Parsha Korach
16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men;
What an embarrassment this must be for their fathers and other ancestors in the next world. In a lecture or tape I heard once by a Rabbi some person had a dream that their father came to them and complained that because of their violation of the Shabbos, in the next world his face was being blackened every Erev Shabbos with spiritual soot. He came also to the sibling in another dream on the same night. They were both warned. The daughter took the hint the first time around seeing two dreams in two people a distance apart it must be true. The son on the other hand ignored it. He was warned twice more and on the third time the father said, my embarrassment will not be for too long for either you repent or you shall join me in the next world. The son ignored it and needless to say moved out of this world. It is the same principle happening here with the mention of past generations. Izhar, Kohath and Levi receive the reflection upon them. As we are told to the third or fourth generation for those that hate me – it this case it was not the three Tzaddikim but they are punished for not praying that a Korach would not come out of their seed.
and they rose up in face of Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty men; they were princes of the congregation, the elect men of the assembly, men of renown;
Again we are dealing with elected officials and leaders of the people not common lay men and boorish men.
3 and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them: 'Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?'
They accuse Moshe of their own fault which is doing the job for personal glory and authority.
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face.
Moshe and Aaron instead of praying via the tree of life, by falling on his/their face(s) the prayers went via the Tree of Death. In fact risking death for themselves it their plea would not be for the sake of heaven. At this moment Korach had time to repent and appeal to Rabbi Moshe and Aaron.
5 And he spoke unto Korach and unto all his company, saying: 'In the morning the LORD will show who are His, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto Him; even him whom He may choose will He cause to come near unto Him. 6 This do: take you censors, Korach, and all his company; 7 and put fire therein, and put incense upon them before the LORD to-morrow; and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy; ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.' 8 And Moses said unto Korach: 'Hear now, ye sons of Levi:
I might even understand the complaint of the Bnei Reuven as he was born before Shimon or Levi. However, you Bnei Levi are carrying the Aharon HaKodesh with Korach at the head so why complain? Then Moshe spoke in a louder voice towards the whole congregation with a stern reprimand and a request for them to return.
9 is it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them; 10 and that He hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee? and will ye seek the priesthood also?
Of all the tasks of the Leviim, it was Korach and his sons who had the task of bearing the Aharon HaKodesh on their shoulders. Korach’s mistake was that he saw that the Novi Shmuel would descend from him. Tehillim 99:6 Moses and Aaron among His priests, and Samuel among them that call upon His name,
11 Therefore thou and all thy company that are gathered together against the LORD--; and as to Aaron, what is he that ye murmur against him?' 12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said: 'We will not come up; 13 is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but thou must needs make thyself also a prince over us?
Blind lust for power on the part of these individuals, for they had witnessed the miracles performed through the hands of Moshe and still they had the Chutzpa to rebel against Moshe as if he was a politician like the ten spies.
14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards; wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.' 15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD: 'Respect not Thou their offering; I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.'
I have not made any personal gain for myself from anyone of the Bnei Yisrael and yet they treat me so.
16 And Moses said unto Korach: 'Be thou and all thy congregation before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to-morrow; 17 and take ye every man his fire-pan, and put incense upon them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his fire-pan, two hundred and fifty fire-pans; thou also, and Aaron, each his fire-pan.' 18 And they took every man his fire-pan, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood at the door of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19 And Korach assembled all the congregation against them unto the door of the tent of meeting; and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Now we are about to see the Justice of HASHEM for often enough in this world which is under a fog until HASHEM brings the Redeemer unto Tzion: Yeshaya:20 And a redeemer will come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, says the LORD. 21 And as for Me, this is My covenant with them, says the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and My words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, says the LORD, from henceforth and forever. Whenever we make a Siyum, we pray that the Torah shall not depart from us or our seed forever. Korach was a Talmud Chacham and therefore his prayers plus the repentance of his children merited Shmuel HaNovi. As for the 249 others some merited but most did not and they perished.
20 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 21 'Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' 22 And they fell upon their faces, and said: 'O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be worth with all the congregation?'
Our minds cannot fathom our creator getting angry but the members of the congregation were ungrateful and this bothered HIM as in the days of Noach, Sodom and other times. For HASHEM even though HE is long suffering does not look kindly upon man’s stupidity and rebelliousness.
23 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 24 'Speak unto the congregation, saying: Get you up from about the dwelling of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram.' 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke unto the congregation, saying: 'Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be swept away in all their sins.' 27 So they got them up from the dwelling of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side; and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. 28 And Moses said: 'Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works, and that I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, and be visited after the visitation of all men, then the LORD hath not sent Me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the ground open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down alive into the pit, then ye shall understand that these men have despised the LORD.' 31 And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words that the ground did cleave asunder that was under them. 32 And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korach, and all their goods. 33 So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit; and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they said: 'Lest the earth swallow us up.' 35 And fire came forth from the LORD, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.
As they fell they shouted “Moshe Emmes v’ Torah-so Emmes!” Every Simchas Torah it is a custom in Eretz Yisrael after the 5 Aliyah to Torah to jump up and down and shout these words.
17:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the fire-pans out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are become holy; 3 even the fire-pans of these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar--for they are become holy, because they were offered before the LORD--that they may be a sign unto the children of Israel.'
Since there was Kavannah for serving HASHEM, and it was done in Tahara, the pans became holy.
4 And Eleazar the priest took the brazen fire-pans, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, 5 to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, to the end that no common man, that is not of the seed of Aaron, draw near to burn incense before the LORD; that he fare not as Korach, and as his company; as the LORD spoke unto him by the hand of Moses.
So Moshe and Aaron thought that finally they would get some peace and quiet but …
6 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying: 'Ye have killed the people of the LORD.' 7 And it came to pass, when the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tent of meeting; and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared. 8 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting.
I can assume only that this too was a minority of the congregation but 100 or more people coming close to the leaders angrily and not body guards around them would be threatening to anybody.
9 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 10 'Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.' And they fell upon their faces. 11 And Moses said unto Aaron: 'Take thy fire-pan, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly unto the congregation, and make atonement for them; for there is wrath gone out from the LORD: the plague is begun.'
The members of the group of complainers began dropping like flies because Samael was given the power to kill them. Yechezkel 9:4 And the LORD said unto him: 'Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof.' He sent Gavriel to put a Tav on the forehead. If in ink Teheyeh (live) and if in blood Tamoos (die). So too here there was a separation of the good from the bad.
… 16 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 17 'Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods; thou shalt write every man's name upon his rod. 18 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi, for there shall be one rod for the head of their fathers' houses. 19 And thou shalt lay them up in the tent of meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you. 20 And it shall come to pass, that the man whom I shall choose, his rod shall bud; and I will make to cease from Me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.' 21 And Moses spoke unto the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods; and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 22 And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tent of the testimony. 23 And it came to pass on the morrow that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bore ripe almonds. 24 And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel; and they looked, and took every man his rod.
Aaron is the man that I THE L-RD G-D have chosen! Aaron and no other shall be MY priest for all the future generations. [One might say that Eliyahu HaNovi was an exception to the rule but it is well known that Eliyahu = Pinchas ben Elazar ben Aaron HaCohain. This is one of the times reincarnation stories have crept into everyday Judaism.
Perkei Avos Chapter 3 Mishnah 6 – 11 http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/682516/jewish/English-Text.htm
6. Rabbi Chalafta the son of Dosa of the village of Chanania would say: Ten who sit together and occupy themselves with Torah, the Divine Presence rests amongst them, as is stated: "The Almighty stands in the congregation of G-d" (Psalms 82:1).
Since the minimum for a Minyan or Congregation is a quorum of ten adult males, the number stands out for the making of the statement.
And from where do we know that such is also the case with five? From the verse, "He established his band on earth" (Amos 9:6).
A bundle, band aka Aguda is five.
And three? From the verse, "He renders judgement in the midst of the tribunal" (Psalms 82:1).
A Rav can issue a Psak or try to bring the parties together without a trial but the minimum number of judges in a trial is 3. The concept is for one judge to be for the plaintiff and one for the defendant and the third one neutral to tip the scales one way or the other. Therefore a minimum of three is needed.
And two? From the verse, "Then the G-d-fearing conversed with one another, and G-d listened and heard" (Malachi 3:16).
A Chavrutha or pair of scholars arguing one way or the other like Rav Yochanan and Resh Lechesh debating one another strengthening and learning from each other and also in the case of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Rabbi Elazar arguing the words of Torah, Mishna and Kabbala in the cave for 12 years and returning one more to learn how to adjust to this world again from the heights of Kabbala.
And from where do we know that such is the case even with a single individual? From the verse, "Every place where I have MY name mentioned, I shall come to you and bless you" (Exodus 20:21).
So as long as one is sitting and reading or in my case writing this on the computer, the Shechina can rest upon you and I.
7. Rabbi Elazar of Bartosa would say: Give Him what is His, for you, and whatever is yours, are His. As David says: "For everything comes from YOU, and from YOUR own hand we give to YOU" (I Chronicles 29:14).
Contrary to the spies, Korach and the complainers in the last two Parshiyos, one must remember WHO created him/her and where all the blessings come from.
Rabbi Yaakov would say: One who walks along a road and studies, and interrupts his studying to say, "How beautiful is this tree!", "How beautiful is this ploughed field!"---the Torah considers it as if he had forfeited his life.
Torah can be interrupted for saving a live, a call of nature, a meal for strength and even prayer was frowned upon by some Rabbis as interfering with Torah learning. (Do not worry; we are not on the level of our prayer interfering with Torah learning.)
8. Rabbi Dustai the son of Rabbi Yannai would say in the name of Rabbi Meir: Anyone who forgets even a single word of this learning, the Torah considers it as if he had forfeited his life. As is stated, "Just be careful, and verily guard your soul, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen" (Deuteronomy 4:9).
This is one reason to review and re-review the Torah learning as it is human nature to forget. The soul will not forget but the body and conscious brain can forget. Sins and wasting time is one of the things that lead to forgetting.
One might think that this applies also to one who [has forgotten because] his studies proved too difficult for him; but the verse goes on to tell us "and lest they be removed from your heart, throughout the days of your life." Hence, one does not forfeit his life unless he deliberately removes them from his heart.
So if you are elderly or have a rotten memory, this will not count against you. However, instead of Chessed you have learned cruelty and wickedness then you will be liken to one who has forfeited his life.
9. Rabbi Chanina the son of Dosa would say: One whose fear of sin takes precedence to his wisdom, his wisdom endures. But one whose wisdom takes precedence to his fear of sin, his wisdom does not endure.
Humbleness and fear of sin help you preserve your wisdom and being a snob and a braggart are a sure way to lose your wisdom.
10. He would also say: One whose deeds exceed his wisdom, his wisdom endures. But one whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, his wisdom does not endure.
One who visits the sick, aids the poor, pays tribute to the dead, lends a proverbial shoulder to cry on; will have wisdom who last. However, one who is cocky and has plain wisdom and no deeds will in the end lose his wisdom and his following of friends.
He would also say: One, who is pleasing to his fellow men, is pleasing to G-d. But one, who is not pleasing to his fellow men, is not pleasing to G-d.
One cannot step all over other people and expect Elokaynu to take a positive notice of him. However, one who makes Shalom Beis among people and helps out brings pleasantness to them and HASHEM.
Rabbi Dosa the son of Hurkinas would say: Morning sleep, noontime wine, children's talk and sitting at the meeting places of the ignoramus, drive a person from the world.
This is for people to rise like a jungle cat pouncing on its prey to spring into action of prayer and Mitzvos in the morning and swift as a deer to do so. (See the first Halacha) Wine and over-eating at noon makes one drowsy. Children’s talk is a waste of time and energy unless it is for the purpose of transmitting knowledge and Torah to the next generation. (This week, my wife and I baby-sat for all but one of our grandchildren. I took the oldest who was home from the Yeshiva and asked him about his Yeshiva Seder and plans for the Yeshiva vacation that it should be fun for a teen and yet within the realm of religion. He told me that the Rabbis would take them to Yerushalayim and camping for a few days. Once one is with his Rabbis he can have fun without too much teen nonsense. I then went to the three year old and asked him about his little games and told him what I used to play at his age. One must show interest in the child if later on he wants to educate him with higher things. I tried to teach him a few English words which are similar to Hebrew. Then I discussed with the six year old, his Torah learning from class to review it with him. Next came the nine year old and her learning. Children need games and individual attention. So perhaps the child talk to win the child over for confidence and learning is important. However, just playing games with a child will drive a person from this world.)
11. Rabbi Elazar of Modiin would say: One who profanes the Kedoshim ("holy things" consecrated for the service of G-d in the Holy Temple), degrades the Festivals, humiliates his friend in public, abrogates the covenant of our father Abraham (i.e., circumcision), or who interprets the Torah contrary to its true intent---although he may possess Torah knowledge and good deeds, he has no share in the World to Come.
When the Greeks came and spread their so-called culture to Eretz Yisrael; they introduced to a modest people sports and Olympic type of competitions. The Greek men would mock the Jewish participants for having been circumcised. Contrary to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yacov; these men were embarrassed by their Bris with G-D and they tried to stretch the remaining foreskin like a drum to hide the covenant with the L-RD.
What Rabbi Elazar was complaining about was the disrespect for the Holy and cheapening of the holidays. He was not referring to Halachic violations of Shabbos and Yom Tov but the profane observance. If one purposely visits a non-Jew who has the sports game on the radio or TV on Shabbos or walks especially to a newsstand in a country outside of Israel to read the headlines he might not fully be violating the Halacha but he is violating the spirit of Shabbos and Yom Tov. It happens that one cannot turn off his brain on Shabbos and sometimes non-Shabbos thoughts or plans will pop into one’s head.
One must guard himself from embarrassing his fellow in public. The other may be humble and brush it off but he will lose his place in the world to come.
Finally one who will read a Tanach story like Yehoshua 2 or Shoftim concerning the Concubine of Givah or something else and start making bawdy and other statements or jokes about the profession of the two women who came before Shlomo HaMelech for judgement will lose his place in the next world.
Halacha from Danny Schoemann
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:8
If, after waiting 6 hours, one finds meat stuck between one's teeth, one has to remove it and rinse one's mouth and eat something solid before eating Milky, though one need not wait another 6 hours. If the food did not contain any meat, chicken or gravy, but was simply cooked in a meaty pot - even if the pot wasn't spotlessly clean - then one may eat milk right afterwards. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:9-10
Some have the custom of only waiting 1 hour or 3 hours, and not 6 hours between meat and milk. Everybody should follow their family Minchag.
After eating milky products one needs to wash one's hands or check them carefully, eat something hard (like bread) and rinse one's mouth or drink something and check between one's teeth or brush them. Then - if it's not at the same meal - one can eat meat right away. The exception is hard cheese that aged for 6 months or became wormy. After eating such cheese, one needs to wait 6 hours before eating meat.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:11
As we learned yesterday, some have the custom to only wait 1 or 3 hours. There's a debate among Poskim if modern hard cheese that didn't age 6 months is considered like hard cheese. Check with your favorite LOR. The Rav of Tnuva Cheeses in Israel holds that Parmesan and perhaps Golan Cheeses are hard the rest one can wash out his mouth as if he drank milk.
If one cooks meat in almond milk, one has to leave some almonds in the dish, so that people do not suspect you of having cooked meat in milk. As a general rule, one should be careful not to do anything which looks like it's against Halacha, even if one is not doing anything wrong, as it says in Bamidbar 23:22 וִהְיִיתֶם נְקִיִּים מֵה' וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵל and in Mishlei 3:4 - וּמְצָא חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱ-לקִים וְאָדָם.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 46:14, 29:20
The translation is that one should be clean/pure before HASHEM and Yisrael combined with that one should find grace and good understanding between G-D and man.
This Shabbat is "Shabbat Mevarchim". Rosh Chodesh Tammuz will be on Shabbat-in-a-week's-time and the morrow; Sunday. (2nd and 3rd July) There's an ancient custom to bless the upcoming month on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh, before Mussaf. This is not to be confused with Sanctifying the Month that was done by the Sanhedrin when the new moon appeared. Nevertheless, the custom is to stand when the Chazzan announces which day(s) will be Rosh Chodesh, since the sanctification of the month was done while standing. Source: Mishna Berura 417:1 Shabbat Shalom uMevorach – Danny (Mevarchim is blessing of and uMevorach is a peaceful and blessed Shabbos)
Only One Did Not Faint by Yerachmiel Tilles
He commissioned the then 31-year-old Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, known to be intimately familiar with the Chida's writings, to head a team of esteemed Sephardic rabbis.
Connection: Seasonal -- first yahrzeit of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, former chief rabbi of Israel
One of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu's early predecessors as Rishon L'Zion, Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, was Rabbi Yitzchak Nissim, who had a special appreciation and admiration for the CHIDA (Rabbi Chaim-Yosef-David Azulai - see below). One of Rabbi Nissim's friends was Dr. Shlomo Umberto Nachon, a native of Livorno (Leghorn), where the Chida lived the end of his life and was buried.
In the late 1950's, Dr. Nachon learned that the Italian authorities wished to build a highway through the Jewish cemetery of Livorno. He quickly informed Chief Rabbi Nissim and, understanding the urgency of the situation, they decided it was time to move the Chida to Eretz Yisrael. Dr. Nachon made the arrangements with the authorities in Livorno, and in 1960 Rav Nissim, after much coaxing, commissioned the then 31-year-old Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, who was known to be intimately familiar with the Chida's writings, to head a team of esteemed Sephardic rabbis (which included Rabbi Yisrael Abuhatzeira, the Baba Sali, and his brother the Baba Haki, Rabbi Yitzchak Abuhatzeira, chief rabbi in the city of Ramle, who was an expert in Jewish burials in his native Morocco) for the reinterring of the bones of the Chida in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Eliyahu related that when he arrived at Lod Airport with the other rabbis, he was met with a Jewish agency representative who had brought the bones of the Chida in a small wooden coffin. When the Rav saw it, he was appalled "What is this?" he asked. "The bones of the Chida are rolling around in a miniature coffin? How can such a thing be?"
He asked that a larger coffin be brought, so that the bones could be transferred to it for an honorable burial. Then he requested that the Baba Haki's driver go with his driver, and that they immerse in a Mikvah [ritual bath], and afterwards buy a Phillips screwdriver to open the coffin.
When they returned, Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu made a large hole in the bottom of the new large coffin so that there would be no barrier between the bones and the soil upon burial, but temporarily closed the hole with a stopper. Then he opened the small coffin, and put his hand in to arrange the bones. But after a few moments he trembled and closed his eyes, and said he had no power to do it and asked pleadingly from the Chida that he himself should put his own bones in order.
Immediately a powerful, almost explosive sound was heard, the coffin began to shake, and a rattling sound -- made by the Chida 's remains striking the coffin's
Immediately a powerful, almost explosive sound was heard, the coffin began to shake, and a rattling sound -- made by the Chida’s remains striking the coffin's walls -- was heard. All of the other rabbis fainted on the spot. Rav Mordechai did not faint, explaining afterwards that this occurred because he was absorbed in the Mitzva.
It was incredible! The bones managed to re-arrange themselves bone by bone, until the entire body was in order -- real resurrection! -- in the merit of the holy master, the Chida!
"G-d will grant you special Providence, and bring my remains out of this place." [Gen. 50:25]
"He said to me, 'Can these bones live?'…As I prophesied, there was a roaring sound, and the bones came together and joined one another…. 'I am going to open your graves; I will take you out of your graves, My People, and bring you to the Land of Israel.'" [Ezek. 37:3, 7, 12]
Thousands accompanied the funeral procession from the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sanhedria to the cemetery at Har HaMenuchos. At the burial, Rav Eliyahu described the events that had taken place as "Nisei Nissim--absolute miracles." (Miracle of miracles)
At a later date Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu announced that whoever needs personal salvation can go to pray at the grave of the Chida (just like at other great holy sites -ed.).
It is no wonder that when Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu passed on to his heavenly great reward fifty years later that he was buried near the Chida on Har HaMenuchos!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from //heichalhanegina.blogspot.com/2010/06/rav-mordechai-eliyahu-ztvkl-and-chida.html . There Yitz explains that his main source is the version of RME himself, with supplementary details supplied from other versions. He also considerately supplies links to other sources.
Connection: First yahrzeit of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu on 25 Sivan (Monday June 27).
Biographical notes:
Rabbi Mordechai-Tzemach (ben Suliman) Eliyahu (1929-25 Sivan 2010), the former Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel, was born in Iraq. A noted sage in all areas of Torah study, as well as a significant kabbalist, he was considered to be one of the leading authorities on Jewish law in Israel. His son, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, is currently the Chief Rabbi of Tsfat.
Rabbi Chaim-Yosef-David Azulai (circa 5484-5566; 1724-1806), better known as the "Chida,"which are the initials of his name, is a highly respected Halachist, Kabbalist, historian and bibliographer. Born in Jerusalem, his teachers included Rav Shalom Sharabi [the Rashash], and Rav Chaim ben-Atar (the Ohr HaChaim). Eventually he wrote and published 71 works! His Shem HaGedolim is one of the most important source books of Jewish literature and history. Several times he traveled abroad for periods of over five years each, usually as an emissary of the communities of the Holy Land, and once to serve as the Rav of Cairo. He lived the last third of his life in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy, where he wrote most of his major works and where he passed away at age 82 and was buried.
My son was a student of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu at Yeshiva Mercas HaRav - For pictures of the Rav go to: http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=708-42
From Yael: R, Pauli, if anyone has got a little time left for extra Tehillim, we want to recommend us (=Dutch Jewry) to you and to your readers.
This evening the last debate about Shechita (re: legislation forbidding it PLUS legislation forbidding importing kosher and Halal meat) will be held before the votes will be taken next Tuesday. I think we will be able to ward off this attack, if only by a hairbreadth, but the next attack is sure to come. Probably in some years, the subject crops up every 4-5 years, but usually these guys did not get much of a hearing anywhere. I would give you the link to the debate, but it is Dutch, and probably wildly boring; besides I hate hearing anti-Semites present their holy case.
It would be more logical, if they are so concerned about animal welfare and animals being slaughtered for us to eat, to forbid any Dutch subject eating meat, and fish, too, while we are at it. And no leather shoes. And NO import of the selfsame, I would think??!!
Lord Sacks, the British Chief Rabbi, flew to the Hague recently and held a very good presentation- well, one would not expect anything different from him, he is exceptional in this kind of thing-; it can be seen here: http://www.cidi.tv/video/hoorzitting-verbod-onverdoofd-slachten-lord-jonathan-sacks_511
Moshe after 30 years of marriage found out that his wife wanted a divorce out of a clear blue sky. Yacov too after over 30 years of marriage found out too. I wrote about two people working in the same building who broke up two families because of their desire for each other. A 55 year old man falls in love with a 37 year old on Facebook and leaves his family. Some of this is sick before Moshiach and other is misguided hormones and infatuation. Chabad wrote a small article about love and on the site is more information. It can be also that some couples cannot get along and would call it a day anyway. However something looks rotten to the core in some of the cases. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1537246/jewish/What-Is-Love.htm
Or try this video clip on 4 ways to marry the wrong person: http://www.aish.com/d/w/Four_Ways_to_Marry_the_Wrong_Person.html?utm_source=mimi_aish_com&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Four+Ways+to+Marry+the+Wrong+Person&utm_campaign=Four+Ways+to+Marry+the+Wrong+Person&utm_term=VFourWaysMarryWrong640x485_jpg
To become an American nobody asks how difficult it is and it is so with becoming a Jew: http://www.aish.com/sp/lal/Becoming_American.html and http://www.gov.il/FirstGov/TopNavEng/EngSituations/ESConversion/
Missionary Warning: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/General+News/95544/1,000-Missionaries-Seek-Phony-Conversion-Certificates-To-Enter-Israel-Under-Law-Of-Return.html
Rubashkin case: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tn
IDF to retire these Kosher Animals in service: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/145127
Inyanay Diyoma
When Asked to pay back some money to the USA the congressional committee becomes persona non grata in the same token Karzai in gets palsy with the Taliban and Pakistan http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=312317 http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/06/18/karzai-afghanistan-us-negotiating-with-taliban/?test=latestnews
The tragedy of Yehonatan Pollard abandoned by Shimon Peres and the Israeli Foreign Ministry to fend for himself almost 26 years ago he loses his father: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=225553
Anti-Semitism is alive and unfortunately too well: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4083066,00.html
The Washington Post attacks Israel Supporters like Joe Leiberman: http://www.glennbeck.com/2011/06/20/glenn-thoroughly-dismantles-erroneous-washington-post-article-attacking-him-lieberman/
Terrorists infiltrate with illegal immigrants see the map to the town nearest you where they have infiltrated too. http://standupamericaus.com/war-on-the-southern-border---update
Angels of destruction are having a field day with this Nazi murderer now. He might have escaped justice in this world but not in the next: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4084721,00.html
Israeli Country wide Home-front Security drill: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4085537,00.html
Montreal between the Arabs and others: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/06/22/graeme-hamilton-montreal-synagogue-battle-turns-bitter/
Do not be surprised by this: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4085924,00.html
Why be humane when you can be cruel: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/145048
Rome gets sick of NATO bombing: http://www.debka.com/article/21051/
Why win a war when you can lose it with American Dead and an Al Qaeda Victory: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/22/obama-prepares-to-recall-afghanistan-troop-surge/
This is one of the first contacts that hospitalized patients have and it can be very dangerous. http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/06/22/uk-study-finds-pillows-breeding-ground-for-superbugs/
Assimilation is one of Jewry’s greatest problems in the States: http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=226271
I only wish that this had happened about 10 years ago: http://www.debka.com/article/21053/
Wishing everybody a blessed, wonderful and peaceful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
