Follow my training for Bike the Drive

In the past I’ve posted progress reports on my training for Chai Lifeline’s Bike the Drive on this blog.  This year, I’ve created totally different blog that’s mostly directed towards my very generous sponsors who are interested in my progress.  When that blog is updated, I’ll post links on Modern Uberdox.
This other blog can be found here.

Sunday’s Spark of Mussar

 Before Pesach Rabbi Yisrael Salanter was once unable to be present during the baking of this shmurah matzah, in which he was extremely meticulous. His disciples, who had undertaken to watch over the baking in his place, asked him for directions. R’ Yisrael instructed them to be extremely careful not to upset the woman who kneaded the dough and not to rush her, for she was widow, and to upset her would be a violation of the prohibition against oppressing widows and orphans. “The kashrus of the matzos is not complete,” added R’ Yisrael, “with hidurim in the laws of Pesach alone, but with the meticulous observance of the laws of behavior towards other people as well.”- from SPARKS OF MUSSAR

Chicagoland Fruit Tree list for BIRKAS HA ILONOS‏

From the Chicago Center for Torah and Chessed
Below is an updated list of trees available to say Birchas Hailonos on. We are also enclosing a summary of the halachos pertaining to this special once- a – year bracha, prepared by Horav Doniel Neustadt.

Peterson Park

6040 N. Lawndale- Cherrick backyard. Blueberry bushes.

6137 N. Lawndale in backyard

6319 N. Central Park- 2 cherry trees, 2 pear trees, apple tree in backyard

Northeast corner of Monticello and Rosemont

6019 North St. Louis – blueberry bushes-can be seen from alley

West Rogers Park

2725 W. Birchwood in yard. Pear tree-can be seen from alley

2754 W. Estes pear tree and wild pear tree in yard

2841 W. Greenleaf- Schaffel backyard- apple tree

2848 Fargo cherry tree in yard. Blooms late May/early June

6630 N. Francisco in front yard

6704 N. Francisco apple tree in yard

6737 N. Francisco-cherry tree in yard

6742 N. Mozart. Liberman backyard. Pear tree, can be seen from alley.

6509 N. Whipple St. grapevine in backyard

6521 N. Sacramento- Friedman backyard. 3 apricot trees.

6534 N. Sacramento- apple tree in backyard.

6551 N. Mozart- pear tree in backyard

Next to Sephardic Center on Touhy. Pear tree.

2907 w morse – pear tree in back yard by the fence

Lincolnwood

One house south of Pratt, east side of Kimball at the alley. An apple tree is on privately owned property but large branches hang over the alley. Usually blooms late April to early May, with apples visible in June.

6649 N. St. Louis. Dauber frontyard. Edible berry tree. Flowers come at the end of Chodesh Nissan.

Skokie

Northwest corner (on parkway of Crain St.) of Crain and Hamlin- Greenberg

Southeast corner of Monticello and Crain. A few fruit trees.

Chicago Botanical Gardens

By Rabbi Doniel Neustadt

BIRKAS HA-ILANOS: THE BLESSING OVER TREES IN BLOOM

Rosh Chodesh Nissan marks the beginning of the season for Birkas ha-Ilanos – the blessing we recite upon seeing fruit trees in bloom. Since this blessing, which extols Hashem’s ongoing renewal of creation, is recited only once a year, its halachos are difficult to remember. Women, too, may recite this blessing since it is not considered a “time-related mitzvah” from which women are exempt.

THE TEXT OF THE BLESSING:

The text of the blessing, as quoted in all of the early sources, is as follows: Boruch ata Hashem Elokeinu melech haolam shelo chisar baolamo klum uvara vo beriyos tovos vilanos tovim lehanos bahem beni adam.

In several siddurim the word davar appears instead of the word klum. But since all of the early sources indicate that the original text had the word klum, not the word davar, and the reason for the change is unsubstantiated, it is, therefore, proper to follow the early sources and recite the word klum and not the word davar.

WHEN IS BIRKAS HA-ILANOS RECITED?

The l’chatchilah, preferred time to recite this blessing is immediately upon seeing a fruit tree in bloom during the month of Nissan. Most poskim agree that the halachah mentions Nissan since generally, that is the month in which trees begin to bloom. Accordingly, in an area where they start blooming in Adar, or where they do not bloom until Iyar or Sivan, the blessing should be recited in those months. In the countries where fruit trees blossom in Tishrei or Cheshvan, the blessing should be said at that time.

If a tree bloomed in Nissan, but one did not see it until later, he may recite the blessing the first time he sees the tree as long as the fruit of the tree has not yet ripened. Once the fruit has ripened, the blessing may no longer be said.

One who saw the trees in bloom during Nissan, but forgot or neglected to recite the blessing, may recite the blessing at a later date but only until the time that the fruit of the tree has begun to grow.

The blessing is said upon seeing the actual blooming (flowering) of the tree. The growth of leaves alone is not sufficient to allow one to recite the blessing.

Some poskim hold that this blessing should not be said on Shabbos and Yom Tov, since we are concerned that it may lead to shaking or breaking a branch off the tree. All other poskim who do not mention this concern, apparently do not forbid reciting this blessing on Shabbos and Yom Tov. It is customary, though, to recite the blessing only during the week, unless the last day of Nissan falls on Shabbos.

The blessing may be said at night.

WHICH TREES REQUIRE BIRKAS HA ILANOS?

Birkas ha-Ilanos is said only on fruit-bearing trees. If one mistakenly said the blessing on a barren tree, he need not repeat the blessing on a fruit-bearing tree.

The poskim debate whether one is allowed to say the blessing on a tree which has been grafted from two species, since the halachah does not permit such grafting. It is preferable not to make the blessing on such a tree.

Some acharonim prohibit the recitation of the blessing on an orlah tree. A tree is considered orlah for the first three years after it is planted. Many other poskim, however, permit reciting the blessing on an orlah tree.

During the year of shemittah in Eretz Yisrael, it is permitted to recite the blessing even on a tree which – in violation of the halachah – has been cultivated.

BIRKAS HA ILANOS – HIDDUR MITZVAH

There are several hiddurim mentioned in the poskim concerning this once-a-year mitzvah. According to the kabbalah, especially, this blessing has special significance. Among the hiddurim are:

The blessing should be recited on two or more trees. No blessing is said on a single tree. Although the two trees do not have to be from two different species, several poskim mention that the more trees the better. Indeed, l’chatchilah the blessing should be said on trees in an orchard that is planted outside the city limits.

The blessing should be recited in the presence of a minyan followed by Kaddish. Before the blessing is recited, V’yehi noam followed by Hallelukah hallelu Keil min ha-shamayim is said.

The blessing should be recited at the earliest possible time, which is on Rosh Chodesh Nissan, unless it falls on Shabbos or it is raining.

Click here to subscribe or unsubscribe from the Achdus Bulletin list.

Help this blogger raise money for Chai Lifeline

Dear Readers,

On Sunday, May 30, 2010 I will, for the third year year, join dozens of Chai Cyclists in Chicago’s Bike the Drive, a thirty-mile rally on Lake Shore Drive, to raise money for Chai Lifeline, a wonderful organization dedicated to helping very sick children and their families.

Last year was amazing. While I had only planned on biking 30 miles, I ended up biking all 45. This year I’m aiming for an even further distance. The experience of biking with friends and strangers for an important cause like Chai Lifeline was very rewarding. The weather was great and my family was so proud of me.  You can read the details here.

Many of you helped me raise money over the last two year and I was told that I actually brought in the second largest amount of sponsorship for 2009’s Bike the Drive program. Thanks to you, we made a difference.

Years ago, we purchased a car and got a “gift certificate” for a sporting goods store. Aside from skateboarding, I’m really not much of an athlete.  So, I ended up buying a bike (and one for my wife). While I do like to bike with my family around the neighborhood, I’ve very glad that I’m able to help Chai Lifeline.  To use my bike and get sponsors that can help Chai Lifeline is an amazing mitzvah opportunity.

Chai Lifeline provides year-round emotional, social, and financial support to more than 3,000 children and their families every year. In our area, Chai Lifeline Midwest offers access to two-dozen free programs and services that touch each member of the family, helping them to live full and happy lives despite the presence of illness.  I have seen how much they do for families, especially when the outcome is devistating.

My objective is to raise at least $2,500.00 by race day and I hope you will help me reach this goal. All donations are 100% tax deductible. If your company has a matching gift program, your gift may be doubled or tripled.

I know that time are tough, believe me. But your help in donating any amount can make a difference. Thank you for supporting me, and in doing so, helping children and their families cope with the diagnosis, treatment and aftermath of serious pediatric illness. Please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested in supporting Chai Lifeline.

When I train and ride this year I will be listening to lectures about Jewish thought and personal growth. In past rides I have been able to dedicate my biking as a merit for several sick children who personally get help directly from Chai Lifeline and also in memory of departed loved ones and others close to me.  So even if you don’t donate, please let me know if you would like me to have someone in mind when I’m listening to a shiur.

This year my ride will be much more personal, since my father, of blessed memory, passed away in early November of 2009. I’ve mentioned it a bit on my blog, but not the details.  He had very quickly gotten diagnosed with leukemia and while in the hospital he had contracted pneumonia. Sadly, it was too much for his body to handle. I’m fortunate that I was able to fly out to Wichita, KS to see him and be with him for his last 48 hours.  My father, Albert Lyon Harris, Avraham ben Zorach, was always supportive of me helping Chai Lifeline. He and his wife not only give financial support to my endeavor, but were very proud that they could help an important organization like Chai Lifeline. I remember calling my dad after last year’s ride and he was so thrilled to hear how far I had biked. So this year, I’ll be dedicating my ride to my dad.

If interested in helping me please feel free to click here or please send me an email. I would also be thrilled if you could forward this post to others (or even link). Thanks again for all of your help.

Warmly,
Neil Harris

Amazing post about Reb Aryeh Levin zt"l

(Photo from here)

Micha Berger wrote an amazing post about Reb Aryeh Levin on his blog, Aspaqlaria.  It’s worth the visit and is worth printing out.
Here’s a passage that I loved:

Rav Aryeh Levin’s “job” was as a mashgiach at a children’s school, Etz Chaim. That meant not only his formal duties. It meant sharing his food with the boys who couldn’t afford regular lunches. It meant bringing food for his own home for the boys who weren’t eating lunch regularly because they simply didn’t like the fare the school could afford to serve.

There’s also three other posts about Reb Aryeh here

No rhyme or reason

I’ve been thinking about counting, because it’s almost Sefiros HaOmer.
I’ve also been thinking about Sitemeter and traffic.
I’ve decided there really is no rhyme or reason as to why people come to read this blog.

Sunday’s Salanter Selection

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter once witnessed someone running swiftly into the synagogue to say kedusha with the congregation.  In his haste, the man stepped on someone’s newly polished shoes.  After prayers, Rabbi Salanter told the man that he had a financial responsibility to pay for the shoes to be re-polished.  Rabbi Salanter added, “The entire merit of reciting kedusha is lost if its recital causes someone a loss.”

(From Tenuas HaMussar, cited in Love Your Neighbor by R Zelig Pliskin)

Building towered foresight isn’t anything at all*

Photo of the Price Tower from Wikipedia

Nisan (aside from being my Hebrew name) is the month of that Hashem revealed himself.   From a mussar point of view, there’s the whole chametz = Yetzer Hara, soul-searching thing that some of us might undergo.  It’s also spring cleaning, when we go though closets, boxes, and even old posts that have been sitting in Blogger Dashboard’s as drafts.  This is not one of them.

If I was a sports fan, I would write about how working on bettering yourself isn’t really for a Monday morning quarterback.  I, however, did spend way too much time in high school listening to what use to be called “college radio”.  The phrase “Building towered foresight isn’t anything at all” has been buzzing in my head for weeks.   Mostly because while working on several middos (derech eretz and emes) that involve interactions with others, I’ve come to see that it’s really easy after the fact to say, “I really should have handled the situation better”.

Navigating how to approach people requires being able to have the creativity to come up with multiple outcomes of possible reactions.  To only have a perspective to see one outcome or “Building towered foresight” might make you feel that you have achieved the right goal of your avodah on a middah, but I think only seeing one outcome limits you.  When speaking with family members, co-workers, or teachers it’s important to try to see several possible outcomes and adapt as needed.

This is also true when dealing with one Yetzer Hara.  No chiddush here, I just happen to be re-reading The Juggler and the King for the first time in about 17 years.

* The title of this post is from the song “Fall on Me” by R.E.M.