Finally,
there few grand revelations in this life. The study of one lesson a day, will
result in gradual, and permanent change that one may not even be aware of while
it is happening.
Other
side is synonym for Yetzer HaRa.
Re: Tamar -
Shalom R’ Rachamim, How
is she playing the harlot when
married? To who is she married? She was promised to son #3, but that
wasn't going to happen -- and doesn't the woman get to say "no" at anytime prior
to the marriage? Presumably she wants a kid from the same seed as the dead
husband, but if she doesn't there is no death-penalty on her. So what is the
real deal here? - Liab
The fact
that Tamar was a widow at the time she “became pregnant” is irrelevant to
marriage for she had the linkage of Yebum (Levirate Marriage) to the
brother/father in this case. Yehuda did not give her his remaining son and he
did not know that she was pregnant by him. She did nothing wrong. But to Yehuda
she became pregnant with somebody unknown to the
family.
Miracles do happen outside of Israel but the frequency is lower:
http://www.aol.com/video/tree-narrowly-misses-sleeping-babys-crib/517618237/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl21%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D247330
Orthodox
Union Expresses Sorrow and Sympathy Over Heinous Crime in
Connecticut
The leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America expresses its profound sorrow over the senseless violence perpetrated today against innocent children and adults in their Newtown, Connecticut schoolhouse. We offer our deepest sympathy to the families and the community. Alongside our homes, our schools must be places of security for our children in an otherwise uncertain world. The Orthodox Union will join with all Americans of good will to assure the security of our children and our places of learning. For more: http://www.ou.org/security
The leadership of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America expresses its profound sorrow over the senseless violence perpetrated today against innocent children and adults in their Newtown, Connecticut schoolhouse. We offer our deepest sympathy to the families and the community. Alongside our homes, our schools must be places of security for our children in an otherwise uncertain world. The Orthodox Union will join with all Americans of good will to assure the security of our children and our places of learning. For more: http://www.ou.org/security
Parsha
Vayigash
Seeing
the whole picture of Yacov Avinu: Yacov has lost by the time our Parsha takes
place both Rachel and Leah (for she was buried in Chevron). Perhaps he still has
one or both of the servant wives. He cannot be consoled for the loss of Yosef. I
don’t care that Rashi says after a year the deceased is forgotten. I have known
parents that have lost children who are never consoled and as Yacov said
earlier, I will go down Sheola aka to my grave with the loss of Yosef. After he
deals with his daily prayers and daily mourning, he has a family of grown up
sons running the herding empire that he had created. He now also, 22 years after
Yosef left, has many grown up grandchildren in the business too. He among his
grandchildren unto whom to teach the stories and Midrashim of Creation, the
Flood and Times of Avraham and Yitzchak.
Up
until now, Yosef was disguised up until this time. He is still wary about his
brothers now Yehuda shows that he can be a leader and also a big brother to
Benyamin. At this point Yosef feels the brotherly love and he can no longer hide
himself. This is probably the most emotional drama in the whole Tanach. It could
be that Esav meeting Yacov was also emotional and Yacov confronting Lavan after
having woken up with Leah in his bed in the morning was probably full of drama
but nothing tops the description here. For there is no mention of emotions of
Noach and sons losing all their friends and cousins and getting that lonesome
feeling and we only have the Medrash to tell us that for 130 years Adam did not
talk to Chava after being kicked out of Gan Eden.
44:18 Then Judah came near
unto him, and said: 'Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in
my lord's ears, and let not your anger burn against thy servant; for you are
even as Pharaoh.
for
you are like Pharaoh: This
is its simple meaning. Its Midrashic meaning is, however: You will ultimately be
punished with צָרַעַת because of him, just as Pharaoh was punished because of my
great-grandmother Sarah for the one night that he detained her (Gen. 12:17).
Another explanation: Just as Pharaoh issues decrees and does not carry them out,
makes promises and does not fulfill them, so do you. Now, is this the “setting
of an eye,” concerning which you said [that you wanted] “to set your eye upon
him” ? [See verse 21.] Another explanation: For like you, so is Pharaoh-if you
provoke me, I will kill you and your master. [From Gen. Rabbah
93:6]
This
brings up a strong question to Yehuda: You want to tell me about Sara and
Pharaoh but I will tell you about Yehuda suggesting the sale of
Yosef!
19 My lord asked his
servants, saying: Have ye a father, or a brother?
My
lord asked his servants: From
the beginning, you came upon us with a pretext. Why did you have to ask all
these [questions]? Were we looking to [marry] your daughter, or were you looking
to [marry] our sister? Nonetheless, “we said to my lord” (verse 20). We did not
conceal anything. [From Gen. Rabbah 93:8]
These
country bumpkin shepherds did not think about the suspicious nature of the
inquiry. Why would a PM ask such questions of these
bumpkins?
20 And we said unto my
lord: We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one;
and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father
loves him.
And
his brother is dead: Out
of fear, he made a false statement. He said [to himself], “If I tell him that he
is alive, he will say, ‘Bring him to me.’” [from Gen. Rabbah 93:8]
alone
of his mother: From
that mother, he has no other brother. [From Targum Jonathan ben
Uzziel]
Yosef
of course understands their Pshat as Rashi states it.
21 And you said unto
thy servants: Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him. 22 And we said unto my lord: The lad
cannot leave his father; for if he should leave his father, his father would
die.
For
if he leaves his father, he will die: If he
leaves his father, we are worried lest he die on the way, for his mother died on
the way. [after Targum Jonathan ben Uzziel]
Also
underlying all this is the fact that the brothers know that when Shimon was put
into jail that was a sign that it was measure for measure for selling somebody
into slavery. However, at this juncture, Benyamin has not guilt and it is not
measure for measure.
23 And thou said unto
thy servants: Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my
face no more. 24 And it came to
pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my
lord. 25 And our father said: Go
again, buy us a little food. 26
And we said: We cannot go down; if our youngest brother be with us, then will we
go down; for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with
us. 27 And thy servant my father
said unto us: Ye know that my wife bore me two sons; 28 and the one went out from me, and I
said: Surely he is torn in pieces; and I have not seen him since; 29 and if ye take this one also from
me, and harm befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the
grave.
And
misfortune befalls him: For
Satan accuses at the time of danger. [From Gen. Rabbah 91:9]
you
will bring down my hoary head in misery, etc.: Now
that he is with me, I comfort myself over [the loss of] his mother and over [the
loss of] his brother, but if this one [too] dies, it will seem to me as if the
three of them died in one day. [From Gen. Rabbah ff. 93:8]
30 Now therefore when I
come to thy servant my father, and the lad is not with us; seeing that his soul
is bound up with the lad's soul; 31 it will come to pass, when he sees
that the lad is not with us, that he will die; and thy servants will bring down
the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
It
will come to pass, when he sees that the boy is not here, he will die:
His
father will die because of his calamity [of the loss of his
son].
32 For thy servant
became surety for the lad unto my father, saying: If I bring him not unto thee,
then shall I bear the blame to my father forever.
For
your servant assumed responsibility for the boy: Now
if you ask why I enter the fray more than my other brothers, [I will reply that]
they are all [standing] from the outside [without commitment], while I have
bound myself with a strong bond to be an outcast in both worlds. [From Gen.
Rabbah 93:8]
33 Now therefore, let
thy servant, I pray thee, abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let
the lad go up with his brethren.
Please
let your servant stay: I am
superior to him in all respects: in strength, in battle, and in service. [From
Gen. Rabbah 93:8]
Ah the
Sinas Chinam (groundless hatred) has turned to brotherly love (which was lacking
before) and Yehuda is willing to take his lumps for a horrible deed that he did
in the past with the sale of Yosef. Teshuva is now complete and all hatred for
Yosef and the children of Rachel and all jealousy is gone!
34 For how shall I go
up to my father, if the lad be not with me? lest I look upon the evil that shall
come on my father.'
I am
incapable of witnessing the death of my father when I have given my word
guarantying the lad’s return. (He might not be a lad considering he was a number
of years old when Yosef was sold and to this add 22 years – but to Yehuda and
his father, he was despite the fact that he had 10 boys
already.)
45:1 Then Joseph could not refrain
himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried: 'Cause every man to go
out from me.' And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known
unto his brethren.
At this
point all the brothers are shaking in their boots. Rashi explains these men were
the disgusting Hebrews to the Egyptians. (See the commentary of last week – this
the equivalent to saying oh those Jews today.)
Now
Joseph could not bear all those standing: He
could not bear that Egyptians would stand beside him and hear his brothers being
embarrassed when he would make himself known to them. [From Tanchuma Vayigash
5]
2 And he wept aloud;
and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Meaning
household staff - and
the house of Pharaoh heard: Heb.
פַּרְעֹה בֵּית, the house of Pharaoh, namely his servants and the members of his
household. This does not literally mean a house, but it is like “the house of
Israel” (Ps. 115:12), “the house of Judah” (I Kings 12:21), mesnede in Old
French, household. [From Targum Onkelos]
3 And Joseph said unto
his brethren: 'I am Joseph; does my father yet live?' And his brethren could not
answer him; for they were affrighted at his presence.
The
Medrash explains the question as a double meaning. First, my father would have
to be 130 years old, is still alive? Secondly as a rebuke, you say that he
cannot live without Benyamin and yet he lived without me, his favorite
son!
4 And Joseph said unto
his brethren: 'Come near to me, I pray you.' And they came near. And he said: 'I
am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
I may
be a mighty ruler, very rich and very powerful and yet: I AM YOUR
BROTHER!
Please
come closer: He
saw them drawing backwards. He said, “Now my brothers are embarrassed” (Tanchuma
Vayigash 5). He called them tenderly and pleadingly and showed them that he was
circumcised (Gen. Rabbah 93:10).
5 And now be not
grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither; for God did send me
before you to preserve life.
He
shows forgiveness here but we see in next week’s Parsha that when Yacov passes
away they are scared for fear of vengeance. Yosef is on the level to see
HASHEM’s grand plan which the brothers could not see.
6 For these two years
hath the famine been in the land; and there are yet five years, in which there
shall be neither plowing nor harvest.
HASHEM
has shown Pharaoh the future through a dream. You now have seen what happened to
“the dreamer of dreams” so harken and come down here and I will guarantee you
and yours food.
7 And God sent me
before you to give you a remnant on the earth, and to save you alive for a great
deliverance. 8 So now it was not
you that sent me hither, but God; and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and
lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Father
unto Pharaoh – a guide, educator and senior advisor! G-D has sent me here: Again
they were just tools in transferring Yosef to Mitzrayim, he could have been
kidnapped by slavers too.
9 Hasten ye, and go up
to my father, and say unto him: Thus says thy son Joseph: God has made me lord
of all Egypt; come down unto me, tarry not. 10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of
Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy
children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast;
11 and there will I sustain
thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou,
and thy household, and all that thou hast.
Lest
you become impoverished: Heb.
פֶּן-תִּוָּרֵשׁ, [which Onkelos renders:] דָּלְמָא תִתְמַסְכַּן, lest you become
impoverished, [which is] an expression similar to “impoverishes (מוֹרִישׁ) and
makes rich” (I Sam. 2:7).
12 And, behold, your
eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks
unto you.
Now
look closer at me as I stand next to Benyamin don’t you see how similar we are.
I may be dressed as an Egyptian and not have Peyos but look how much Benyamin
and I look alike – my words on the Medrash.
And
behold, your eyes see: my
glory and that I am your brother, for I am circumcised, and moreover, that it is
my mouth that is speaking to you in the holy tongue (Gen. Rabbah 93:10).
as
well as the eyes of my brother Benjamin: He
compared them all together, saying that “just as I harbor no hatred against my
brother Benjamin, for he did not participate in selling me, neither do I have
any hatred in my heart against you.” [from Meg. 16b]
13 And ye shall tell my
father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall
hasten and bring down my father hither.' 14 And he fell upon his brother
Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
Rashi
brings down the Medrash but I like the simple emotional Pshat of the Chumash.
After all he knew little Benny as baby brother perhaps not even Bar Mitzvah age
and now he is big Ben the father of 10 sons. I think 22 years of being without
his brother is enough to weep.
And
he fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept: for
the two sanctuaries which were destined to be in Benjamin’s territory and would
ultimately be destroyed. [From Meg. 16b] and
Benjamin wept on his neck: for
the Tabernacle of Shiloh, which was destined to be in Joseph’s territory yet
would ultimately be destroyed. [From Meg. 16b, Gen. Rabbah
93:12]
15 And he kissed all
his brethren, and wept upon them; and after that his brethren talked with him.
16 And the report thereof was
heard in Pharaoh's house, saying: 'Joseph's brethren are come'; and it pleased
Pharaoh well, and his servants.
And
the voice was heard [in] Pharaoh’s house: Heb.
בֵּית פַּרְעֹה, equivalent to בְּבֵית פַּרְעֹה, and this is an expression
[denoting] an actual house. [From Targum
Onkelos]
Just
think about having more Yosef types here. Can you imagine what technology these
people are capable of developing and engineering feats like the Pyramids? Oh
perhaps Pharaoh thought of these brothers developing a polio vaccine, wireless
technology, computer chips and curing heart problems and some genetic
disorders.
17 And Pharaoh said
unto Joseph: 'Say unto thy brethren: You do this: lade your beasts, and go, get
you unto the land of Canaan; 18
and take your father and your households, and come unto me; and I will give you
the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land. 19 Now you art commanded, you do this:
take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your
wives, and bring your father, and come.
The
best of the land of Egypt: [I.e.,]
the land of Goshen. He prophesied but did not know what he was prophesying. They
(the Israelites) would eventually make it (Egypt) like the depths of the sea,
which have no fish. [From Avoth d’Rabbi Nathan, second version, ch. 43; Ber. 9b]
the
fat of the land: Heb.
חֵלֶב הָאָרֶץ. Every [instance of] חֵלֶב is an expression meaning the best.
[From Targum Onkelos]
Nowadays
it is swampy and contains lots and lots of Mosquitoes.
20 Also regard not your
stuff; for the good things of all the land of Egypt are yours.' 21 And the sons of Israel did so; and
Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them
provision for the way. 22 To all
of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three
hundred shekels of silver, and five changes of raiment. 23 And to his father he sent in like
manner ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden
with corn and bread and victual for his father by the
way.
He
sent the following: Heb.
כְּזֹאת, lit., like this, [meaning:] according to this amount. And what is the
amount? Ten he-donkeys, etc. of
the best of Egypt: We
find in the Talmud (Meg. 16b) that he sent him aged wine because elderly people
find contentment with it. [I.e., the fact that wine improves with age often
affords contentment to the elderly.] According to the Midrash Aggadah (Gen.
Rabbah 94:2 on verse 18), however, this refers to pounded beans [which have a
soothing effect on a troubled spirit]. grain,
bread: As
the Targum renders. and
[other] food: Things
eaten with bread.
24 So he sent his
brethren away, and they departed; and he said unto them: 'See that ye fall not
out by the way.'
Do
not quarrel on the way: Heb.
אַל-תִּרְגְזוּ בַּדָּר Do not engage in a halachic discussion lest the way cause
you to stray. Another explanation: Do not walk with large steps, and enter the
city while the sun is shining (Ta’anith 10b). According to the simple meaning of
the verse, we can say that since they were ashamed, he (Joseph) was concerned
that they would perhaps quarrel on the way about his being sold, debating with
one another, and saying, “Because of you he was sold. You slandered him and
caused us to hate him.”
Do
things post haste and return as soon as possible.
25 And they went up out
of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father. 26 And they told him, saying: 'Joseph
is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.' And his heart
fainted, for he believed them not.
There
is a story how they broke the message that Yosef was alive to Yacov. First they
had Serach ben Asher sing a song about Yosef being alive. They told him that
that Yosef was alive and he did not believe them. Finally he saw Agalos and he
remembered the Eglos that he was learning with Yosef the Din of Egel Arufa.
And
[they told him] that he ruled: Heb.
וְכִי הוּא משֵׁל, and that he rules. and
his heart changed: Heb.
וַיָפָג לִבָּוֹ. His heart changed and went away from believing. His heart did
not turn to [believe] these words. [וַיָפָג is] a term similar to “their taste
changes” (מְפִיגִין טַעְמָן) in the language of the Mishnah (Bezah 14a), and
“without respite (הֲפֻגוֹת)” (Lam. 3:49). Also “and its bouquet did not change”
(Jer. 48: 11) is translated [into Aramaic] as v’raycha lo pag.
(The
Hebrew did not transfer over properly do to the
paragraphing)
27 And they told him
all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them; and when he saw the wagons
which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.
All
of Joseph’s words: He
(Joseph) gave them a sign, viz., in what topic he was engaged when he (Joseph)
separated from him (Jacob). [That was] the section dealing with the heifer that
was to be beheaded (עֶגְלָה עִרוּפָה) (Deut. 21), and this is what [Scripture]
says, “and he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent,” and it (Scripture) does not
say, “that Pharaoh had sent.” [from Gen. Rabbah 94:3] and
the spirit of…Jacob was revived: The
Shechinah, which had separated from him [because of his grief], rested upon him
[once again]. [From Avoth d’Rabbi Nathan , ch. 30, Targum Onkelos , Targum
Jonathan]
This
scene reminds me of Sancho saying to Don Quixote “Remember, you must remember”
and with this Yacov becomes alive again and with Simcha prophecy returns to him.
28 And Israel said: 'It
is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive; I will go and see him before I
die.'
Enough!
My son Joseph is still alive: I
have enough happiness and joy, since my son Joseph is still alive. [From Targum
Onkelos, Targum Jonathan]
Nu,
what are we waiting for let’s get cracking and on our merry way to see Yosef.
46:1 And Israel took
his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba, and offered sacrifices
unto the God of his father Isaac.
to
Beer-sheba: Heb.
בְּאֵרָה שָׁבַע, like לִבְאֵר שָׁבַע, to Beer-sheba. The “hey” at the end of the
word takes the place of the “lammed” at its beginning. [From Yeb. 13b]
to
the God of his father Isaac: One
is required to honor his father more than he is required to honor his
grandfather. Therefore, the sacrifices are associated with Isaac and not with
Abraham. [From Gen. Rabbah 94:5]
There
is something to be said for returning to the places where his father and
grandfather offered up sacrifices and making a Korban Todah about his
thanksgiving at hearing the joyous news that Yosef is still alive. Moreover he
knew that if one of his sons died he would not have a place in the next world so
all the more so.
2 And God spoke unto
Israel in the visions of the night, and said: 'Jacob, Jacob.' And he said: 'Here
am I.'
“Jacob,
Jacob!”: An
expression of affection. [From Sifra, Vayikra 1, Toseftas Ber. 1:15] [The
repetition of his name is an expression of affection.]
In my
humble opinion like with Avraham and the sacrifice of Yitzchak, the calling
twice was to get his complete attention. Also to emphasize the truthfulness of
the dream or vision as explained with the repeating bowing down and Pharaoh’s
dreams.
3 And He said: 'I am
God, the God of thy father; fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there
make of thee a great nation.
Do
not be afraid of going down to Egypt: [God
encouraged him] because he was troubled at being compelled to leave the Holy
Land.
When
Avraham went to Egypt, Sara was taken away from him and there was no real fear
of G-D in that place. Yosef instilled fear of G-D though his humbleness and
behavior. This Gallus for you is not going to be like that with Lavan but rather
while you are alive and your sons the family will live in the lap of luxury.
4 I will go down with
thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again; and Joseph shall
put his hand upon your eyes.'
And I
will also bring you up: He
promised him (Jacob) that he would be interred in the [Holy] Land. — [from
Yerushalmi Sotah 1:10]
I see
going down as a positive sign. This shows that the Shechina also goes into exile
when the Bnei Yisrael go into Gallus. As it says in Avos “Everyplace MY NAME is
called I will be there”.
5 And Jacob rose up
from Beer-Sheba; and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their
little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
6 And they took their cattle,
and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into
Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him;
That
they had acquired in the land of Canaan: But of what he had acquired in
Padan-Aram he gave everything to Esau [in payment] for his share in the Cave of
Machpelah. He said, “Possessions [acquired] outside the Land (of Israel) are
inappropriate for me.” This is the meaning of “which I acquired for myself with
heaps (כָּרִיתִי)” (Gen. 50:5). He placed before him stacks of gold and silver
like a heap [of grain] (כְּרִי) and said to him, “Take these.” [from Tanchuma
Buber, Vayishlach 11]
One
does not have to completely hold by this Medrash as there is another Medrash
that Esav’s head rolled towards the Machpelah rather let’s face Yacov was over
30 years in Eretz Yisrael. The camels, cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats had
passed through a few generations so everything that Yacov had was from Eretz
Yisrael and none remained from Padan-Aram.
7 his sons, and his
sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed
brought he with him into Egypt.
From
this point until the end of the section where I pick up the commentary, there is
a numeration of the children and grandchildren of Yisrael.
8 And these are the
names of the children of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons:
Reuben, Jacob's first-born. 9
And the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, and Pallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. 10 And the sons of Simeon: Jemuel, and
Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish
woman. 11 And the sons of Levi:
Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12
And the sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Perez, and Zerah; but Er
and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Perez were Hezron and
Hamul. 13 And the sons of
Issachar: Tola, and Puvah, and Iob, and Shimron. 14 And the sons of Zebulun: Sered, and
Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These are
the sons of Leah, whom she bore unto Jacob in Paddan-aram, with his daughter
Dinah; all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. 16 And the sons of Gad: Ziphion, and
Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the sons of Asher: Imnah, and
Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister; and the sons of Beriah:
Heber, and Malchiel. 18 These
are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bore
unto Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife:
Joseph and Benjamin. 20 And unto
Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath the
daughter of Poti-phera priest of On bore unto him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, and
Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and
Ard. 22 These are the sons of
Rachel, who were born to Jacob; all the souls were fourteen. 23 And the sons of Dan: Hushim. 24 And the sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel,
and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, whom
Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and these she bore unto Jacob; all the
souls were seven. 26 All the
souls belonging to Jacob that came into Egypt, that came out of his loins,
besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six. 27 And the sons of Joseph, who were
born to him in Egypt, were two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob, that
came into Egypt, were threescore and ten. 28 And he sent Judah before him unto
Joseph, to show the way before him unto Goshen; and they came into the land of
Goshen.
Rashi
says to do two things of which the first is housing and land and also set up a
Beis Medrash for learning. The Pshat seems to be to acquire the best land for
living, flocks and herds and where the Bnei Yisrael can live
together.
29 And Joseph made
ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen; and he
presented himself unto him, and fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good
while.
And
Joseph harnessed his chariot: He
personally harnessed the horses to the chariot to hasten to honor his father.
[From Mechilta, Beshallach section 1] and
he appeared to him: Joseph
presented himself to his father. And he wept on his neck for a long time: Heb.
עוֹד וַיֵב, an expression of profuse weeping, and likewise, “For He will not
place additional [guilt] on a man” (Job 34:23), an expression of profusion. He
(God) does not place upon him additional accusations over [and above] his sins.
Here too he wept greatly and continuously, more than was usual. Jacob, however,
neither fell on Joseph’s neck nor kissed him. Our Sages said that he was
reciting the Shema. [From Derech Eretz Zuta 1:10, ed. Hager, p. 62; quoted in
Bereishith Zuta ; Yichusei Tannaim va’Amoraim , p. 180, Teshuvoth Hageonim, ch.
45]
It can
be that Warren Buffet is a simple man and lives in the same house that he moved
into 50 years ago and he drives his own car and does not fly in private jets but
Yosef was like a king and a king does not harness horses to his chariot but
servants do that. He would have to command his servants saying that he wanted
personally to honor his father. For making ready for a king is giving orders to
hitch up the horses and nothing more.
30 And Israel said unto
Joseph: 'Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, that thou art yet alive.'
I
will die this time: Its simple meaning is as the Targum renders. [If I should
die this time, I would be consoled.] Its Midrashic interpretation is, however: I
thought that I would die two deaths, in this world and in the next world,
because the Shechinah had left me, and I thought that the Holy One, blessed be
He, would hold me responsible for your death. Now that you are still alive, I
will die but once. [From Tanchuma Vayigash 9]
Basically
it says that now I can die content knowing that I have seen my son and his boys
and that I have a portion in the next world.
31 And Joseph said unto
his brethren, and unto his father's house: 'I will go up, and tell Pharaoh, and
will say unto him: My brethren, and my father's house, who were in the land of
Canaan, are come unto me; 32 and
the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of cattle; and they have
brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. 33 And it shall come to pass, when
Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say: What is your occupation? 34 that ye shall say: Thy servants
have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our
fathers; that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an
abomination unto the Egyptians.'
Here
Yosef has high diplomacy as one of the gods of Egypt was the sheep. (Anybody who
saw the movie “Murder on the Nile” will remember rows of sheep statues in the
ruins.) Yosef has to walk on eggshells to explain shepherding to come out nice
and clean for the Egyptians.
47:1 Then Joseph went in
and told Pharaoh, and said: 'My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and
their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and,
behold, they are in the land of Goshen.' 2 And from among his brethren he took
five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren:
'What is your occupation?' And they said unto Pharaoh: 'Thy servants are
shepherds, both we, and our fathers.' 4 And they said unto Pharaoh: 'To
sojourn in the land are we come; for there is no pasture for thy servants'
flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, we pray
thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.' 5 And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph,
saying: 'Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee; 6 the land of Egypt is before thee; in
the best of the land make thy father and thy brethren to dwell; in the land of
Goshen let them dwell. And if thou know any able men among them, then make them
rulers over my cattle.' 7 And
Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh. And Jacob
blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh
said unto Jacob: 'How many are the days of the years of thy life?' 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh: 'The
days of the years of my sojournings are a hundred and thirty years; few and evil
have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained unto the
days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojournings.'
10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh,
and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 And Joseph placed his father and
his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of
the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
He also
gave them prime grazing real estate near a tributary of the Nile where there was
plenty of water for growing grass for the cattle and drinking.
12 And Joseph sustained
his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread,
according to the want of their little ones. 13 And there was no bread in all the
land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and the land of
Canaan languished by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the
money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the
corn which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when the money was all spent in
the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto
Joseph, and said: 'Give us bread; for why should we die in thy presence? for our
money faileth.' 16 And Joseph
said: 'Give your cattle, and I will give you [bread] for your cattle, if money
fail.' 17 And they brought their
cattle unto Joseph. And Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and
for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the asses; and he fed them with bread
in exchange for all their cattle for that year. 18 And when that year was ended, they
came unto him the second year, and said unto him: 'We will not hide from my
lord, how that our money is all spent; and the herds of cattle are my lord's;
there is nought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands.
19 Wherefore should we die
before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we
and our land will be bondmen unto Pharaoh; and give us seed, that we may live,
and not die, and that the land be not desolate.' 20 So Joseph bought all the land of
Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the
famine was sore upon them; and the land became Pharaoh's. 21 And as for the people, he removed
them city by city, from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end
thereof. 22 Only the land of the
priests bought he not, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and did eat
their portion which Pharaoh gave them; wherefore they sold not their land. 23 Then Joseph said unto the people:
'Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh. Lo, here is seed
for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass at the
ingatherings, that ye shall give a fifth unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be
your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your
households, and for food for your little ones.'
This is
great economic advice on maximum taxes and how to keep the future economy
running unfortunately politicians are not G-D fearing like Yosef and their greed
and re-election worries ruin everything.
25 And they said: 'Thou
hast saved our lives. Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be
Pharaoh's bondmen.' 26 And
Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt unto this day, that
Pharaoh should have the fifth; only the land of the priests alone became not
Pharaoh's. 27 And Israel dwelt
in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they got them possessions
therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly.
Chabad
Mitzvah pulls in more Mitzvos
Rabbi
Barak Kokavi Shlita planned to light candles for the soldiers at the Modiin road
block outside of Beit Ur. He looked for
jelly doughnuts but the bakery ran out. When he got there he lit candles
and noticed that two road block places had no Mezuzos. (According to the Rambam
a small area does not need a Mezuzah such as less than about 10 feet by 8 feet).
Rabbi Kokavi asked permission to bring Mezuzos. The commander said why not so he
went out to collect money for the Mezuzos. When he got to the first Schul, the
Gabbai told hm that he had two extra Mezuzos but no covering. The Rabbi was
grateful and went about to look for housing and somebody who could drill into
metal. He went to a few places ,until he found a friend that had two spare
housing covers for the Mezuzos. He started out with one Mitzva and ended up with
charity giving, cheering up soldiers again, lighting candles again a Mezuzah on
the door of the check post.
The
Zaide of Breslov (Grandfather actually elder of the Chassidic
Group)
There
have been many Chassidic Stories about hidden Tzaddikim who help people and work
wonders but usually they are far removed in time from us. I heard 40 years ago
stories about a Rabbi in the Ukraine. Zalman Dubnov told me that he once met a
Rabbi who was a wonder worker. He had gone to see the Rabbi perhaps to get out
of Russia with his mother in the early ‘70’s. He told me the following story.
When the Nazis invaded the Ukraine they rounded up Jews right and left. They
came to this Rabbi’s house and began guarding it from the Gestapo. There was
something that made the regular Nazis surround his house and guard him
so.
Dov
Leibowitz told me two stories of this Rabbi. Once when he and his friend were
walking down the long stairs to the waterfront to dip in the river as a Mikvah,
they were confronted by an anti-Semitic youth. They told the Rabbi about it and
he said to them that they had nothing to fear and that the youth would not
bother them anymore. The next day the youth went to throw stones at them again
and he lost his balance. He fellow on this head on the stairs and rolled down
until he was dead on the spot. They were never bothered by anybody
further.
Dov
was so busy helping the Rabbi and listening to him that he neglected his studies
at the university. He had attended only one lecture of the professor and the
final examination was going to be given soon. Dov went to the Rabbi and he said
laughingly, you know the material and have nothing to worry about. When the test
came it was based on one question only and one had to pick the question out of
slips on the table and write an essay on it. Dov picked the question it was on
the one lecture that he had attended.
In
his later years the Rabbi made Aliyah and lived in Yerushalayim he was inspired
to put together the song – Na, Nach, Nachma, Nachman may Uman. He passed away at
the age of 108 and was buried on Har HaMenuchot in a special section.
Lee sent me this.
What we tell our children will help them with their faith later on. Well worth
the read.
"Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love, God
Don't say you're too busy to forward this. Just go ahead and do it"
"Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:
Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.
Love, Meredith
We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.
Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, 'To Meredith' in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, 'When a Pet Dies.' Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:
Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.
Abbey isn't sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don't need our bodies in heaven, I don't have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.
Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I'm easy to find. I am wherever there is love.
Love, God
Don't say you're too busy to forward this. Just go ahead and do it"
From
Chabad – we usually don’t put on Tephillin until somebody is buried so I don’t
know when this was taken: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2076091/jewish/Driving-Home-from-Newtown.htm
Unlike
Ehud Barak, he ordered his helicopter to return and rescue the wounded soldier:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163193#.UM3xzncsGDs
The new
and better Uzi: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=296521
If
something bad happens in the world it must be real devil the Jews or Israelis
right? http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4321777,00.html
Nice
new invention from Israel both medical and military applications: http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=296072
And he
attacked the Jewish Marriage laws and is against the Charedim: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=295946
Wounded WWII who help the Jews after the Holocaust passes away: Ambassador Oren, Jewish Leaders, Mourn Sen. Inouye: Israel owes Sen. Inouye “an immense debt,” says Ambassador Oren. Agudath Israel, Chabad and others mourn his passing. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163272#.UNAhT3csGDs
From
N.F:
"Michael Skobac From the recent newsletter of Chosen
People Ministries (Christian missionaries who focus on converting Jews):
"One area of need that came to light through
this experience is something we find quite exciting. Many of this year’s Shalom
Toronto participants were Filipino. They reminded us that many Filipino
believers are caregivers and often minister in Jewish homes and seniors’
residences. They are in positions of trust and commonly share their faith
boldly, but recognize the need to understand how to share the Gospel with Jewish
people in a sensitive and more effective manner. This is something we can help
them with! We are praying about presenting a special series of seminars designed
specifically for these precious Filipino
evangelists."
The
following article is not pro or anti-vegetarianism but a commentary on human
priorities and this week’s Parsha: http://www.ou.org/torah/article/vegetarianism_and_kashrut_what_we_value_and_the_hierarchy_of_life
From
Robert - A film made last Shmita about 6 years ago end of days predictions-
caution this has nothing to do with the Mayan Calendar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-Yf9rt6jAYs#!
Next
Shmita is 5775 (25 Sept 2014 - 13 Sept 2015) I was listening to this but from 1hr and 2 minutes one should watch
and the translation from Hebrew to English will follow the
movie.
Even
extremists recognize a mentally ill person:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4317586,00.html
Stealth Jihad from Robin. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOMkvxWJJ74
From
Lee W. FREEZE YOUR CANCER OFF: http://nocamels.com/2012/12/israeli-technology-turns-tumors-into-ice-balls-to-cure-cancer/
For
those interested in the Noah Posner funeral: http://www.ou.org/life/inspiration/newtowns-youngest-victim-laid-rest-as-the-jewish-community-comes-together/#.UNQi1Cb8LIU
Inyanay
Diyoma
Poor
innocent Molotov Cocktail thrower: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4319735,00.html
History
is repeating itself unless we do something correct:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4319071,00.html
New
Public Opinion Polls differ one the Likud 37 here 35 one Shass 11 here 10
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=295918
Why is
it that so many crazed suicidal Americans have to murder innocents before
killing themselves? http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/12/15/at-least-26-dead-in-shooting-at-connecticut-school/
24 Nuke
ability in Iran:
http://debka.com/article/22616/US-Iranian-nuclear-talks-fail-Iran-has-plutonium-for-24-Nagasaki-type-bombs
Hitler
was born in Austria under the old Austria-Hungarian Empire so in Hungary this is
going on: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4320061,00.html
From
Shona: How to steal an election: http://itmakessenseblog.com/2012/11/20/programmer-under-oath-admits-computers-rig-elections-2/
More
facts coming out on Pollard: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163173#.UMzRiHcsGDs
Time to
hit very hard before things get worst: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163165#.UMzU2XcsGDs
An
Egyptian Scud attack on Israel well they don’t need these for Libya or the
Sudan?
http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/egypt-arming-for-attack-on-israel/
Sen.
elect Ted Cruz meets with Netanyahu and they discuss Chemical Weapons
http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=296377
Another
Anti-Semite let’s call a spade a spade” Appointment of Hagel Would Be A "Slap in
the Face" for Pro-Israel Americans Hagel's Weak Record Cited by Both
Parties
Washington, D.C. (December 14, 2012) --The Republican Jewish Coalition today announced its opposition to the potential appointment of former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) as Secretary of Defense, citing a long list of actions Hagel has taken that raise alarms about his failure to support Israel.
August 2006: Hagel was one of only 12 Senators who refused to write the EU asking them to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
October 2000: Hagel was one of only 4 Senators who refused to sign a Senate letter in support of Israel.
November 2001: Hagel was one of only 11 Senators who refused to sign a letter urging President Bush to continue his policy of not meeting with the Yasir Arafat until the Palestinian leader took steps to end the violence against Israel.
December 2005: Hagel was one of only 27 Senators who refused to sign a letter to President Bush to pressure the Palestinian Authority to ban terrorist groups from participating in Palestinian legislative elections.
June 2004: Hagel refused to sign a letter urging President Bush to highlight Iran's nuclear program at the G-8 summit.
August 2006: Anti-Israel group CAIR wrote in praise of Hagel, "Potential presidential candidates for 2008, like Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Joe Biden and Newt Gingrich, were falling all over themselves to express their support for Israel. The only exception to that rule was Senator Chuck Hagel..."
March 2009: Hagel was one of 10 former and current foreign policy officials who signed a letter urging Pres. Obama to open direct talks with Hamas leaders.
On Iran: Hagel, writing in a May 2006 article for The Financial Times, explicitly ruled out the military option against Iran that Pres. Obama claims to have 'kept on the table.'
Washington, D.C. (December 14, 2012) --The Republican Jewish Coalition today announced its opposition to the potential appointment of former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) as Secretary of Defense, citing a long list of actions Hagel has taken that raise alarms about his failure to support Israel.
August 2006: Hagel was one of only 12 Senators who refused to write the EU asking them to declare Hezbollah a terrorist organization.
October 2000: Hagel was one of only 4 Senators who refused to sign a Senate letter in support of Israel.
November 2001: Hagel was one of only 11 Senators who refused to sign a letter urging President Bush to continue his policy of not meeting with the Yasir Arafat until the Palestinian leader took steps to end the violence against Israel.
December 2005: Hagel was one of only 27 Senators who refused to sign a letter to President Bush to pressure the Palestinian Authority to ban terrorist groups from participating in Palestinian legislative elections.
June 2004: Hagel refused to sign a letter urging President Bush to highlight Iran's nuclear program at the G-8 summit.
August 2006: Anti-Israel group CAIR wrote in praise of Hagel, "Potential presidential candidates for 2008, like Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Joe Biden and Newt Gingrich, were falling all over themselves to express their support for Israel. The only exception to that rule was Senator Chuck Hagel..."
March 2009: Hagel was one of 10 former and current foreign policy officials who signed a letter urging Pres. Obama to open direct talks with Hamas leaders.
On Iran: Hagel, writing in a May 2006 article for The Financial Times, explicitly ruled out the military option against Iran that Pres. Obama claims to have 'kept on the table.'
RJC
Executive Director Matt Brooks said, "Chuck Hagel's statements and actions
regarding Israel have raised serious concerns for many Americans who care about
Israel. The Jewish community and every American who supports a strong
U.S.-Israel relationship have cause for alarm if the President taps Hagel for
such an important post. The appointment of Chuck Hagel would be a slap in the
face for every American who is concerned about the safety of
Israel."
Where
Syria is going: Muslims send to Arab Christians their Xmas greetings
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4321181,00.html
Iran
picks up a new virus: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4321397,00.html
This is
the attitude towards Muslims in Darfur: http://www.debbieschlussel.com/57408/responding-to-ct-shooting-dearbornistan-muslima-gun-control-activist-tweets-n-ggers-shouldnt-have-license-sic/
One
Iron Dome Factory in danger: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4321700,00.html
Playing
cat and mouse with Iran deep in Asia: http://debka.com/article/22620/Azerbaijan-nabs-Iranian-agents-setting-trap-for-Israel-made-drone
I am
not endorsing this Party but it and Shass are gaining and perhaps Aguda will
have 6.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163324#.UNFzCHcsGDs
The
title of Adina’s post says it all but one can read in more detail if he/she has
time:
http://adinakutnicki.com/2012/12/16/pm-netanyahus-cease-fire-and-its-deadly-results-soon-to-blow-up-in-israels-face-addendum-to-spineless-leaders-revert-true-to-form-commentary-by-adina-kutnicki/
From Rachel A. E. 446
school age children shot in Chicago so far this year with strongest gun laws in
country – media. And in Texas and Yehuda & the
Shomron where more citizens have guns taking the same amount of population as
Chicago – hmmm. Perhaps it is not the guns that kill but the lack of proper
education on murder and the lack of self-fence training. Rachel: So let me get this straight.......the people that want
gun control so as to better protect children from being killed, voted for
partial birth abortion..........REALLY........I think we found where the mental
illness is coming from......now that's sick, I don't care who you
are
Wednesday
morning there was a plane scramble it could be for spy photography they came
back soon enough. http://www.debka.com/article/22625/Assad’s-deadly-agenda-First-chemicals-next-Iskander-9K720
Thursday
morning - a Kuwaiti Newspaper reports that yesterday we bombed missiles in
Lebanon armed with chemical warheads that were going to
Hezballah.
Former
Israeli Chief of Staff passes away: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4321987,00.html
Trying
to milk the Jewish Hearts by a Scam: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/12/19/newtown-shooting-tragedy-scam-artists/?icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D248013
I don’t
work for Time Magazine and perhaps there is a very good reason to make Obama the
person of the year. However, I could think this year of more deserving people
like Navy Seals or the teachers and principal in Newtown CT who confronted the
crazed gunman unarmed.
IAF
intelligence: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4322610,00.html
Now
for M. Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story “Shoe in”
Good Shabbos Everyone
and a Happy Chanukah Everyone. During Chanukah, we add a special paragraph
known as "al ha-nisim" to our daily prayers and to the Bircas
HaMazon.
The paragraph describes all the reasons we have to be thankful to Hashem for the miracles He performed for us during the time of the Chanukah. The paragraph begins thusly: "In the days of Matisyahu ben Yochonan, the Kohain Gadol, the Hashmonian, and his sons… when the evil Greek kingship stood against the nation of Yisroel in an effort to make them forget Your Torah…" On Chanukah we therefore celebrate that we did not forget our Torah. The following amazing true story illustrates how one Jew did not forget his Torah.
Our story took place a number of years ago in Flatbush, New York. A very private, soft spoken gentleman, who always sat near the back of the shul, told his rav (rabbi) one day that he wanted to donate a Sefer Torah. The gentleman, Mr. Shimshon Blau,(not his real name) said that he had commissioned a sofer (a scribe) to write a Sefer Torah for him and now the job was nearly complete.
The rav was incredulous. Mr. Blau was not known to have substantial funds and the cost of a new Sefer Torah was more than $30,000. The rav spoke to the sofer and learned that Mr. Blau had indeed been paying small sums of money over the years and recently had made the last payment. The Sefer Torah would be finished in a few days.
On Shabbos the rav announced the good news to his congregants and everyone went over to Mr. Blau to wish him mazel tov and thank him for his generous gift to the shul. Writing a Sefer Torah is a mitzvah of the highest order; it is a mitzvah, which unfortunately is never fulfilled by most Jews. Plans were made for the Hachnasas Sefer Torah (the dedication of the new Torah scroll.)
A few weeks later on a bright Sunday afternoon, the community gathered at Mr. Blau's home and escorted him as he carried the Sefer Torah from his home to the street where he walked under a chupah to bring the Torah to the shul. Dancing and singing accompanied those who took turns carrying the Torah, and a special meal was tendered in the shul in honor of the occasion.
A few days later, a neighbor asked Mr. Blau if there was a particular reason he decided to have the Sefer Torah written. At first he was hesitant to talk about it, but eventually he relented and told his heartbreaking story.
Shimshon Blau was only 16 years old when the Germans took him, his parents and his sisters from Lodz, their hometown in Poland, to one of the notorious concentration camps. Shortly after their arrival the parents were separated from the children and Shimshon never heard from them again.
He was placed in a slave labor barracks and suffered humiliation and heartache every day. One night as he was lying in bed, a German soldier came in to check on the prisoners. He walked from bed to bed - and then he saw Shimshon. Suddenly he lunged at Shimshon's feet, grabbed his leather boots and yelled, "Those boots are now mine."
Shimshon was shocked. The leather boots had been given to him by his parents shortly before the family had been captured by the Germans. Shimshon treasured them because they were his last connection to his beloved parents. He had no pictures, no letters, no memento that he could hold onto in a private moment for strength and rejuvenation. The gift of the boots had become a precious memory. Shimshon cried uncontrollably. Eventually he fell asleep.
The next morning he went out of his barracks barefoot and found the soldier who had taken his boots. In desperation he ran over to him and begged, "Please give me a pair of shoes. I have nothing to wear on my feet. I'll freeze to death."
He did not dare to antagonize the soldier by asking for his own boots back. Much to Shimshon's surprise, the soldier told him. "Wait here, I'll be back in five minutes with some shoes for you." Shimshon shuddered in the cold as he waited for the soldier to return. In a few minutes the Nazi came back with a pair of shoes and gave them to the startled but grateful teenager.
Shimshon went back to his barracks and sat on his bed to put on his new shoes. He looked them over carefully. They were made of wood, but he knew he would have to wear them regardless of what they were made of or how uncomfortable they would be.
As he was about to put his foot into the shoe, he looked into its instep and gasped. The instep was a piece of parchment from a Sefer Torah! Shimshon froze in terror. How could the Germans be so heartless? How could he step down on the words that Hashem Himself had told Moshe Rabbeinu to write for all generations?
But he knew he had no choice. There was nothing else to wear on his feet and it was either these shoes or frostbite and death. Hesitant with guilt, he put them on uneasily.
Now, years later, Shimshon said, "With every step I took, I felt I was trampling on Hashem's Sefer Torah. I promised to myself then that if I ever got out of the camps alive, no matter how rich or poor I was, someday I would have a Sefer Torah written and give back to Hashem the honor that I took from Him by trampling on His Torah. That's why I gave the shul a Sefer Torah." (Reflections of the Maggid, Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn, p.41)
We can be inspired by this story to always remember the holy Torah that Hashem has given us, instead of trampling upon it. This is an especially important message on Shabbos Chanukah, when we celebrate our victory over those evil forces who sought to make the Jews forget their Torah. Good Shabbos Everyone and a Happy Chanukah Everyone. . M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory In Memory of Tziporah Yita bas Mordechai Mendel Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Menachem Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Tsviah bas Bracha Leah
The paragraph describes all the reasons we have to be thankful to Hashem for the miracles He performed for us during the time of the Chanukah. The paragraph begins thusly: "In the days of Matisyahu ben Yochonan, the Kohain Gadol, the Hashmonian, and his sons… when the evil Greek kingship stood against the nation of Yisroel in an effort to make them forget Your Torah…" On Chanukah we therefore celebrate that we did not forget our Torah. The following amazing true story illustrates how one Jew did not forget his Torah.
Our story took place a number of years ago in Flatbush, New York. A very private, soft spoken gentleman, who always sat near the back of the shul, told his rav (rabbi) one day that he wanted to donate a Sefer Torah. The gentleman, Mr. Shimshon Blau,(not his real name) said that he had commissioned a sofer (a scribe) to write a Sefer Torah for him and now the job was nearly complete.
The rav was incredulous. Mr. Blau was not known to have substantial funds and the cost of a new Sefer Torah was more than $30,000. The rav spoke to the sofer and learned that Mr. Blau had indeed been paying small sums of money over the years and recently had made the last payment. The Sefer Torah would be finished in a few days.
On Shabbos the rav announced the good news to his congregants and everyone went over to Mr. Blau to wish him mazel tov and thank him for his generous gift to the shul. Writing a Sefer Torah is a mitzvah of the highest order; it is a mitzvah, which unfortunately is never fulfilled by most Jews. Plans were made for the Hachnasas Sefer Torah (the dedication of the new Torah scroll.)
A few weeks later on a bright Sunday afternoon, the community gathered at Mr. Blau's home and escorted him as he carried the Sefer Torah from his home to the street where he walked under a chupah to bring the Torah to the shul. Dancing and singing accompanied those who took turns carrying the Torah, and a special meal was tendered in the shul in honor of the occasion.
A few days later, a neighbor asked Mr. Blau if there was a particular reason he decided to have the Sefer Torah written. At first he was hesitant to talk about it, but eventually he relented and told his heartbreaking story.
Shimshon Blau was only 16 years old when the Germans took him, his parents and his sisters from Lodz, their hometown in Poland, to one of the notorious concentration camps. Shortly after their arrival the parents were separated from the children and Shimshon never heard from them again.
He was placed in a slave labor barracks and suffered humiliation and heartache every day. One night as he was lying in bed, a German soldier came in to check on the prisoners. He walked from bed to bed - and then he saw Shimshon. Suddenly he lunged at Shimshon's feet, grabbed his leather boots and yelled, "Those boots are now mine."
Shimshon was shocked. The leather boots had been given to him by his parents shortly before the family had been captured by the Germans. Shimshon treasured them because they were his last connection to his beloved parents. He had no pictures, no letters, no memento that he could hold onto in a private moment for strength and rejuvenation. The gift of the boots had become a precious memory. Shimshon cried uncontrollably. Eventually he fell asleep.
The next morning he went out of his barracks barefoot and found the soldier who had taken his boots. In desperation he ran over to him and begged, "Please give me a pair of shoes. I have nothing to wear on my feet. I'll freeze to death."
He did not dare to antagonize the soldier by asking for his own boots back. Much to Shimshon's surprise, the soldier told him. "Wait here, I'll be back in five minutes with some shoes for you." Shimshon shuddered in the cold as he waited for the soldier to return. In a few minutes the Nazi came back with a pair of shoes and gave them to the startled but grateful teenager.
Shimshon went back to his barracks and sat on his bed to put on his new shoes. He looked them over carefully. They were made of wood, but he knew he would have to wear them regardless of what they were made of or how uncomfortable they would be.
As he was about to put his foot into the shoe, he looked into its instep and gasped. The instep was a piece of parchment from a Sefer Torah! Shimshon froze in terror. How could the Germans be so heartless? How could he step down on the words that Hashem Himself had told Moshe Rabbeinu to write for all generations?
But he knew he had no choice. There was nothing else to wear on his feet and it was either these shoes or frostbite and death. Hesitant with guilt, he put them on uneasily.
Now, years later, Shimshon said, "With every step I took, I felt I was trampling on Hashem's Sefer Torah. I promised to myself then that if I ever got out of the camps alive, no matter how rich or poor I was, someday I would have a Sefer Torah written and give back to Hashem the honor that I took from Him by trampling on His Torah. That's why I gave the shul a Sefer Torah." (Reflections of the Maggid, Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn, p.41)
We can be inspired by this story to always remember the holy Torah that Hashem has given us, instead of trampling upon it. This is an especially important message on Shabbos Chanukah, when we celebrate our victory over those evil forces who sought to make the Jews forget their Torah. Good Shabbos Everyone and a Happy Chanukah Everyone. . M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory In Memory of Tziporah Yita bas Mordechai Mendel Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Menachem Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Tsviah bas Bracha Leah
Shabbat
Shalom,
Rachamim
Pauli
