Zos HaBracha and Sukkos, Stories, News

Amazing Financial Sales in Israel despite the World Crises

Sales of Sukkos rose 20% this year over last year. Many of the customers were traditional or newly repentant Jews.

Revised Tehillim List

As in every year, I remove some of the names where somebody wrote me: Say Tehillim for so and so and then when I inquire if this person still needs prayers, I come up with a blank answer.

Here is a reason why I don't plan to travel to Mexico, parts of central or South

America:

   Dov Ben Frida was kidnapped after a leaving a Schul in Mexico City for
 Randsom Please Pray.
Men Cancer Patients: Gilad Hillel ben Bracha Mirel, Shalom Charles ben  Gracia, Eytan
Ephraim ben Nechama Yeta

Cancer in Remission: Reuven ben Shayne, Avraham HaCohain ben Yocheved – I pray for them daily but they are not critical Avraham suffers from pain for years.

Illness: Mordechai Tzemach ben Mazel Tov (again the advertisements only said Mazel), Yisrael Noach ben Hinda, Eliyahu ben Rosa

Recovering and or in pain: Meir Yisrael ben Faige, Avraham ben Devorah, Asher ben Malka

Women: Cancer Patients: Rivka bas Tirza, Nirit bas Mazel, Esther bas Chana, Moriah bas Chana, Chasia Tzipporah bas Sara, Chana bas Rachel, Leah bas Rachel, Rachel Sara bas Osnat

MS: Keren Neshama bas Esther Ruth, Chai Mirel Rachel bas Bayla Alta,

Other illnesses: Ruchama Chava Bayla bas Chaya, Rachel bas Chana, Faige Rachel bas Tova, Chaya Yocheved Elka bas Chana Rachel, Chaya Tova bas Perel

For weekly Tehillim elderly people: Chaim HaCohain ben Devorah, Shoshana Raisel bas Chaya Tova.

Zos HaBracha

33:1 And this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

The Medrash and Zohar are filled this week with tales of Moshe vs. the Angel of Death at the time of his parting. The Angel of Death comes to him and he uses the DIVINE NAME to make him flee so that he can bless Yisrael.

2 And he said: The LORD came from Sinai, and rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, and He came from the myriads holy, at His right hand was a fiery law unto them.

We can note the mention and hint here of the final Judgement of Esav and Mt. Seir in the days of the Moshiach.

He said: The Lord came from Sinai. Moses initiated his blessing by praising the Omnipresent, and then he addressed the needs of Israel. — [Sifrei 33:2] The praise with which Moses commenced, mentions the merit of Israel. All this was a way of conciliation, as if to say, “These people are worthy that a blessing should rest upon them.” came from Sinai. He came out toward them when they came to stand at the foot of the mountain, as a bridegroom goes forth to greet his bride, as it is said, “[And Moses brought the people forth] toward God” (Exod. 19:17). We learn from this, that God came out toward them (Mechilta 19:17). and shone forth from Seir to them. [Why did He come from Seir?] Because God first offered the children of Esau [who dwelled in Seir] that they accept the Torah, but they did not want [to accept it]. He appeared. to them [Israel] from Mount Paran. [Why did God then come from Paran?] Because He went there and offered the children of Ishmael [who dwelled in Paran] to accept the Torah, but they [also] did not want [to accept it]. — [A.Z. 2b] and came. to Israel. with some holy myriads. With God were only some of the myriads of His holy angels, but not all of them, nor [even] most of them. This is unlike the manner of a mortal, who displays all the splendor of his riches and his glory on his wedding day. — [Sifrei 33:2] a fiery law for them. It was originally written before God in [letters of] black fire upon [a background of] white fire. — [Tanchuma Bereishith 1] He gave it to them on tablets, inscribed, [as it were,] by His right hand [thus it is said here, “from His right hand”]. Another explanation of אֵשׁ דָּת : As the Targum renders it, that He gave it to them from amidst the fire.
3. Indeed, You showed love for peoples. [God] also displayed great affection to the tribes, each one of whom were known as a people, for only Benjamin was destined to be born when the Holy One, blessed is He, said to Jacob, “A nation and a multitude of nations shall come into existence from you” (Genesis 35:11). [Thus we see that Benjamin alone was called “a nation.” “A multitude of nations” refers to Ephraim and Manasseh. See Rashi on Gen. 35:11, 48:4.]- [Gen. Rabbah 82:4] all his holy ones are in Your hand. [This refers to] the souls of the righteous, which are hidden away with God, as It is said, “But my lord’s soul shall be bound up in the bundle of life, with the Lord, your God” (I Sam. 25:29). - [Sifrei 33:3] for they […] be centered at Your feet. And Israel is indeed worthy of this [privilege to have their souls hidden away with God], because they placed themselves right in the middle (תּו‏ֹ) of the bottom of the mountain at Your feet [figuratively speaking] at Sinai. The word תֻּכּוּ is in the passive conjugation, which has the meaning: הִתְוַכּוּ,“They [allowed themselves] to be placed right in the middle (תּו‏ֹ)” [of the underside of the mountain], between Your feet. bearing Your utterances. They bore upon themselves the yoke of Your Torah. — [Sifrei 33:3] Your Torah. Heb. מִדַּבְּרֹתֶי‏. The mem in it [i.e., in this word] is somewhat of a root letter [rather than a prefix], as in, “And he heard the voice speaking (מִדַּבֵּר) to him” (Num. 7:89); and, “And I heard what was being spoken (מִדַּבֵּר) to me” (Ezek. 2:2). This form is similar to מִתְדַּבֵּר אֵלַי, [speaking to Himself for me to hear, see Rashi on Num. 7:89]. This too, namely, the word מִדַּבְּרֹתֶי‏, means: “what You were speaking to let me know what to tell the children of Israel.” Tes porparledurs in Old French. Onkelos, however, renders [the phrase יִשָּׂא מִדַּבְּרֹתֶי‏ as: “they traveled (יִשָּׂא like יִסַּע) according to Your commands (דַּבְּרֹתֶי‏).” Thus, the mem is a servile prefix, with the meaning of מִן, from . [Thus, according to Onkelos, the word מִדַּבְּרֹתֶי‏ literally means, from Your utterrances.] Another explanation [of this verse is as follows]: Indeed, You showed love for peoples-Even when You displayed Your affection towards the nations of the world, showing them a smiling [friendly] face, and You delivered Israel into their hands, all his holy ones are in Your hand. All Israel’s righteous and good people clung to You; they did not turn away from You, and You guarded them. — [B.B. 8a)] for they let themselves be centered at your feet. And they placed themselves right in the middle of, and entered beneath Your [protective] shadow; bearing your utterances. And they gladly accepted Your decrees and Your laws. — [see Tanchuma 5] And these were their words:

The Torah was first offered to Yishmael and Esav and both the other son of Avraham and the other son of Yitzchak rejected it. Only the Bnei Yisrael accepted the Torah without checking was written down but accepting how it would be distributed by saying “We will do and we will listen” – this is blind faith because usually the negotiator checks out what the fine print says and the Bnei Yisrael basically are saying shoot first and ask questions later.

3 Yea, He loves the peoples, all His holy ones--they are in Thy hand; and they sit down at Thy feet, receiving of Thy words.

HASHEM does not despise us even if we sin and HE rebukes us. It is the love of a father and a king to HIS Nation. NOW HEAR THE WORDS OF THE L-RD!

4 Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob. 5 And there was a king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.

Sentence 4 we teach to small children when they learn how to talk and sentence 5 we sing to a bride and groom under the Chupa. These words are ingrained in our people. Sometimes we will not observe each and every commandment. We will believe in reincarnation but not in an Eternal Soul in the Image of G-D. Why? I cannot tell you but I came across an intelligent man erev Yom Kippur who has these beliefs. But he is part of the Jewish People whether he sings the song “The glowing face of the Cohen” on Yom Kippur or not. If he does not believe, it may not be his fault. In fact it may be a Hitler or growing up in a non-Jewish society that made him this way. The natural state of a Jew (Bnei Yisrael) is in these two Pasukim. Yachad Shiftei Yisrael (Together the tribes of Yisrael).

6 Let Reuben live, and not die in that his men become few.

Reuven is a tribe that leads one of the four sides and has its own banner so why “Let Reuven Live”? Rashi comes to tell us: May Reuben live. in this world, and not die. in the world-to-come, that the incident involving Bilhah not be remembered against him. — [see Rashi Gen. 35:22; Sifrei 33:6] and may his people be counted in the number. May Reuben be counted along with the enumeration of the rest of his brothers. This [matter, that the incident involving Bilhah should not exclude Reuben from being counted together with his brothers] is similar to what is said: “[And Reuben went] and lay with Bilhah… and Jacob’s sons were twelve” (Gen. 35:22), [indicating] that he was not excluded from the number [of Jacob’s sons, on account of this incident].

7 And this for Judah, and he said: Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him in unto his people; his hands shall contend for him, and Thou shall be a help against his adversaries.

Rashi comes to bring us a Chiddush (some henceforth new point here). He juxtaposed Judah to Reuben, because they both confessed to the wrong they had done, as it is said, “that wise men have told… to them alone… and no stranger passed between them” (Job 15:18-19). [This verse alludes to the confession of Reuben and Judah (“that wise men have told”), and how they were consequently blessed here together (“them alone”); although Levi was next in line chronologically to Reuben, nevertheless here, in the context of this blessing, Levi did not come between them (“no stranger came between them”), but rather, he was blessed immediately afterwards (verses 8-11).]- [see Rashi Job 15: 19] Our Rabbis further explained that during the entire forty years that Israel was in the desert, Judah’s bones were rolling in his coffin, because of the excommunication which he had accepted upon himself [when he took responsibility for Benjamin], as it is said, “If I will not bring him to you… then I have sinned against you all of the days” (Gen. 43:9). [So], Moses said, “Who caused Reuben to [publicly] confess his sin? It was Judah…”(see Sotah 7b) [and thus, by placing Judah together with Reuben, Moses alluded to this merit of Judah, and, in effect, “May the Lord listen to Judah’s voice,” is a prayer that Judah’s bones would finally come to rest]. O Lord, hearken to Judah’s voice. [I.e., Also, hear the prayer of Judah’s descendants:] The prayer of David and Solomon, and the prayer of Asa because of the Ethiopians, and that of Jehoshaphat on account of the Ammonites, and that of Hezekiah because of Sennacherib. — [see Sifrei 33:7] and bring him to his people. in peace, from war. his hands will do battle for him. May his hands fight his battle (רִיבוֹ) , and may they exact his vengeance. and may You be a help against his adversaries. [Moses here,] was praying for [Judah’s descendant] Jehoshaphat, concerning the battle of Ramoth Gilead, [as Scripture states,]“Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him (עֲזָרוֹ)” (II Chron. 18:31). Another explanation: O Lord, hearken to Judah’s voice. Here, included within Judah’s blessing, Moses alluded to [and incorporated] a blessing for Simeon [the allusion being in the word שְׁמַע, the very root of שִׁמְעוֹן]. Also [in accordance with this incorporation of Simeon within Judah], when they divided Eretz Israel [among the tribes], Simeon received [his portion] out of the lot of Judah, as Scripture states, “Out of the lot of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon” (Josh. 19:9). - [Sifrei 33:7] Now why did Moses not devote a separate blessing for him? Because he held against him what he had done in Shittim [referring to the sin of Zimri the son of Salu, a leader of the tribe of Simeon (see Num. 25:1-14)]. So it is written in the Aggadah of Psalms. — [Shocher Tov 90]

8 And of Levi he said: Thy Thummim and Thy Urim be with Thy holy one, whom Thou didst prove at Massah, with whom Thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah; 9 Who said of his father, and of his mother: 'I have not seen him'; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew he his own children; for they have observed Thy word, and keep Thy covenant. 10 They shall teach Jacob Thine ordinances, and Israel Thy law; they shall put incense before Thee, and whole burnt-offering upon Thine altar. 11 Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands; smite through the loins of them that rise up against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

The Tribe of Levi was Kahuna and Leviim. The Leviim were Torah teachers and guides for Yisrael and zealous in protecting the Torah and Mitzvos. The writing in line 11 is a future prediction of the Maccabees fighting the foreign gods in the Temple and other non-Jewish influences.

12 Of Benjamin he said: The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him; He covers him all the day, and He dwells between his shoulders.

Since we just dealt with Levi and the Cohanim, it is only fitting that we deal with Benyamin as on his shoulders (Har Habeis) sat and will sit the Temple.

13 And of Joseph he said: Blessed of the LORD be his land; for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that couches beneath, 14 And for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, and for the precious things of the yield of the moons, 15 And for the tops of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the everlasting hills, 16 And for the precious things of the earth and the fullness thereof, and the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush; let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the crown of the head of him that is prince among his brethren. 17 His firstling bullock, majesty is his; and his horns are the horns of the wild-ox; with them he shall gore the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth; and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

For throughout the inheritance of all the tribes, there was no land more full of goodness than Joseph’s land. — [Sifrei 33:13] and with the sweetness. Heb. מִמֶּגֶד [This word denotes] delicacies and sweetness. the deep. The [waters which lie in] the depth [of the earth] ascend, and moisten the land from below. You find that in the case of each tribe, Moses’ blessing resembles Jacob’s blessing [to the same tribe. For instance, Jacob blessed Joseph also with the וּמִתְּהוֹם רֹבֶצֶת תָּחַת] (Gen. 49:25). For Joseph’s land was exposed to the sun, which sweetened its fruit. — [Sifrei 33:14] the moon’s yield. Heb. יְרָחִים גֶּרֶשׁ. Some fruits are ripened by the moon (יָרֵחַ). - [Sifrei 33:14] These are cucumbers and gourds. Another explanation: [This refers to fruits] which the earth expels (מְגָרֶשֶׁת) and brings out [from itself] month (יֶרַח) by month. — [Targum Onkelos] And blessed with the fruits that are first (רֹאשׁ) to ripen, for its mountains advance (קֶדֶם) the ripening of their fruits [thus, “the early mountains”]. Another explanation: [This verse] teaches [us] that their creation [that of the mountains in the territory of Joseph] preceded (קֶדֶם) that of all other mountains. — [Sifrei 33:15] the sweetness of perennial hills. גִּבְעוֹת עוֹלָם. Hills which produce fruit continuously (עוֹלָם) and do not cease [to produce fruit even] because of lack of rain.

… there are some instances in which the word בְּכוֹר has the meaning of “greatness” and “majesty,” as it is said, “I will also make him a great man (בְּכוֹר) [the highest of the kings on earth]” (Ps. 89:28); and similarly, “Israel is My son, my firstborn (בְּכוֹרִי)” [denoting high status] (Exod. 4:22). [Thus:] בְּכוֹר here: The king who will descend from Joseph, namely, Joshua. his ox. whose strength is as mighty as that of an ox, to conquer many kings. is [given] glory. [Literally, “glory is his,”] was given to him [when Moses transferred some of his attribute of majesty to Joshua when he became leader], as it is said, [God said to Moses:] “And you shall give some of your majesty to him” [Joshua] (Num. 27:20). and his horns are the horns of a re’em. The ox is powerful, but its horns are not beautiful; [on the other hand,] a re’em has beautiful horns, but it is not powerful. [Moses thus] blessed Joshua with the power of an ox and the beauty of a re’em 's horns. — [Sifrei 33:17] the ends of the earth. [This refers to] the thirty-one kings [whom Joshua conquered in the Land of Israel]. Is it possible that these kings were all from the Land of Israel? [The answer is, that] there was not one king or ruler who did not acquire for himself a palace and a holding in the Land of Israel [even though he belonged to another country]. [And why so?] Because the Land of Israel was considered distinguished to all of them, as it is said [of the Land of Israel], “The finest inheritance of the hosts of nations” (Jer. 3:19). - [Sifrei 33:17] [For this reason, the thirty-one kings are referred to as “the ends of the earth.” these are the myriads of Ephraim. The ones who are to be gored are the myriads who were killed by Joshua who was descended from Ephraim [Joseph’s son]. and these are the thousands of Manasseh. They are the thousands killed in Midian by Gideon, [who was descended from Manasseh, Joseph’s other son], as it is said, “Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor…” (Jud. 8:10) [and the verse continues to enumerate many thousands of hosts which were there].

18 And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out, and, Issachar, in thy tents. 19 They shall call peoples unto the mountain; there shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness; for they shall suck the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sand. 20 And of Gad he said: Blessed be He that enlarges Gad; he dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm, yea, the crown of the head. 21 And he chose a first part for himself, for there a portion of a ruler was reserved; and there came the heads of the people, he executed the righteousness of the LORD, and His ordinances with Israel. 22 And of Dan he said: Dan is a lion's whelp, that leaps forth from Bashan. 23 And of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the sea and the south. 24 And of Asher he said: Blessed be Asher above sons; let him be the favored of his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil. 25 Iron and brass shall be thy bars; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

These five tribes whom [Moses] blessed last, namely, Zebulun, Gad, Dan, Naftali and Asher, have their names repeated [e.g., “And of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun…”], in order to instill them with strength and power, for they were the weakest of all the tribes. And indeed [for this reason,] they were the ones Joseph introduced to Pharaoh, as it is said, “And from among his brothers, he took five men” (Gen. 47:2). [Joseph took these brothers and not the others,] because they looked weak, so that Pharaoh should not appoint them as his war officers. — [B.K. 92a] Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure, and Issachar, in your tents. Zebulun and Issachar entered into a partnership [with the following agreement]: Zebulun would dwell at the seashore and go out in ships, to trade and make profit. He would thereby provide food for Issachar, and they would sit and occupy themselves with the study of Torah. Consequently, Moses mentioned Zebulun before Issachar [even though the latter was the elder of the two], because Issachar’s Torah came through [the provisions of] Zebulun. — [Gen. Rabbah 99:9] Rejoice, Zebulun, in your departure. Prosper when you go out to trade. and Issachar. Prosper when you sit in your tents to study the Torah, to sit [in the Sanhedrin] and to [calculate and] proclaim leap years, and to fix the months, as it is said, “And from the sons of Issachar, those who had an understanding of the times” (I Chron. 12:32) [and then the verse continues,] “their chiefs were two hundred”-the chiefs of the Sanhedrin occupied themselves with this, and in accordance with them, the seasons and leap years were fixed [for all Israel].

Beresheis 49:13 Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea, and he shall be a shore for ships, and his flank shall be upon Zidon. 14 Issachar is a large-boned ass, couching down between the sheep-folds. 15 For he saw a resting-place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under task-work. 16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that bites the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward. 18 I wait for Thy salvation, O LORD. 19 Gad, a troop shall troop upon him; but he shall troop upon their heel. 20 As for Asher, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties 21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he gives goodly words. Was Yacov’s blessing to these tribes so why the difference?

The answer appears to me to be that Gad remained the same, Zevulun would continue with Commerce from Haifa and Yissachar in the Torah Tents in partnership as a supporter of Kollelim and the Kollelnik who prayers for the man with the stocks and bonds to have money so that he can continue learning Torah. The original sheep folds mentioned is Klaf of Mezuzos, Tephillin and Sifrei Torah. Gad and Dan continued with the original blessings but the strength of a lion is added by Moshe and Asher and Naphtali are given more material blessings. I just wonder if the real petroleum oil is in the southern part of the tribe of Asher from Moshe’s blessing or if we are only talking about olive oil – that of course is Rashi’s Pshat.

19. More on the blessing from Rashi: This is why the verse speaks of the assembly of the people in terms of “They will call”]. And there [at Mount Moriah, in the Holy Temple], the people will offer up righteous sacrifices on the Pilgrimage Festivals. for they will be nourished by the abundance of the seas. …Things covered up and hidden by the sand-the tarit [or “torino,” a kind of fish], the snail [from which a sky-blue dye was obtained], and “white glass,” all of which come from the sea or the sand. These were found in the territory of Issachar and Zebulun, as is taught in Tractate Megillah (6a): [Scripture says, “Zebulun is a people who jeopardized his life to die” (Jud. 5:18). [And why?] Because [as that verse continues], “Naftali is on the high places of the field,” i.e., Zebulun complained [to God] about his territory, saying, “To my brothers, You have given fields and vineyards [… while to me, You have given seas and rivers]!” [In reply, God told Zebulun that the other brothers will seek him out because of the hidden treasures contained within the seas and the sands.] the treasures. Heb. וּשְׂפֻנֵי An expression meaning a covering, as it is said, “And he covered (וַיִּסְפֹּן) the house” (I Kings 6:9); and, וְסָפֻן בָאֶרֶז, which the Targum renders as: “And it was covered with a covering of cedar” (I Kings 7:3). Another explanation: they will call people to the mountain: Through Zebulun’s commerce, merchants of the world’s nations will come to his land. … Zebulun and Issachar [will be nourished], that is to say, the sea will lavish them with wealth. Zevulun controls the land by the port of Acco and of Haifa.
20. Blessed is He Who grants expanse to Gad. This teaches us that Gad’s territory extended far eastward. — [Sifrei 33:20] He dwells like a lion. Because Zebulun was near the border, he is therefore compared to lions, for all those who are located near the border must be mighty [like lions, in order to protect themselves from attack]. — [Sifrei 33:20] tearing the arm [of his prey, together] with the head. Anyone slain by the Gadites could be readily identified: they used to cut off the head together with the arm in one blow. — [Jonathan Ben Uziel]
21. He saw the first portion for himself. He saw fit to take for himself territory in the land of Sihon and Og, whose land was the beginning (רֵאשִׁית) of the conquest of the Land. because there, the portion of the lawgiver is hidden. For Gad knew [through Divine transmission,] that within his territory would be contained a portion of the field designated for the burial of “the lawgiver,” namely Moses. — [Sotah 13b] of the lawgiver. That portion [of the field, where Moses was buried,] was hidden (סָפוּן) and concealed from every creature, as it is said, “And no man knows his burial place” (Deut. 34:6). And he came. i.e., Gad came. at the head of the people. This is the Golan Heights that defends from the North-Eastern front and open to expansion towards the Euphrates.

Dan is a young lion. Dan was also located close to the border, and so [like Gad], he is compared to lions. — [Sifrei 33:22] streaming from Bashan. [This is to be understood] as the Targum [Onkelos] renders it [“His land drinks from the rivers that flow from Bashan”]. For the Jordan [river] comes out from Dan’s territory, from the Paneas cave, which is [a place called] Leshem, within the territory of Dan. [The children of Dan conquered Leshem and incorporated it into their territory, calling it Dan after their father,] as it is said, “And they called Leshem, Dan” (Joshua 19:47). - [Bech. 55a] And its source (זִנּוּק) and flow is from Bashan. Another explanation [of יְזַנֵּק מִן-הַבָּשָׁן] is: Just as a water flow (זִנּוּק) issues from one place and divides itself [afterwards] into two directions, similarly, the tribe of Dan [started with one territory and ended up] taking a portion in two places. First, they took the northwest [of the Land of Israel], namely, Ekron and its surroundings. But this did not suffice them. So they came and fought against Leshem, which is Paneas, located in the north-east [of the Land of Israel]. [Now Rashi demarcates these two areas geographically:] For the Jordan comes out of the Paneas [or Banias] cave, which is in the east [and at the northern extremity] of the Land of Israel, and then the river flows from the north [straight down] to the south, ending at the edge of the Salt Sea [“Dead Sea”], which in turn, is in the east of Judah’s territory, Judah having taken his territory in the southern part of the Land of Israel, as is delineated in the book of Joshua (19:47). This is the meaning of what is stated there: “And the border of the children of Dan went out from them, so the children of Dan arose and fought against Leshem [and took possession of it].” The Banias from a modern political story is on the border with the “farms in Lebanon” that are under dispute where the first three soldiers were captured by the Hizballah.

23. favorably satisfied. Naftali’s land would fully satisfy all its inhabitants. Possess the sea and the south. The sea of Kinneret fell within Naftali’s portion; moreover, he took a rope’s length of fishing-coast on its south[ern shore] for spreading out his nets and trawls. — [B.K. 81b] The sea supplies carp and Amnon Fish (aka St. Peter’s Fish) and is a good source of income for fisherman unto this day.
24. May Asher be blessed with sons. I saw in Sifrei the following (33:24): “Among all of the tribes, you will not find one that is blessed with sons as Asher was.” But I do not know in which regard. He will be pleasing to his brothers. Asher pleased his brothers with “Onpakinon oil” [oil of unripe olives, used for anointing one’s skin] and tasty foods (?), and they please him [by repaying him] with grain. Another explanation of “He will be pleasing to his brothers” : Because the women who came from Asher were beautiful [and were sought after for marriage]. This is the meaning of what is stated in Chronicles (I Chron. 7:31). [when it speaks of Malchiel, Asher’s grandson] “he was the father בִּרְזָיִת [literally, olive-child]” that is to say, his daughters were married to Kohanim Gedolim [and kings], who were anointed with olive oil (זַיִת) . - [Gen. Rabbah 71:10] and immerse his foot in oil. for his land flowed like a spring with oil. It once happened, that the people of Laodicea were in need of oil, and they appointed an agent [who was sent from place to place, until he found an olive farmer. The latter brought this agent to his home, and there, the olive farmer washed himself and then dipped his hands and feet, thereby fulfilling our verse here: “And dip his foot in oil.” Then, he supplied the agent from Laodicea with one million, one hundred and eighteen thousand maneh worth of olive oil!]. — [Tractate Men. 85b] Rashi continues that the money from the oil was paid in metals hence the blessing with the metals.

26 There is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, who rides upon the heaven as thy help, and in His excellency on the skies. 27 The eternal God is a dwelling-place, and underneath are the everlasting arms; and He thrust out the enemy from before thee, and said: 'Destroy.' 28 And Israel dwells in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, in a land of corn and wine; yea, his heavens drop down dew. 29 Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee? a people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and that is the sword of thy excellency! And your enemies shall dwindle away before thee; and thou shall tread upon their high places.

34:1 And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the LORD showed him all the land, even Gilead as far as Dan; 2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah as far as the hinder sea; 3 and the South, and the Plain, even the valley of Jericho the city of palm-trees, as far as Zoar. 4 And the LORD said unto him: 'This is the land which I swore unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying: I will give it unto thy seed; I have caused thee to see it with your eyes, but thou shall not go over thither.' 5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.

According to the Medrash HASHEM and three Angels dealt with Moshe’s burial. The fight is whether the Angel of Death will have power over Moshe and the Medrash states that HASHEM kisses Moshe and extracts the soul while Gavriel prepares the linens for the body and Michael the resting place with Chief Heavenly Scribe Zagzagel working on the burial of Moshe.

6 And he was buried in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth-peor; and no man knows of his sepulchre unto this day. 7 And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. 8 And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended. 9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him; and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses. 10 And there hath not arisen a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face; 11 in all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land; 12 and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses wrought in the sight of all Israel.

This Simchas Torah we will should say Chazak and immediately start Beresheis again.

This Week’s Story is similar to what I come across a lot but most is not out of human love http://www.aish.com/family/rebbitzen/Conversion_and_Love.asp

Dear Rebbetzin Feige,(Twerski)

For about a year now, I have decided to convert to Judaism. I have not formally begun the process yet, but after spending a year tossing around the idea of conversion and letting go of Christian beliefs, I decided to become Jewish. How I got into Judaism is something which I am ashamed of mentioning since I am only 18 years old and fear that people will not take my desire to convert seriously. At school, I had met a Jewish boy who came from a modern Orthodox family. We began dating and are still together. Throughout our two years of being together, we have managed to keep our relationship hidden from our parents; my Christian parents would never approve of it, and neither would his.

As I learned more about Judaism, I began praying and studying Torah regularly, dressing modestly and became shomeret negiah. My boyfriend respects and supports my decisions. The problem I have is with my mother who is the most religious in my family. She has taken notice of my new love for Judaism and is showing her disapproval -- something which I understand and was expecting. She told me that she feels as though she is losing her child and has failed in raising me to be a 'good Christian.' She gets angry when I bring home kosher food, dress in long skirts, read Torah, and am reluctant to go to church and other "weird" things I seem to be doing, as she says.

She suspects that I may have a Jewish boyfriend and often tells me, "Do not convert for anyone. If someone really loves you, he will accept you as you are." I want to convert for myself, not for my boyfriend or for anyone else. And this my mother does not believe. Rebbetzin Feige, how can I bring joy into mother's heart when she sees me as a disappointment? How do I get the idea of a boyfriend out of her mind? I have tried to reassure her that she is not losing me, and that no one is forcing me to convert, but she still believes that an outside influence is pressuring me to be Jewish. What should I do?

My dear reader: Before embarking on the complicated journey into Judaism, there are a number of facts you should know.

Firstly, Judaism does not seek converts. Not because we are reluctant to share our spiritual wealth, but because in contrast to other faiths, we don't consider those who don't embrace our religion as damned or consigned to oblivion. The Jewish position is that if a person observes the seven Noachide laws that are basic to all civilized societies, (i.e. refraining from stealing, murder idolatry, torturing animals, adultery, cursing God and embracing the positive mandate establish a legal system), that individual can merit a portion in eternity. We don't need to "save" anybody. Decent human beings can travel their own path to their specific eternal portion in the world to come.

Though we may be eager to reclaim Jews for Judaism, we don't feel compelled to proselytize to the world at large.

Secondly, consider Larry and Charlotte who came to meet with us about Charlotte's conversion to Judaism. They were serious about each other and Larry's parents could not countenance their son marrying out of the faith. It became evident that Charlotte's interest in Judaism was no more than an attempt to mollify his parents and move on with their personal agenda. In the course of our conversation, we advised her that religion, a relationship with the Master of the world, the very author of our every breath, was not a casual matter to be taken lightly. It is, in fact, the ultimate relationship, the one that has to carry us into eternity. Decisions about whom we marry and with whom we spend our years on Earth, important as they are, do not come close to the significance and seriousness of who our God is and what we believe.

An ultimate decision must never be at the mercy of a penultimate one. My husband pointed out to Charlotte that her new religious interest was frankly not in Judaism but in Larryism. It was simply a means by which to get the man she wanted.

I am not suggesting, my dear reader, that your interest is insincere or ingenuous. What I do know from many years of observing complex human nature is that oftentimes a person is not aware of the many subconscious ulterior motives that lurk beneath the surface. We have seen people who discovered after much honest soul searching that their exploration into Judaism was motivated, deep down, by an effort to hurt their families who they perceived had betrayed them in a myriad of ways. Marriage, retaliation, status seeking, currying favor, etc., are not valid reasons for conversion. It takes a very honest and insightful person and a painstaking process to identify personal interest, ego agendas and to confront the truth. There is no technology that can be applied. It may take a long time for one to be sure.

Linda was a brilliant person of consummate integrity. She studied Judaism and came to classes for years. She was CEO of a huge company and sacrificed much to experience holidays and life cycles in the lives of our community. Her agonizing struggle and search for the truth came to an end when the Rabbi asked her if she was prepared to live a life alone and unmarried. Becoming a convert, he suggested, would further complicate her life and make finding an appropriate partner all the more difficult. She said that when she was able to give an unequivocal positive response, she knew that her search had come to an end and she was ready. She realized that she was committed to the point where no barriers could dissuade her or stand in her way.

Dear reader, one of the tests you might have to subject yourself to in order to strip away any doubt or semblance of ulterior motive would be to give up your boyfriend. With that personal bias laid to rest, with that subjectivity no longer an issue, you can then proceed to evaluate the merits of your interest in Judaism. Only when there are no strings attached will you get a clear and objective picture of where you stand.

Let me clarify the need for such clarification, and the possible consequences for ignoring it. What if your relationship with this young man should fail to materialize, as sometimes occurs over time with early infatuations? What if your friend's parents would object and the young man feels constrained to accede to his parents' wishes? Are you still committed to becoming an observant Jew? Do you become resentful or bitter to Torah because of the collapse of your romantic interests? I am not questioning your sincerity or integrity, God forbid, nor do I seek to denigrate your courageous attempt of commitment to mitzvoth. Rather, by subjecting yourself to this test, you will determine if your journey can be a proud acquisition of your own, independent of any other person or consideration.

I have the distinct privilege of presiding over a community of which a good portion are righteous converts. They are the finest and the best, and indistinguishable from the rest. In many instances, we are into their second and third generations with offspring who are distinguished rabbis, scholars, professionals and most importantly proud members of the Jewish people. These converts all had one thing in common -- no matter the cost, the pain and the sacrifice, they absolutely had to be Jewish!

Dr. Milt and Ann came to see us about becoming Jewish. I vividly remember that day. I was in a big rush. I had to catch a plane. The words I had said so many times before came pouring out. Jewish law requires that before embracing candidates for conversion, we must first attempt to dissuade them. I gave them the routine. Why would you want to join a people who have been persecuted time and again in the past; the laws of probability would certainly suggest God forbid, that the future will be no different? Our history has been drenched in blood -- inquisitions, pogroms, the Holocaust. Why associate with us and get caught up in our fate?

Furthermore, ours is not a once a week religious commitment to a house of worship. It is a way of life -- a discipline -- from the moment we awake in the morning to when we go to sleep at night, our behavior is circumscribed by laws, the Jewish way to do things. 613 commandments regulate the way we awaken each day, eat our meals, conduct business, interrelate, communicate with each other, inter-gender contact, the way we love, raise children, etc., etc. We are accountable on every level. Judaism is not for the feint-hearted; it is very serious stuff. If you are not born into it, why would you voluntarily subject yourself to it?

They listened intently and respectfully until I finished my tirade and then responded very quietly, thoughtfully and emphatically. "Yes, you are right; it may not make perfect sense, but we just have to do it. Our souls yearn for it and we cannot ignore the calling." I tried and I failed. Today, they are beloved members of our community.

Your mother, dear reader, is another reason why you have to be sure your quest is real and not motivated even minutely by extraneous reasons. Her pain is understandable. She raised you a certain way and the new direction you have taken feels like rejection to her. Whatever the outcome, you must reassure her that it is only because of the values that she instilled within you that you are able to seek truth.

The fact that you adopted and observe many of the mitzvoth is highly commendable, especially those that are counter-culture, such as dressing modestly. You are clearly a high caliber and spiritually sensitive person who understands that there is dignity in modesty and privacy. It points to a young woman in tune with her inner self and the grandeur that resides within, that is grievously cheapened and compromised by a society that accepts the excessive focus and flaunting of body parts and flesh. You understand that the real you reaches far beyond the confines of your outer self.

My dear reader, I would urge you to consult a respectable Torah authority and tell him/her your story honestly and completely. Let him/her help you attain the clarity that you desperately need -- and may the Almighty lead you in the right direction.

(1) James, 12/10/2008
my journey to conversion
I too became interested in Judaism in high school after being assigned to do an oral report on Judaism in a sociology class. I became more and more interested, feeling that Judaism was the "right place" for me. I visited a local Rabbi, who strongly dissuaded me from the idea of conversion. I did not understand the policy of turning away the convert three times before welcoming him/her into the faith. Soon, college was before me, and then building a career, a life. But always, Judaism was beckoning, in the back of my mind. Finally, at 58 years of age, I took an introduction to Judaism class. The first time I walked in to the sanctuary and stood facing the Ark, I felt an overpowering sense of being "home". As I told my Rabbi, the fact that Judaism teaches that there is no need to convert to have a place in the world to come, draws me to the faith. I converted in Feb., 2008. I wish I had had the courage to do it long ago. It has been such a wonderful experience. I am taking a Hebrew for adults class, with the aim to become B'nai Mitzvah next year. If it is right for you, you will eventually know. You don't have to rush.

Post Script from me: The case with the mother is a real problem. My father as he took me to the Yeshiva thought my Judaism was some sort of a rebellion and offered me the promise that if I came back home after my fad, that he would not criticize me as my thoughts were in a positive direction. That was of course the last time I saw my father alive as he passed away shoveling snow a week later. After his Shloshim, he appeared to me one night saying the Shema and I understood that he was mighty happy that I was saying Kaddish and observing Shabbos because it did a lot for him entering into the next world.

As for my mother, she was at first very saddened that I did not eat her Turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving and other things. It really hurt her which was not my intention but during the next 30 ,years, she got used to me and she could cook in my house. She realized too that the Torah taught better manners to my children than the non-religious education in the field of respect for elders. So even though the Rebbitzen brings out these points it is not always so simple. Rabbi Leff in the book from Monsey to Kiriat Sefer helped convert a girl in Miami who made the fellow she was dating Frum as she really fell in love with Judaism.

I don’t do conversions and sometimes the bureaucracy of some Rabbis and Beitei Dinim anger me. One cannot convert so easily in 6 months but between a year to two is a reasonable time of kashruth and Shabbos existence (with only lighting a match or throwing a switch).

Lastly, from my own experience is from most people who want to convert for disgust with certain beliefs of other religions and preference to Judaism, they usually succeed unless they have an agenda (like married to a non-Jew and wanting to be a mixed marriage), becoming Jewish for love, money, because most friends are Jewish, etc. When a young man or woman is over powered by love whether physical contact or platonic, one must be wary.

Rabbi Lau Shlita on the 35^th Anniversary of a Sukkos Miracle.

During the Yom Kippur War the soldiers had to wait in columns to cross the bridges over the canal that Sharon’s army had prepared. As the soldiers were waiting, on the side was waiting flat bed trucks with Sukkos on them prepared by Chabad. The Chabadniks would offer the soldiers grape juice, cake and a Lulav and Esrog to bless over “Sitting in the Sukkah”, “We have reached this season”, “Wine/grape juice”, “Cake”, “Lulav” etc. One command car was waiting by the side so six soldiers went from the armored vehicle to the insecure Sukkah to get some Mitzvos in. Just then the Command Car took a direct hit, shrapnel and rubble were all over the place but the soldiers were in one piece!

Sukkos Essay from Danny F.: The Torah calls the etrog Pri Etz Hadar - The fruit of a beautiful tree. I've only seen an etrog tree in a picture, and the tree itself is beautiful. The fruit, the etrog, normally, may not be something most people would consider "beautiful". The mark of a more beautiful etrog is in its bumps; the more bumps, the more "beautiful" the etrog is considered.

Normally, if you were buying fruit in the store, you would stay away from bumpy, bruised fruit. What makes the etrog beautiful with its bumps?

The etrog is symbolic of the person who has both good deeds as well as wisdom. It has both a beautiful smell as well as a taste (which is more bitter than a lemon.) This is seemingly contradictory, but if we understand the analogy, we can say that the exterior would normally appear nicer than its interior (taste). However, the exterior appearance is "hidden" by its bumps.

Similarly, a person's strength comes by overcoming the "bumps" he receives in life. Each bump is a challenge and he gains more experience becoming wiser in dealing with life with overcoming these bumps.

In short, one cannot and should not judge a person or a fruit by its external appearance. Even a bumpy fruit or a "bumpy" person can reveal a beautiful interior and emanate a beautiful fresh, appealing fragrance.

Coming Soon - Ethiopian Jewry

Hermann Goring’s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_G%C3%B6ring Brother gets Kares

This past week in Yediot Achronot there was a front page of the magazine section article about the family of Gering’s brother. The brother was married to a Nazi woman who was head of the Red Cross in Germany during the war. When the brother became a pegah (Hebrew for animal carcass), his three boys were adopted by Herman. Really humane final solution fellow wasn’t he. He had the boys grow up in the SS children’s schools and they all became pilots. As Germany started losing the war two of the boys were kamikaze pilots. Helmut was shot down over Russia and managed to escape from his captors and make it back to German Lines. He married a nice Aryan Girl after the war and they had a son and daughter. As the years past, the son and daughter had problems dealing with the family’s Nazi past. At 13 the daughter went on a sexual rampage as some children with problems do. Later on the brother and sister made a pact not to bring children into the world and they underwent sterilization so that the Amelek blood line in their family would not continue.

Interesting enough - Göring's younger brother Albert Göring was opposed to the Nazi regime, and helped Jews and other dissidents in Germany during the Nazi era. He is said to have forged his brother Hermann's signature on transit papers to enable escapes, among other acts. The Good Brother, A True Story of Courage - The Holocaust, Crimes, Heroes, and Victim Hermann did have a daughter from his second wife named Edda. After googling the web, I found out that she never married so that will end his legacy when she dies.

This is stuff that grandpa sends out to his loved ones for Sukkah Activities: http://www.torahtots.com/holidays/sukkot/sukkot.htm

Ending with some Sukkos humor from R’ A.L. : http://www.bangitout.com/photos/viewphoto.php?category=16&photoid=3310&title=Succos%20Miracle%20for%20Mets?&cattitle=Succos

On the Theme of Simcha for Sukkos, Meir K. sent me this little laugh: A Jewish woman goes to see her Rabbi in Bnei Brak.
'Yankele and Yosele are both in love with me,' she says. 'Who will be the lucky one?'
The wise old Rabbi answers: "Yankele will marry you.

Yosele will be the lucky one'.

Haftorah for Chol HaMoed Sukkos Yechezkel 38 – 39

Of course this is an oldie from some years back and since then not counting the readers on the blog, between 250 to 300 new readers have joined the ranks here. I honestly owe it to you readers to finish the commentary until the end and when you see continued below it was in installments. With the help of G-D I will continue the commentary. I believe next to nothing was my personal contribution below but a pure translation with a few words here and there.

38:1 And the word of the L-RD came unto me, saying:

2 ‘ Son of man, set they face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the chief (Rosh) of Meshek and Tubal and prophesy against him.’

Commentary: Based on approximately 55 to 60 commentaries I’ve seen between the section in Bereshis (Genesis) 10:2-7 and Yechezkel. The commentators all agree that Gog is the name of the leader at the end of days. Magog is a place “in the far (ends of the) north”. Only Targum Yonatan and the Midrash Rabbah try to identify the places where the children of Noach went after the flood.

Quoting the translation of the Midrash: The sons of Yafet: Gomer, Magog, etc. R’ Shamuel ben Ammi said: There are Africa/Turkey, Germania, Media, Macedonia, Mysia and Tiras (Iran).

The Vilna Gaon interpreted Magog as in Russia. He said, “When you see the Russian fleet heading through the Dardanelle on the way to attack Israel, dress in your finery to greet the Moshiach. Where in Russia? “Yachtei HaZafon” could be as some identify it on the Black Sea inwards. Maybe Chechnya? Perhaps in Siberia?

A new and even radical interpretation is given by Rabbi Eliyahu Shatz in his book just out in Hebrew: “Perush Eliyahu al Sefer Yechezkel” printed late this summer/early Autumn 5763 (2003 CE). Copies can be obtained from:

Eliyahu Shatz P.O.Box 1716 Ramat Modin Chashmonayim

73127 Doar Na Modin Israel telephone 011-972-8-976-1378

He has given me permission to translate his commentary for your benefit.

He has a different from traditional approach to his dating system and gets the dates he uses from his interpretation of coding of time periods mentioned in Daniel “Edan”, “Plag Edan”, “Et” etc. From this he deduced that “Achrit haYamim”

(End of Days) would be approximately between the years 2000 to 2012 CE in which the wars of Gog would be fought and the Temple rebuilt. (Those of you who read my commentary on Daniel, will recall that a Yemenite Rabbi said: “The year 5765 is the last possible date for Moshiach. One now realizes that the time period coincides). Although the Yemenite Rabbi and Rabbi Shatz have different ways of calculating the dates from Daniel, they both come up with 5765 for the coming of the Moshiach as the latest date.

“Prophesy to Gog” according to Rabbi Eliyahu and my own gut feeling that would be a leader with a name similar to Gog. (My thinking – How about George W. Bush who is “Rosh” leader of the free world.) Rabbi Shatz says that Magog could be from the word “Mog” or sort of melting pot like the USA. Let us look at the shape of the map of the USA including Alaska and Hawaii. Rosh is the shape of Alaska that is in the far north. Meshek means also to stretch like from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Tubal can be like Tovala (transport) and Hawaii is in the middle between Alaska and Australia, Japan and South America, China and the Panama Canal etc. (If one gets a hold of Rabbi Shatz’s book, the maps and distances are there).

My Chavruta of Friday night, Zvi Hershkowitz, attacked my presentation of Rabbi Shatz’s work. “How can you put Rabbi Shatz and HaRav Chafuta Shlita in the same category. Rabbi Shatz is far below the learning level of Rav Chafuta.

“Rosh” can mean “Russ” as in Russia but nothing else!”

Rashi says, “Towards Gog” – that is the name of the king. The Mahari and Mesudos Tzion add that basically all the children of Yafet (son of Noach) will follow Gog. The Mesudos David shows Gog as leader of all the nations of Yafet.

(Head of the coalition). The Malbim comments that all the 4 nations of exile (as described in the Midrash Rabbah Parshas Lech Lecha about Avraham and the war with the 4 Kings and the amount of soldiers in their armies). Gog’s hordes are coming to conquer Yerushalayim. (It is written in the Malbim “b’zad ehud” which can be translated by the words on one hand will be or the following translation as I write it – strategically in might make more sense on one hand the Yisraelim, on the other meshek and Tubal with Edom and the other the kings of the North but for a poetic picture see my translation as follows. However it makes more logical sense that Armies with the same language and weapons would approach from different sides towards the target so now read on:) Egypt and Ashur are the Yismaelim fighting against Yisroel towards the south. On the eastern front will be Meskel v’Tubal and the princes of Edom (Amelek) and from the north the children of Yafet. They will meet and fight between themselves and kill one another. (To get an idea of what will transpire with bad target identification one can see the Midrash Rabbah and Sefer Yashar on the wars of the children of Yacov with the nations after the slaughter of the men of Schem.) Our Sages tell us that Gog will come upon Yerushalayim three times. Here we learn of two of the attacks on Yerushalayim and the third attack is written in Zarcariah 14. AT THIS TIME WE DO NOT KNOW WHO GOG IS AND WHERE MAGOG IS ONLY THAT HE IS THE LEADER OF MESHEK AND TUBAL. (The Malbim wrote is commentary approximately around the year 5660 (1900 CE).) They are the children of Yafet and they are uncircumcised. They will come upon Yisroel who have returned to their borders and are living in peace. They will come because of the awakening that G-D has put upon them.

The Art Scroll mentions that perhaps the Goths are referred to for Gog’s people

(George Bush is from Gothic descent). The region of Magog might be in the Caucasian Mountains. Yafet symbolizes the physical beauty such as in Greece and Shem has the spiritual beauty so on a higher plane the physical is fighting the spiritual for control of the beautiful city of Yerushalayim. The tradition is that

Magog, Meshek and Tubal are areas that are part of Russia today.

4) And I will turn you about (lead you astray) and put hooks into you jaws and I bring thee forth and all thy army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed most gorgeously; all of them clothed most gorgeously, a great company with buckler and shield all of them handling swords:

The Rabbi S.R. Hirsh wrote that Yafet (Greece = culture and beauty) will team up with Edom (Rome = war) and Yafet will fail in keeping up beauty and culture during this war. G-D is dragging Gog into this war and he is no more than a puppet as G-D controls the minds of Kings and leaders.

Rashi: I will turn you round and about until it will come in your heart to do so.

Mahari: I will drag you and put into your heart to rule over Yisrael. The desire to rule over Yisrael will be so great that it will force you to leave your land to (oversee the army). The soldiers will be dressed (and serviced with) the finest (equipment). Gog’s army will come from the northern side.

Radak: Gog’s heart will be drawn into the war and he will come upon Israel with his very large army will be equipped with the latest equipment with the best protective equipment.

The Mezudos David and the Mezudos Tzion basically say the same as the Radak and others.

The Malbim says that Gog will be drawn or (politically forced) to leave his land to lead his massive coalition.

Perush Eliyahu: I will force you – like you were in hooks of steel to an illogical war. On Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist used civil aircraft to destroy the twin towers and kill close to 3000 people. Against his will, George Bush was forced to declare a war on terror and in the end will come against Israel. (RP- this is not his will but either Europe or the UN will drag Gog into this). Just change horses in the original into tanks, humbees, armored personnel carriers, mobile artillery, etc. (Eliyahu & revised by RP - He will have in his arsenal the latest uniforms and bullet proof vests, bullets, smart bombs, cruse missiles, electro-optical and the latest technology).

5) Persia, Cush and Put with them all of them with shield and helmet;

The forces of Gog will be augmented with Persia from the east and Sudan/Ethiopia and black Africa and the Libyans from the south.

WHAT ABOUT THE WEST? Tanya Debay Eliyahu on Devarim 28 (Deuteronomy) stating about the curse: “You will want to sell yourself to Egypt in poorness (aninios) and none will help.” Do not read aninios but oniyos (ships). When the war of Gog comes, you will want to sell yourselves into slavery in Egypt out of fear from the massive armies coming against you and will try to flee Yisrael by ships but nobody will take you. Here the curse becomes a blessing “none will help” because HASHEM will take care of Gog’s fleet blockade. The ALL MERCIFUL L-RD will produce miracles that will rival the Exodus from Egypt and the combined fleets of the enemy will be sunk in the Mediterranean Sea.

Mesudos David: Gog will be well supplied with uniforms, equipment and shielding devices.

Mesudos Tzion: Gog will lead this massive coalition.

The Malbim identifies the directions of the forces and adds countries like Iraq, and parts of Kurdistan and Turkey, Egypt etc.

Perush Eliyahu designates Put as countries on the Red Sea. However, here I tend to back up the general consensus that it is Libya and perhaps Algeria and Tunisia too.

6) Gomer and her cohorts Togarmah in the farthest north and its cohort, many peoples with you.

Art Scroll identifies Gomer with France and Perush Eliyahu identifies Togarmah as central Europe. However, the children of Yismael are not mentioned here, in the Malbim on The Book of Daniel, the Arabs and Moslems play a major role in the battle of Gog. Also the tradition of “All the nations of the world coming against Yisrael in the final days” would include all the Asian nations from Siberia – Mongolia through Korea, Indochina and the Pacific Islands of Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, New Zeeland, Australia, Japan etc.

Note on The War of Gog and Magog:

On Shabbos Chol Hamoed Sukkos, we read Yechezkiel about the war. During this past year, the prediction of Daniel about Esav and Yishmael fighting came to new proportions with the attacks in Spain, Indonesia, Turkey, the Philippines and threat of attack in England, Italy and the States. There was a notice that I read recently that since the ‘peace’ with Egypt, they have rearmed to the tune of $60,000,000,000 in American Aid. The Egyptian army drills daily for an hour on gas warfare. One-hour 2/3rds of the army drills and the other 1/3^rd the next hour. Since the other local Arab countries never threatened them with gas and Israel is at ‘peace’ with Egypt and would not attack for no reason. Unless the Egyptians were planning to gas somebody, their use would be redundant.

The planned evacuation of Gaza may mean that the Arabs are planning to make a radioactive bomb. My father of blessed memory had a theory of Sodom and Amora. He thought that the citizens gather radioactive material from around the Dead Sea area into their city to light the area at night. He talked about the Angels blinding them in physical practical terms. He figured that on the day that Lot left, they reached the critical mass and blew themselves up. It could be and the miracle being that Lot left in the bottom of the 9^th inning two outs, two strikes and three balls or as soccer fans say in the 90^th minute of the game.

Based on my father’s theory, it does not take major prophecy to know that the Arabs are looking for atomic weapons and other WMD. If the Jews are to be evacuated from the settlements, it most likely means that somewhere in Gaza the critical mass is going to be reached by the Hamas or other terrorists and they accidentally blow themselves off the face of the earth.

This week, it was announced because of the diggings of the Arabs on the Temple Mount that there is a chance that the floor above the Stables of Shlomo may cave in. This reminded me of the earthquake and upheaval that will proceed the final victory. All the Arab houses will collapse upon them and Gog and his hoards will be buried at the approach to the Temple mount in the valley there. The refueling convoys will give enough power to Eretz Yisrael for 7 years. On that day they will realize that they have made war with the Holy One of Yisrael. The L-RD G-D will sanctify HIS NAME among the nations. Peace will only come when:”HASHEM oze leamo letain HASHEM yebrach amo bashalom. (The L-RD will give strength unto HIS nation, HE will bless HIS nation with peace).”

To be continued … all this will soon be playing in your local military theater in Yisrael. Repent now and see the Moshiach at the end. A footnote is in order the dispute mentioned above between Rabbi Schatz and Hershkowitz is a matter of personal interpretation and people of the same generation are on the same level. One is an original interpretation and other holds the more traditional beliefs.

Inyanay Diyoma

Yom Kippur War Secrets Out now: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3606399,00.html

Clinton helped the Freddie and Fanny Crisis start: http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZjRjYzE0YmQxNzU4MDJjYWE5MjIzMTMxMmNhZWQ1MTA=&w=Mg==#more

The Arabs might in the end help McCain if Iran feels threatened. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1222017498735&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

The air force was in action this morning and an F15 shot out over my house heading north and suddenly it turned around in mid flight and went back to base (Shabbos).

Impotent and incompetent Israeli Police allow Pogrom against Jews IN ISRAEL!!! http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3607097,00.html

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3607052,00.html

SYRIAN TROOPS GATHER ON LEBANESE BORDER & U.S. MAY SEEK TO LURE SYRIA FROM IRAN AXIS forwarded by E. Winston with:

COLLUSION TO ABANDON THE GOLAN HEIGHTS? by Emanuel A. Winston, a Middle East Analyst & Commentator

I have written several articles wherein I opined that, since Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak want to abandon the Golan Heights, against the overwhelming opposition of the people, they had another plan.

In collusion with Bashar Assad, President of Syria, Israel's corrupt government would allow the Golan to be over-run by the Syrians and then claim: "We had no choice but to retreat in order save both the settlers and the Israeli soldiers."

Then, Olmert, Barak, Livni and Peres would call for a cease-fire in place and bring in U.N. Peacekeepers as they did after the Lebanon defeat at the inept hands of Olmert and Livni.

That suicidal plan may still be in the planning schedule of the Kadima Party, with the collusion of Secretary Condoleezza Rice and the U.S. State Department.

I would add that, should Senator Barack Obama become president, any deal with Syria and/or Iran at the expense of Israel would certainly be a part of his agenda.


Ehud Olmert has allegedly resigned as Prime Minister but, he hasn't gone away.

Can you trust the Olmert government when they deny collusion?

COMMENTS BY EMANUEL A. WINSTON

###

From: Murray Kahl ERETZ-YISRAEL, Executive Digest, October 8, 2008 SYRIAN TROOPS GATHER ON LEBANESE BORDER Associated Press, Oct 8, 08

ABBOUDIYEH, Lebanon - A few tents and trucks dotting a green hill across the river are about all that is visible of a Syrian troop deployment on Lebanon's northern border - a buildup that has raised concerns of a possible Syrian incursion. There was no sign Wednesday that the Syrian troops were preparing to cross the border. Syria says the deployment - first made public several weeks ago - is aimed at preventing smuggling from Lebanon. But the United States and some anti-Syrian politicians in Beirut have warned that Syria could attempt an incursion, a concern raised especially after a Sept. 27 car bombing in Damascus killed 17 people.

In Washington, Deputy State Department spokesman Robert Wood on Monday said, "Any intervention by Syrian troops into Lebanon would be unacceptable."

Syria's secular government has said the Damascus bombers were Islamic militants who entered from another country, though it did not specify which. Syrian President Bashar Assad had warned days earlier that militants were setting up base in northern Lebanon and that they could threaten Syrian security.

Two days after the Damascus blast, suspected militants bombed a bus carrying Lebanese soldiers in the northern port city of Tripoli, killing seven people - the second such attack against the Lebanese military. But there was no immediate sign of a connection to the Damascus bombing, although also Islamic militants are suspected.

The head of the anti-Syrian bloc in parliament, Saad Hariri, rejected Assad's claims of militants operating in northern Lebanon, saying the accusations and the Syrian deployment were part of a "series of intimidations against Lebanon."

Hadi Hobeish, a lawmaker allied to Hariri representing the Akkar region bordering Syria, accused Damascus of "attempting to give the excuse that there are extremists in the north to return to Lebanon."

Assad spoke to Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Sunday, assuring him that the deployment is in line with U.N. resolutions calling on Syria to prevent smuggling and weapons traffic across the border, the Lebanese state news agency reported. Lebanon's military said that it had been informed of the Syrian moves.

Lebanese press reports have said up to 10,000 troops are involved in the deployment, something Lebanese military officials have described as exaggerated and inaccurate. Syria has provided no figure.

Since an initial deployment several weeks ago on the northern border near the Mediterranean coast, Syria has more recently reportedly sent troops about 30 miles inland toward Lebanon's northeast, according to Lebanese security officials.

The pan-Arab Al-Hayat newspaper has reported that the deployment included battle tanks and that troops dug trenches and blocked smuggling routes along the border with dirt mounds.

Syrian troops were deployed in Lebanon for nearly 30 years during this country's 15-year civil war and a long period of peace which followed, giving Damascus political domination over its smaller neighbor until withdrawing in 2005. Syria's opponents in Lebanon still accuse Damascus of trying to control their country. But ties have improved considerably in recent months after Lebanon formed a unity government that includes Syria's ally, the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Syria has agreed to establish formal diplomatic ties with Lebanon for their first time since the countries' creation in the 1940s and promised to officially delineate their borders, a longtime Lebanese demand. Syria also views Lebanon's new president favorably and many doubt it would undermine him with a military incursion.

In the small Lebanese village of Abboudiyeh across the border from the Syrian deployment, there was little sign of tension on Tuesday. Ten Syrian tents and seven trucks could be seen on the hills above the bridge crossing the Nahr el-Kabir, or Great River, which forms the border. At the crossing, Lebanese immigration officers waved through travelers in a long line of minivans and passenger vehicles and cargo trucks packed with products to the other side, in both directions.

In Abboudiyeh, home to about 3,000 people, people went about their business - students breaking from schools, shopkeepers selling to travelers, and salesmen on the main road openly hawking heating fuel smuggled in from Syria. The village and others in the remote Akkar region of Lebanon rely on Syria for their living. Mobile phones in some parts of town connect to Syria's network, since Lebanon's is unavailable. Villagers regularly shop and use hospitals on the Syrian side because they are cheaper, and some students even go to school in nearby Syrian villages.

Smuggling on dirt back roads across the border is rife. One heating fuel salesman in Abboudiyeh said he makes about $3 a day selling the fuel, which is cheaper in Syria. The smuggling "is a normal thing. We've been doing it for a long time," the 17-year-old said, identifying himself only as Mustafa, refusing to give his last name for fear of reprisals. "There is nothing to worry about because nothing has really changed," said Saleh Saleh, a 16-year-old whose house faces the new Syrian military positions. "They left (Lebanon), and they have no hope of returning," he said.


U.S. MAY SEEK TO LURE SYRIA FROM IRAN AXIS
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2008/me_syria0584_10_07.asp

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration is reviewing a State Department proposal to lift U.S. sanctions from Syria.

Officials said the administration has been pressed by the State Department to take measures that would bolster the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad. They said the department, in an assessment formed with the U.S. intelligence community, believes that the Assad regime was split between supporters and opponents of a strategic relationship with Iran. "We could play a role in helping those elements who want Syria to reconcile with the West," an official said. Officials said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has supported the removal of some U.S. sanctions from Syria.

On Sept. 28, Ms. Rice met Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mualem at the Arab League foreign ministers dinner at the United Nations and discussed options for an improvement in U.S.-Syrian relations. On Sept. 29, Assistant Secretary of State David Welch met Mualem for a detailed discussion of a reconciliation. Officials said Welch raised several options for an improvement in relations over the next few weeks. "The two reviewed Syrian policy, particularly its role in Iraq, relations with Iran and Lebanon," another official said. "The discussion was comprehensive."

So far, the State Department has not acknowledged a reassessment of U.S. relations with Syria. On Oct. 6, State Department spokesman Robert Wood warned Syria against a military buildup along the Lebanese border in wake of a car bombing in Damascus on Sept. 27. "The recent terrorist attacks that took place in Tripoli [Lebanon] and Damascus should not serve as a pretext for, you know, further Syrian military engagement or, should not be used to interfere in Lebanese internal affairs," Wood said. "The Syrian government is well aware of our views with regard to any kind of military activity along the border."

Officials said Ms. Rice has been closely following the unrest within the Assad regime. Two senior Syrian officers, including Assad's military adviser, were assassinated in attacks believed to have stemmed from a neighboring Arab state. "We are detecting increasing willingness by Assad to come to a deal," the official said.

Josh Landis, a leading U.S. analyst on Syria, said the Defense Department, State Department and U.S. intelligence community have long urged the administration to reassess policy toward Syria. But Landis said he doubted whether President George Bush would significantly improve U.S. relations with Damascus. "The stories on the U.S. being on the verge of lifting sanctions on Syria, seem too good to be true," Landis said. "I doubt any action will be taken to improve relations with Syria so long as President Bush sits in the White House."

Jesse Jackson reveals details of Barak Obama’s Middle East Strategy: http://www.nypost.com/seven/10142008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/the_o_jesse_knows_133450.htm?page=0

2 reasons in this story why not to go to GOA. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,434885,00.html

Read about Panic 2008 http://www.fool.com/investing/general/panic-2008.aspx

Rumors of her death were slightly exaggerated: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,433830,00.html

Motzei Shabbos I walked home from Schul only to inhale phosphorous that burned my lungs: Naalin: 4 soldiers lightly injured in tear gas mishap

Four Border Guard officers were lightly injured, one in his leg and the three others by gas inhalation in a tear gas mishap at a Border Guard command post in the West Bank village of Naalin west of Ramallah. The four are receiving medical treatment at the site. (Efrat Weiss)

This Warden Message alerts U.S. citizens to the continuing possibility of civil disturbances and demonstrations as a result of Jewish-Arab riots in Acre (Akko), Israel, on and following Yom Kippur (October 8-9, 2008). Riots among Jewish and Arab residents erupted in the northern town of Acre (Akko) on Wednesday night and Thursday, October 8 and 9, 2008. The city is presently calm with an active level of police presence. The annual Fringe Theater Festival that was scheduled to begin on October 15 has been postponed indefinitely.

The U.S. Embassy has not received any information about specific threats against U.S. personnel or interests or against private American citizens. Due to the continued tensions and potential of violent demonstrations, U.S. Government employees and family members have been advised to avoid Acre until further notice. In addition, U.S. Government personnel have been directed to avoid protests and have been urged to maintain a high level of vigilance and situational awareness while traveling to mixed neighborhoods. Riots continued on Shabbos Arabs attacked and injured three more Jews.

ACORN, which receives 40 percent of its revenues from American taxpayers to pursue an aggressive welfare-state agenda, has already helped register over 1.27 million people nationwide. The rest of their funding comes from left-wing heavyweights like billionaire George Soros and the Democracy Alliance. It might not be too many committing voter fraud that is in the realm of stealing an election but things are not glatt kosher with this organization. – thanks to Elio.

This week the earth was hit by a small asteroid the size of a car: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/30686199.html

Hotsy Totsy you’re a Nazi – Ukraine Synagogue Bomb Plot uncovered: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3608385,00.html

Boo Hoo “Konsentration Lager were only punishment places.” 1,500,000 dead children were among them. Now Haider of Austria gets to meet the victims in person and the true Judge as he was killed in a car accident. At the funeral home was the sign: In the front yard of a Funeral Home: Drive carefully! We'll wait...(Sign from Brooklyn aka Sheldon)

Even Shass fears Livni? http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3608897,00.html

Good Yom Tov Everyone. Tonight begins Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Year. The Torah tells us that as long as we do teshuva - repentance, the day Yom Kippur itself has a power to wash away most sins. We that live in free societies are blessed with the ability to daven in shuls with our family and friends. The shuls are generally well-lit, and air conditioned or heated as is necessary. We have machzorim and prayer books, Boruch Hashem. Jews have not always had it so easy though. The following account, told by the son of the person in the story, illustrates how some Jews overcame tremendous obstacles to be able to daven properly on Yom Kippur.
"On Yom Kippur of 1951, my father, Rabbi Moshe Greenberg, faithfully prayed all the Yom Kippur prayers. All, that is, except one that is often regarded as the most solemn of the holy day's prayers, the Kol Nidrei. He was twenty years old and a prisoner in a Soviet labor camp in Siberia. His crime was trying to escape from Russia. He dreamed of leaving the country and reaching the land of Israel. But he was caught and sentenced to twenty-five years of hard labor. He was separated from his parents and two sisters. His brother was already a prisoner in another camp for a similar "crime."
There were about 1,000 men in my father's camp, all laboring on the construction of an electrical power station. About twenty of the prisoners were Jews. As the summer drew to a close, the Jewish prisoners yearned to observe the upcoming High Holidays. They knew they would lack a shofar (ram's horn), Torah scroll and talesim (prayer shawls), but they hoped they could find a machzor, a High Holiday prayer book.
My father spotted a man from the "outside," an non-prisoner engineer who worked for the camp on certain projects. He believed the engineer might be a Jew. So he waited for an opportunity to approach the engineer. "קענסטו מיר אפשר העלפן?" "Kenstu meer efsher helfen?" he whispered to the man in Yiddish ("Perhaps you can help me?").
At that time, most Russian Jews were still fluent in Yiddish. He saw the flicker of comprehension in the engineer's eyes. "Can you bring a machzor for me, for the Jews here?" my father asked.
The engineer hesitated. Such a transaction would endanger both of their lives. Even so, the engineer agreed to try.
A few days passed. "Any developments?" my father asked. "Good news and bad news," the engineer replied. He had located a machzor with difficulty, but it was the only machzor belonging to his girlfriend's father, and the man was furious when his daughter asked him to give it up. Maybe she told him why she wanted it, maybe not.
My father would not relent, however. Perhaps, he suggested, the man would lend him the book and he could copy it and return it in time for Rosh Hashanah.
The engineer duly smuggled the machzor into the camp and passed it to my father. To copy it, my father built a large wooden box and crawled into it for a few hours each day.
There, hidden from view, he copied the prayer book, line by line, into a notebook. After a month, he had copied the entire machzor. But there was one page missing -- the one containing Kol Nidrei, the very first prayer recited on Yom Kippur. My father returned the book, and autumn arrived.
The Jewish prisoners learned the dates of the impending holidays from letters from home and, on the holiday, they bribed the guards, probably with cigarettes, to allow them to gather in the barrack for services. With his handwritten prayer book, my father served as hazzan (cantor) and recited each prayer, repeated by others in low solemn voices.
Seven days later, they met for Kol Nidrei services. But despite their efforts, none of the worshippers could recall all of the words of that prayer from memory. After nearly seven years in jail, my father, along with all political prisoners, were released, owing to the death of Joseph Stalin. The only item my father took with him was his machzor.
He was reunited with his family near Moscow and later married. I was an infant when, in 1967, fifteen years after his release from prison, my family was allowed to immigrate to Israel. The machzor came with us.
My father, who still lives in Bnei Brak, Eretz Yisroel, doesn't like to recall those painful years in Siberia. But on the rare occasions that I hear him tell a story from those times, he tearfully states that he had never participated in services as meaningful as those in prison.
In 1973, he visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York and presented the machzor to him as a gift. A few months ago, I visited the Rebbe's library and saw father's machzor. I looked at the worn book with its fragile pages and Hebrew letters written in haste and with such respect and determination.
I copied it -- on a copying machine. This Yom Kippur, as I lead the services at the Chabad Jewish Center of Solon, Ohio, I will have with me the copy of my father's machzor, with the Kol Nidrei prayer still missing. My father couldn't recite Kol Nidrei during his years in prison. This year I will ask my congregation, and all of us, to say it for him and anyone else who may not have the opportunity to do so."
Let us all take advantage of the privilege we have to be able to daven and do teshuvah with the least amount of interferences! Through davening with all of our heart and returning to Hashem, we will all merit a good and sweet new year! Good Yom Tov Everyone.

Hashem should help that Shosha Malka bas Golda be forever free of pain and suffering
Refuah Shleimah to Chana Ashayra bas Dodi

Be well and Moadim LeSimcha,

Rachamim Pauli