Parsha Vayishlach, a story

Dr. Harry asked me questions regarding what is going on and I am sure that he is not the only one with these questions: My question is, 1) "What does the Torah and Talmud say about those who look to kings of the alien nations for protection and not to Hashem? (2) When we depend on the power of foreign kings to protect Israel, what happens to the Shechinah, and the Clouds of Glory as our protection?

Answer (1) David Melech Yisrael wrote the answer: Tehillim 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. 4 His breath goes forth, he returns to his dust; in that very day his thoughts perish. 5 Happy is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,                                                                      Answer (2) That depends on our Torah-Talmud-Halacha learning. If we are spending our time dealing with observing and doing the Mitzvos especially for the sake of heaven and giving of charity then we are building up protecting angels and the Shechina is resting upon us and we guarantee our protection. The foreign powers are extraneous as they are not in charge of defending us. They can be doing the will of HASHEM or not. If they aid us it is better for them than us. If they aid the enemy woe unto them as the day of judgement is just around the corner and it will not be pleasant to them or their citizens both the wicked and the righteous. There will be righteous survivors all over but the question is will they look like people who survived hurricane Sandy, the flood and the fire? Or will they be unscathed?

Parsha Vayishlach

32:4 And Jacob sent ANGELS before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the field of Edom.

Jacob sent angels: Heb. מַלְאָכִים, literally angels (Gen. Rabbah 75:4). to the land of Seir: Heb. אַרְצָה שֵׂעִיר [like] לְאֶרֶץ שֵׂעִיר, to the land of Seir. [In] every word that requires the prefix “lammed” [to] at the beginning, Scripture placed a “heh” at the end. — [from Yev. 13b]

Often the English translations say Messengers which essentially the Angels are Messengers of G-D. The land of Seir is in the Aquba region opposite Eilat and the hills are a bit reddish. During sunset they turn very red and hence the word Edom from the Hebrew for red and ruby. Since I have not been there I do not know if they are very red like the sandstone near and in Bryce Canyon. http://www.nps.gov/brca/index.htm His brother is an interesting statement. Rabbi Yacov Lustig Shlita told us that when Angels were sent to Sodom they too got slightly corrupted by the atmosphere. Yacov could not send ordinary people for surely they could be bribed with things from this world. Therefore he could only send Angels and hope that they would not be influenced. I would like to add that the term brother I find interesting. When I was in the 6^th grade and having be bullied by most of the Irish Catholic children in my neighborhood a girl from across the street had a crush on me. She began telling me about marriage. Yeah the first thing on the mind of a 12 year old boy who has not reached puberty. Of course she wanted to “save my soul from eternal damnation”. It showed me the two sides of Esav. One is the brother/neighbor who hates you and the other one who wants to corrupt your religiosity though bringing you close to his/her philosophy.

5 And he commanded them, saying: 'Thus shall ye say unto my lord Esau: Thus saith thy servant Jacob: I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now. 6 And I have oxen, and asses and flocks, and men-servants and maid-servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favour in thy sight.' 7 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying: 'We came to thy brother Esau, and moreover he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.'

We came to your brother, to Esau: Concerning whom you said, “He is my brother,” but he still behaves toward you like the wicked Esau. He still has hatred (Genesis Rabbah 75:7).

After 34 years the man still has hatred burning inside of him so much so that he raised a small army of 400 assassins with him.

8 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. And he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two camps. 9 And he said: 'If Esau come to the one camp, and smite it, then the camp which is left shall escape.' 10 And Jacob said: 'O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who saidst unto me: Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will do thee good; 11 I am not worthy of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which Thou hast shown unto Thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two camps.

and God of my father Isaac: But elsewhere (31:42), it says: and the Fear of Isaac. Moreover, why did he repeat the Tetragrammaton? Scripture should have written: “Who said to me, ‘Return to your land, etc.’ ” Rather, so did Jacob say before the Holy One, blessed be He: You gave me two promises: one when I left my father’s house from Beer-sheba, when You said to me (28: 13): “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac,” and there You said to me, (ibid., verse 15): “and I will guard you wherever you go.” And in Laban’s house You said to me (31:3), “Return to the land of your forefathers and to your birthplace, and I will be with you.” There You revealed Yourself to me with the Tetragrammaton alone, for it is said:“And the Lord (יהוה) said to Jacob, ‘Return to the land of your forefathers, etc.’” With these two promises I am coming before You.

Rashi commented on most of the Psukim above but what we need to know that Yacov wants to hold HASHEM true to HIS promise and for this he mentions his righteous fathers.

12 Deliver me, I pray Thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and smite me, the mother with the children.

Esav can come in the form of bullies or a brother or sister as I mentioned above.

 13 And you said: I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.'

I will surely do good: Heb. הֵיטֵב אֵיטִיב. [The double expression denotes:] הֵיטֵב, [I will do good] in your merit; אֵיטִיב, [I will do good] in the merit of your forefathers (Gen. Rabbah 76:7) and I will make your seed [as numerous] as the sand of the sea: Now where did He tell him this? Is it not so that He said to him only (28:14): “And your seed shall be like the dust of the earth” ? But He said to him (ibid. 15): “for I will not forsake you until I have done for you what I have spoken concerning you,” and to Abraham He said (22:17): “I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand that is on the seashore.”

14 And he lodged there that night; and took of that which he had with him a present for Esau his brother: … 24 And he took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had. 25 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

I thought to comment about the wrestling with Esav’s guardian angel but chose something else to write about.

26 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled with him. … 33 Therefore the children of Israel eat not the sinew of the thigh-vein which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day; because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh, even in the sinew of the thigh-vein.

While the Bnei Noach have 7 Commandments from Sefer Beresheis, we only have three which are be fruitful, the Bris and not to eat the Gid Hanashe mentioned here. From the Halachic standpoint we need to learn no more of the Sefer. However, for example, Mussar and guidance for our future actions by the way Yacov and family behaves is important. It is written “The deeds of your fathers are signs for the children”.

33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he himself passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him; and they wept.

When Yacov left Esav, he was 63 perhaps with black and gray hair and reasonably dynamic. Now Esav sees this white haired or bald elderly man limping and bowing down 7 times before him. He sees Yacov as a humble elderly man and is moved to real compassion after 34 years.

5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said: 'Who are these with thee?' And he said: 'The children whom God hath graciously given thy servant.' 6 Then the handmaids came near, they and their children, and they bowed down. 7 And Leah also and her children came near, and bowed down; and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed down. 8 And he said: 'What meanest thou by all this camp which I met?' And he said: 'To find favour in the sight of my lord.' 9 And Esau said: 'I have enough; my brother, let that which thou hast be thine.' 10 And Jacob said: 'Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found favour in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand; forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my gift that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.' And he urged him, and he took it. 12 And he said: 'Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.' 13 And he said unto him: 'My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds giving suck are a care to me; and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will journey on gently, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.'

He never got to Seir but he jointly buried Yitzchak with Esav. Our Haphtarah this week of the Novi Ovadia discusses the Moshiach ben Yosef and Moshiach ben David with the Judgement of Esav in the future.

Until I come to my master, to Seir: He told him of a longer journey, although he intended to go only as far as Succoth. He said [to himself], “If he intends to harm me, he will wait until I come to him,” but he did not go [to Seir]. (Gen. Rabbah 78:14) So when will he go? In the days of the Messiah, as it is said (Obadiah 1:21): “And saviors shall ascend Mt. Zion to judge the mountain of Esau.” There are [also] many Midrashic interpretations to this section. until I come to my master, to Seir: He told him of a longer journey, although he intended to go only as far as Succoth. He said [to himself], “If he intends to harm me, he will wait until I come to him,” but he did not go [to Seir]. (Gen. Rabbah 78:14) So when will he go? In the days of the Messiah, as it is said (Obadiah 1:21): “And saviors shall ascend Mt. Zion to judge the mountain of Esau.” There are [also] many midrashic interpretations to this section.

15 And Esau said: 'Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me.' And he said: 'What needs it? let me find favor in the sight of my lord.' 16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him a house, and made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 18 And Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram; and encamped before the city. 19 And he bought the parcel of ground, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money. 20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.

34:1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

Approximately how old was Dina when she went out? Yacov was 84 when he married Leah. If we assume that Leah had one boy after the other for the next 4 years it would make Yacov 88 minimum. Leah then has no children and now Yacov is 89 or 90. At this point Leah gives Zilpah to Yacov and she has 2 children. Yacov is now 91 or 92 and then Leah has two more boys and Dina. Yacov is now at least 94 or 95. Yacov leaves Lavan when he is 97 and gets to Beer Sheva when he is 99. This leaves Dina to be anywhere between 3 to 6 years old. It is not uncommon in our times in Gaza for Arabs to marry children this age. A child that age would be very vulnerable. Even if we say that actually he married Leah 7 days later instead of 7 years in contradistinction to Rashi Dina would only be around 10. But worse than that is the fact that Rachel went out of her father’s house pregnant with Benyamin and she died in childbirth in Beis Lechem after the incident at Schem so we go back to Dina being only 3 years old.

“DO NOT STAND IDLY BY THE BLOOD OF YOUR NEIGHBOR! (Lev.19:16)” I debated with myself weather or not to release this story as it gives a black eye to Am Yisrael. Ruth C. H. a mother of children and a victim of date rape wrote me a special plea that I warn others. Another woman, Z.M.B., wrote me about these characters that I could not remain silent. All the Rabbis concerned are worried about the big Chillul HASHEM that comes from this. However, Ruth convinced me that I had to warn parents to be wary of these characters. After all when the Torah was given it was given to people who believed in HASHEM and Moshe HIS servant. Yet they were warned not to make idols and within weeks they made a golden calf. What can I say about stealing (in the Assera Debros it is about enslaving a human – I can find no worst servitude than making a child or woman a slave to an adult’s Yetzer. People were also told to observe the Shabbos and not to murder even though they were basically G-D fearing. Last week, I wrote about a case in which the lawyer Leah Admur got removed pedophiles from holding a converse which also includes young women and the use of a “natural date rape drug”. “Dr. V” was supposed to supply homeopathic cures to make these women and children ‘feel better’. Schem and Chamor were non-Jews but the man who was successfully prosecuted was named Zalman Cohen. He raped a number of women including a woman who was the mother of children name R.C.H. She began to feel the effect of the drug before she finished her drink and was alert enough to know what was happening to her that he was put away for a few years. The man and some pedophiles living among Charedim in Yerushalayim under the auspices of concerned citizens needing a playground lured children into their trap. This is a group of 10 wicked men. One was murdered by a victim others are behind bars but the children have suffered irreparable damage. This has included suicides and being place in psychiatric hospitals.    

It was this irreparable that Dina would suffer from and the psychological effect on her family for such an indignity that caused Shimon and Levy to take up the sword. R wrote me how she goes after them in the trial and was stricken with emotion. She has gone into Schuls trying to remove these dangerous characters from congregations for often parents take their children there to learn Torah and while the father is praying these characters are preying on the young ones. For this I cry out call me a person who is insensitive to a major Chillul HASHEM or call me compassionate for young women and little children that might fall victims to these characters. However, I cannot stand idly by the blood of children or virgins spilled by these characters. “AND YOU SHOULD FEAR YOUR G-D, I AM HASHEM. (Lev. 19:14)”

Footnote: I let Ruth see what I wrote above and as you know sometime young boys/men victims of abuse continue the cycle. There were Rabbanim Gadolim that pressed for the early release from jail of Zalman Cohen. They only were fed data from one side the true story in the Charedi communities of Yerushalayim (where one Monowitz escaped a NY DA) and Bnei Brak are unfortunately teaming with these characters who innocents don’t see and the Rabbis don’t want to talk about either because of money or something else. One tried something with an establishment of a girl’s school Ruth write me as follows after I mailed her the above. The stories that she wrote about other abused women and boys are too much to go into including the victimizing of her own daughters. By the way if you talk about me you mention me by name, everyone knows who I am anyway I am the one in the spotlight here. Supposedly but in reality there are others behind the scenes praying for me and digging up the dirt on these men. There are 50-60 here, those include younger men too. They are like a army the 10 year the 15 year old the 17 year old and each one has to do his job to go and fetch the young ones to take to skipy, Zalman etc. THEN YOU WONDER WHY THE AUTHISTIC CHILDREN PREDICTED THAT MANY OF THE ULTRA-ORTHODOX WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SURVIVING THE COMING OF THE MOSHIACH.

Ruth supplied me with an old article from a newspaper since then Zalman Cohen has been released from jail (it was also in the television news for a few days): … Right now, Binyamin Satz, Benzion Primashelanu, and Zalman Cohen are in jail, charged with sodomy and violence against Israeli children. Six other men have been arrested, questioned on suspicions of the same, and released. A 70-year-old woman named Sarah Vorst was violently beaten by five men in February, her apartment ransacked, and her computer and telephone stolen—according to many because her attackers believed she was a mastermind behind the pedophiles’ plot.

To date, more than 70 children, nearly all from Haredi families in the tight-knit community of Nahlaot, have been interviewed by Social Services and have claimed to suffer severe sexual, psychological, physical, and ritual abuse at the hands of nearly 60 individuals. At least another 50 children have claimed abuse, though they were not interviewed by Social Services. The children have identified the perpetrators either by name or by telling characteristics: the one with the ponytail, the one who exercises, the filmer, the one with a walker, the one who wears a knitted kippah, and so on. Those accused include American immigrants, middle-aged men, elderly women (nearly half of those accused are female), geriatric couples, teenagers, mother-son teams, mentally handicapped individuals, at least one Arab, suspected Christian missionaries, and, more recently, a few prominent members of the community, including a rabbi. Some of those who have been identified by one or more children are unaware, or appear to be unaware, that they have been accused. …

2 And Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her; and he took her, and lay with her, and humbled her.

lay with her: in a natural way. — [from Gen. Rabbah 80:5] and violated her: Heb. וַיְעַנֶהָ, lit., and afflicted her. [I.e. he was intimate with her] in an unnatural way. — [from Gen. Rabbah 80: 5]

This was going to be the first of many rapes of Jewish Women throughout the centuries. I would not be surprised if a Kabbalist was to tell me that Schem was given a chance to do Teshuva and was the non-Jewish soldier to raped the daughter of one of the Gadolei HaDor in Bavel. From here he made her his wife and she got him to do Teshuva and her child was Morey ben Martha the great Amorah and the reason he is called that is because his father was a non-Jew when his mother conceived.

3 And his soul did cleave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spoke comfortingly unto the damsel.

and spoke to the girl’s heart: [I.e. he spoke] seductive words, “Look how much money your father squandered for a small parcel of land. I will marry you, and you will acquire the city and all its fields.” - [from Gen. Rabbah 80:7]

I tend to believe that this shallow fellow fell in love with Dina for her beauty. In ancient times a man would take a woman into his home and she became his wife. With society came the more formal institution of marriage as we know it more or less today. Divorce was like the Arabs “get thee gone” three times with public notification and perhaps disgrace of the woman. In our case, he immediately told her that she is now his wife forever and he loves her and promises to the sky. Nothing is mentioned if she was hysterical from the rape or calmed down by Schem. One thing for sure he was spoiled by his father.

4 And Shechem spoke unto his father Hamor, saying: 'Get me this damsel to wife.' 5 Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter; and his sons were with his cattle in the field; and Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to speak with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard it; and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought a vile deed in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter; which thing ought not to be done. 8 And Hamor spoke with them, saying 'The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter. I pray you give her unto him to wife. 9 And make ye marriages with us; give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. 10 And ye shall dwell with us; and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.'

This is like an Arab “Sulcha” between families for making peace and ending the feud with monetary, trade and perhaps marriage compensation.

11 And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren: 'Let me find favor in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. 12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me; but give me the damsel to wife.'

From an Arab standpoint this is most reasonable even in today’s terms. Yacov and sons viewed things differently from a different education and moral climate. We view a child marriage today as ridiculous, disgusting, abusive, etc. It is not a great surprise that Shimon and Levy in their preteens with strength from living sheep and pushing cattle would do their deed in defense of their full sister. (By watching the sheep, goats and cattle; the Bnei Yisrael knew their birds and bees at a young age.)

13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with guile, and spoke, because he had defiled Dinah their sister, 14 and said unto them: 'We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us. 15 Only on this condition will we consent unto you: if ye will be as we are, that every male of you be circumcised; 16 then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.'

The conditions were laid down by the sons and not Yacov because they were talking about peace for a future generation and their own marriages.

18 And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor's son. 19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter. And he was honored above all the house of his father. 20 And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and spoke with the men of their city, saying:

Now look how Chamor sells the deal to the people of the city: He is making fiscal sense for them.

21 'These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for, behold, the land is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only on this condition will the men consent unto us to dwell with us, to become one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised. 23 Shall not their cattle and their substance and all their beasts be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.' 24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city unawares, and slew all the males. 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went forth. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28 They took their flocks and their herds and their asses, and that which was in the city and that which was in the field; 29 and all their wealth, and all their little ones and their wives, took they captive and spoiled, even all that was in the house. 30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: 'Ye have troubled me, to make me odious unto the inhabitants of the land, even unto the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and, I being few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and smite me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.' 31 And they said: 'Should one deal with our sister as with a harlot?'

35:1 And God said unto Jacob: 'Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there; and make there an altar unto God, who appeared unto thee when thou didst flee from the face of Esau thy brother.' 2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him: 'Put away the strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves, and change your garments; 3 and let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.' 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hand, and the rings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth which was by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed; and a terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the land of Canaan--the same is Beth-el--he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el, because there God was revealed unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother. 8 And Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried below Beth-el under the oak; and the name of it was called Allon-bacuth.

9 And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him: 'Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name'; and He called his name Israel. 11 And God said unto him: 'I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; 12 and the land which I gave unto Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.' 13 And God went up from him in the place where He spoke with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He spoke with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink-offering thereon, and poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Beth-el. 16 And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was still some way to come to Ephrath; and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. 17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the mid-wife said unto her: 'Fear not; for this also is a son for thee.' 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing--for she died--that she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath--the same is Beth-lehem. 20 And Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave; the same is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day. 21 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond Migdal-eder. 22 And it came to pass, while Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine; and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: 23 the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob's first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun; 24 the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; 25 and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid: Dan and Naphtali; 26 and the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, that were born to him in Paddan-aram. 27 And Jacob came unto Isaac his father to Mamre, to Kiriatharba--the same is Hebron--where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac expired, and died, and was gathered unto his people, old and full of days; and Esau and Jacob his sons buried him.

The birth of Lieb Sara condensed from Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles Story

There was once an innkeeper who had a beautiful daughter named Sara and she would help out by waiting on customers. One day the son of the local Squire came to the inn and started drinking the more he drank the more he loved Sara. She told him that he was drunk and to sober up. However, he went home and told his father about the lass. His father did not like the idea with her being a Jew but gave his blessing on the condition that Sara would convert and raise their children in the Christian way.

The lad was very happy and he told his good news to Sara who was in panic along with her father. Shortly thereafter he gathered his friends together for a wedding and was on his way to fetch Sara when a great downpour occurred. Yacov, the Melamed, heard the fellow. He immediately set out for the inn to warn the father and ask that a hasty wedding be put together and the Sara would then get divorced shortly thereafter. Everything was OK except there was no groom. Yacov said that he would marry her and divorce her immediately and so 10 Jews were gathered and a bridal party ensued. As the Goy and his friends got to the end people were cheering for the bride and groom and the spoiled brat went home.

After the wedding, he then called for a divorce in which Sara refused as she said that if HASHEM brought them together, she would stay married. From this union Rav Lieb Sara was born. The connection – Schem and Chamor and Dina.

Ndancy sent me this: The Month of Kislev According to the Book of Formation (Sefer Yetzirah) http://www.inner.org/times/kislev/kislev.htm

 

Condensed from the IsraPost a free publication in FL: In her weekly column “What’s the matter with Intermarriage” Malkie Janowski writes an article “When Passion Dies”. This of course happens to all of us either the Ger or Giyores have lost the novel of Judaism or everything through the yearly cycle becomes routine it is no longer my first Lulav and Esrog it is more that time of year again. I am sure this happens to Baalei Teshuva and even Yeshiva World people who have to go out and earn a living and run from the Schul to make it to work by 9 or whatever. I will now paraphrase and condense her thoughts.

 

She posed the following question: “When I started all this, I felt so excited about being Jewish and following all the laws, but not it is such a struggle and kind of feels like a heavy burden.” Yep 45 years ago yours truly got his first Siddur, Tallis and Tephillin to begin praying in English a limited amount of prayers in the morning and the full Mincha and Maariv Prayers. What passion and feeling I had praying in English “When my foot slips you upholds me” perhaps it is more supports the falling but it was a nice wording and I had a lot fervor. Now fast forward about a year and trying to pray in Hebrew slowly but surely. Suddenly the words had no meaning all the Kavana that was there in English is gone. Since praying slow meant losing the Minyan and work was beaconing I suddenly found myself mouthing words that sort of had meaning now that I know Hebrew but still Melech Ozer U’Moshiya U’Magen is not the same as Oh King, Helper, Savior, Shield… It is not and cannot be the same to me. Sometimes on Shabbos I sing the blessing after the meal and it helps but during the week for some reason at faster than Pentium speeds – I wonder if I would not be better off saying in English “Rub-a-dub-dub three cheers for the grub yeah G-D”!

 

Rabbi Aharon of Karlin once confronted a person with this question. He brought down Koheles 7:10 Don’t say: 'How was it that the former days were better than these?' for it is not out of wisdom that you enquire concerning this. There is nothing wrong with asking. But those days were not out of wisdom and then you were striving for a goal. Now you are wiser and have met that goal and are doing things out of wisdom. Think now about what part of being an observant Jew you feel at home and perhaps teach it to your children.  

From Chaim B: A note from a tank commander in the IDF:

It's nearly 3 AM, the cease fire was announced 30 hours ago, I've been home for 7 hours already, but I'm still restless. I cannot sleep. The thoughts and feelings fill my mind...
I was called in from my studies to help my brigade prepare for the ground entrance to the Gaza Strip as part of operation Pillar of Defense. I spent a week in the field, since last Friday. Although we didn't go in, I returned home full of strength.
I had the privilege to be out in the field and see true unity amongst Am Yisrael and an army not only strong militarily but strong in spirit.
I met worked with many soldiers and commanders, all with deep faith that we are doing the right thing. I saw hundreds of soldiers dance hugged in a huge circle, singing "Am Yisrael Chai" and "the nation of eternity isn't afraid of a long journey". I saw commanders draw power and faith out of this amazing scene.
Under my command were a few reserve soldiers, all 10 years older than me and more. They were part of tens of thousands that enlisted to their units until the enlistment count stood at 120% percent. Doctors, students, fathers, high-tech engineers, meat sellers – they all came from all around to protect our nation and country.
I met truck and mobile drivers who drove over 10 hours from north to south, back and forth, again and again, just so we can have our armed vehicles to go in. All they asked for was "Go in, do your job, and let us have some quiet finally".
I met volunteers who supported us with hot soup, drinks and goodies as we waited in the field for the order that never came.
I met brave residents of Southern Israel, who taught me what true courage and power is. Can you imagine living under fire for 12 years??
A month ago I returned from our honeymoon in India. I told people that within 2 months I saw true unity in Am Yisrael – there, in the Far East, and here, under fire. My question is why can't we be so united at normal times, on daily basis? Why can't we gather around the same values we truly share, even if deep inside? Why can't we respect and treat each other as brother unless it's in the middle of nowhere, or in time of crisis?
It starts with each and every one of us. Can we try being nicer to each other? Can we try harder to respect each other's views and opinions, even if they contradict mine?? Can I treat every Jew as my brother, even if he wears black, or doesn't wear a Kippa\Yarmalka, if he's dark skinned or if he prays differently than I do? if he has long hair and piercings, or if he has long Peot? Can I try understanding what bothers him, what hurts him, so I can avoid doing so? Can I truly CARE about someone who is from my nation, even if we are different and sometimes it looks like we're not so connected??
The change starts with YOU, with ME, with US, in the small, daily actions and reactions. No politician can promise neither do it, it is only up to us.
Thank you for protecting and fighting for us worldwide all around the media, social networks and out on the streets, helping justice win and revealing evil lies.
I'm proud to be part of this nation, and part of a unique and moral army.
May we be blessed with these unique feelings every day, and not only in times of crisis…
Shabbat Shalom
Yaakov Selavan
Lieutenant, IDF Armored Corps
P.S
Feel free to share this message with friends\family\synagogues etc…

A miracle (not that I recommend Halloween Parties) http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/holiday-miracle-man-awakes-monthlong-coma-112910515--abc-news-topstories.html

Thinking positive http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4304712,00.html

New Parkinson diagnostic tool: http://www.aol.com/video/picking-up-on-parkinsons-in-person-and-over-the-phone/517545666/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl43%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D237068

Dreyfus in France again! http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/162640#.ULasBoYsEsY

Livni gets her ears boxed: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=293821

Motzei Shabbos Chabad is celebrating their holiday of Yud-Tet Kislev. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/335659/jewish/19-Kislev-The-New-Year-of-Chassidism.htm

Inyanay Diyoma

Israel’s leaving Gaza unfinished interpreted by Arabs as a sign of weakness: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4310729,00.html

Attempting to pierce the border fence with Gaza: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4310839,00.html

Photo fraud from Gaza http://www.aish.com/jw/mo/Photo-Fraud-in-Gaza.html

Ed-Op: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4310853,00.html

So much for Abu Abbas as a peace partner the truth is being to shine forth: http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=293297

Maybe the Semper Fidelis folks can stop the arms flow to Gaza through Sinai??? http://www.debka.com/article/22557/Obama’s-pledge-of-US-troops-to-Sinai-next-week-won-Israel’s-nod-for-ceasefire

This would be nice get rid of the liberal side of the Likud: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/162462#.ULFmyYYsEsY

Replenishing Hamas: http://www.debka.com/article/22560/Middle-East-in-high-suspense-for-Gaza-operation-sequels

Even if the best defense is a good offense when civilians are concerned probably try to push production but it will take a while: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4311588,00.html

When I patrolled the Syrian border it was in an open vehicle no armor and just a few guns and a flak jacket: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=293424

Mother of 4 holds off armed terrorist single handedly: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4311979,00.html

Finally a Politian retires at the age of only 70 plus and not in his 80’s or 90’s. http://www.debka.com/article/22564/Ehud-Barak-quits-politics-but-stays-in-defense-until-elections

In a resounding blow to Bashar Assad’s army’s combat capabilities against external enemies, Syrian rebels destroyed his key electronic warning radar station facing Israel – M-1 – Monday, Nov. 26, debkafile reports exclusively. This has blinded the two eyes which Syrian air, air defense and missile forces had trained on Israel and crippled, though not completely dismantled, their ability to go to war against Israel, Jordan or Saudi Arabia. Hizballah has lost its primary source of intelligence for an anti-Israel offensive.

A comprehensive explanation on Nov. 27: HASHEM will fight the enemy for you: http://www.debka.com/article/22566/US-led-NATO-intervention-begins-in-Syria-war-Patriots-in-Turkey

Unlike the States Yisrael shifts to the right and throws out the liberals from the Likud. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4312089,00.html

Yet another split party in Israel. One MK broke away from Shass, Aguda is split between the Gerer Chassidim and the rest and now a lot of noise from another politician: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4312312,00.html

An assessment of the Gaza Operation based on intelligence reports: http://debka.com/article/22568/The-Gaza-Operation-Less-a-War-than-an-Anti-Iran-Coup

More dangerous than a Uranium Bomb: http://pjmedia.com/spengler/2012/11/27/iran-plutonium-bomb/?fb_action_ids=10151145584973309&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map={%2210151145584973309%22%3A134074976745171}&action_type_map={%2210151145584973309%22%3A%22og.recommends%22}&action_ref_map

Fatah may lose all to Hamas as the street prefers the extremes: http://www.debka.com/article/22570/As-Fatah-fades-UN-recognition-of-Palestine-may-eventually-benefit-Hamas

A healthy, happy and wonderful Shabbos to all,

Rachamim Pauli