"… and tell them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout their generations…."  (Numbers 15:37)  

And if need be, add to their corners automatic weapons to defend themselves. (Today's reality)

     A father visiting from Monsey asked me to meet with him and his son, that his son needed "strengthening." After some tries, we finally met at the Kotel. The father is observant and trying to spend more time learning and teaching his children Torah, but it doesn't seem to be "getting to them."

     As soon as we began speaking, I saw that it is the same ongoing problem. The Torah is being taught entirely, solely by its physical perspective, with absolutely no attempts to access its spiritual aspect. Ouch!

     Everything has its physical nature and it has its spiritual nature, all the more so does the Torah have these. The physical are the learning and the mitzvoth, and the spiritual is the underlying reality that Hashem fills and surrounds all, that His Torah comes to show us how to reveal His hidden Presence. Every mitzvah, every line in the Torah, indeed every letter has its physical side and its spiritual side. Learning Torah physically without its spiritual reality can become dry, even (G-d forbid) a burden. Leaning the spiritual without the physical can easily lead to forsaking the world, sitting on a mountain top (G-d forbid) gazing at the sky! We need both.

     The physical leaning, without searching for it will most likely not reveal the spiritual. We have to look for Hashem in every letter, His purpose in giving us His Torah, what that particular mitzvah is designed to give us spiritually. Then we will begin to see, Hashem is Holy, His Torah is Holy, His commandments are Holy, and indeed His people were chosen to become His Holy People.

     Is it really good to get drunk on Pour'em? Well, it all depends on the way you do it. This short video will explain it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICHvXuU7bd8&t=43s

(link)

Here are a few tips that may help:

     Each Shabbos visit a different community for Shabbos dinners, especially community dinners. Introduce yourself to the rabbi's wife and let her know who you are and what you would like.

     Pray for your friends to find their soul mates and you will find yours faster.

     Before you take off your tefillin, or when you light your Shabbos candles before you uncover your eyes, ask Hashem to be oh so kind to you and send you your soulmate soon so you can make a wonderful Jewish family.

     Look at the ingredients, not just the package. When a child buys a treat, he chooses the one he wants by the pictures on the outside of the package instead looking to see if the ingredients are healthy.

    She doesn't have to have the same goals as you do, but she has to want to help you accomplish yours. And obviously, you will want to help her to accomplish her goals in life, too.

    As to relationships, the Rebbe said something that I think is the wisest advice ever, and if you are not prepared to do this with the girl you are dating, best to find a different one. He said; "It is better to be kind than to be right." If you are prepared to be like this with her then you will certainly have a peaceful home.

     Hashem bless all of you to find your soulmates very, very soon. Not only is it good for you, but every Jewish wedding is a blessing for all of the Jewish People.

     Send me good news.

     He is from Russia, here visiting his father. His father brought him over for me to put tefillin on him. It was the first time he ever put them on. His father also put them on.

     After he read the Shema in Russian, I placed his arms with his palms facing up, and told him to pray for his family and for all the things he wanted. He prayed for a long time.

     I had his father give him the blessing that fathers give to their children, then we spoke for a few minutes.

     I stressed how important it is for him to marry only a Jewish girl. He said he knows…that he had already made that mistake… and the relationship broke up. I told him to move to Israel like his father, that it would be so much better for him.

     So, what happened? I do not know where it will end up, but up until now he has been living his life entirely as if he wasn't a Jew. Please G-d, his visit to Israel, his praying at the Kotel wearing tefillin, being in the Jewish Homeland … maybe all this will bring him home, both physically and spiritually.  

     How do you know if your Torah observance is successful? These three things will increase: humility, love, and thirst.

     Humility comes when you learn of Hashem's ways and His Torah and you begin to see how much more there is to know that you have not yet learned.

     Love; when you are successful you begin to see Hashem's love for His people, and how each Jew is a precious portion of one family, and you begin to feel more love for all of the family.

     Thirst; when you learn and fulfill more of His Torah, you begin to thirst for its highest goal, His revealed Presence. It becomes your primary purpose in life.