Thursday, March 31, 2016

Rise Above: Shine a Little Light

This week's parsha is called Shmini, the "Eighth," which refers to the day after the seven days of training the Kohanim, priests, had before the inauguration of the Mishkan. Until the eighth day, Hashem's presence did not fill the Mishkan, the G-dly fire didn't descend onto the altar.

What is it about the "Eighth"  that makes all the difference?

In nature we find seven to be common. You have seven days of the week, seven years to our agricultural cycle. Kabbala teaches that there are seven building blocks of creation, which is six emotional attributes and the the seventh, malchut, which amplifies these attributes, and they are directly connected to the six days of the week, and Shabbos.

We also find that music has seven notes. A through G. We even are told that King David had a lear that had seven strings.

All these sevens are meant to bring to the "Eighth."

What is the "Eighth?"

The "Eighth" is our true essence, it is our ability to transcend nature and connect with the part of ourselves that is above nature, our neshama, our soul. The neshama is a part of Hashem, and when we rise above nature we feel our essential bond with Him.

The seven days of training, brought them to the Eighth day, on which Hashem's presence reentered the Jewish community. This is because we once again found our way above our physical selves and revealed our oneness with Hashem.

We work all week for Shabbos and if we utilize Shabbos correctly it will bring us to the next level.

Music has the ability to move us. Music is the language of the soul. The right music will uplift you and bring you closer to Hashem.

Several years ago, while going through a rough patch, I wrote a song asking Hashem to shine a little light and brighten, what felt like a darkness that I could not overcome. Then I realized that there is no darkness that cannot be overcome. All I needed to do is dig deep inside and find the light inside me, my beautiful neshama, and let it shine on myself and others. Writing the song uplifted me.

Once again, my family and I found ourselves in a dark situation, Hashem gifted me with ALS. Every day seemed worse than the one before, as I was getting weaker each day. Then my daughter Fruma found the song, which I recorded on a cell phone. Once again it was there to lift me up.

When my friend Chaim Marcus heard the song, he felt that the world should hear it. Gathering some of the greatest talent he produced this song, and he spared nothing to make sure it is perfect, and it is. We are so thankful to all of those who put their talents and their hearts into this project. Without you it would still be just a little light.

It lifted me up, I hope the song lifts you up as well. 


62 comments:

  1. רפואה קודם למכה
    So inspired by the project of friendship that Chaim Marcus gave you to help share your light with the world.

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  2. Thank you for writing this blog. You have absolutely no idea how much this has helped me.

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  3. Thank you for writing this blog. You have absolutely no idea how much this has helped me.

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  4. This song is so inspiring and so true. Refuah Sheleimah - my daughter is the little girl in the yellow dress, and she has been talking about the song for months. Even she understood the message - it is so deep, but so universal.

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  5. Good morning Rabbi Yitz.thank you again my friend you know I also am a Horwitz,we are family you and I
    BROTHER YITZ

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  6. This brilliant video reflects your radiance, Rabbi Yitzi. What a blessing to share with the world!

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  7. Rabbi.Your song and thoughts has reached Sweden. I am in a similar situation as yours,different disease,but bedridden on breathing support. Last spring,one of my medicines and a difficult situation with my caregivers claimed my hair,the last thing I had that was pretty. I was led to Wrapunzel fan group. A community of sisters that covers their heads for different reasons.There I found a world so much bigger and more beautiful than my hair ever was. I have wonderful Jewish friends and one of them led me to you. I will continue to follow you and you will be in my thoughts and prayers everyday. I have a friend that got ALS at 27 years of age. She is on a invasive ventilator and have had a good life for over 10 years now. Thankyou,Rabbi,for being out there.You make a difference. Sincerely Ingrid Incognito

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  8. Here in Gibraltar, we are also touched not only by your song but with your life. Baruch Hashem for you and for your family.

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  9. A beautiful way to enter Shabbat here in Tel Aviv. Shabbat shalom.

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  10. Thank you Rabbi Hurwitz! Thank you for shining your "little light" in my home this morning in Lakewood. Refuah shleima May hashem bless you to dance at your children's wedding!

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  11. R' Yitzi, the song has brought all of us who hear it such joy and unity! I, for one, feel that I have met a precious person who I might have never known had I not heard "A Little Light." Keep shining the light and helping to illuminate all of us a little more each week! Yossi Green

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  12. R Yitzi, Shabbat Shalom from Montreal!
    Beautiful song and divrei Torah. Stay strong and refua shlema!

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  13. beautiful. brought tears to my eyes. thank you

    mordechai cohen

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  14. So beautiful. Thank you for all the light that you and Dina bring to the world. May Hashem lift His veil and bring the light of Redemption. Today would be good!

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  15. Rabbi, your light and inspiration has reached us here in Maryland!!

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  16. Does anyone know who produced this wonderful clip?

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  17. Interesting side note to your blog about Shmini... the symbol for infinity is 8 (when rotated sideways). I think it plays in nicely to your inspirational message about God.

    And thanks for the reminder - just relaized it's my bar mitzva parsha this week. Great memories!

    Shabbat Shalom from Raanana, Israel

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  18. THE WORLD SHOULD SEE and HEAR THIS
    Thank you Yitzy and THANK YOU all you wonderful musicians and producers

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  20. Rabbi, you are an inspiration to us all and a living example of Gam Zu L'Tova. May Hashem bless you and yours always. A good and meaningful Shabbos!

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  21. Beautiful and uplifting song! excellent production!

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  22. Rabbi I met you a few months back when I came for a visit with Chabad of Mission Viejo. You are such an inspiration of faith in Hashem! You inspired me for an even more secure belief! Thank you! ...for sharing your life, education, home and your family!! Blessings to you and yours and for a complete recovery with the coming of Moshiac!

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  23. Beautiful song and video with a beautiful inspiring message. Have listened to it so many times today with my children who love it too, especially my six year old who told me he has heard it at his Hebrew School.

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  24. Beautiful song and video with a beautiful inspiring message. Have listened to it so many times today with my children who love it too, especially my six year old who told me he has heard it at his Hebrew School.

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  25. I shared your song with a friend fighting cancer and going through a divorce at the same time. It was literally the best gift I could give her and she couldn't stop thanking me! You are an inspiration! Refuah shelaima and May You continue to be able to shine your light on us all. SimchaG NJ

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  26. I am so grateful for your words and so moved by your strength to reachout and help others.THe hadracha that you put out is remarkable and you must understand that YOU are having an impact. I am getting the message and feel the need to relay it. May Hakodesh baruchu give you a refuah shleiman and may your eishet hail keep fighting the good fight to see the beauty in life and to be your support as she journeys with you through these nisyonos. You are all incredible and lovely inside and out. May Moshiach come speedily- no more suffering!CHag kosher v'sameach to your whole family with warmest wishes from South Florida.

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  27. Thanks a lot for your weekly blog. I feel very connected to you for a very long time now although we've never met.

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  28. Thank you for this beautiful song. I will sing it and share it.

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  29. Thank you Rabbi Yitzi for the beautiful dvar Torah. My children and I listened/watched your music video this past Friday... And still singing the inspiring words! We are davening for you...for a refuah Shelayma... And chizuk to get through each day!!!

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  30. I like no adore this song Yitzi ! What a beautifull family you have and the will to stay positive ! Thank you

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  31. Hi Rabbi Yitzi, I'm a Breslov hasid from Nes Ziona / Israel. It is always hard for me to see a Jewish brother suffers, no matter who is he or where is he, I'm very sorry to read about your health and wish G-O-D will make a miracle for you soon and the disease disappear. I'm glad to see you are strong in your belief, and that you have a big (Bli Aeen Hara) happy family to support you, and that technology has a solution for you that helps you to continue communicating with the world and express your thoughts and knowledge, I thank G-O-D for that.

    I don't know all of my Rabbi's (Rabbi Nachman) "Torot"s, but when I read the article about you it remind me of something his student Rabbi Nathan wrote (Likutei Halahot, Tfilin, Halaha Hei, Siman Het), I'll try to translate it here: "…even if we are talking about someone that reached the state that he can not raise himself and do something, even so, as long as his soul is with him,
    As long as he can still move with one part of his body, he must always stay patient and wait for salvation, to be strong and to start from the beginning each time as much as he can, will be whatever will be, because no holly motion and no shout and holly desires will be lost, never, because G-O-D will never abandon." This is a bad translation, but I think you can find something in it to keep you strong in your belief and to continue to expect for salvation. I know I will, for you and for all of our brothers and sisters around the world that suffers.

    Wish you the best possible, that you'll keep on smiling forever, and to hear good news about your situation soon, wish you'll get better soon among other Jewish patients.

    Aharon Segal.

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  32. By now, having read so much and seen even more, few things inspire me - however reading your articles written with such loving devotion to spreading light - realizing the circumstances from which you muster the strength to do so, has made me truly grateful for every blessing G-d so graciously bestows upon me! - my prayers are with you, your valiant wife and gorgeous children.

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  33. I am crying from awe and inspiration...amazed by what you accomplish with such simcha! May Hashem send you a refua shelaima and the geula for all bb"a!

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  34. keep writing your beautiful blog.. it links you with the world in ways you never knew existed. Hashem should grant you and all ill people a complete and speedy recovery1

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  35. Thank you, Rabbi Hurwitz for your courage to share, your deep faith and belief and your light that illuminates love for all. Thank you also to your family and community who embrace you so lovingly. May you heal and go from strength to strength. Amen, may it be so. Love, Ellen Chaya Shulamith

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  36. Thank you, Rabbi Hurwitz for your courage to share, your deep faith and belief and your light that illuminates love for all. Thank you also to your family and community who embrace you so lovingly. May you heal and go from strength to strength. Amen, may it be so. Love, Ellen Chaya Shulamith

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  37. Hello Rabbi Hurwitz,
    Your song has inspired me more than you will ever know.
    Thank you & Refuah Sheleima,
    Tzirel K.

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  38. amazing ! i listened 10 times already !!! please someone tell me - what are the words that alex clare says at the very beginning ?

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  39. Can't stop listening to it! Thank you so much for shining your light on the world and brining Geulah So much closer. When I Watched the video and see all these Yidden together it touches a part of the soul no other song has touched for me.
    Thank you and Refuah Shelaimah

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  40. Can't stop listening to it! Thank you so much for shining your light on the world and brining Geulah So much closer. When I Watched the video and see all these Yidden together it touches a part of the soul no other song has touched for me.
    Thank you and Refuah Shelaimah

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  41. Dear Yitzi
    We loved listening to your beautiful song and wish you a refuah shleima. We will think about you in our davening. You have a beautiful family and such kind friends around you. We are thinking of you. Love Elnatan (10) and Yakira (8) [Yad Binyamin, Eretz Yisrael]

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  42. Wow....thank you for contributing SO MUCH light to the world....your attitude, your smile and your music....your family. Thank you for bringing LIGHT to Am Yisroel and the whole world! Julie and family

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  43. With tears in my eyes, I bow my head in awe. Your inspiration has surely taken us a step closer to the geulah. You have shone so much more than a little light. Thank you.

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  45. Thank you very much Rabbi Yitzi for such a beautiful song you wrote. I have been listening to it every day since I found it, it is very uplifting and inspiring I found it. The video is amazing as well. It's amazing to see the strength you have and the light you shine despite everything. You are certainly shining and infinite light into our lives and in the world. You certainly bringing the geulah much much more closer! Should be here right now. It's amazing the smile you have despite all and you have a wanderfull family and friends. You are an extraordinary example for all the world. The Kidush H' you are making is unbelievable. You are an exceptional sheliach of the Rebbe. You are a real soldier in the Rebbe's "army" to bring the Geulah now. H', the ultimate healer, should send you a very speedy refuah shleimo mitoch shear cholei isroel!!! Ad mosai!!! Moshiach Now!!! With love, Yoram Henkin from Buenos Aires, Argentina

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  46. Yitzi. Awesome video. Very moving uplifting can't get song out of my head all day long,, my friend Chaim Marcus is just amazing. Your 8 th day blog was very insightful May u continue to be blessed by HaShem to shine a lot of light. Luv u brother

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  47. Dear Rabbi Hurwitz,

    thank you very much for the beautiful song and its powerful message. The clip produced by your friends radiates with light.

    May HaShem grant you a speedy and complete recovery and bring our righteous Moshiach now!

    Kind regards from Latvia.

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  48. Rabbi Yitzy. You are an unbelievable insperation. I am in awe of your Emunah. You have a beautiful soul and I am davening for you for a refuah shelemah b'meherah. Yeshuas Hashem Keheref Ayin. We never know from where and when a Yeshua will come but anything and everything is possible with emuna and terfillah. May it be His will that you should get better completely and quickly and continue to inspire people with music and dancing and all your talents.

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  50. Rabbi — Keep singing. Keep writing. The little light shines through the darkness and the darkest places creating a new awakening and awareness. Many blessings. Chag HaPesach.

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  51. Rabbi Yitzi, Just wanted to let you know how much this song has inspired my husband and me. It was publicized only a few weeks ago, during a very difficult week for us, when we got some upsetting medical news. The constant questions on our minds were "What does Hashem want from me?" and "If my life is not going to go as I had pictured it, what is it going to look like instead?" And then we heard this song... It was like you had put all the words we couldn't yet articulate into a t'fillah to Hashem, and ever since, we have been singing it with you every day! The Jewish people are always connected in ways we can't imagine, so thank you for answering us when we felt lost. Refuah shleima to you, and chag kasher v'sameach!

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  52. Beautiful uplifting song. Thanks! Shalom....

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  53. You and your wife are still uplifting others! Wishing you both ko'ach to continue ahd meah v'esrim!

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  54. This point is discussed in 2 sichois.
    1. Chelek 3 parshas shemini sicha 1.
    2. Chelek 17 parshas shemini sicha 1.

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