THIS WAS COPIED FROM http://www.arachimusa.org/Index.asp?ArticleID=875&CategoryID=344&Page=1          Shabbat  (Sabbath) > The Seventh Day
INTRODUCTION
As our planet earth continues to hurtle forward along its orbit without pause, so, too, does modern man race forward along the path of his life. Today's work market is so competitive and pressured that one dares not stop for a moment, lest he be trampled by the galloping masses all around him. Those who do not make substantial progress are shoved to the sidelines. Inevitably, we are at a loss to avoid the paradox: modern man devotes the major part of his waking hours to earning a living for himself and his family. Tragically, the pressure is so great that he is left without the time to devote to the wife and children for whose welfare he invests so much of his time and energies.  The battle for one's livelihood has become so intense that it is the defining facet of our lives. For most, it consumes the majority of our time, efforts and thoughts. One is paid for talent, sweat, and loyal, continuous effort – in short, all the human resources with which man is endowed. We are drilled to achieve maximum efficiency, to produce the greatest possible profits for our company. Wisdom, science, and understanding are no longer sought for their own sake. Rather, their value is determined by how much the firm will profit from their application in the market place. The race into which we are thrust is not for culture or wisdom; it has deteriorated and eroded into a frantic dash after money. Human qualities such as mercy, compassion, wisdom and selfless devotion to the welfare of others are no longer of the highest order of value, unless they bring profit or fame in their wake. How do we curtail this unbridled race toward increased profitability? Where and how can modern man get in touch with his true self? Each week, the Shabbat enables man to rise above the concerns of earning his livelihood, paying his mortgage, and keeping his employer satisfied. It affords him an opportunity to get in touch with his inner self, to put the concerns of the soul at the top of his priorities, to set his own private, inner “home” in order. It changes our point of perspective on our world and those in it.  Anyone who has had the opportunity to experience an authentic Shabbat will know that by observing the seventh day has a healthful, enriching effect. It broadens our horizons and improves our quality of life.          The Shabbat day allows the family to gather without pressure, to become better acquainted with each other and to share their lives. Worries fade into the background, as man learns to view his world from a better angle, with the eyes of the soul within his heart.

Yedi'os Klaliyos

NOTE: THIS IS COPIED FROM AN EMAIL I RECEIVE.  SEE BELOW.

Yedi’os
Klaliyos

B’Taryag Mitzvos                                                                                                                                                           

בתרי״ג מצNNOות

חי נ וך מצוה י ׳

Matzoh

Highlights:

•

eat matzoh on the night

going into the fifteenth

day of Nissan.

There is an obligation to

•

made from the same

ingredients and could

look exactly the same but

one became chometz and

the other was watched so

that it did not become

chometz.

Chometz and matzoh are

•

grain that can be used in

making matzoh are:

wheat, barley, rye, oats,

and spelt.

There are five types of

•

matzoh must be drawn

before night fall and left

above ground the entire

night.

Water used for baking

Mitzvos Related to Pesach

There are twenty seven mitzvos Min HaTorah that deal exclusively with

the Yom Tov of Pesach (eighteen negative commandments and nine

positive ones). Most of the twenty seven mitzvos pertain to korbonos that

are brought on Pesach and do not apply today. Eleven out of the twelve

that are applicable today are related to chometz and matzoh. Chometz and

matzoh are made from the same ingredients and could look exactly the

same (two loaves of bread), but one became chometz and the other was

watched so that it did not become chometz.

Source of the Mitzvah

There is an obligation to eat matzoh on the night going into the fifteenth

day of Nissan

amount, the shiur (amount) that one is required to eat is a kezayis

obligation of eating a kezayis matzoh on the first night of Pesach is learned

out of the posuk in Parshas Bo that says …

dependent on the Korbon Pesach and therefore it applies today even

though there is no Beis Hamikdosh. This obligation applies to men, women, and slaves

(Eved Canaani). A person who does not eat a kezayis of matzoh the night of the

fifteenth day of Nissan transgresses this commandment

1. Like all food related mitzvos that have no specified2. This3 תאכלו מצות . This mitzvah is not4.

Makeup of the Matzah

Matzoh that is used for the mitzvah during the seder must be made with grain that

could become chometz if it was not watched properly

can be used in making matzoh are: wheat, barley, rye, oats, and spelt. Any other starch

that could be ground into flour is not qualified to become matzoh to fulfill the Torah’s

requirement

added, the matzoh would become disqualified for the mitzvah. This is because it has to

be Lechem Oni (the bread of a poor man) and having the flavor of the other liquids is

not considered Lechem Oni

water at all, it would not qualify as matzoh to be used for the mitzvah since it cannot

become chometz

Qualified Types of Matzoh

Matzah made from tevel or Maaser Rishon that had no terumah separated

from it does not qualify for this mitzvah

qualify for this mitzvah. If wheat or flour were stolen and then made into

matzoh, the matzah would qualify

Matzoh should be made

challah dough or terumah. Matzoh made from Bikkurim may

not be used since the matzoh has to be capable of being eaten

anywhere in Eretz Yisroel and Bikkurim can only be eaten in

Yerusholayim. Although Maaser Sheni must be eaten in

Yerusholayim, matzoh made from Maaser Sheini may be

used since it could be redeemed and eaten anywhere

9. Matzoh that was stolen does not10 but no brocho of Hamotzi or Achilas11. Kohanim could use matzoh made from hafroshas12.

Details of Making the Matzoh

Although Nissan is the last month of the winter, water that is

underground gets heated up from the sun before it rises

Warm water is not good for baking matzos since it makes the

dough become chometz much quicker. Therefore, water used for

baking matzoh must be drawn before night fall and left above

ground the entire night

A person who has no way of getting matzoh for Pessach may buy flour

from the market and make matzoh. It is preferable to buy kernels and

do the grinding yourself to make sure no water came in contact with it.

The most preferable matzoh is made from kernels that were watched

from the time they were harvested

dough should not be left unattended even for a second. The dough

would not become chometz unless it was left unattended for eighteen

minutes

13.14.15. Once the kneading begins the16.

1

חינוך ורמבם עשה קנח

2

מנחת חינוך אות ב

3

שמות י״ב פסוק י״ח

4

חינוך

5

רמבם פרק ו מהלכות חמץ ומצה הלכה ד

6

שו״ע או״ח סי׳ תנ״ג ס׳ א׳

7

משנה ברורה סי׳ תס״ב ס״ק ח׳

8

רמבם שם הלכה ג עם מגיד משנה

9

רמבם שם הלכה ז

10

שו״ע שם סי׳ תנ״ד ס׳ ד׳

11

משנה ברורה שם ס״ק י״ח

12

רמבם שם הלכה ח

13

רש״י פסחים דף מב. ד״ה שלנו

14

שו״ע שם סי׳ תנ״ה

15

שו״ע שם סי׳ תנ״ג ס׳ ד׳

16

שו״ע שם סי׳ תנ״ט ס׳ ב׳

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Our Loving Father In Heaven

 A little girl hops along with her mom, shopping  in the mall.  There she spots a pearl necklace.  "Please can I buy it?," she begs.
     "It costs $1.99," her mom responds, "If you'll do chores around town like cutting flowers, together with your upcoming birthday present of a dollar bill, you'll be able to buy it yourself."
     The little girl agrees, does the chores, and with her money, buys the pearls.  She adores these pearls and wears them everywhere.  She wears them to school and to every occasion, making her feel very grown up.
     One night, during her nightly bedtime routine with her Dad, Dad sits at the edge of her bed and asks, "Do you love me?" 
     "Of course Daddy," she responds. 
     "Then give me your pearl necklace."
     "No Daddy.  Not my pearls.  I'll give you instead my best teddy bear."
     "It's okay," says Dad, "I love you."  And he kisses her good-night.
     This scene repeats itself the next week, and the week after.  One night as Dad enters her bedroom, he sees his little daughter sitting on her bed, feet crossed indian style, with tears streaming down her face.
     "Is everything okay?" Dad asks, concerned.
     Barely able to muster a word, she just stretches out her hand and opens her fist.  Inside was her pearl necklace.
     The father, with a smile, takes the pearls, and with his other hand pulls out from his pocket a blue velvet box.  He quietly watches as his little girl opens it up, revealing an exquisite strand of real, genuine pearls.
    
     The key to the parable:
     The father was really ready to give her the genuine pearls right away, he was just waiting for his child to show that she loved him. So too, Hashem is waiting for us to show him we love him so that he can give us real genuine 'pearls'.