Friday, October 26, 2012

Parsha Noach 2, Halacha and stories




My memory is not what it was in my youth for I believe it was Carl Sagan, whom I had the pleasure of meeting as a teen and working at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory a few rooms from him, wrote regarding the Divinity of the Torah that given enough monkeys pressing on typewriter keyboards one could write a Shakespeare Sonnet by accident – not Stephen Hawkins whom I never met face to face in my life.

THIS WEEK I HAD WRITTEN A GOOD DEAL OF MATERIAL FOR THIS WEEK’S PARSHA AND HAD SOME SHOAH PICTURES OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY TAKEN OF ALL PEOPLE BY A NAZI PHOTOGRAPHER WHICH MY GOOD PEN PAL VALERIE HAD SENT ME EVEN A MIRACULOUS HAPPENING, A NICE STORY AND PARABLE AND ALL WAS LOST DESPITE THE “WORD SAVE” IN ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO ATTACK MY COMPUTER WHILE IN FL. IT SEEMS THAT THE ISRAELI NETWORKS ARE ON THE BALL AND THE USA IS UNDERGOING ATTACK AFTER ATTACK. I WILL BE WORKING MORE AND MORE OFF LINE NOW. IN FACT ALL OF LAST WEEK’S PARSHA HAD TO BE RECOVERED FROM MY SENT BOX OF MY E-MAIL WHICH IS FOREBODING TO ME. The hacking either came via Skype or Firefox so I cautious putting into e-mail draft and working off line all

Parsha Noach 2

7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah: 'Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.

Rashi and the Sages of the Talmud ask the following question. If Noach had lived in the generation of Avraham or for that matter Hezekiah would he have been righteous? We just have to look around us today. There are people who break away from religion and others who become more religious in our generation. A generation also about to undergo an abrupt change from the level of promiscuity of Sodom v’ Amorah to absolute sponging off of other people for instance third world people who come to Britain and other European Countries and take advantage of the welfare system and don’t work or work under the table so to say. In the States we have families on food stamps to claim a large number of dependents using a poor of children with other food stamp users. Society is breaking down and cannot continue like this.

A second claim against Noach was that he was not proactive in trying to bring people back to HASHEM but passive in making the Teva. I claim that if he had lived during the prime influence of Avraham that Noach would have been even stronger in his belief and fortitude. Nobody can claim that I am not proactive on Shabbos, Kashrus or Family Purity yet I want to tell a story from my own dealings:

I was once on a cruise with a completely non-religious friend of mine. He did make an exception or two he holds a Seder each year for his family like his wife’s father used to with full tradition and stays home for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Cruise Line offered a service for Friday night which is basically the main observance of the Reform Jews. People had asked me to lead the Service. When I got to the meeting room now designed as a temporary Synagogue, I opened up the Prayer Book and I saw black before my eyes (or perhaps in non-Jewish terms horns, red and a pitch-fork). I never had seen such a butchering of prayers. I know that sometimes Israelis don’t like my pronunciation of some words as they cannot see the intent but this was from the out-set a rearrangement and abbreviation of the prayers. It was this Reform arrangement rather than the oral tradition prayer where the Yemenites, Sephardim and Ashkenazim make the same blessings and perhaps change a word or two here and there. Even this I was willing to lead with my Hebrew and point out to the page in English on one silly condition that the men sit either on the right or the left and the women sit on the opposite side. Now they wanted to pray mixed. Hey Buddy this is not Gan Eden where Adam and Chava are running around in their birthday suits as innocent as the day they were created most of the folks on the cruise were older than I and probably much more worldly than I. I asked nicely to the people just once for a few minutes of prayer to humor me. I felt at that moment just like Noach but not quite 120 years of effort. I had put only two or three minutes trying to persuade these folks that if they sat separately for perhaps a half hour they could pray with me but if not I could not pray with them. The Talmud brings down statements about a house with idols in it. HASHEM states as the Shechina removes itself from such a house that I and them cannot abide in such a place. (Or like the time in Fussen Germany where I tried to rent a Zimmer only to find a T with an idol of a man over the bed – I used an excuse and left the place for the same reason for I want to be under the protection of the Shechina all the time.) 

In short my non-religious friends who are used to attending at least on Rosh Hashanah, Bar Mitzvos and Weddings real prayers in Eretz Yisrael were there with mouths agape. They watched the pseudo-prayer Service rearranged and rewritten with mixed seating. It was not like the Conservative that basically with minor changes kept the same prayers it was so far in the outfield that it was completely out of the ball park or out of the football stadium for my non-US readers. As non-observant Jews they called it making a joke of the prayers and HASHEM and unfortunately my 6th generation Reform Jewish Cousins and their children and grandchildren grew up this way. In most cases the sin is by accident or Shogeg and not like the original Shabbtai Zvi followers and Socialists on purpose or Mayzid.

From all this I come to the conclusion that although it was Noach’s job to try to save his generation as Avraham tried to save the town of Sodom with his prayer arguments with the Angels up until 10 people – sometimes it is beyond human hope and effort. So just as Rebbe Meir, the miracle worker, made fun of King Menashe and was rebuked in a dream from the next world so too I believe that Chachamim should not have criticized Noach. It is stated in Perkei Avos “Don’t judge a person until you can put yourself in his place.”

Unfortunately, I have to skip ahead over what I had covered before the computer line was hacked despite the firewall (if the Pentagon can be hacked so a little firewall of a private person on simple computer line all the more so).

8 And the sons of Noah, that went forth from the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth; and Ham is the father of Canaan. 19 These three were the sons of Noah, and of these was the whole earth overspread.

Due to the lack of time, I will only touch on a few minor points and the roots for some of what we shall see in the near future.

… 28 And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he died.

The flood occurred in the year 1656 after creation. Adding on 350 years we get the year 2006 and since Avram was born in 1948 and the whole earth at that time was one speech and reasonably concentrated in a relatively short distance between Turkey and India speaking the same language they were united in brotherhood. It is more than accident that our Sages say that Avram learned stories directly from Noach that had heard them from Metushalach who heard directly from Adam.  

I have underlined the main nations of the 70 that have or will have an effect on Am Yisrael from the time of Avraham until Goal Tzeddek.
10:1 Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth; and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.

Magog according to the Gaon from Vilna is Russia, Yavan is Greece and Tiras is Iran.

3 And the sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.

Ashkenaz is Germany.

4 And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. 5 Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. 6 And the sons of Ham: Cush, and Mizraim, and Put, and Canaan.

Mitzrayim is Egypt, Put is Sudan, Ludim is Libya and Canaan are the original inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael who died off or migrated away.  

7 And the sons of Cush: Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabteca; and the sons of Raamah: Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; wherefore it is said: 'Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD.' 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and Rehoboth-ir, and Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah--the same is the great city. 13 And Mizraim begot Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 14 and Pathrusim, and Casluhim--whence went forth the Philistines--and Caphtorim. 15 And Canaan begot Zidon his firstborn, and Heth; 16 and the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite; 17 and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite; 18 and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite; and afterward were the families of the Canaanite spread abroad. 19 And the border of the Canaanite was from Zidon, as thou goest toward Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, unto Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, in their nations.

21 And unto Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born. 22 The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arpachshad, and Lud, and Aram. 23 And the sons of Aram: Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. 24 And Arpachshad begot Shelah; and Shelah begot Eber. 25 And unto Eber were born two sons; the name of the one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan. 26 And Joktan begot Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah; 27 and Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah; 28 and Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba; 29 and Ophir, and Havilah,31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations; and of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

The first Sheva is in Africa aka Ethiopia and where the gold is in the land of Havilah is it in Africa near the Congo River or the Indus River which might be the second Havilah. One thing for sure is that they are two different nations with the same name. I would want to take an educated guess that the Sheva of Shem becomes Sherpa in modern days but I have no tradition or proof.  

11: 1 And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

At this point all mankind was living in one area united and speaking the same language.

3 And they said one to another: 'Come, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly.' And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar.

And they said to one another: One nation to another nation, Mizraim to Cush; and Cush to Put; and Put to Canaan. - [from Gen. Rabbah 38:8] Come: Heb. הָבָה, prepare yourselves. Every הָבָה is an expression of preparation, meaning that they prepare themselves and join for work, or for counsel, or for [bearing] a load. הָבָה, prepare yourselves, aparicler in Old French, to get ready. — [from Zohar , vol. 1, 75a] bricks: Because there are no stones in Babylon, which is a valley. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer ch. 24] and fire them thoroughly: This is how they make bricks, which are called tivles in Old French (tuilles in modern French): They fire them in a kiln.

4 And they said: 'Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, with its top in heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.'

Why the top in heaven? Why start from a low valley and not start building from Mt. Ararat? Why were they worried about being scattered over the face of the earth which in the end was their punishment?

lest we be scattered: That He should not bring upon us any plague to scatter us from here. — [from Tan. Buber, Noach 28]

 5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built.

They were so concerned with building the city for the common purpose that they forgot the individual human beings. If a man became trapped in the bricks or injured they did little to help but continued on like ants or bees in a hive to build. Possibly some on the way down tried to help the man but none on the way up the Migdal. When a man fell to his death they did not care or stop even for a moment of silence.

6 And the LORD said: 'Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is what they begin to do; and now nothing will be withheld from them, which they purpose to do.

Lo! [they are] one people: All this goodness they have: that they are one people, and that they all have one language, and they have commenced to do this!- [from Seder Eliyahu Rabbah, ch. 31] they have commenced: Heb. הַחִלָּם, lit. their beginning, like אָמְרָם, their saying; עֲשׂוֹתָם, their doing; they have commenced to do. will it not be withheld: This is a question. The word יִבָּצֵר means withholding, as its Aramaic translation (יִתְמְנַע). And similar to it (Ps. 76:13): “He will withhold (יִבְצֹר) the spirit of princes.”

7 Come, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.'

Come, let us descend: He took counsel with His tribunal due to His extraordinary humility. — [from Sanh. 38b] Come: Measure for measure. They said, “Come, let us build,” and He meted corresponding [punishment] out to them by countering with,“Come, let us descend.” - [from Tan. Buber, Noach 25] and confuse: [The word וְנָבְלָה means] וּנְבַלְבֵּל, and let us confuse. The “nun” is used for the [prefix for the first person] plural, and the final “hey” is superfluous like the “hey” of נֵרְדָה, let us descend. — [from Targum Onkelos] will not understand: This one requests a brick, and that one brings mortar; this [first] one stands and cracks his skull. — [from Gen. Rabbah 38:10]


I view it more like the Medrash on the Creation of man. For these people according to Medrash wanted to ascend to heaven to make war so that no flood could ever occur again. They did not believe in what HASHEM had promised Noach. I am sure that Noach, himself, Shem, Arpachshard, Shelah and Ever warned against this. Avraham was a revolutionary rebelling against the idols and painted by the main-stream politically correct of his day as a reactionary extremist.

 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth; and they left off to build the city.

And the Lord scattered them from there: in this world. That which they said, “lest we be scattered” (verse 4) was fulfilled upon them. This is what Solomon said, (Prov. 10:24): “The dread of a wicked man-that will befall him.” - [from Tan. Buber, Noach 28]

Scattering was alo a punchishment given to the Bnei Yisrael with the first Mikdash aka Beis Rishon only scatter to Bavel. While with Mikdash Shayne throughout the whole world. Like with the generation described here, the Jewish People were initially scattered out of the land and defeated but united because their sin was idolatry or a rebellion against G-D. With the second Temple it was a scattering for the brutal hatred of their fellow man.   

9 Therefore was the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth; and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

Bavel is in modern Hebrew is not only scatter but to confuse.  For once the Persians spoke their language to the Chinese laborers they became confused and asked the Greeks. Only one family kept the original language and the source of the Bible Codes. Avraham had saved the day. He had also to speak Iraqi and Turkish in his area but managed to communicate. Sign language became a way to make things understood between the family of nations but no more universal language remained.

The Medrash describes precisely what happed to the Migdal Bavel. One third on the top was destroyed by heaven, the bottom third sank into the ground and the remaining third remained. Was this the Ziggurat of Ur?

and from there… scattered them: This teaches [us] that they have no share in the world to come (Mishnah Sanh. 107b). Now which [sins] were worse, those of the Generation of the Flood or those of the Generation of the Dispersion? The former did not stretch forth their hands against God, whereas the latter did stretch forth their hands against God, to wage war against Him. Nevertheless, the former were drowned, while the latter did not perish from the world. That is because the Generation of the Flood were robbers and there was strife between them, and therefore they were destroyed. But these behaved with love and friendship among themselves, as it is said (verse 1): “one language and uniform words.” Thus you learn that discord is hateful, and that peace is great. — [from Gen. Rabbah 38:6]

… 24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begot Terah. 25 And Nahor lived after he begot Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and begot sons and daughters. 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran. 27 Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begot Lot. 28 And Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai; and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of Iscah. 30 And Sarai was barren; she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his son's son, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran.

The Medrash and other Oral Torah speaks about  the early life of Avram.
Parsha Lech Lecha

12:1 Now the LORD said unto Abram: 'Get yourself out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show you. 2. And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will aggrandize your name, and [you shall] be a blessing.
And I will make you into a great nation: Since traveling causes three things: 1) it diminishes procreation, 2) it diminishes money, and 3) it diminishes fame (lit. name), therefore, he required these three blessings, namely that He blessed him concerning children, concerning money, and concerning fame. (Other editions: And this is the meaning of and I will aggrandize your name. I will add a letter to your name, for until now, your name was אַבְרם From now on [your name will be] אַבְרהָם, and אַבְרהָם equals 248, corresponding to a person’s limbs. (Found in an old Rashi . — [from Gen. Rabbah 39:11; Tan. Buber, Chaye Sarah 6)


This week’s Parsha starts off when Avram is 75 years old and childless. Since Shabbos is approaching and like Avraham was on the road a  lot I am leaving this for continuation next week rather than do a half-baked job.




Halacha 1
Since maintaining a healthy and sound body is among the ways of God - for one cannot understand or have any knowledge of the Creator, if he is ill - therefore, he must avoid that which harms the body and accustom himself to that which is healthful and helps the body become stronger.
They are as follows: a person should never eat unless he is hungry, nor drink unless thirsty. He should never put off relieving himself, even for an instant. Rather, whenever he [feels the] need to urinate or move his bowels, he should do so immediately.
Halacha 2
One should not eat until his stomach is full. Rather, [he should stop when] he has eaten to close to three quarter's of full satisfaction.
One should drink only a small amount of water during the meal, and mix that with wine. When the food begins to be digested in his intestines, he may drink what is necessary. However, he should not drink much water, even when the food has been digested.
One should not eat until he has checked himself thoroughly that he does not need to relieve himself. He should not eat until he has taken a stroll which is sufficient to raise his body temperature.
Alternatively, he should work or exert himself in some other way. The rule is that he should engage his body and exert himself in a sweat-producing task each morning. Afterwards, he should rest slightly until he regains composure and [then, he should] eat. If he were to bathe in hot water after exerting himself, it would be beneficial. Afterwards, he should wait a short while and eat.
Halacha 3
One should always eat while seated or reclining on his left side. He should not walk about, ride, exert himself, subject his body to startling influence, nor take a stroll until the food has been digested in his intestines. Anyone who takes a stroll or exerts himself after eating brings serious and harmful illnesses upon himself.
Halacha 4
Together, day and night make up [a period of] twenty four hours. It is sufficient for a man to sleep a third of this period; i.e., eight hours. These should be towards the end of the night, so that there be eight hours from the beginning of his sleep until sunrise. Thus, he should rise from his bed before sunrise.
Halacha 5
One should not sleep face down or on his back, but on his side - on his left side at the beginning of the night and on the right side at the end of the night. He should not retire shortly after eating, but should wait some three or four hours.
One should not sleep during the day.
Halacha 6
Laxative foods such as grapes, figs, mulberries, pears, melons, certain types of cucumbers and certain types of zucchini should be eaten first, before the meal. One should not eat them together with his main meal. Rather, he should wait until they have descended from the upper stomach and [then] eat his meal.
Foods which are constipating, such as pomegranates, quinces, apples, and crustumenian pears should be eaten immediately after the meal and not in quantity.

A Halacha from the laws of Lashon Hara

Calling a person by a nickname is forbidden unless the person himself likes the name. Example Richard could be Richie, Rich even Rich-man but someone may take offense to Dick, Dickie and certainly is offensive Rich-RATCH (Heb. Zipper). If one uses the nickname offensively he has no portion in the world to come.

Newspaper riles up women - Rabbi: Women mustn't run for Knesset http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4296854,00.html

One of most senior Religious Zionism rabbis, Shlomo Aviner, speaks out against women's right to vote or be elected to Israeli parliament. Taking part in elections 'is immodest and against Jewish Law,' he tells students
"A woman must not serve as a Knesset member. It's immodest," the rabbi, head of the Ateret Yerushalayim Yeshiva, told his students during a lesson. "Exposure in public is against the Jewish perception of 'All glorious is the princess within her chamber (Psalms 45:13).'"

MK Hotovely gets rabbi's approval

Aviner explained the role of the Prophetess Deborah, who held a public position, as "a matter of life-saving… There was no other choice, so she went to war… She led because there was no one else."

The rabbi's remarks stirred a row in the religious public, particularly ahead of the primary elections in Habayit Hayehudi-New National Religious Party, where many women are competing for a spot on the Knesset list.

One of those women, Liora Minka, chairwoman of the Emunah movement, said in response that Rabbi Aviner's comments were "further evidence of the standstill suffered by quite a few rabbis pretending to represent Religious Zionism. Their head is in the sky – or in that Jewish religious literature – while their legs have failed to reach the ground of reality.

"There is no wonder, therefore, that there is such a big gap – which is becoming wider and wider – between many parts of the population and the conservative, stagnated rabbinical establishment.

MK Tzipi Hotovely (Likud), a religious lawmaker, presents a letter she received from Rabbi Aviner, in which he clarified that he was only speaking about an ideal situation and gave her his approval to take part in her party's primary elections.

Boteach Opponent Supports Renaming Park After Holocaust Denier: NJ congressional candidate Rabbi Shmuley Boteach released a letter in which his opponent supported renaming park after Holocaust denier. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/161321#.UIkZnoYopN8

My USA  second cousins stopped speaking to me when I called out Arab Terrorism here but now this article vindicates me. http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/about-that-big-nato-success-in-bosnia/


This has never happened before but just as the Arabs like Obama so a Leading Israeli Rabbi Tells Americans in Israel to Vote Romney: Rabbi Eliezer Melamed of Har Bracha disappointed with Obama, calls on Americans in Israel to vote for the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/161320#.UIkalYYopN8


Inyanay Diyoma

When the computer was hacked, I lost some information about Iran and Hezballah preparations but one can figure out it was not birthday greetings that they were planning to send to Benyamin Netanyahu.

Politicians were busy with the Elections not expecting strength from the Hamas and a very badly wounded was an IDF officer: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=289059


As I suspected when I read Yeshaya Ch. 8 about 33 or 32 years ago. Gog and Magog will be Atomic, Biological and Chemical http://www.debka.com/article/22453/Obama-to-Israel-Iran-is-piling-up-fissile-material-for-4-6-bombs---in-Natanz-too



Israeli Police computers were attacked: http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=289260

From Albert: Your credit card may be transmitting info you don't want people to hack http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/lLAFhTjsQHw%26sns=em


Humor: I got this great joke either from Rabbi A.L. or Sheldon and it is not far from reality.

Indian Chief 'Two Eagles' was asked by a white government official, 'You have observed the white man for 90 years. You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he has done.'

The Chief nodded in agreement.

The official continued, 'Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?'

The Chief stared at the government official for over a minute and then calmly replied. 'When white man find land, Indians running it, no taxes, no debt, enough buffalo, enough beaver, clean water.

Women did all the work, Medicine man free. Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing; all night having be fruitful and multiply.'

Then the chief leaned back and smiled. 'Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system likes that.'

Now for M. Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story “Go – go”

Good Shabbos Everyone. Hillel Avion (not his real name) was enjoying every minute of his visit to Eretz Yisroel. After all, he had much for which to be grateful. Hillel had faced several medical conditions over the past few years, and he was thankful to Hashem for granting him additional years, giving him the opportunity to visit the Holy Land and to spend time with his children and grandchildren.
"So what's on the itinerary today?" Hillel asked his son. "Oh, Abba, I forgot to tell you! Tonight you're in for a real treat. The children will be singing in a yeshiva choir. You will really get your nachas this evening!"

Hillel did indeed enjoy the evening. What a pleasure to hear the sweet voices of his offspring blending melodiously with the voices of so many other Jewish children! After the gala performance, Hillel joined his son and headed for home.
"Have you davened (prayed) maariv (the evening prayers) already, Abba?" "I did," Hillel replied, "but I'd be happy to accompany you."

While his son ducked inside the building for the evening service, Hillel waited patiently in the courtyard. After several minutes, a saintly-looking elderly man, his beard long and white, wandered into the courtyard. Hillel estimated that the man must be in his mid-nineties. The elderly man addressed Hillel. "Do you know if a minyan for maariv has begun?"
Hillel gestured inside. "My son just went in for maariv a few minutes ago. The minyan has probably just begun." The man's face lit up at this information. He slowly and steadily made his way inside the building, only to emerge a few minutes later.
"Back so soon?" Hillel asked. "What happened?"
"I already missed Kaddish and Borchu," the man explained. "But they have ongoing minyanim here until eleven. I'll just wait for the next one." As the elderly man spoke, Hillel thought he detected a Persian accent. So he began conversing in Persian. The other man was surprised. "Are you Persian?"
"Actually, I am Syrian. I live in America now," Hillel replied.
"I spent some time in New York once," the man reminisced. "It was about thirty-five years ago. I attended Shaarei Tzion quite often." Hillel listened with interest. Shaarei Tzion was a Syrian synagogue he himself had been frequenting for years. "I have one friend there," the man went on.
Hillel's curiosity piqued. "Really? Who is your friend?"
"Hillel Avion." Hillel couldn't believe his ears. He eyed the old man closely, but he did not appear the slightest bit familiar to him. Hiding his surprise, he asked, "How do you know this Hillel Avion?"

"I was in America for heart surgery, and Hillel Avion was a tremendous help to me."
Something stirred in the back of Hillel's mind. "What's your name?" Hillel asked, hoping the name would conjure up the memory. "Gorgy. My name is Gorgy."
Yes, that's right! Gorgy! Now Hillel remembered. The man, a father of fourteen, had come from Israel to consult with an expert surgeon in New York. Gorgy had no medical insurance—and no money to pay the doctor's fee. So the surgeon had turned him away: "Fifty thousand dollars, or no surgery!"
Upon hearing of Gorgy's desperate plight, Hillel undertook the tremendous financial obligation. For two weeks, by day and night, through cold and snowy weather, Hillel knocked on the doors of friends, acquaintances and strangers. When he finally amassed a sizeable sum, he presented himself at the surgeon's office. Hillel placed an enormous bag on the table. "Here's the money," he announced. "Please perform the operation."
The surgeon summoned four nurses, who sat down to count the bills. Hillel watched nervously until the surgeon looked up with a smile on his face. Every penny was there, and the doctor agreed to go ahead with the surgery. Boruch Hashem, the operation was a complete success.

"Mr. Gorgy," Hillel burst out emotionally, "I am Hillel Avion!" He grasped Mr. Gorgy's hand and kissed it. "Can you please give me a brocha?"
"Hillel ben Rivkah," Gorgy answered earnestly, "there is no need for me to bless you now. Every day for the past thirty-five years I have prayed on your behalf. Every morning I wake up and say 'Hashem, please bless Hillel ben Rivkah.'"
The tears streamed down Hillel's face as the two men parted. Hillel shared the remarkable episode with his son when he rejoined him in the courtyard. Both men marveled at the reunion that had transpired.
"Every mitzvah is recorded in Heaven, and is paid back." Many a trial and tribulation had passed by Hillel in the past thirty-five years. Hillel was certain now that it was in the merit of helping Mr. Gorgy as well as Mr. Gorgy's daily blessings, that Hillel was alive today, enjoying nachas from his grandchildren in the Holy Land.

The Midrash teaches us that there are a few ways which a Jew can change his "Mazal," i.e, from bad to good. One of these ways is by moving to a new place, as Avrohom Avinu does at the beginning of this week's parsha Lech Lecha. Another way to change one's Mazal is by giving Tzedaka - charity. There is verse in Mishley which states "Tzedaka saves one from death..." (10,2) From our story above we see the power of Tzedaka. Now that we are reading the parshas of Avrohom Avinu, who personified the character trait of Chesed - Kindness, let us all strengthen ourselves in this aspect and resolve to give more and more Tzedaka. Hashem should then help us that by giving more Tzedaka we will all merit to good Mazal, to Mazal Tov! Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Menachem Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Tsviah bas Bracha Leah

Good Shabbos and next week I hope to be back on Track.
Rachamim Pauli

Friday, October 19, 2012

Parsha Noach Part 1, Two Goog Shabbos Stories




Last week I saw that I had written in one place regarding scientific notation 1 with 130 zeros after it in another place I wrote 10 with 130 zeros after it. Both numbers for the probability of Amino Acids going into a DNA chain by accident is beyond human comprehension. The number should be a 1 followed by the zeros which was my scientific notation error that repeated itself and has been corrected in the www.rabbipauli.blogspot.com

Stephen Hawking, whom I had the pleasure of meeting as a teen and working at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory  a few rooms from him, wrote regarding the Divinity of the Torah that given enough monkeys pressing on typewriter keyboards one could write a Shakespeare Sonnet by accident. Since the sonnets have 14 lines the probability is a mere 1 followed by 686 zeros and the events of particles meeting particles since the Universe was created is 1 with 108 zeros after it. Even if one was to consider the whole animal kingdom the answer is as close to an absolute zero chance as ever.

Parsha Noach Part 1

What went wrong with mankind was he going to go the way of the dinosaurs, Neanderthals, Cro-Magnon and others? Mankind was close to that but Noach found grace. That is what is the key. Man had become corrupt and it is unfortunate. The Good Shabbos Story which arrived late last week shows that the proper intent is needed.

6:9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was in his generations a man righteous and whole-hearted; Noah walked with God.

These are the generations of Noah—Noah was a righteous man: Since Scripture mentions him, it tells his praise, as it is said (Prov. 10:7): “The mention of a righteous man is for a blessing.” - [Pesikta Rabbathi 12]. Another explanation [for why the names of the children are not mentioned immediately following “These are the generations of Noah”]: To teach you that the main generations [progeny] of the righteous are good deeds. — [Mid. Tan. Noah 2]
in his generations: Some of our Sages interpret it [the word בְּדֹרֹתָיו] favorably: How much more so if he had lived in a generation of righteous people, he would have been even more righteous. Others interpret it derogatorily: In comparison with his generation he was righteous, but if he had been in Abraham’s generation, he would not have been considered of any importance. — [Sanh. 108a, Gen. Rabbah 30:9, Tan. Noach 5]
Noah walked with God: But concerning Abraham, Scripture says (below 24:40): “[the Lord] before Whom I walked.” Noah required [God’s] support to uphold him [in righteousness], but Abraham strengthened himself and walked in his righteousness by himself. — [Tan. Noach 5]
walked: (הִתְהַלֶּךְ) is here in the past tense. The following is the usage of the “lammed” : in the “heavy” (כָּבֵד) form [this refers to conjugations with a dagesh in one of the root letters, in this case, in the lammed], one form can be used [both] for the future [really the imperative] and the past tense. For example, (Gen. ibid. 13): “Rise, walk (הִתְהַלֵּךְ)” is the future (i.e., imperative). “Noah walked (הִתְהַלֶּךְ)” is the past. (I Sam. 12:19): “Pray (הִתְפַּלֵּל) for your servants” is future (i.e., imperative), and (I Kings 8:42) “and he will come and pray (וְהִתְפַּלֵּל) toward this house” is past, only that the “vav” at the beginning converts it to the future. — [as explained by Mizrachi]


I wonder why Rashi did not mention Moshe whom the L-RD spoke to face by face. For based on the wording Noach was like a Toddler who had to walk with G-D while Avraham was like an older child who walked a bit ahead and Moshe talked face to face like a teen or young adult. It took 26 generations from Adam to bring back mankind to a level of receiving the Torah. I just have a gut feeling that had Adam not sinned, the Torah would have been given to him and thus all mankind.

10 And Noah begot three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 And the earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

The Torah does not mince words and the word used here is Hamas for violence.

was corrupt: Heb. וַתִּשָּׁחֵת is an expression of immorality and idolatry. (other editions add: immorality, “for all flesh had corrupted (הִשְׁחִית) its way,” and idolatry), as in (Deut. 4:16): “Lest you deal corruptly (תַּשְׁחִיתוּן).” - [Sanh. 56b, 57a]
and the earth became full of robbery: Heb. חָמָס, robbery. (other editions add: as it is said (Jonah 3:8): “and of the dishonest gain (הֶחָמָס) which is in their hands.”) - [Sanh. 108a]

Between Rashi and Tuval Kayn we can picture a generation that engages in murder, idolatry, robbery and all sorts of immoral behavior and the Rashi in the next  Pasuk indicates even animals behaving in interspecies and with humans in immoral acts.

12 And God saw the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.

for all flesh had corrupted: Even cattle, beasts, and fowl would mate with those who were not of their own species. — [from Tan. Noach 12]


From what I wrote above all flesh and become corrupt. 

13 And God said unto Noah: 'The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

The end of all flesh: Wherever you find promiscuity (and idolatry), a pestilence comes upon the world and kills both good and bad alike. — [from Gen. Rabbah 26:5] Note that parenthetic words do not appear in Gen. Rabbah , Lev. Rabbah, or in early mss. and printed editions of Rashi. We have translated אַנְדְרוֹלוּמוּסְיָה as pestilence, following Aruch. See below.

We see the same phenomena with Sodom that only because of the sake of Avraham was Lot saved and then his daughters did immoral things.

14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; with rooms shalt thou make the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.

with pitch: Heb. כֹּפֶר This is זֶפֶת in Aramaic, and we find in the Talmud (Shab. 67a, b, Ned. 51a, Git. 69b, B.M. 23b, 40a, 70a, Ar. 19a) the word כּוּפְרָא [meaning pitch]. In Moses’ ark [i.e., the ark in which Moses was placed in the Nile], since the water was calm, it was enough to have mud on the inside and pitch on the outside. Another reason: so that this righteous man [Moses] should not smell the bad odor of pitch. But here, because of the force of the water, he caulked it with pitch both inside and outside. — [from Gen. Rabbah 31:10, Sotah 12a]

15 And this is how thou shalt make it: the length of the ark three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.

If we go according the standard 18 inches per cubit we end up with 450 ft by 75 ft by 45 ft. If we go according to the Chazon Ish we get 150 meters by 25 meters by 15 meters or something like 3 Olympic size swimming pools long, one regular swimming pool wide and 5 stories or more high. It was a box shaped object covered by pitch close the size of a modern cruise ship. It took Noach 120 years starting by himself and then with his sons to build the Teva.

16 A light shalt thou make to the ark, and to a cubit shalt thou finish it upward; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.

a skylight: Heb. צֹהַר, lit. light. Some say [that it was] a window, and some say [that it was] a precious stone, which gave them light. — [Gen. Rabbah 31:11]
and to a cubit you shall finish it to the top: Its covering slanted upwards until it narrowed at the top to one cubit (Gen. Rabbah 31:11), so that the rain should run down (the following does not appear in certain editions) (from both sides) (Sanh. 108b, Maharsha).

This appears to be different from a regular window. If it was a radioactive glowing stone it could explain for the sudden change in life span from 900 plus to that  of a life span of a hundred or much less.

17 And I, behold, I do bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; every thing that is in the earth shall perish. 18 But I will establish My covenant with thee; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. 20 Of the fowl after their kind, and of the cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.' 22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. …

Due to Circumstates beyond my control, I will continue the commentary next week. I am only bringing down how the section dealing with the Noahide Laws:

9:12 And God said: 'This is the token of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. 14 And it shall come to pass, when I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the cloud, 15 that I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.' 17 And God said unto Noah: 'This is the token of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is upon the earth.'

These are the Mitzvos that HASHEM gave Noach and his children for all generations: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1313/jewish/Discovery-of-Planet-Earth.htm


Zahava M. Z. posted this on fanaticism

Don't follow excessive stringencies in your practice of the Torah. "God does not rule over His creatures with tyranny" (Avoda Zara 3a) - "The Torah was not given to ministering angels" (Berachos 25b) .

Our rabbis have taught that it is proper for each person to choose for himself one mitzvah to observe with particular care in all its fine details (Shabbos 118b). Yet even with your chosen mitzvah, you should not be excessively strict to the point of folly. Don't let it make you depressed. Simply try to keep the mitzvah carefully in all its finer points, but without excessive punctiliousness.

As for the other Mitzvos: simply follow the essential laws without adding extra stringencies. If only we could keep all the Mitzvos of the Torah according to the simple interpretation of the law without seeking to go beyond it!

There is no need to look for extra stringencies: this is foolish and confusing. The essence of serving God is simplicity and sincerity. Pray much, study much Torah and carry out many good deeds without seeking out or inventing unnecessary restrictions. Simply follow the path of our forefathers. "The Torah was not given to ministering angels."

There is nothing that you absolutely must do or else. If you can, you can. But if you cannot: "God exempts a person under duress" (Bava Kama 28b) . Sichot Haran #235



Halacha 3
A person who accustoms himself to live by [the rules of] medicine does not follow a proper path if his sole intention is that his entire body and limbs be healthy and that he have children who will do his work and toil for him. Rather, he should have the intent that his body be whole and strong, in order for his inner soul to be upright so that [it will be able] to know God. For it is impossible to understand and become knowledgeable in the wisdoms when one is starving or sick, or when one of his limbs pains him. [Similarly,] one should intend to have a son [with the hope that] perhaps he will be a wise and great man in Israel.
Thus, whoever walks in such a path all his days will be serving God constantly; even in the midst of his business dealings, even during intercourse for his intent in all matters is to fulfill his needs so that his body be whole to serve God.
Even when he sleeps, if he retires with the intention that his mind and body rest, lest he take ill and be unable to serve God because he is sick, then his sleep is service to the Omnipresent, blessed be He.
On this matter, our Sages have directed and said: "And all your deeds should be for the sake of Heaven." This is what Solomon declared in his wisdom: "Know Him in all your ways and He will straighten your paths" (Proverbs 3:6).
Commentary Halacha 3
A person who accustoms himself to live by [the rules of] medicine does not follow a proper path if his sole intention is that his entire body and limbs be healthy - The Rambam puts the maintenance of health mentioned in the previous halachah into proper perspective. It is not to be pursued as a goal in its own right. Rather, it should be appreciated as merely a means to enable one to reach an awareness of God. The Rambam develops this idea at length in Shemoneh Perakim Chapter 5. There, he states:
A person should have the intention while eating, drinking, having intercourse, sleeping, awakening, moving, and resting, [that he does so] for the purpose of his physical health alone.
His intention in [seeking] physical health should be to prepare for the soul healthy and sound vessels to acquire wisdom and intellectual and emotional advantages until he reaches the goal of [knowing God].
and that he have children who will do his work and toil for him.- i.e., though procreation is a valid reason for intimate relations, one's intent in procreation should not be selfish.
Rather, he should have the intent that his body be whole and strong, in order for his inner soul to be upright so that [it will be able] to know God. - The Rambam also elaborates on the interrelation between the attainment of physical health and spiritual achievement in the Guide to the Perplexed, Vol. III, Chapter 27.
Heath is necessary as part of one's process of striving to know God...
For it is impossible to understand and become knowledgeable in the wisdoms when one is starving or sick, or when one of his limbs pains him. - The Maggid of Mezeritch would say: "A small hole in the body creates a large hole in the soul."
[Similarly,] one should intend to have a son [with the hope that perhaps he will be a wise and great man in Israel. - This is the desired goal in procreation - to perpetuate the nation, not only physically, but also spiritually.
Thus, whoever walks in such a path all his days will be serving God constantly; even in the midst of his business dealings, even during intercourse for his intent in all matters is to fulfill his needs so that his body be whole to serve God. - In Shemoneh Perakim (ibid.), the Rambam associates such behavior with Deuteronomy 6:5: "Love God, your Lord, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." The course of action described enables us to dedicate every aspect of our being toward the love of God as prescribed by this verse.
Even when he sleeps, if he retires with the intention that his mind and body rest, lest he take ill and be unable to serve God because he is sick, then his sleep is service to the Omnipresent, blessed be He. - Perhaps, the Rambam uses this name for God to convey the concept that just as God's presence pervades all existence, our service of Him must encompass all aspects of our lives.
On this matter, our Sages - Avot 2:15
have directed and said: "And all your deeds should be for the sake of Heaven." - In Shemoneh Perakim (ibid.), the Rambam elaborates upon this statement as follows:
Our Sages included this entire concept in the most succinct expression possible... When one meditates on this concise statement, one wonders how they could describe in its entirety an idea so awesome that many books were written about it without encompassing it totally. Without a doubt, [the statement] was made with Divine inspiration.
The commentaries note that Beitzah 16a stated concerning Hillel: "All of his deeds were for the sake of Heaven," and associates that with the following narrative in VaYikra Rabbah 34:3.
Hillel bid his students farewell. They asked him where he was going He told them that he was going to perform a mitzvah. They discovered that he was going to the bathhouse and asked him to explain his previous statements. He told them: Since the human body is created in the image of God, it is a mitzvah to wash oneself.
This is what Solomon declared in his wisdom: "Know Him in all your ways - Avot D'Rabbi Natan 17:7 also associates the above statement with this Biblical quote. Berachot 63b describes this verse as: "A small passage upon which all the fundamentals of Torah depend." Note also the Rambam's comments in Shemoneh Perakim, ibid.
Likkutei Sichot, Vol. III, notes that the rules of Torah scholarship would have called for the quotation of the Biblical verse before the quote from our Sages. However, the Rambam chooses this sequence because it reflects a progression in the service of God.
"All of your deeds should be for the Sake of Heaven" implies that the deeds are not themselves holy, merely that they are directed toward a Godly intent. "Know Him in all your ways" implies that a bond with God can be established within the context of our physical activity itself.
and He will straighten your paths" (Proverbs 3:6). - In Iggerot HaKodesh, the Ramban interprets the state described in this clause as a natural product of the elevated rung of service mentioned in the previous clause. When a person develops an all encompassing bond with God, Divine light will illuminate all his paths.

Less than 5 days before my friend Yacov Glicksman passed away, Joe & Seth came to learn with him in Kaplan Hospital, I was there visiting him and it was the next to the last time that I would see him alive. We sat down and we all learned the Mishnah in the Chapter Rabbi Eliezer Ben Azariah’s cow went out on Shabbos. He learned it with the same fervor and clarity as he did when he was well!

Ari Mendelson Bias Incident is a finalist for Book of the Month over at Freedom Book Club. I would be very grateful if you could please go vote for him at http://freedombookclub.com/vote.html


The IDF starts drafting very Orthodox young men: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/160930#.UHxljYYopN8

From Ruth – the NYPD did not do their homework: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/160901#.UHvU3VEopN8


There are times to fight and there are times to upgrade oneself and fearlessly set down guidelines: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4291320,00.html


Inyanay Diyoma

Barry Chamish wrote a book “Traitors and Carpetbaggers in the Promised Land”: IF HASHEM HAD NOT PERFORMED A MIRACLE HERE WE WOULD BE IN GREAT DANGER TODAY.  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4291337,00.html

A neighbor visits the mount of Olives and is attacked by Arabs http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4291333,00.html


Iran has the material but does it have the bomb? According to the Prophets it will. http://www.debka.com/article/22438/Spreading-Iranian-cyber-attacks-hit-Israeli-military-US-financial-and-Gulf-oil-targets




Sometimes Caroline Glick is a bit long Miriam sent me this condensed piece: I found this information from Arlene Kushner's email update extremely interesting. I thought it was worth sharing, although those who support Obama may not agree. Yet, even if you are a Democrat, I hope you will read this and feel free to comment.

"On Friday, Caroline Glick wrote a fine piece that I would like to draw from here. Her focus is the irrational insistence of a considerable percentage
of the American Jewish community on supporting Obama. I say "irrational" because, to a very considerable degree, Obama does not represent the values Jews espouse.

While quoting her here, I would like to suggest that some of her arguments also apply to some who are not Jews, but who think of themselves as "liberal."

Glick asks, Does Obama really advance American Jewish [or, I will add, liberal] values?

"What are those values anyway? Well, there's civil liberties. American Jews like these. But Obama doesn't.

"Take freedom of speech. Obama is the most hostile president to freedom of speech in recent memory. He has advocated implementing the so-called "fairness doctrine" for radio to stifle the free speech of his political opponents on talk radio.

" He has sought to undermine the freedom of the Internet through federal regulations and intimidation of Internet companies such as Google.

"He has made repeated and outspoken attempts to intimidate individuals, groups and businesses including Google to bar freedom of speech as it relates to criticism of Islam. He has purged the lexicon of the federal government of all terms necessary to describe jihad, Islamic radicalism and terrorism...

"Then there are women's rights. American Jews like those.

"True, Obama has distinguished himself as the greatest ally of abortion-on-demand ever. He even supported infanticide of babies who survived abortions when he served in the Illinois legislature. But we women are a bit more than reproductive machines. We also work and raise families..."

"Aside from that, there are females who live outside of the US.

"American Jews have long been outspoken champions of women's rights around the world. But here Obama's record is arguably worse than any president in US history.

"Obama has abandoned the women most at risk of gender-based discrimination, rape and murder -- the women and girls of the Muslim world. Whereas the Bush administration liberated the women and girls of Afghanistan from the maniacally misogynist Taliban regime, the Obama administration is negotiating with the Taliban and setting the conditions for its return to power. If the signature image of the Bush administration's war in Afghanistan was that of women voting, the signature image of Obama's war in Afghanistan is the photo of 14-year old Malala Yousafzai. This week Yousafzai was shot in the head by the Taliban in Pakistan for her defense of the right of girls to go to school."

Concludes Glick: "...The most disturbing aspect of the American Jewish community's devotion to Obama and the Democrats is that it indicates that the vast majority of American Jews have abandoned their faculties for independent thought and judgment in favor of conformism and slavish partisanship. They have rendered themselves unreachable."




The Iranian Surrogates preparing for war. http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=287938

You can imagine what they do to Jews:  This is what happens to Christians in Iran http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=287923


Anti-Semites as “humanitarians”: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=288417



Now for M. Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story “Food Fight” “Noah’s Ark”

Good Shabbos Everyone. Reb Mordechai Dov Twersky, known as Reb Mottel Hornisteipler was a holy man who was known to eat very little. Once, however, when Reb Mottel stopped at an inn for a meal while traveling, the holy man tasted his soup and then ate the entire bowlful. To the further surprise of his Chassidim, Reb Mottel asked the innkeeper if there was any more soup.
The innkeeper was delighted that the distinguished Rebbe was enjoying the soup so much, and so the host hurried to serve Reb Mottel another bowl. When that bowl was finished, Reb Mottel asked if he could have more, and after the next serving was finished, Reb Mottel asked if perhaps there was any more soup to be had. Finally, the innkeeper returned from the kitchen and apologetically told the Rebbe that the pot was empty.
When the Rebbe and his Chassidim resumed their travels, the Rebbe explained how he had suddenly developed such a hearty appetite. "When I tasted the soup, I realized that they [the kitchen staff] had mistakenly put kerosene (a fluid for burning) in the pot! I knew that if the innkeeper would have tasted it and realized that they had served such soup to me, the innkeeper would have been very angry with the cook. I did not want her [the cook] to be distressed on my account..."(Gut Voch, Rabbi A. Barash p.50)
From this amazing story, we see how the righteous eat for the right reasons. As the verse in Proverbs states "A righteous person eats to satisfy his soul..."(Mishlei 13:25) Reb Mottel ate not because he loved the taste of the soup. Reb Mottel ate in order to save someone from embarrassment. Reb Mottel ate with the pure intent of doing a mitzvah and serving Hashem.
In our Torah portion this week Bereishis, we read about the importance of eating for the right reasons. The Torah tells us "Hashem G-d took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to work it and to guard it. And Hashem G-d commanded the man saying: Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad, you must not eat thereof; for on the day you eat of it you shall surely die." (Bereishis 2:15-17) Hashem had given Odom and Chava plenty to eat in the Garden of Eden, as Hashem said "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat." (2:16) Chava, however, took the forbidden fruit because it looked tasty, as the verse states, "And the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and that it was a delight to the eyes..."(3:6) Odom and Chava did not eat because they wanted to serve Hashem. Hashem had specifically told them not to eat from that tree. Odom and Chava ate because the food looked good. Eating of the forbidden fruit brought bad into the world. Therefore we see that Hashem punished mankind because Odom and Chava ate for the wrong the reasons.
Hashem surely wants us to eat from his creation. However, we must eat for the right reasons.
Reb Menachem Nuchem of Chernoble writes in his commentary "Maor Eynayim" that after Odom and Chava ate from the forbidden fruit, good and evil become mixed up in the world. The "Maor Eynayim" tells us that by eating with the proper intent, we have the power to separate good from evil in the world. He explains that food and drink contain sparks of goodness and holiness. When we make a blessing over food and we eat the food with the proper intent of wanting to have strength to serve Hashem, we are able to absorb the sparks of holiness from the food. These sparks feed our souls and give us strength, while the waste product which is pure evil, is released from our bodies. ("Maor Eynayim" Parshas Matos) We see that eating for the right reasons thus has a tremendous power to elevate the soul.
Our lesson for this week is therefore the following: We have the power to correct the mistake of Odom and Chava. Odom and Chava brought evil to the world through eating for the wrong reasons. We, on the other hand, can unite the sparks of holiness in world by eating for the proper intent. Therefore, our goal in eating should be for spiritual elevation, rather than pure physical pleasure.
On Shabbos, it is a mitzvah to eat special foods, in order to honor the holy day. We gather around the table with family and guests to share in good wine, challah, fish, chicken soup, chicken and potato kugel, etc. As we mentioned, the "Maor Eynayim" explains that the taste of food is actually the sparks of holiness being released. Therefore on Shabbos, we can raise ourselves spiritually even more by eating tasty food with the proper intent.
In order to get the most out of life, we should view eating as a way to grow spiritually, rather than just a source of pleasure. Our challenge is to eat for the right reasons. Odom and Chava brought bad to the world by eating for the wrong reasons. Let us elevate ourselves and unite the sparks of holiness in the world by eating for the right reasons. Good Shabbos Everyone.

 Good Shabbos Everyone.  The Torah portion this week parshas Noach, tells of the shameful incident of Noach. Two of Noach's sons Shem and Yefes seek to minimize the shame of their father. Noach's third son Cham, however, takes advantage of his father's drunken state and violates him in the ugliest way. When Noach wakes up from his stupor to realize what Cham did, he curses Cham saying that he and his descendants are destined to be slaves. Noach then blesses Shem and Yefes for their honoring of him. Sufficed to say, that the Jewish nation descends from Shem - read Semitic.
         We see from here the greatness of the mitzvah of honoring one's parents. Because, it is through one act of the mitzvah of honoring one's parents that generations were affected for better or worse.  The following inspirational true story illustrates the special relationship which Jewish parents have with their children and the blessings which emanate from such relationships.
         The middle-aged woman entered the dining room and let the sights and sounds wash over her. About thirty boys clustered around a long dining-room table, singing a slow, harmonious song. Some of them had their eyes squeezed shut, as if to block out anything but the heavenly sound they were creating together. They swayed to the tune, their young hearts clearly swept up in the moment. "
         So this is a Shabbaton," the woman thought. "My Shmuel will love it." Her 10-year-old son, Shmuel, stood by her side, and indeed, his eyes were locked upon the scene in front of him. All he wanted was a place at the table.
         After a few moments, the woman caught the eye of Rabbi Nissel, a Rabbi from Eretz Yisrael who had been invited specifically to help teach and inspire this group of NCSY boys.
         The woman approached the rabbi with Shmuel at her side and said, "Rabbi, I would like to introduce you to my son, Shmuel. Please watch over him. He is a great boy who loves to learn, and this is the first time he has ever been to a Shabbaton."
         Then, the mother turned and left the house. The Rabbi looked at his young charge, who did not seem at all uneasy about having been placed in this situation. "Well, Shmuel, there's a seat for you right here," he said. "I'm sorry you missed the Friday night davening and meal, but you'll be here for the rest of Shabbos, and I'm sure you'll have a great time."
         Shmuel needed no convincing. He smiled a broad, utterly happy smile and joined in with the song the boys were then singing. When the others danced, he danced. When they davened, he davened. When they sat soaking up Rabbi Nissel's shiur, he sat among them, his eyes bright with interest.
         "So this is Shabbos," Shmuel thought to himself. It was his new, most precious possession, and he knew he would never let go of it. Launched so powerfully into religious life, it wasn't long before Shmuel began his career as a yeshivah student. His was an odd situation — a child of non-religious parents who nonetheless wholeheartedly supported his Torah learning and nurtured his success in every way.
         Rabbi Nissel played his part as well, keeping in touch with this special boy and encouraging his remarkable growth. The years passed and Shmuel made steady progress, never turning back to the non-religious life he had left behind. When he finished high school, he traveled to Eretz Yisrael to learn at a yeshivah there, once again finding inspiration and success. So impressed were the rebbeim by his dedication and enthusiasm that, at the age of 21, he was offered a fine shidduch with a young woman from Bnei Brak.
         Once again, Shmuel's path in life proved to be smooth and pleasant; a short time later, the couple was engaged. A few days later, the elated chassan was walking down a Yerushalayim street when he encountered his friend and mentor Rabbi Nissel.
         "Mazel tov, mazel tov!" the rabbi greeted him. "I heard the great news!" The two spoke for a few minutes, discussing Shmuel's current learning situation and his plans for the future. As Shmuel spoke, Rabbi Nissel observed his young friend as if he had never met him before. Standing there before him was a young man who was every inch the yeshivah bochur in his dress, his expressions, his conversation. No one could see anywhere a hint of the uninitiated 10-year-old who had been led by his mother to the Shabbos table so many years ago.
         "Tell me something, Shmuel," Rabbi Nissel at last interrupted. "I've wanted to ask you this for many years. I'm looking at you and I see that you have grown into a fine bochur, but I've always wondered how it happened. I mean, you grew up in a home that was completely non-observant, and yet here you are today. Why did your mother even go along with all of this?"
         "Rav Nissel, there is a story behind my being religious today, but now is not the time for me to discuss it," Shmuel answered. "But I would like you to come to my sheva berachos, and that is when I plan on telling everyone my story."
         "B'ezras Hashem, I'll be there!" Rabbi Nissel responded. Two months later, he was indeed there, at Shmuel's sheva berachos, when the chassan rose to speak. With friends and family gathered together, he revealed his remarkable story.
         "When my parents married, they were not religious people," he began. "They really didn't know much about Judaism. There was no Shabbos or Yom Tov or kashrus in their home. Only on Yom Kippur did they attend services. But they had a difficult challenge that finally opened my mother to the idea of praying. The problem was that after five years of marriage, they still had not been blessed with a child. Both of them wanted a family, and they were heartbroken when it seemed it would never happen. "My mother started going to shul on Shabbos, hoping that if she prayed more, Hashem would grant her a child.
         One week, as she sat there in shul, the rabbi spoke about Chanah and Elkanah who, after many years, had not been able to have children. She heard how Chanah had prayed and prayed, all to no avail. And then, Chanah did something different. She not only prayed from the bottom of her heart, but Chanah vowed that if her prayer were answered with the birth of a son, she would dedicate his life to serving Hashem. Finally, Chanah was granted a son, Shmuel HaNavi.
         "As my mother sat there absorbing this story, she realized that she had the same problem as Chanah. She began to cry, and then she vowed right then and there that if Hashem would grant her a child, she, like Chanah, would dedicate his life to serving Him.
         "I was born that year, and I was named Shmuel. My mother wanted to fulfill her vow, and she felt that the way to do it was to raise me as a religious Jew. However, since my parents had no knowledge in this area, they never quite knew how to make it happen. Finally, when I was 10, my mother found out about the NCSY Shabbaton and brought me there the way Chanah had brought Shmuel to Eli the Kohen. She has encouraged me every step of the way, and baruch Hashem, my parents have also become religious over the years. Now, as I start a new phase of life, I pray only that I will be able to fulfill my mother's promise and live a life that is truly dedicated to serving Hashem." ( p.212 Stories for the Jewish Heart II, R. Binyomin Pruzansky)  Good Shabbos Everyone.
M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Menachem Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Tsviah bas Bracha Leah

To all a wonderful Shabbos  and those of you who are over 50 or in a health category where a flu shot is desired please get one. Everybody should be well,
Rachamim Pauli