Following Rav Benyamin Jadidi story about the Judge and cripple read this from Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,577105,00.html?test=latestnews
Thought of the week from Emanuel Winston: As in
Chanucha when the Maccabees fought and risked all for Am Yisrael and Toras Yisrael, We end up with crumby politicians.
IS
There is a lesson for
We have watched in horror as various Israeli Prime Ministers became so consumed with appeasing the Americans, Europeans and various Arab and Muslim countries with a failed peace process, that they lost all sense of who the enemy was and that their goal was to destroy the nation of Israel.
Regrettably, the political leaders of
And now the third and finally part of the blessing of Yacov:
26 And his father Isaac said unto him: 'Come near now, and kiss me, my son.'
Now a bit more certain that it is Esav instead of Yacov that he is blessing, he continues. Yitzchak thought that if he blesses Esav with this world that Esav will build up a Zevulun/Yissachar partnership with Yacov for earnings and Torah.
27 And he came near, and kissed him. And he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said: See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed.
I already mentioned that this was the smell of Gan Eden and he knew for sure that this is Esav’s garments. No sheep or goat smell of Yacov was traceable.
28 So God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the fat places of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine.
The blessing places heaven before earth here. First and foremost is heaven and then comes the fat places of earth like Yerushalayim and the fields of the coastal plains and pre-mountain interior.
29 Let peoples serve thee, and nations bow down to thee. Be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee. Cursed be every one that curses you, and blessed be every one that blesses thee.
The blessings have not taken place as of yet and that will only be under the Peace Time of the Moshiach. The curses have a problem in that these curses occur often after 120 years of a Saddam Hussein or others on this earth.
30 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarce gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting.
I would like to reiterate especially for my new readers that miracles are not thought of as happening outside of the laws of nature when things can be done in a natural way. Here the miracle or Hashgacha of HASHEM is the precise timing of Yacov receiving his Bracha and Esav returning home from the hunt.
31 And he also made savory food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father: 'Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me.' 32 And Isaac his father said unto him: 'Who art thou?' And he said: 'I am thy son, thy first-born, Esau.'
The translation into English makes it appear that Esav is showing super-respect for Yitzchak but the Hebrew is gruffer like the “Get up!” or “Get the heck up!” it is not subservient like the translation above. – The Artscroll with my gruffness translation.
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said: 'Who then is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before you came and have blessed him?
And Isaac shuddered: [וַיֶּחרָד is to be explained] as the Targum, וּתְוָה, an expression of bewilderment. According to the Midrash, however, he [actually shuddered because] he saw Gehinnom open beneath him. [From Tanchuma, Vezoth Haberachah 1] Who then: [the word] אֵפוֹא is an expression by itself, which has many usages. Another explanation: אֵפוֹא is a combination of אַיּה [where] and פֹּה [here], [so that מִי אֵפוֹא means]: Who is he and where is he, who hunted game? Who then: [the word] אֵפוֹא is an expression by itself, which has many usages. Another explanation: אֵפוֹא is a combination of אַיּה [where] and פֹּה [here], [so that מִי אֵפוֹא means]: Who is he and where is he, who hunted game? He, too, shall be blessed: That you should not say that had Jacob not deceived his father, he would not have received the blessings. Therefore, he concurred and blessed him intentionally (Gen. Rabbah 67:2).
Now if you want to say that since the blessings were ‘stolen’ by Yacov and therefore invalid both from the Torah and the Rashi, we see the confirmation that they are kosher, valid and will exist forever. (Remember that the Torah is Emmet = Truth and we see that it is so in every case. Leaders of the world can deceive and lie and they play a temporary role in the history of this planet but the Torah is beyond time and place.)
yea, and he shall be blessed.' 34 When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father: 'Bless me, even me also, O my father.'
The bitter cry was to haunt Am Yisrael when Haman from Amelek wanted to kill off all the Jews. Then Mordechai cried out an exceedingly great and bitter cry.
35 And he said: 'Thy brother came with guile, and hath taken away thy blessing.'
Before the fury set in, Esav ends up begging for a blessing prior to the hate building up against Yacov.
36 And he said: 'Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing.' And he said: 'Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?'
Yitzchak knew about the blessing when the birthright was taken away, he was in mourning for the loss of Avraham.
37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau: 'Behold, I have made him thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him; and what then shall I do for thee, my son?'
Yacov was given the dew of heaven and sustenance but not fantastic wealth in his blessing but a comfortable income in which to learn Torah and not waste on super luxury items. No “Never-never land” type property for Yacov but a comfortable place to sleep for him and his family.
38 And Esau said unto his father: 'Hast thou but one blessing, my father? Bless me, even me also, O my father.' And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.
From these tears, we would see between 19 to 20 centuries of weeping on our behalf from Esav. In Judaism it never was “The Glory that was
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him: Behold, of the fat places of the earth shall be thy dwelling, and of the dew of heaven from above; 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and thou shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt break loose, that thou shalt shake his yoke from off thy neck.
The hand was the power of Esav and the voice the power of Yacov as we saw just prior to blessing in 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said: 'The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.'
So Esav would be a great warrior and from the defensive posture of Yacov in Vayishlach, he would be a great man of peace making war only as a last resort while Esav would make a career out of war and conquest.
41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.'
Now either he muttered this in front of his servants or within ear shot of Rivka for:
42 And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, does comfort himself, purposing to kill thee.
The differences in philosophy between Esav – live it up in this world and Yacov – prepare for the next can be summed up here. Esav reasoned that since Yitzchak was the perfect Korban (Sacrifice) – he is sacrificed himself for our sins. Therefore my atonement will always occur before my death. Esav raped a betrothed maiden and killed Nimrod already and in past and felt atoned for. So after adultery and murder and feeling scot-free, Esav could murder Yacov with immunity from punishment.
Yacov on the other had took responsibility for each and every action and did not rely upon the sacrifices of others but repentance, prayer and charity to save him. Each had their belief in their salvation.
43 Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to
Rivka is going about planning to kill two birds with one stone. 1) marry Yacov off. (2) get Yacov out of immediate danger.
44 and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away;
This would probably be a month or two due to the travel time from Yisrael through almost all of
45 until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him; then I will send, and fetch thee from thence; why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?'
No mention is ever made of Rivka sending Yacov a message – hence we may conclude that the wrath of Esav would continue until the times described in the Prophet Ovadia when Har Tzion will judge Har Seir.
46 And Rebekah said to Isaac: 'I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?'
It did not take long for Rivka to convince Yacov to leave. Now she needs an excuse to tell Yitzchak and keep suspicion away from Esav. In the hot blood of the
28:1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of
Up until now, neither Yacov or Esav has received the blessing of Avraham to the
5 And Isaac sent away Jacob; and he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan'; 7 and that Jacob hearkened to his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram; 8 and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 9 so Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.
Suddenly Esav realizes that running around with (non-approved) women does not go over big with his parents. In the meantime he is busy with the creation of Amalek.
Vayetze
28:10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheva, and went toward
This is an amazing journey. Yacov leaves Beer Sheva in the morning and by night fall ends up in Beit Kale which is a tremendous distance for a donkey or camel to cover in the course of a day. From this our Sages tell us in a Medrash that Yacov had physical shortening of the way! (Something like a kabalistic version of a space warp.)
He puts
12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
When Esav is up, Yacov is down and visa versa the Angels of Yacov come from the Mitzvos and the Angels of Esav are negative. Yacov sees the Esav Angel ascending for 2000 rungs with Yacov’s trying to catch them by the heel.
13 And, behold, the LORD stood beside him, and said: 'I am the LORD, the God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon thou lie, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed.
Not only the blessing of Avraham from Yitzchak but the blessing from HASHEM in a prophecy promises Eretz Canaan aka Eretz Yisrael in the future to Yacov and his seed.
14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south. And in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Everywhere a Bnei Yisrael who follows the Mitzvos goes a blessing shall go with him. The same does not hold true to one who violates the Torah.
15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee whithersoever thou go, and will bring thee back into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.'
Now one will note that as Yacov departs from Eretz Yisrael until he returns and wrestles with the Angel inside the land, there is no real prophecy like this but one dream to tell him to return home. For the stronger prophecy exists only in Eretz Yisrael and the center of prophecy is Yerushalayim so the phenomena of Jerusalem Syndrome exists of people going off the deep end from the holiness. (The same syndrome exists for people who study Kabbala off the street with no preparation by years of learning.)
16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said: 'Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.'
This is Yacov Avinu talking and not you or I and so if he did not recognize the L-RD being in the place all the more so far removed people like us. However, one does not need infrared glasses or ultra violet detectors to observe the existence of the L-RD if we search hard enough.
17 And he was afraid, and said: 'How full of awe is this place! this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.' 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Beth-el, but the name of the city was Luz at the first.
Realizing the complete meaning of the dream and the holiness of the site caused him to be in fear and awe from G-D and note the stone is now mentioned and it was like a pillow that it had his head’s shape embedded into it.
20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying: 'If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, Note he is not asking to win a lottery but for reasonable steady sustenance from G-D. 21 so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then shall the LORD be my God, Now he is asking for his own personal safety. 22 and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God's house; and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.' In exchange he will donate 10% of his earnings to Charity.
… 29:10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.
Yacov was 63 when he received the blessings and learned Torah with Shem for 14 years in order to be able to withstand Lavan’s wickedness. We now see a 77 year old man showing off his strength to this young maiden whom he wants to marry. One commentary gives her the age of 5 and he would have to wait 7 years until her maturity before marrying her or 84 years of age. IF THE WOMAN IS WORTH IT THE MAN WILL BEHAVE AND WAIT!
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11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.
I assume that this is a forehead kiss and not a lip or cheek kiss as this is the middle-east and not
12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother and that he was Rebekah's son; and she ran and told her father. 13 And it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things.
The embrace was for Jewels and the kiss was a French kiss to check out hidden jewels. Yacov then told him that Esav wanted to kill him and that Eliphaz caught up with him to carry that out. Yacov disarmed Eliphaz and gave him his money as if Eliphaz killed him for a poor man to a person who lusts for worldly goods is likened to a dead man. Thus Eliphaz could claim victory over Yacov and Yacov would not have to spill Eliphaz’s blood and get Esav and his band into truly murdering him. While for us Torah is life and money only a means to sustain us to enable the learning of Torah. Eliphaz went back triumphant like most middle-eastern braggarts about his victory and Yacov entered the Yeshiva and trusted everything unto G-D.
14 And Laban said to him: 'Surely thou art my bone and my flesh.' And he abode with him the space of a month. 15 And Laban said unto Jacob: 'Because thou art my brother, should you therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall thy wages be?'
He saw that Yacov despite his age was like Yacov Pilates before his death in his 80’s and very strong and a great worker.
16 Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 And Leah's eyes were weak; but Rachel was of beautiful form and fair to look upon. 18 And Jacob loved Rachel; and he said: 'I will serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter.' 19 And Laban said: 'It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man; abide with me.' 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.
This is a case of Yehus or family background for marriage.
21 And Jacob said unto Laban: 'Give me my wife, for my days are filled, that I may go in unto her.' 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave Zilpah his handmaid unto his daughter Leah for a handmaid. 25 And it came to pass in the morning that, behold, it was Leah; and he said to Laban: 'What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?'
Lavan is the great-great-great etc. grandfather and supplier of rotten Genes to Bernie Madoff. We all have this evil inclination in us. Yet with the Torah it is easy to over come and without the Torah it is easy to fall prey to this – every man has his free will and can take the path of good or evil or abstinence or greed. Yacov was dealing for 20 years with source of all con artists and although the Bnei Yisrael have these Genes, Lavan had sons whom he trained to take over his business.
26 And Laban said: 'It is not so done in our place, to give the younger before the first-born. 27 Fulfill the week of this one, and we will give thee the other also for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years.' 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week; and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her handmaid. 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And the LORD saw that Leah was hated, and he opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.
I read a theory that by putting markings on the poles the ewes saw the streaks and spots in the reflection of the water and produced a little lamb in the same thought pattern as at the time of inception. By doing this he took the strongest ewes and put them near the strongest rams while the others had plain white poles so that he would not be a thief. This was just fine until his flock began to grow in size. Rachel and Leah had no brothers before Yacov brought a blessing with him. Now the brothers were wary lest the main inheritance go to their older sisters.
The theory came to mind from the story of the African King with an Albino baby. Rabbi Akiva was asked by the King if he should kill is wife. The Rabbi answered with a question. What color are your idols in the house? The King replied white. Rabbi Akiva told the Ruler that while the King was making love his wife was having heavenly thoughts and was thanking their gods.
31:19 Now Laban was gone to shear his sheep. And Rachel stole the teraphim that were her father's. 20 And Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, in that he told him not that he fled. 21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the River, and set his face toward the
Yacov realized that he was being held prisoner by the head of the Mafia of the ancient world. He had to be very careful. Remember that Saddam had his sons-in-law killed by their own families and only spared his daughters for the sake of their mother saying that she would commit suicide if he did that. Yacov knew whom he was dealing with and did not have the strength of Rivka to fight off this guy as his father had been such a Tzaddik he could only keep away from the bad influences but not contra the wicked one.
22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. 23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and he overtook him in the
Lavan wanted to murder Yacov and take back everything. There are Sages who believe that he wanted to murder his daughters and grandchildren too. Others say that only Yacov – one thing is for sure that without the direct intervention of HASHEM Yacov and the Giving of the Torah at Sinai would never ever be fulfilled.
25 And Laban came up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain; and Laban with his brethren pitched in the
Still lying and sprouting Organic Fertilizer from his mouth.
29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt; but the God of your father spoke unto me yesternight, saying: Take heed to thyself that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 30 And now that thou art surely gone, because thou sore longest after thy father's house, wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?' 31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban: 'Because I was afraid; for I said: Lest you should take thy daughters from me by force. 32 With whomsoever thou find thy gods, he shall not live; before our brethren discern you what is yours with me, and take it to thee.'--For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.-- 33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two maid-servants; but he found them not. And he went out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, and put them in the saddle of the camel, and sat upon them. And Laban felt about all the tent, but found them not.
However, Yacov’s foolish talk about not living would eventually kill her on the birth stool. For she received the full curse of the Tzaddik.
35 And she said to her father: 'Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise up before thee; for the manner of women is upon me.' And he searched, but found not the teraphim. 36 And Jacob was wroth, and strove with Laban. And Jacob answered and said to Laban: 'What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast hotly pursued after me? 37 Whereas thou hast felt about all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? Set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us two. 38 These twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she-goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flocks have I not eaten. 39 That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bore the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.
This is exactly how the
40 Thus I was: in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep fled from mine eyes. 41 These twenty years have I been in thy house: I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock; and thou hast changed my wages ten times. 42 Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac, had been on my side, surely now have you sent me away empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and gave judgment yesternight.' 43 And Laban answered and said unto Jacob: 'The daughters are my daughters, and the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks, and all that thou see is mine; and what can I do this day for these my daughters, or for their children whom they have borne? 44 And now come, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.' 45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46 And Jacob said unto his brethren: 'Gather stones'; and they took stones, and made a heap. And they did eat there by the heap. 47 And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha; but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 And Laban said: 'This heap is witness between me and thee this day.' Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; 49 and Mizpah, for he said: 'The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. 50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, and if thou shalt take wives beside my daughters, no man being with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.' 51 And Laban said to Jacob: 'Behold this heap, and behold the pillar, which I have set up betwixt me and thee. 52 This heap be witness, and the pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us.' And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 And Jacob offered a sacrifice in the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread; and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mountain.
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32:1 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them. And Laban departed, and returned unto his place. 2 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 3 And Jacob said when he saw them: 'This is God's camp.' And he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
These are real Angels that guard between Eretz Yisrael and the Diaspora.
Vayishlach
32:4 And Jacob sent messengers (Hebrew literally Angels and the Sages concur with this in their commentary) before him to Esau his brother unto the
Nobody taught Yacov the principle of “let sleeping dogs lie”. Esav is in the mountains of
33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept. …
There is a commentary that says that Esav wanted to bite Yacov and make him bleed to death by the Carotid Artery but Yacov’s neck became hard like stainless steel and Esav broke his teeth upon this and thereby cried. However, I prefer the simple commentary that after 34 years, Esav sees this 97 year old twin of his limping in his direction. A moment of true compassion and forgiveness over comes Esav and seeing his twin so old and a bit decrepit, he realizes that life is too short to keep up grudges forever. (However, the education of his children and grandchildren like Amalek would last for generations.)
35:1 And God said unto Jacob: 'Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou didst flee from the face of Esau thy brother.' 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him: 'Put away the strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments; 3 and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.' 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth which was by Shechem.
Some were slaves, non-Jewish Servants and followers but they all had from their own past all these idols and needed the Mikvah to be pure. Now prophecy in the pure form was coming back to Yacov as he was in the heart of Yisrael – Schem and the Shomron.
5 And they journeyed; and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the
9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him: 'Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but
Again prophecy and the full confirmation that the blessing of Avraham was through Yacov.
14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He spoke with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Beth-el. 16 And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some way to come to Ephrath; and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the mid-wife said unto her: 'Fear not; for this also is a son for thee.' 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing--for she died--that she called his name Ben-oni; Child of my poorness, but his father called him Benjamin. – son of my right hand. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath--the same is Beth-lehem. 20 And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; the same is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. 21 And
Note both Esav and Yacov are now 120 years old and they kept their distance and have a brotherly enough relationship to jointly bury their father.
36: 31 And these are the kings that reigned in the
Because Yacov and his sons bowed down to Esav 8 times, 8 generations of Esav’s children ruled before there was a king in Yisrael.
Mitzvos and Halachos by Danny Shoemann
Before I go into Danny’s Halachos this week; I have a practical Halacha of my own. This year we have two Shabbasos of Chanucha. The first thing we do in preparing the candles for Shabbos is to have candles to burn long enough that they will not extinguish until at least 30 minutes after sundown which is the most liberal time for the halacha. Since when women like the Shabbos Candles, they are in Shabbos mode and cannot do the Melacha of lighting the Menorah, we first light the Menorah and the first night besides the two regular blessings we bless “Shehechiyanu” (that we have reached this season). Motzei Shabbos we pray in the Synagogue and the first thing upon returning home, we light the Havdallah Candle and say Havdallah (separating holy from profane). Immediately after that we light the Chanucha candles. There are families with the tradition of lighting the candles first and even if this is a mistake, if the family has been doing this for generations these families are exceptions to the rules.
One may not rescue somebody who incites others to idol worship, even if the inciter's life is in danger. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always.
Pasuk: "Do not have pity on him" (Devarim 18:9) Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer haMitzvot HaKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 26
One may not utter prophecies in the name of idols, even if the intent is to have people follow correct Halacha. A transgressor gets killed by strangulation. Applies to everybody, everywhere, always. Pasuk: "and the name of other gods do not mention" (Shemos 23:13) Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Negative Mitzvah 27
It's a Mitzva to learn Torah so that one has comprehensive knowledgeable of all of it. It's a Mitzva to teach the entire Torah to ones sons. If needed on can hire a teacher to do so. Applies to all males all the time, everywhere. Women are exempt from Torah learning, however, a father should ensure his daughters are well versed in all Halachos that apply to them. Pasuk: "And teach it well to your sons" (Devarim 6:7)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 14
All men have a Mitzva to write to their own Sefer Torah. If he cannot write one himself, he can buy a Sefer Torah, or have a Sofer write one for him. Even somebody who inherited a Sefer Torah needs to write his own copy. Nowadays (according to the Rosh) there is a Mitzva to buy a Chumosh, Mishna and Talmud with commentaries, so that one can learn them. Applies to males, everywhere, always. Pasuk: "Write for yourselves this song" (Devarim 31:19)
Source: The Chafetz-Chaim's Sefer HaMitzvot HaKatzar; Positive Mitzvah 15
During all 8 days (and nights) of Chanukah one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים to the Birkat Hamazon during the 2nd Bracha. If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'ברוך אתה ה then you don't have to make amends. However, if possible you should say the following during the HaRachaman's after the 4th Bracha:
הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה לָנוּ נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת,
כְּמוֹ שֶׁעָשָׂה לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הַהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
בִּימֵי מַתִּתְיָהוּ
...and then continue with the rest of the עַל הַנִּסִּים
During every Amida of Chanukah (including Mussaf) one adds עַל הַנִּסִּים during Modim. If you forgot to add עַל הַנִּסִּים and you've already said 'ברוך אתה ה then you don't have to make amends. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 44:16, 139: 21
Since both men and women were included in the miracle of Chanukah, they both need to light the Chanukah Menorah. At least one person per household must light. The custom is for everybody to light, including children under Bar Mitzva. However, married couples share one Chanukah Menorah that either the husband or wife lights. Even blind people should light, if they live by themselves. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:16
On Chanukah, during Shacharis we have Torah Reading every day from Parshat Naso (Bamidbar 7) which talks about the Chanuka - inauguration - of the Mishkan.
Each day of the first 12 days of Nissan, another of the 12 tribes brought the identical set of Korbanos (sacrifices). Each day of Chanuka we read the 5 verses corresponding to that day of the inauguration, for the Cohen and Levi, and the "next" day for the Yisrael. On the first day we read from the beginning of the chapter - and since it's also Shabbat this year, we first read the Parsha (Vayayshev). We will learn about Rosh Chodesh and the last day soon. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:23
In order to publicize the miracle of Chanuka, the Menorah is lit - with the correct Brachot - in the synagogue, between Mincha and Maariv. The person who lit the Menorah in Schul has to light again at home, with the correct Brachot. A mourner should not light the Menorah in Schul on the first night of Chanuka, since it's inappropriate for him to say "Shehechiyanu" in public. At home the mourner does say "Shehechiyanu" on the first night. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 139:15
The following was received directly from the owner of the Copyright: The Approaching Civil War in Israel - Sleepwalking into a Nightmare
בס''ד
Published 27 November 2009 at Blogcritics Magazine Copyright © R. Kossover, 2009
Warnings from Politicians
I picked up this little item from Arutz Sheva Thursday morning (26 November 2009). Ynetnews carefully avoided mentioning MK Danny Danon's (Likud) warning that Barak and Netanyahu are leading us to civil war in its coverage of a meeting of leaders from Judea and
Later that day, MK Tzipporah Hotobeli (Likud) amplified this point, saying that Prime Minister Netanyahu had made a mistake in strategically separating Judea and
Not all of our soldiers are happy with being used as goons to kick out fellow Jews from their homes, when it is obvious to them (and any sane individual) that instead of ruining the lives of Jews (and fellow Israeli citizens), they should be protecting them from depradations of terrorists bent on murdering them.
But Security MInister Ehud Barak (Labor), just the day before (25 November 2009), had warned recruits that soldiers' protests against the illegal use of force against Jewish residents in Judea and
And Binyamin Netanyahu is determined to bow to the setting sun of the Americans, as did the evil priests in the days immediately before the destruction of the
Events of the last several weeks or months here in
The Double Standard of the Hiloní Establishment in
First, let's look at the viciousness of the Border Guards and Israel Police in dealing with Jews here in Judea and Samaria, and the double standard applied in law here, where Arabs are given a nearly free pass, and Jews are treated like trash. It was this kind of evil that brought upon us the Holocaust in Europe - Jews persecuting Jews.
Two days ago, a member of mishmár hag'vúl, the Border Guards who are paramilitary police, was indicted for beating up a national camp demonstrator.
According to Arutz Sheva, this all took place last July. "The police originally claimed they were the ones who were attacked, but authorities accepted a video as evidence that police officer Tal Yemini was the instigator."
The victim, a youth at MaHané Horón, a Samarian community, was shown in the video with Yemini shoving his fist in his nose and eyes, though the boy did not display any aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, the police arrested the youth on charges of "attacking a policeman."
This incident was newsworthy because it was more in the "man bites dog" category than "dog bites man". Members of the Border Guard routinely incite national camp demonstrators and attack them, and then arrest them for "attacking police officers". According to Arutz Sheva, spokesmen for the Civil Rights Organization of Judea and
The pigs are the same the world over, telling the same lies, and getting pliable or bought-off judges to go along with their fraud. The instances where the judge does not go along with the fraud and lies are the newsworthy ones.
An example of this is this case where a cop was sued by his victim over how he treated him during the expulsion at 'Amóna, four years ago. Arutz Sheva also reported on this nine days ago on 17 November. According to the article, shotér (Patrolman) David Atia will pay almost
Not long ago, police expelled Jews from their homes near Hevron - but according to Arutz Sheva, illegal Arab homes with demolition orders ten years old were untouched by the police action.
Judges in many parts of
In the meantime, the government violates the agreements it makes with its citizens. The Israeli government had an agreement with a Knesset sub-committee chairman, Ze'ev Elkin (Likud), that no expulsion would be conducted on the Sabbath. And then it swooped down on Homesh - where expelled residents are trying to rebuild homes - on the very Sabbath it agreed not to violate.
Let's end this portion of the article with one more example of what passes for "justice" in this land. In 2005, a fifteen-year-old kid was hitching a ride when two cops accosted him and demanded to see his teudát zehút, his ID papers. He had none. You have to be 16 years of age or older to obtain a teudát zehút. He attempted to tell the cops that and asked them to check his ID through the computer system they have in their cars. They refused. They shoved him in the back of the car on the floor and beat and kicked the boy. According to Arutz Sheva, two soldiers who were at a nearby guard post, and a third soldier who was in the area, testified that they tried to intervene but that the policemen refused to stop beating the boy. The Human Rights Committee of the Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and
Rights and Wrongs
One should be clear here. The expulsion from Homesh, just like the expulsion from Gush Qatif, was illegal. The residents of all these towns and villages had built their homes and lives at the encouragement and approval of the government of
In doing so, they broke the law of the land, abusing fiat rights of authority, the kind of tyrannical excesses that used to be common in the monarchy of
Those who attempt to settle the Land, those who try to rebuild their homes and lives, are in the right. And the Stalinist bastards who do the bidding of the
In their continued depravity, they defecate upon the honor of the young men and women who put their lives on the line to keep these bastards in office in
Soldiers' Protests and the Larger Picture
Now, let's look at the events of recent weeks surrounding the k'fir "Young Lions" Battalion of the IDF.
There is a history of difficult relations, if not outright hatred, between the Hiloní (secular and anti-clerical) establishment that controls the army and the press and the religious Jews and their own establishments in the army. As I've pointed out elsewhere, a large proportion of the IDF is religious and loyal to the idea of a G-d of Israel and the mission for the Children of Israel, a mission expressed in various ways, while the top brass is a G-d-hating, Torah-hating establishment, a fossilized remainder from the pre-state days when the left-wing kibbutzim supplied the majority of the fighting men as well as commanders.
As a reminder of this hatred, a Channel 2 news broadcaster called for the dissolution of the hésder yeshivót, which train soldiers who maintain religious values. According to this Arutz Sheva report, Ronny Daniel reminded viewers that former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz had said at the time of the Disengagement in 2005 that he would "settle accounts" with soldiers who refused to participate in the Disengagement. In case anyone has forgotten (and I'm sure all of you have), Halutz was the IDF COS who sold his stocks in Israeli firms in July 2006, fearing a decline of their values in a war; he also designed the disastrous strategy that the IDF followed in the Second
The brigades in the K'fir Battalion, which serves largely in Judea and Samaria, have been protesting the expulsion of Jews by Jewish soldiers in Judea and Samaria by holding up various signs at graduation ceremonies held at the Western Wall saying that their brigade does not expel fellow Jews. While the Hebrew media and the government have tried to focus their anger on the religious Jews in the K'fir Battalion and on the hésder yeshivót which train them, the truth is that religious and secular soldiers alike share this view. And because they are usually the ones called upon to do the evil deed, backing up the more vicious and ideologically motivated Border Guards and Israel Police, they are more sympathetic to the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria - people often beset by outside agitators who try to stir up Arabs against them, as well as by American snoops who try to worm information out of them, and by "peace groups" who commit espionage, funded by foreign countries like Finland and England.
Strictly speaking, the signs at the ceremonies are insubordination and should be punished as such. But, more honestly speaking, these soldiers have been forced to perform illegal political tasks by a government that, in negotiating the surrender of sovereign Jewish land to an enemy, has committed treason in the plain sense of the word. So, if these soldiers rightfully protest the treasonous actions of their government, they are in the right and the government is in the wrong - as it has been ever since it agreed to the
And that is the bottom line here.
Soldiers and Israelis generally can see that the American government is an enemy of this country. American President Obama has, as I hoped he would, stripped away the mask of "friendship" worn by more proficient American liars like George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. The reality of the bully/bullied relationship of the
It is time for a man to arise amongst us who will have the courage of Matityahu the Kohen, the father of the Maccabees, who ran his sword through a Jew who, like Netanyahu, Peres and Barak, bows to the idols of "peace" and falsehood.
Hanukkah approaches. May the Almighty grant us a miracle. http://ruvysroost.blogspot.com/2009/11/approaching-civil-war-in-israel.html
Note in the Zohar HaKodesh Shemos 8 it is written about a group of people who will fight against the Moshiach.
Gog and Magog: http://www.debka.com/headline.php?hid=6394 From a modern Major General about strategy: http://www.channels.com/episodes/show/7966262/General-Paul-Vallely-The-Middle-East-Cauldron#/episodes/show/7966262/General-Paul-Vallely-The-Middle-East-Cauldron
Here are some questions to ask: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259243025529&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Honoring Terrorism in FL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25iC5AYNDUk
In reply to my spiritual survival guide for Moshiach; Harry H. wrote the following which I have in part in my Israeli Shelter:
Although we cannot and should not predict the coming of the Moshiach, there are certain things that will happen that I think we can all agree on:
2. The banding together of the nations to fight these attacks and the blaming of
3. An eventual war against
4, Destructive events such as earthquakes, tidal waves, asteroids, and who knows what else
5. The destruction of those attacking Israel, and the arrival of the Moshiach
Billions of people will die during this time, and like the "man in the water", there are things that we should do to prepare, which may save our families and ourselves. Once these times begin, it may take us some time to travel to
IMPORTANT MATERIAL:
You can order all of these things from one convenient source at: www.nitro-pak.com Since you may not know what to order, here is a short list
1. Freeze dried food, or MRE's for at least one month, and preferably a year
2. Water purification means such as a Katadyn water filter, Oxy-Stabile, Polar Pure, or Clorox bleach (look up on the internet what dose to use to purify water for drinking) AND water storage containers (100-
5. Fire starting materials, including water proof matches (Orvis Fatwood fire starter is a good one)
6. Wool army surplus blankets (from www.cheaperthandirt.com), or www.sportsmansguide.com), or space blankets
8. Safe approved storage containers for
11. Survival knife
12. Coastguard survival bars, granola bars, and survival tabs
13. Thyro-block potassium iodide tables
14. Antibiotic cream
15. Silvadine burn cream
16. Comprehensive first aid kit including sutures
17. Pedialyte and or Gatorade for diarrhea
18. If you have access and know how to use (Lactated ringers IV solution (2 liters/person), tubing, and IV needles
20. NPC cotton surgical masks
21. Hand sanitizer liquid
23. Water proof bag for your Tallis and Tephillin
24. Candles, lanterns, and flashlights
25. Soap
26. Sunscreen and insect repellent
27. Comfortable clothes with rain ponchos and hats
28. Cipro 500mg pills (enough for twice daily dose to all family members for one month (treats anthrax and most commonly used biological weapons)
29. "Money" for barter and exchange in the form of extra boxes of bullets (9mm or 223 are popular), cash, 1 carat investment grade diamonds, and gold coins (Krugerands or Canadian Maple leafs)
30. Civil Service maps of radiation fall-out patterns (available on the internet). FYI: the safest place in the United States in the event of nuclear war due to prevailing wind patterns is the Southwest coast of Florida; Ft Myers, Naples area.
This list is not complete. Please browse the Nitropak site for whatever else you feel would be necessary for your family. You can also visit Sportsman’s Guide, Cheaperthandirt, and Cabalas web pages for specials.
In conclusion, my wife thought I was crazy when I bought a generator for the house, but very happy after the hurricane hit. Even if the Moshiach does not come in our lifetime, these items may save the lives of your family and yourself in the event of a natural or man made disaster.
WINSTON MID EAST ANALYSIS & COMMENTARY November 29,
WHY WAS JUDGE RICHARD GOLDSTONE SILENT DURING ISRAEL’S 7 WARS? By Emanuel A. Winston, Middle East Analyst & Commentator
As I read Judge Richard Goldstone’s self-serving article in the International Jerusalem Post October 23, 2009, I could not help but wonder of the many opportunities Goldstone had over the years to speak truths about cruel Arab Muslims which, so far, have not yet been found. Many erudite people speak about Goldstone’s desire to become the U.N. Secretary General after Kofi Annan left the post. Goldstone was NOT selected but, he probably still hungers for the post.
I wondered about his silence during the wars with Egypt wherein then President Gamal Abdul Nasser and his successor, Anwar Sadat placed triple Ack Ack (anti-aircraft) guns on the roofs of schools and hospitals, looking for the negative propaganda should Israel have hit these deliberately placed targets in anticipation of the war they had launched against Israel.
Then there were the Russian ground-to-air (S.A.M.) missile batteries placed in Egyptian school yards and hospital parking lots for the negative propaganda should
Using "human shields" was always a common practice for Arab Muslims because they were expected to do it for Allah and to protect Terrorists. The so-called Arab Muslim civilians often volunteered their houses and apartments as emplacements for Katyusha rockets and storage for explosives. The Katyusha launchers were placed on rollers so they could be rolled out tot he balconies, fired and withdrawn into the apartments.
I wonder if Goldstone ever truly protested Ayatollah Khomeini’s use of Iranian children in his war with Saddam Hussein wherein young Iranian children were given bits of colored paper with Arabic writing, saying that "this child would be a “Shahid” (martyr for Islam) if he happened to die in the service of Allah. That was accomplished after the use of goats and sheep running across minefields to clear the minefields for the Iranian soldiers who were following. Perhaps the use of expensive sheep was not economical - so they used the children - running happily, shouting "Allahu Akbar" (god is great!) - and blowing up among the mines! How proud their "civilian parents" were to sacrifice their children!
I don’t recall the United Nations nor the Americans nor the Europeans protesting too loudly. The Left Liberal Media gave it short shift.
However, they all castigated
What now that Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has today (November 28th) announced that beginning in January 2010 he will build 10 new nuclear enrichment plants to manufacture up to 300 tons of enriched uranium, that could be weaponized?. This could be enough to build hundreds of nuclear bombs. This is just days after the useless U.N. Security Council voted to censure
Does this new challenge to the world push
I also don’t recall Goldstone mounting a campaign against the Iranian or Iraqi war crimes, although one never knows if Goldstone protested in private dinner conversation with Leftist friends. They were probably convinced but, his actions never matched his words when it came to
I do recall the time of Yassir Arafat’s RPG kids (Rocket Propelled Grenades) in
Does anyone out there have documents on Goldstone’s protests or the U.N. or the
Let’s expose Arafat’s special role in
The PLO Terror state grew exponentially to the point where Arafat used apartment buildings, schools, hospitals - all civilian sites - for storing explosives and weapons.
A favorite place to store these weapons was the refugee camp of Sabra and Shatilla. When the IDF (
Not so strangely, Sabra and Shatilla were later the site of a massacre by Christian Phalangist militia who had suffered enormously under Arafat’s Muslim Palestinians. It was called the "Night of the Long Knives" because the assassins used knives - not guns and those IDF troops in
Syria, under then President Hafez al Assad cut a deal with the Americans to stop the killings by occupying most of Lebanon but, with a certain stipulation. Syrian troops would occupy under the Taif Agreement but, when they were supposed to leave after they imposed a "cease-fire" on their terms, they refused and remained as another Terror army in control of
Besides they developed the
Of course, they (the Syrians) were never intended to leave
The Muslim Arab use of their civilians is well-known and documented. Which brings us to
That vacuum left by Barak and his deal with then President Clinton was quickly filled by Hizballah with thousands of missiles coming from
Hizballah still uses the civilian Lebanese villages as emplacements for weapons and, of course, Human Shields. The U.N. soldiers UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in
Here again we have the silence of Goldstone, the U.N., Tzippi Livni (head of the Kadima Party), Ehud Olmert when he was Prime Minister, President Shimon Peres, Arik Sharon and most of the Leftists.
I have many more examples of Goldstone’s silence and the hideous people Arafat named as Muslim Palestinians. Now, we have President Barack Hussein Obama reaching out to his brethren in
Don’t look for Goldstone - unless he joins Obama’s gang of advisors - which is highly possible.
The great world concern for attacks against civilians is nothing compared to President Obama’s lackadaisical approach to
So, what can we expect from Obama - besides oratory? Absolutely nothing.
A few years ago I got this e-mail from Seth it tells of an
It doesn't matter if you're from the Bronx or
>> IF YOUR ROOTS ARE IN BROOKLYN or in my CASE,
>>
>> 1. The subway, bus and the trolley were only a nickel and then a thin dime to ride.
>>
>> 2. Schools were the showcase for the whole country.
>>
>> 3. There were no drugs.
>>
>> 4. There was very little pornography.
>>
>> 5. There were no divorces and few one parent families.
>>
>> 6. There was respect for teachers and older people in general.
>>
>> 7. There was almost no violence.
>>
>> 8. The theme of the music of the times, even when it became rock and roll, was love not anger.
>>
>> 9. People made a living and, rich or poor, people all knew how to have a good time no matter of status.
>>
>> 10. A great day was going to the beach at Coney Island or
>>
>> 11. Tuesday night was fireworks night in Coney Island put on by Schaefer Brewing
>>
>> 12. There were the
>>
>>
>> 13. There was no better hot dog than the original at Nathan's in
>>
>> 14. The rides and shows of Coney Island were fantastic
>> slide, the barrels, the zoo (maze), the human pool table, the Cyclone Roller Coaster, the Tornado
>> Roller Coaster, the Thunderbolt Roller Coaster, the Bobsled, the Virginia Reel, the Wonder Wheel, the bumper cars, the tunnel of love, Battaway, the loop to loop, the bubble bounce, miniature golf, the whip, the many merry-go-rounds, the penny arcades. Luna Park, the Thompson Roller Coaster, the parachute jump, Fabers Sportsland and Fascination, toffee and cotton candy stores, custard stands,Pokerama, Skeeball, prize games, fortune tellers guess games, hammer games, telescope lady, the Harlem revue, the freak shows, the house of wax, the animal nursery, restaurants, rifle ranges, push cart rides and parades.
>>
>> 15. The fruit man, the milkman, the tool sharpener, the junk man and the watermelon man all
>> came with the horse and wagon.
>>
>> 16. Only place for pizza and only whole pizzas was Joe's Bar and Grill on Ave U or Michael's on Church Ave. and E.40th St. Then in the mid-50's, a pizza explosion: you could buy it by the slice for a dime at many places. By the late 50's it was a whole 15 cents a slice! A tuna fish sandwich or a BLT were 45 cents. A small Coke was 5 cents, a large Coke was 10 cents. Remember vanilla Cokes when they pumped real vanilla syrup into the glass before adding the Coke?
>>
>> 17. There were many theaters where every Saturday afternoon you could see 25 cartoons and two feature films. The Highway, the Avalon, the Kingsway, the Mayfair, the Claridge, the Tuxedo, the Oriental, the Avenue U, the Kent, the Paramount, the RKO Tilyou, the Mermaid, the Surf, the Walker, the Albemarle, the Alpine, the Rugby, Granada, Kenmore and Kings,the Canarsie ,the Marlboro, the Avon and the Globe.
>>
>> 18.
>>
>> 19. Big eating and coffee hangouts: Dubrow's on
>>
>> 20. Everybody knew all the high schools in
>>
>> 21.
>>
>> 22. There were many delicatessens in the 50's very few today. The best? Adelman's on 13th
>> Avenue. The food was from heaven!
>>
>> 23. Ebinger's was the great bakery...I loved the chocolate butter cream with the almonds on the side, Boston Cream pie And Blackout cakes!
>>
>> 24. There were no fast food restaurants in the 50's and a hamburger tasted like a hamburger.
>>
>> 25. There was
>>
>> 26. Big night clubs in
>>
>> 27. Quick bites at Brennan and Carr, Horn and Hardart Automat, Nedick's, Big Daddy's, Chock Full o' Nuts, Junior's, Grabsteins or Joe's Delicatessen.
>> (Junior's, you'll be glad to know, is still in the same place, and the cheesecake is still fabulous...)
>>
>> 28. Knishes were great at Mrs. Stahl's in
>>
>> 29. People in
>> General Motors then. The cars would run and run and run, no problems.
>>
>> 30. You bought sour pickles right out of the barrel -- for a nickel -- and they were delicious.
>> By the 60's, they cost a whole quarter. Anyone remember Miller's Appetizing, on the corner of
>>
>> 31. The
>>
>> 32. You come from
>>
>> 33. You played a lot of games as kids. Depending on whether you were a boy or a girl, you could play: ringaleaveo, Johnny on the Pony, Hide and Seek, three feet off to Germany, red light green light, chase the white horse, kick the can, war, hit the penny, pussy-in-the-corner, jump rope, double-dutch, Stories, A-My Name Is, box ball, box baseball, stoop ball, dodge ball, catch a fly, you're up, running bases, iron tag, skelly, tops, punch ball, hand ball, slap ball, whiffle ball, stick ball, poison ball, relay races, softball, baseball, basketball, horse, 5-3-1, around the world, foul shooting,
>> knockout, arm wrestling, Indian wrestling.And then there were card games like canasta, casino, hearts, pinochle, war and the unhappy game of 52-card pickup.
>>
>> 34. You hung out on people's stoops.
>>
>> 35. You learned how to dance at some girl's backyard or house.
>>
>> 36. You roller skated at Empire Rollerdrum or
>> wheels. You had roller skates at home with metal wheels for using on the sidewalks, and you needed a skate key to tighten them around your shoes. Those metal wheels on concrete were deafening!
>>
>> 37. The big sneaker was Converse. Also Keds and P-F Flyers.
>>
>> 38. The guys wore
>>
>> 39. In the 50's rock and roll started big teen styles for the first time.
>>
>> 40. Everyone went to a Bar Mitzvah even if you weren't Jewish.
>>
>> 41. Everyone took their date to
>>
>> 42. There were 3 main nationalities in
>>
>> 43. The only way to get to Staten Island was by ferry from the
>>
>> 44. In
>>
>> 45. Rides on a truck came to your neighborhood to give little kids a ride for a dime. The best one was the "whip," which spun you around a track. You got a little prize when you got off, sometimes a folding paper fan, sometimes a straw tube that you inserted two fingers into, that tightened as you tried to pull your fingers out again called the Chinese Torture.
>>
>> 46. As a kid you hit people with water balloons from atop a building, you shot linoleum projectiles from a carpet gun, you shot dried peas from pea shooters, and you shot paperclips at people with a rubberband.
>>
>> 47. You shopped at EJ Korvettes, Robert Hall, Woolworth's, Mays, McCrory's, Packers, A&P, Bohack, A&S, Barney's was Barney's
>>
>> 48. NBC main production studio was on Avenue M. The Cosby show was made there.
>>
>> 49. Everybody lived near a candy store and a grocery store.
>>
>> 50. The first mall comes to Brooklyn at
>>
>> 51. Bagel stores start popping up everywhere in the 60's.
>>
>> 52. Went to Jahn's Ice Cream Parlor with a big group and had the Kitchen Sink. If it was your
>> birthday (you had to bring your birth certificate), you could get a sundae free.
>>
>> 53. Everybody knew somebody who was a connected guy.
>>
>> 54. We used the word "swell"; that's passe today.
>>
>> 55. In the summer we all waited for the Good Humor, Bungalow Bar, Mister Softee or Freezer Fresh man to come into our neighborhood to buy ice cream.
>> In the early to mid 50's, the Good Humor man pushed a cart instead of driving a truck. Remember the bells? A pop was 15 cents. A large cup was 15 cents, a small cup was a dime. And a sundae -- remember licking the chocolate off the back of the cardboard top? -- was a quarter.
>>
>> 56. Many of us would sneak cigarettes and hide them when we got home.
>>
57. When we talked about "the city" we meant
>>
>> 58. The Mets in the 60'S became our substitute for the Dodgers. But they never did, and never
>> will, make up for the Dodgers leaving.
>>
>> 59. In the 60's we were ready to drive and hit the night life scene. With the car came the girls.
>>
>> 60. We are all in a select club because we have roots in
And there were other mystical lands in the
During my teen years the wildest movie was Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther and later on James Bond which was more action than women.
Today anything goes and a comedy is something stupid that does not elicit even a half laugh and an action film has 7 to 10 senseless murders in the first three minutes – and we wonder why this generation is messed up and kills at a drop of a pin. Lastly the only ones having a real gay time were the Flintstones.
Have a great Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli