in G-d's mercy. The second phrase, however, is in singular form, and only the Neshama is mentioned. This is because only the Neshama, which can endure far more suffering that the Guf, can appreciate the attribute of justice and rejoice in it. [It, therefore, rejoices when it is purified by Hashem's attribute of justice]
וְטַהֵר לִבֵּנוּ לְעָבְדְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת "May Hashem purify all of our hearts so we may serve Him fully in truth!!"

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(Chuppah pic courtesy of NeedlePointShop)

Ko Amar Hashem

כֺּה אָמַר ה': זָכַרְתִּי לָךְ חֶסֶד נְעוּרַיִךְ, אַהֲבַת כְּלוּלֺתָיִךְ, לֶכְתֵּךְ אַחֲרַי בַּמִּדְבָּר בְּאֶרֶץ לֺא זְרוּעָה

"Thus said Hashem: I recall for you the kindness of your youth, the love of your nuptials, your following Me into the Wilderness, into an unsown land." (Yirmiyahu 2:2)

This passuk is referring to Klal Yisrael's amazing faith in Hashem when they followed Him into the desert after being taken out of Mitzrayim. They left without any food other than the Matza baking on their backs; not knowing how they were going to survive. They just knew one thing: Hashem was leading them in a certain direction, so that was obviously the best way to go. They knew, as we still know today, that Hashem would NEVER steer us wrong. If he asks something of us, we are guaranteed that not only are we capable of accomplishing it, but also that it's the best possible thing for us.
In the Torah when it talks about the holiday we call 'Pesach' it doesn't call it by that name. It is called 'Chag Hamatzos' The holiday of Matza. So why do we call it by a different name? I heard from R' Moshe Bamberger that the theme of Pesach is love. This difference in names is a sign of the "conflict" between us and Hashem as to how to approach Yetziyas Mitzrayim. We see it as a clear sign of Hashem's unlimited love for us. He rocked the Egyptians with 10 makos and on the last one he "passed over" (Pesach) us and only killed the Egyptian first born. So to celebrate this affection we feel from Hashem, we call the holiday Pesach. But on the flip side, Hashem sees it differently. He sees Yetziyas Mitzrayim as a sign of our faith and love for Him. He saw us rush to follow Him into an unsown land. We rushed so quickly that we didn't even wait for our bread to rise, and as a result, we have Matza. So that's why Hashem calls the holiday "Chag Hamatzos."
If only we were to realize how much Hashem loves us, life would be so much more enjoyable. 'Kol mon de'avid Rachmana, letav avid!!' Everything Hashem does is for the GOOD! The Boss is on our side! He's got our backs! We have it made!
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(Top pic courtesy of TravelBlog)
(Bottom pic courtesy of DailyJews)