Friday, January 11, 2013

Parsha Vaeira, ideas, stories

Attn: The man in this film has left an Aguna in Iowa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fgeawEKvb7w

This week a member of my pray list need extra prayers. Miriam bas Irene Taita Malka (to undergo on the 14th a 6 to 8 hr operation) and please add Esther Georgette bas Mesuda.


Parsha Vaeira

You want to afflict and plague MY People. Tell you what I’m going to do. (note I did not change every time gnat is used into lice nor flies into noxious beasts but I mention this below)

"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!" -- Patrick Henry

6:2 And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him: 'I am the LORD; 3 and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name YHWH I made Me not known to them.

I appeared: to the fathers with [the name] Almighty God: I made promises to them, in all of which I said to them, “I am the Almighty God.” But [with] My name YHWH, I did not become known to them: It is not written here לֹא הוֹדַעְךְתִּי, “but My Name YHWH I did not make known to them,” but לֹא נוֹדַעְךְתִּי, “I did not become known.” [I.e.,] I was not recognized by them with My attribute of keeping faith, by dint of which My name is called YHWH, [which means that I am] faithful to verify My words, for I made promises to them, but I did not fulfill [them while they were alive].

Either because the forefathers were not a nation and in direct prophecy they did not need the NAME or because now as a nation about to advance spiritually the NAME was ready to be placed in this world.

4 And I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their sojournings, wherein they sojourned. 5 And moreover I have heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered My covenant. 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel: I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments; 7 and I will take you to Me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning which I lifted up My hand to give it to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for a heritage: I am the LORD.' 9 And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel; but they hearkened not unto Moses for impatience of spirit, and for cruel bondage.

Moshe did not have a good track record with the Bnei Yisrael and when the Egyptian was killed by Moshe a lot of punishment was extracted and now they were not supplied straw because of Moshe going before Pharaoh. So they concluded that they did not want to make matters worse for themselves.

10 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 11 'Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land.' 12 And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying: 'Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?'
  29 that the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 'I am the LORD; speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I speak unto thee.' 30 And Moses said before the LORD: 'Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?'

7:1 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'See, I have set thee in God's stead to Pharaoh; and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.

There are a number of reasons for this. First Moshe’s speech defect, second Moshe perhaps speaking in Hebrew and last but not least Pharaoh as the symbol of Tuma and a king-god - Aaron was used to filter down the Kedusha for being able to contact the Tuma and reverse and keep the pure Tuma from the pure Tahor for that would have been spiritual matter with spiritual anti-matter and explosive.

2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee; and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt.

I guess that the signs and wonders were for both the Egyptians and the Bnei Yisrael. The Egyptians and other Nations of the world to show that there is a ruler of heaven and earth and for the Bnei Yisrael for generations throughout all the years of persecution, murders, rapes, beatings, robbing and belittling in exile to let us know that there is an end to all of it and we are HIS people.

4 But Pharaoh will not hearken unto you, and I will lay My hand upon Egypt, and bring forth My hosts, My people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt, by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch forth My hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.'

It short Pharaoh is going to be taught a lesson and a big Kiddush HASHEM will occur in the end.

6 And Moses and Aaron did so; as the LORD commanded them, so did they. 7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spoke unto Pharaoh.

The Torah does have history but here we definitely see that it is not a history book. Moshe is born, raised by Batya, kills the Egyptian, flees meets Tziporah, sees the burning bush, on the way to Egypt Eliezer is born … We do not see where and how he was educated, what was he doing, at what age does he kill the Egyptian and what the time between his fleeing and his meeting Tziporah until their marriage and the birth of Gershom. In fact so little is known of the first 40 years of his life and then 4 volumes are written about the forty years but mostly on the first two and then after a gap of 38 years towards the end of the 39th year. This would make the Torah a pretty bad and lacking history book. The Medrash tries to fill in some of the gaps but they are too vast not to say that the history of Moshe is missing.

8 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying: 9 'When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying: Show a wonder for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron: Take thy rod, and cast it down before Pharaoh, that it become a serpent.' 10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so, as the LORD had commanded; and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called for the wise men and the sorcerers; and they also, the magicians of Egypt, did in like manner with their secret arts. 12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents; but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13 And Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken.

Snake charming is not a new art and Pharaoh had seen this circus trick before. However, never did the charmed snakes turn into eating other snakes and turning back into rods. Pharaoh was not impressed by this. Aaron’s rod was a miracle but Pharaoh saw it as a circus act.

14 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Pharaoh's heart is stubborn, he refuses to let the people go. 15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goes out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thy hand.

Due to the laws of Egyptian holiness and modesty, no one but the king and wives could look at Pharaoh nude or going to the facilities so he would go into the Nile and do what he had to do and remain a king/god.

16 And thou shalt say unto him: The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying: Let My people go, that they may serve Me in the wilderness; and, behold, hitherto thou hast not hearkened; 17 thus says the LORD: In this thou shalt know that I am the LORD--behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.

This is a warning with a super short time in which Pharaoh can let the Bnei Yisrael serve HASHEM or the Nile will turn to blood. He cannot reverse this. The magicians take a clear solution which is like our phenolphalin today and add some acid and a clear water like unit  of acid and lo and behold we have a red solution. Or perhaps they did it again when Moshe had turned the river into blood but It probably stinking algae, clay in the water or real blood the difference being that Moshe could get the Nile to return to its former self.

And it will turn to blood: Since there is no rainfall in Egypt, and the Nile ascends and waters the land, so the Egyptians worship the Nile. He therefore smote their deity and afterwards He smote them. — [from Sifrei, Devarim 38; Exod. Rabbah 9:9; Tanchuma, Va’era 13]

18 And the fish that are in the river shall die, and the river shall become foul; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink water from the river.' 

Ever smell dead fish in a lake? And the Egyptians will weary: Heb. וְנִלְאוּ [I.e., the Egyptians will become weary trying] to seek a remedy for the waters of the Nile so that it would be fit to drink. — [from Jonathan]

19 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto Aaron: Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the waters of Egypt, over their rivers, over their streams, and over their pools, and over all their ponds of water, that they may become blood; and there shall be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood and in vessels of stone.'

Say to Aaron: Since the Nile protected Moses when he was cast into it, it therefore was not smitten by him, neither with blood nor with frogs, but was smitten by Aaron. — [from Tanchuma, Va’era 14] even in wood and in stone: Water in wooden vessels and in stone vessels. — [from Onkelos, Jonathan, Exod. Rabbah 9:11]

Even in the jars of their homes and animal skins so this is more than the stink of a dead fish or two floating on the water.

 20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

It was not a gradual miracle like the frogs but within their view it turned to blood perhaps as Pharaoh was bathing.

21 And the fish that were in the river died; and the river became foul, and the Egyptians could not drink water from the river; and the blood was throughout all the land of Egypt.

They could not obtain oxygen whether it was real blood, red clay or algae in the water they died of asphyxiation.

22 And the magicians of Egypt did in like manner with their secret arts; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken.

Nowadays we do this in High School Chemistry: with their secret rites: Heb. בְּלָטֵיהֶם, an incantation which they uttered silently and in secret (בְּלָּט). [This follows Onkelos.] Our Rabbis, however, said: בְּלָטֵיהֶם means acts of demons. בְּלַהִטֵיהֶם means acts of magic. — [from Sanh. 67b] [See above commentary on verse 11.] and Pharaoh’s heart was steadfast: saying, “You are doing this through sorcery. ‘You are bringing straw to Aphraim,’ a city that is full of straw. So too you bring magic to Egypt, which is [already] full of magic.” - from Exod. Rabbah 9:11, Men. 85a] aka coal to Newcastle or ice to Eskimos.

23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he lay even this to heart.

Even to this: Neither to the sign of the staff that had turned into a serpent nor to this one of blood.

Pharaoh had wine and beer so this matter did not concern him.

24 And all the Egyptians dug round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. 25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.
26 And the LORD spoke unto Moses: 'Go in unto Pharaoh, and say unto him: Thus says the LORD: Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 27 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs. 28 And the river shall swarm with frogs, which shall go up and come into thy house, and into thy bed-chamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy people, and into your ovens, and into thy kneading-troughs.

And they will go up: from the Nile. Into your house: and afterwards, into the house of your servants. He [Pharaoh] introduced the plan first, [as it is written:] “He said to his people…” (Exod. 1:9), and with him the retribution started. — [from Sotah 11a]

29 And the frogs shall come up both upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants.'

If the frogs were larger than tadpoles and could partially breathe air, they would have survived the fish kill in strengthening the frog population as they had no predators in the water and the flies on the dead fish were plenty. Now however with such a large population the frogs did not have enough to eat so they went exploring while the eggs of the flies in the dead fish built up their lava for further plagues. IN SHORT SOME OF THE PLAGUES WERE BUILT INTO THE FIRST PLAGUE but only partially the first ones where Pharaoh hardened his own heart.

and into you and into your people and into all your servants: They [the frogs] would go into their intestines and croak. — [from Tanna d’vei Eliyahu, Seder Eliyahu Rabbah, ch. 7] Humor - maybe this is the source of having a frog in your throat.

8:1 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto Aaron: Stretch forth thy hand with thy rod over the rivers, over the canals, and over the pools, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt.' 2 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.

And the frogs came up: Heb. וַתַּעַל הַצְפַרְדֵעַ, literally, and the frog came up. It was one frog, and they [the Egyptians] hit it, and it split into many swarms of frogs. This is its midrashic interpretation (Tanchuma, Va’era 14); for its simple meaning, it can be said that the swarming of the frogs is referred to as singular, and likewise, “and the lice were (וַתְּהִי הַכִּנָם) ” (verse 13), the swarming, pedoiliyere in Old French, swarming of lice, and also וַתַּעַל הַצְּפַרְדֵּע, grenoylede in Old French, swarming of frogs. Rashi implies from the Medrash that a monstrous frog arose and was attacked by the Egyptian Army and every hit split it into smaller and smaller duplicate frog units.  


3 And the magicians did in like manner with their secret arts, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 4 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said: 'Entreat the LORD, that He take away the frogs from me, and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice unto the LORD.' 5 And Moses said unto Pharaoh: 'Have thou this glory over me; against what time shall I entreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, that the frogs be destroyed from thee and thy houses, and remain in the river only?'
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Boast [of your superiority] over me: Heb. הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי, similar to “Shall the axe boast (הִיִתְפָּאֵר) over the one who hews with it” (Isa. 10:15). It praises itself, saying, “I am greater than you,” vanter in Old French. Similarly, הִתְפָּאֵר עָלַי, [Moses says to Pharaoh,] “you praise yourself by acting cleverly and asking a difficult thing and saying that I will be unable to do it.” For when shall I entreat for you: Heb. לְמָתַי. That which I will entreat for you today regarding the extermination of the frogs [tell me,] when do you wish them to be exterminated? And you will see whether I fulfill my words for the time that you set for me. If it were stated, מָתַי אַעְךְתִּיר לְ it would mean “When shall I pray?” Now that it says, לְמָתַי [and thus it means:] Today I will pray for you that the frogs will be exterminated at the time that you set for me. Tell me, on which day do you want them to be exterminated? [The Torah uses three words:] אַעְךְתִּיר, I will entreat; הַעְךְתִּירוּ ((verse 4), entreat (command form); וְהַעְךְתַּרְךְתִּי (verse 25), and I will entreat [all in the “hiph’il,” causative conjugation], and it does not say, אֶעְךְתַּר, עִתְרוּ, and וְעָתַרְךְתִּי [in the “kal,” simple conjugation], because every expression of עתר means to pray very much, and just as one says אַרְבֶּה, I will increase, הַרְבּוּ, increase [command form], וְהִרְבֵּיתִי, and I will increase, in the “hiph’il” conjugation, so does one say: אַעְךְתִּיר, I will increase, הַעְךְתִּירוּ (verse 4), increase [command form] וְהַעְךְתַּרְךְתִּי (verse 25), and I will increase words, and the “father” [i.e., the main proof] of them all is: “ הַעְךְתַּרְךְתֶּם your words” (Ezek. 35:13), you have multiplied

6 And he said: 'Against to-morrow.' And he said: 'Be it according to thy word; that thou may know that there is none like unto the LORD our God.

It is not only Pharaoh and the Egyptians will know the existence of the L-RD our G-D but also the Bnei Yisrael who have been in slavery for so long like the Concentration Camps and 70 years of the Soviet suppression.

And he [Pharaoh] said, “For tomorrow”: Pray today that they should be exterminated tomorrow.

7 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people; they shall remain in the river only.' 8 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh; and Moses cried unto the LORD concerning the frogs, which He had brought upon Pharaoh. 9 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the courts, and out of the fields. 10 And they gathered them together in heaps; and the land stank.

Pharaoh does not think that his enslaving the Bnei Yisrael or his behavior is stinky so the land stunk from fish and now from frogs.

11 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken. 12 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Say unto Aaron: Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the earth, that it may become gnats THE HEBREW IS CLEAR THAT IT IS LICE OR LOUSE SO SOMEBODY DID A LOUSY TRANSLATION HERE throughout all the land of Egypt.'

Say to Aaron: It was inappropriate for the dust to be smitten through Moses since it had protected him when he slew the Egyptian and had hidden him in the sand. [Therefore,] it was smitten through Aaron [instead]. — [from Tanchuma, Va’era 14, Exod. Rabbah 10:7]

13 And they did so; and Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and there were LICE upon man, and upon beast; all the dust of the earth became lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 14 And the magicians did so with their secret arts to bring forth gnats, but they could not; and there were gnats upon man, and upon beast. 15 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh: 'This is the finger of God'; and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken.

It is the finger of God: This plague is not through sorcery; it is from the Omnipresent. — [from Exod. Rabbah 10:7] as the Lord had spoken: “But Pharaoh will not hearken to you” (Exod. 7:4).

There is no witchcraft or scientific explanation for the spread of all these lice throughout the land immediately after Moshe spoke to Aaron it must be the finger of ELOKIM! For a demon can move things larger than a barley grain but a louse is smaller and demons aka Shaydim in Hebrew cannot have power over objects smaller than this. The problem with the English use of demons is that it implies devils or evil creatures and Shaydim can be this but they can also be good and positive spiritual beings.

16 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh; lo, he cometh forth to the water; and say unto him: Thus says the LORD: Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 17 Else, if thou wilt not let My people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses; and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. 18 And I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end that thou may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth.

The Hebrew implies mixture of creatures. Chabad translates this as a mixture of noxious creatures, and that would include flies, gnats, mosquitos and wild beasts and reptiles. This appears to be a massive migration of biting animals from the jungles of Africa following the Nile into Egypt to attack them.

Incite against you: Heb. מַשְׁלִיחַ בְּ, incite against you. Similarly, “and the tooth of beasts I will incite (אִשַׁלַּח) against them” (Deut. 32:24), an expression of inciting, antiziyer in Old French, to incite, to set upon. — [from Jonathan] a mixture of noxious creatures: [which includes] all species of wild beasts, snakes, and scorpions in a mixture, and they were destroying among them [i.e., among the Egyptians]. There is a reason [given] for this matter in the Aggadah, [i.e.,] for each plague, why this one and why that one. Following a king’s war strategy did He come upon them [the Egyptians], according to the order of a kingdom when it besieges a city. First they [the King’s army] destroy its [the city’s] springs, and then they blow and sound rams’ horns to frighten them and confuse them; thus did the frogs croak and make noise, etc., as is stated in the Midrash of Rabbi Tanchuma (Bo 4)

 19 And I will put a division between My people and thy people--by to-morrow shall this sign be.'

They might not have noticed the blood in the river because of the wine and beer nor the other plagues were not visited upon the Bnei Yisrael but not at this point it becomes clear to them.

20 And the LORD did so; and there came grievous swarms of beasts into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses; and in all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by reason of the swarms of flies. 21 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said: 'Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.' 22 And Moses said: 'It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God; lo, if we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, will they not stone us?

I have previously mentioned that the Egyptians had a sheep god.

The abomination of the Egyptians: Heb. ךְתּוֹעִבַתמִצְרַיִם, the deity of the Egyptians, like “and for Milcom, the abomination of the children of Ammon” (II Kings 23:13), but for the Jews, [Scripture] calls it an abomination. It may also be explained in another manner: the abomination of the Egyptians: Our slaughtering is a hateful thing to the Egyptians, for we are slaughtering their deity. and they will not stone us: This is a question.

23 We will go three days' journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD our God, as He shall command us.' 24 And Pharaoh said: 'I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the LORD your God in the wilderness; only ye shall not go very far away; entreat for me.' 25 And Moses said: 'Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the LORD that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people, tomorrow; only let not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.' 26 And Moses went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the LORD. 27 And the LORD did according to the word of Moses; and He removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people; there remained not one. 28 And Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.

Pharaoh is beginning to consider and give into the demands under pressure.

9:1 Then the LORD said unto Moses: 'Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him: Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, 3 behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which are in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the herds, and upon the flocks; there shall be a very grievous murrain. a very severe pestilence.

This appears to be an animal version of bubonic plague.

4 And the LORD shall make a division between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt; and there shall nothing die of all that belong to the children of Israel.' 5 And the LORD appointed a set time, saying: 'Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land.' 6 And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died; but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and, behold, there was not so much as one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. But the heart of Pharaoh was stubborn, and he did not let the people go. 8 And the LORD said unto Moses and unto Aaron: 'Take to you handfuls of soot of the furnace, and let Moses throw it heavenward in the sight of Pharaoh.

Furnace soot: Heb. פִּיחַ, a substance blown (נִפָּח) from dying embers that were burned in a furnace, and in Old French [it is called] olbes, cinders from a furnace. פִּיחַ is an expression of blowing (הֲפָחָה), that the wind blows them (מְפִיחָן) and makes them fly. and Moses shall cast it: And anything cast with strength can be cast only with one hand. Hence there are many miracles [here], one that Moses [single] handful held his own double handfuls and those of Aaron, and [another miracle was] that the dust went over the entire land of Egypt. — [from Tanchuma Va’era 14]

9 And it shall become small dust over all the land of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.'

Boils, breaking out into blisters: As the Targum [Onkelos] renders: שִׁיחִנָא סַגִי אִבַעְבּוּעִין, through which blisters break out. boils: Heb. שְׁחִין, an expression of heat. There are many [examples of this word] in the language of the Mishnah: “a hot (שְחוּנַה) year” (Yoma 53b, Ta’anith 24b).

The people suffered in the past but this plague affected them similar to the sufferings of Iyob first the children which is not here and then the finances and now the body. With Mitzrayim the children came last.

10 And they took soot of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh; and Moses threw it up heavenward; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man and upon beast.

Upon man and upon beast: Now if you ask, “From where did they have beasts? Does it not say already, ‘and all the livestock of the Egyptians died’ (above, verse 6) ?” [I will answer that] the decree was leveled only upon those in the field, as it is said: “upon your livestock that is in the field” (above, verse 3), but he who feared the word of the Lord brought all his livestock into the houses, and so it is taught in the Mechilta (Beshallach 1) regarding “He took six hundred chosen chariots” (Exod. 14:7). — [See Rashi on that verse.]

11 And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boils were upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.

Oops they had zero power for or against this plague also smaller than a grain of barley and they were infected themselves.

12 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses. 13 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him: Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews: Let My people go, that they may serve Me. 14 For I will this time send all My plagues upon thy person, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people; that thou may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.

All My plagues: We learn from here that the plague of the firstborn (מַכַּתבְּכוֹרוֹת) is equivalent to all the plagues.

15 Surely now I had put forth My hand, and smitten thee and thy people with pestilence, and you had been cut off from the earth. 16 But in very deed for this cause have I made thee to stand, to show thee My power, and that My name may be declared throughout all the earth. 17 As yet exalted thou thyself against My people, that thou wilt not let them go?

If you still tread upon My people: Heb. מִסְךְתּוֹלֵל, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: כְּבִישַׁתבֵּיהּ בְּעַמִי. This is an expression of a highway (מְסִלָה) (Num. 20:19), rendered by the Targum אֹרַח כְּבִישָׁא, a trodden road, and in Old French, calcher, to trample underfoot. I already explained at the end of [the section entitled] וַיְהִי מִקֵץ (Gen. 44:16) that in every word of which the first root letter is “Samach,” when used in the “hithpa’el” form, the “tav” of the prefix is placed in the middle of the root letters, such as here, and such as “and the grasshopper will drag itself along (וְיִסְךְתַּבֵל) ” (Eccl. 12:5) from the root סבל “that you rule (תִשְךְתָּרֵר) over us” (Num. 16:13), an expression of a prince (שַֹר) and a ruler; “I looked (מִסְךְתַּכַּל)” (Dan. 7:8). [Actually, the word is מִשְֹךְתַּכַּל, but the same rule applies for a “sin” as for a “Samach.”]

18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the day it was founded even until now.

This week there was a slushy hail in Israel of many areas under 400 meters. The pellets were small and falling upon a man or animal would not hurt but it is not unheard of in Texas that hail the size of golf balls or base balls pound areas smashing windshields and other things. Hail this size could kill and wire or electricity within the hail would be even worse.

At this time tomorrow: [Heb. כָּעֵתמָחָר lit., at the time tomorrow, meaning] at this time tomorrow. He made a scratch on the wall [to demonstrate that] “Tomorrow, when the sun reaches here, the hail will come down.” -[from Tanchuma, Va’era 16] its being founded: Heb. הִוָּסְדָה, when it was founded (נִסְיַסְּדָה). Every word whose first root letter is “yud,” like יסד to found, ילד, to bear, ידע, to know, [and] יסר, to chastise, when it is used in the passive voice, a “vav” replaces the yud, like “its being founded הִוָסְדָה ” ; “she was born (הִוָלְדָה) ” (Hos. 2:5); “And… became known (וַיִוָדַע) ” (Esther 2: 22); “And to Joseph were born (וַיִוָלֵד) ” (Gen. 46:20); “A slave cannot be chastised ((יִוָּסֶר with words” (Prov. 29: 19).

19 Now therefore send, hasten in thy cattle and all that thou hast in the field; for every man and beast that shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.'

Send, gather in: Heb. הָעֵז, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: שְׁלַח כְּנוֹֹש send, gather in. Likewise, “the inhabitants gathered הֵעִיזוּ ” (Isa. 10:31); “Gather (הָעִזוּ) the sons of Benjamin” (Jer. 6:1). and not brought into the house: Heb. יֵאָסֵף, an expression of bringing in.

20 He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses; 21 and he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field.
22 And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Stretch forth thy hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.' 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven; and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down unto the earth; and the LORD caused to hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire flashing up amidst the hail, very grievous, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. 25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and broke every tree of the field. 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, was there no hail. 27 And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them: 'I have sinned this time; the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. 28 Entreat the LORD, and let there be enough of these mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.' 29 And Moses said unto him: 'As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread forth my hands unto the LORD; the thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou may know that the earth is the LORD'S. 30 But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the LORD God.'-- 31 And the flax and the barley were smitten; for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was in bloom. 32 But the wheat and the spelt were not smitten; for they ripen late.-- 33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread forth his hands unto the LORD; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the children of Israel go; as the LORD had spoken by Moses.

These last two plagues HASHEM had to harden Pharaoh’s heart and so it only to make a bigger Kiddush HASHEM and as a secondary effect punish the Egyptians and teach the world a lesson (which if you see most of the Nations they have not learned their lessons).

Often more than not HASHEM comes to our aid he offers solutions before the situation changes. I had two glasses that I used for years from the time I still worked prior to 5760 and now. A year or more ago I saw my friend Chaim on Skype drinking out of a large glass similar to what I like so I asked him where he got it. He brought me two. A few months ago one of my glasses suddenly exploded leaving me with just one large (beer glass) but for me a coffee mug. Today the last one exploded in the sink as I tried to wash it. Now it is time to renew. Solutions like this happen all the time but we have to realize who took the old one a way and who gave us the new one.

Thanks to Rachel A. E. Warren Buffett, in a recent interview with CNBC, offers one of the best quotes about the debt ceiling:

"I could end the deficit in 5 minutes," he told CNBC. "You just pass a law that says that anytime there is a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.

The 26th amendment (granting the right to vote for 18 year-olds) took only 3 months & 8 days to be ratified! Why? Simple! The people demanded it. That was in 1971 - before computers, e-mail, cell phones, etc.

Of the 27 amendments to the Constitution, seven (7) took one (1) year or less to become the law of the land - all because of public pressure. Warren Buffet is asking each addressee to forward this email to a minimum of twenty people on their address list; in turn ask each of those to do likewise. In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one idea that really should be passed around.

Congressional Reform Act of 2012

1. No Tenure / No Pension. A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void effective 1/20/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen/women.

From beauty pageants to the silver screen, I ultimately hit the jackpot. by Kaila Lasky

Kaila Lasky wasn't always my name. I came into the world as Kelly Dianne Scott – double-L, double-N, double-T. This name was not only designed to sound as non-Jewish as possible, but was carefully calibrated to look symmetrical up on the marquee. I kid you not.
Even before I was born, the plan was for me to be a star.
By age 3, I was having my hair bleached blonder and competing in beauty pageants: Little Miss America, Little Miss Half Pint. At age 9, I was performing in local theater, and at 12 I gained early admission to the High School for Performing Arts in Manhattan (of the Fame movies and TV series).
Throughout my childhood, I absorbed the message that everything important about me was on the outside and everything I could possibly want in life was somewhere "out there." This ideology was reinforced at Performing Arts, where all of us aspiring actors, dancers and musicians shared the dream of being rich, famous, talented, powerful and gorgeous. What mattered was how we looked, how we performed, and how loud the applause.
At 14, I costarred in a groundbreaking film about homelessness and kindness called The Shopping Bag Lady, directed by Academy Award winner Bert Salzman. By then my stage name was Holly Scott. (Kelly was a little too Irish Catholic, even for me.) The movie gave me the golden ticket to show business with membership in the Screen Actors Guild and all other theatrical unions.
I continued working in film, TV and theater in New York for the next 13 years, yet it remained for me a sideline. My mantra was “money can buy happiness” and the starving actors' life was just not for me. I didn’t want to be wait on tables and live in a shabby, walk-up apartment in the Bronx. I wanted a first-class life in Manhattan, with a doorman and concierge, on the Upper East Side.
To get these big bucks I used my charm and went into sales – first selling ridiculously expensive clothing and then real estate. By age 22, I was leasing director for RiverTower in Sutton Place, "the most expensive rental building in Manhattan." Tenants included Robert Redford, Saudi royalty and boldface names in international society, entertainment and finance. Finally, I thought, this is where I belong. If I can sit at Vera Wang's table in Southampton, hang out with Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, walk the red carpet at the Costume Institute Ball at the Met, and vacation in Marrakech, Paris and London, then I'll have truly made it.
I did all these things and more. I got the Upper East Side apartment with a swimming pool on the roof and an enormous wrap-around terrace where I threw champagne-fueled soirees for the beautiful crowd. There were black tie events, VIP rooms, seaplanes, cigarette boats, and a presidential inaugural ball. It was glamorous, fun and exciting. Looking from the outside, one could say I had it all.
So why, when the last guest had left the terrace, or the club closed, or the vacation ended, did I feel so empty inside? Where was the satisfaction and peace? When the music stopped, I was alone with myself. The emptiness and void was unbearable at times. Something huge was missing in my life, but I didn't know what it was or where to find it. So I kept pushing forward, hoping that the next vacation, relationship or luxury purchase would be the answer.
Family Life
It was during this whirlwind that I made my first fragile connection with Judaism.
Growing up, Judaism simply wasn't relevant. After my grandfather died when I was five, it was “out with almost everything Jewish. We’d light Hanukkah candles and then go to our Christian friends' house for gifts around the tree. We attended a Passover Seder (the kind that gets shorter every year: Dayeinu!) and ate bagels. For most of my life, that was the sum total of my Jewish connection.
And yet, my non-Jewish name notwithstanding, I had always felt Jewish in my heart. So at age 20, when I first heard about the High Holidays, I had a fleeting thought of attending services. But none of my friends were going and I heard you had to have tickets, so… it would be another five years till I made it to a Rosh Hashanah service. That experience went on for hours and was entirely in a foreign language, yet something struck a chord. Memories of going to synagogue with my grandfather brought me back to a time when I felt safe and part of something important and special.
I had been living half a life, disconnected from the essential part of myself, and it was failing me. I knew in precise detail what kind of house I wanted to live in, what kind of car I wanted to drive, and what kind of salary I wanted to earn. But what kind of person did I want to be? What did I stand for? What did I believe in? These were questions I’d never much considered.
I began attending some evening classes in Manhattan, and as I learned more about my Judaism, I slowly dispelled the stereotypes and misconceptions I was holding onto, like the belief that Judaism regards women as second-class citizens. Although I didn't know any religious Jewish women, I was certain they were all barefoot, pregnant and chained to the stove. Someone needed to rescue them, educate them, and liberate them. It turns out I was dead wrong about that (I met observant Jewish women who were doctors, lawyers, corporate execs) and about many other things.
I began to study Torah in depth, one verse at a time. It was an intellectual adventure unlike any I had ever experienced. I found out about many Jewish holidays that I'd never heard of. I discovered Shabbat, the weekly dinner party with fine china, gourmet food and wine. I loved the conversation that moved beyond gossip, fashion and politics.
Above all, I found an atmosphere in these homes that was so much more peaceful than the frenetic lifestyle I was leading. Husbands and wives interacted with love and respect. The children were intelligent, respectful and refined. They were unlike any kids I'd ever met.
I will never forget turning to my mother at the Passover Seder we attended at the rabbi's house and saying, "Someday, I want to have kids like these." If you had known me then, you'd have laughed out loud. My life was so far removed from this family's reality that there was no possible way I would ever have children like these (if I'd even have kids at all).
This was all incredibly compelling – but I was like a "Judaism tourist": a nice place to visit, but I don't want to live there. I had been focused on externalities for 25 years, and just because I discovered my inner dimension, a soul that longed for truth and beauty and meaning, didn't mean it had any muscle whatsoever.
My attitude was more like the Billy Joel song: "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints – the sinners are much more fun!"
The pull in my old direction was just too strong. One Friday night I was invited to a rabbi's magical Shabbos table and got a call to attend the Saudi princess's birthday party in Miami. It was no contest and I was on the next plane.
Soul Mate
Who knows what kind of life I would have today if the two parallel worlds I was straddling hadn't come crashing together.
My friend tried to set me up on a blind date with a guy who was not only "orthodox" but lived in – gulp! – Buffalo. I had zero interest. I put it off for four months and then finally agreed to a mercy date just to satisfy this friend who kept pushing the match. When I came down to my lobby expecting to meet the pasty-faced, clammy-handed, hunched-over religious guy, imagine my astonishment when I saw an Adonis in blue jeans and a white jacket posed like Rodin's "The Thinker" on my lobby chair. OMG, that can't be him. But it was! From the start I was amazed that he really wanted to get to know me, inside and out.
But orthodox?! I was totally irreligious when we met and he had been keeping Shabbat and kosher for many years. At the same time, he had been on tour with the Rolling Stones, acted in a few movies, and was a successful businessman. He had it all: the flash and the substance, the physical and spiritual, body and soul. Who could resist such a package? Not me.
Three months later, we were engaged, and four months later I was on a yacht, circling Manhattan, starring in the role of my life at my own big fat Jewish wedding. I was sailing off into the sunset to begin on-the-job training as an observant Jewish woman.
Learning Curve
My first real hurdle to clear was this vague sense that living a Torah life was all about obligations and responsibilities. I’m not so altruistic and I wanted to know: What’s in it for me?
Once I got into it, being observant wasn't at all what I expected. I thought it would be an interesting, if perhaps burdensome addition to my "real" life. But I discovered that Torah all those "rules and regulations" turned out to be time-tested tools for success in the most important areas of my life: relationships, parenting, and handling all kinds of challenges. Torah gave me tools for attaining true inner peace, balancing home and career, and for keeping the romance alive in marriage, decade after decade.
I took my time growing into Jewish observance, moving at my own pace. Judaism is not an all-or-nothing proposition. And the more I observed, the more I came to appreciate the many layers of depth behind it all. Now my husband jokes that I'm too religious for him! It turns out that the fulfillment I was looking for all those years wasn't somewhere "out there." It was right inside me all the time. As for those children I wished for at the Seder? Believe it or not, I have four just like them. I feel like a real queen and am incredibly grateful for it all.
 
My friend R. K. wrote about his fight with the Yetzer: … In the summer of 5772/2012, when my wife developed breast cancer - At the time, I would see on Facebook all sorts of "tittie clubs" advertising pictures of pretty young women with healthy sized "racks" as some of the guys call them.  They were scantily clad, of course, and in seductive poses.  Well, they weren't seductive at all for me.
When my wife got home from the hospital, I saw how her breast - which had been barely cut up at all - was so heavily bandaged.  It was driven home to me with a sledge hammer what "breast meat" means.  In addition, it was driven home to me how facile and specious "culture" and "fashion" are.  Women have breasts in order to feed babies. When they are damaged, as in damaged from cancer, they get cut up like - well, like meat - because the LIFE of the woman who has the diseased breast is far more important than a mammary gland that "fashion" and "culture" sexualize and "celebrate" so falsely.  That doesn't change the fact that nursing mothers can get sexual-like pleasures from nursing a baby - or that sexual pleasure is to be gotten in breasts for women during love-making.   But "popular culture" turns all this into a parody of what it is - and the women who lose breasts to cancer pay often heavily for the way they have been socialized.   Their psychic price can be huge - and it oughtn’t to be.
Often poor women need their breasts rebuilt and after a certain amount of time the silicon starts leaking or has to be replaced. I was told by a plastic surgeon that women who enlarge their breasts often have a lot of pain from the stretched out skin. Of course there are 90 year olds who marry 15 year olds in some parts of the world: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2258385/Saudi-girl-15-barricades-bedroom-married-90-year-old-groom-huge-dowry.html
 
I do not know how the non-Jewish world developed a trinity from the quotes of their own Gospel: Mark 12:28-31 One of the scribes came and asked Him (Yeshu), “What commandment is the foremost of all?” Yeshu answered, “The foremost is, ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. – This quote would make him a student of Hillel the Elder. People have told me the trinity comes from an Indian Mithra of the father, mother and child god which went to Persia and was adopted by Rome but it did not come from Yeshu or Mark. Nathaniel F. sent me this: http://cojs.org/cojswiki/The_Triad_of_Osiris,_c._850_BCE

From Torah Judaism and Israel by Tsila a 45 minute film on From Bagdad to Bombay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZvhTqtWQDA&feature=youtu.be


Animal lovers in Israel were saddened to hear that  Dov the Giraffe of the Safari Park got and infection and after he had no strength to stand up was put down by the vet.

Thanks to Rabbi David Winiraz Shlita: 40 minute film on Jews for Judaism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=on7lFICOnqE



If you are a member of Facebook please report the following group which as slandered me it might or might not be still up. It might or might not be secret. https://www.facebook.com/JewishFake  the S might be from another group which warned me that they listed me as a non-Jewish Missionary. I suspect it is the pot calling the kettle black. If you are on FB please report it as harassing me and slandering me (this is not to be confused with the kosher group fake Jewish profiles that warns about trolls and Arabs spying on Jews to report them in case of a war). Another one of these groups: http://www.facebook.com/yiddishkeit.emes.5


We got the blessing of rain this week: http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=298785

From my son Asher comes this article which is not new to me – In the Shulchan Aruch Eben HaEzer we accept women’s testimony as to whether or not a fellow woman was abused by captors or whether or not a husband of a woman has died so this is nothing new. It was written in the 1600’s and based on the Talmud of 2000 years ago which is Oral Torah from Har Sinai http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=298213


From my son Asher comes this article which is not new to me – In the Eben HaEzer we accept women’s testimony as to whether or not a fellow woman was abused by captors or whether or not a husband of a woman has died so this is nothing new. It was written in the 1600’s and based on the Talmud of 2000 years ago which is Oral Torah from Har Sinai http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishNews/Article.aspx?id=298213

Unlike the USA with more taxes Israel tries not to raise taxes but cuts spending: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-09/steinitz-sees-cuts-saving-3-7-billion-israel-overnight.html

I’m dreaming of a white Rosh Chodesh Shevat in Yerushalayim more than 8 inches to 16 inches in Gilo and other places: http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=299010
Oh baby, baby: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164057#.UO6C_XfxmUM A film or two and dozens of photos http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164050#.UO6DxnfxmUM The films work when you answer the questions on top the right one is male the left one is female and then the age group below but the photos look nice plus story http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4330660,00.html 'Friendly' Arab Snowballs Turn into Rocks in Yitzhar Riot An ostensibly “friendly” snowball fight in Samaria turned into an all out attack in Yitzhar early Thursday, when Arabs rioted http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164056#.UO6L9XfxmUM

With the elections fast approaching public opinion polls show the Likud with anywhere from 33 to 35 seats, Labor 17 or 18, The Jewish Home 14 to 16, Shass 11 or more, Aguda around 6, Lapid 11 and Livni possibly 9 with Kedma passing the threshold to have 2 members, the far left Mertz up to 6, and Arabs 11 with votes siphoned off between a few religious breakaways and possibly Strength to Israel getting 2 seats. Rav Amnon Yitzchak claims from his many followers that he will get in. A lot of this is wishful thinking by nice people with good ideas. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164094#.UO_b43fxlGp   http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=299240  http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4331258,00.html  In Hebrew http://www.israelhayom.co.il/site/newsletter_article.php?id=25684&hp=1&newsletter=11.01.2013 http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/428/273.html?hp=1&cat=404&loc=1

Inyanay Diyoma


Netanyahu backs off from E1 building and I also believe like the article that he is backing off from Iran two former heads of the Shin Bet  and a head of the Mossad stated to the newspapers that this flip-flopping makes him very unreliable in any area: http://www.debka.com/article/22660/Likud-loses-ground-over-Netanyahu’s-fuzzy-security-messages and

Islamists come towards the Israeli Borders: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=298565

Israeli Government refuses to defend its citizens to give up this Yeshuv: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4328764,00.html


From John - New Caliphate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMm2XMvy6Ow

All Israeli TV and Radio Stations are in Panic over the nomination of Hagel http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163969#.UOvHK3fjNGo

Does Netanyahu have the guts to act before the Israeli Elections if necessary? http://debka.com/article/22668/Israel-State-of-Syrian-chemical-weapons-could-change-in-a-moment

Israeli soldiers rescue Jihad, the Arab, who was stranded on his car’s roof: http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=298881

Political Party censored after they disclose that many Arabs do not pay taxes: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/164014#.UO0iAnfjNGo



Obama chickens out needs Israel to do the job on Syria and I guess Iran too: http://debka.com/article/22679/Panetta-Dempsey-clear-Pentagon-desk-of-US-military-option-for-Syria-

President Obama has nominated former Senator Chuck Hagel to be Secretary of Defense. The RJC strongly opposes this nomination because of Chuck Hagel's troubling record on Israel, Iran, and other issues.
 *  2013 is the critical year in which we must confront Iran's growing nuclear threat. We must have all options on the table to give the U.S. and its allies the most leverage for preventing the rise of a nuclear Iran. Chuck Hagel has signaled his belief that military force should not be an option for dealing with Iran.
*  Chuck Hagel was not a reliable friend of Israel while in the Senate or since. Hagel has spoken disparagingly about Israel's supporters in this country ("the Jewish lobby") and is himself strongly supported by groups like J Street and Americans for Peace Now that are far out of the mainstream of the American Jewish community. 
 *  The Secretary of Defense is the official responsible for implementing the close military cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. We need a friend of Israel in that position to keep that vital strategic relationship strong.
*  President Obama campaigned as a friend of Israel and as someone supportive of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, despite conflicts with Israeli leaders in the past. Chuck Hagel's nomination is another example of President Obama breaking his promises to the Jewish community.
TAKE ACTION
Call your U.S. Senators and tell them to vote "NO" on Chuck Hagel's nomination for Secretary of Defense. Information about how to contact your U.S. Senators can be found HERE or by calling 202-224-3121.


Now for M. Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story “Get us out of here” Note the Chassidic pronunciation of Hebrew words here is like a Romanian Accent.

Good Shabbos Everyone.  The Torah portion this week speaks about the beginning of the redemption of the Bnai Yisroel from Egypt.  Hashem tells the Bnai Yisroel:  "I shall take out My legions-- my people the Children of Yisroel from the land of Egypt with great judgments... and Egypt shall know that I am Hashem..."  (Shemos 7:4,5) 
       The Sages tell us that our redemption from the current exodus will mirror the exodus from Egypt.  Just as with the Egyptian exodus Hashem made Himself known, so too will Hashem make Himself known with the coming redemption.   The main thing to keep in mind is that no matter how bleak the current exodus is, Hashem will lead us out of bondage to the Holy Land.  The following story illustrates how one great Torah leader helped inspire others never to give up hope of redemption.
       The Klausenberger Rebbe, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam (1905-1994), was legendary for the encouragement he gave to the thousands of shattered Jews who came to the Displaced Persons camps after their liberation from the horrors of the concentration camps. To each of the bereaved, the Rebbe had different words of comfort and consolation. Everyone knew that it was the Rebbe, more than anyone else, who could give people hope and strength to renew their lives. At times, the Rebbe would refer to the unspeakable tragedies that he personally suffered. He lost his wife, Rebbetzin Pessel, and 11 children!
       The Klausenberger Rebbe had a special interest in children. Even under dismal and sorrowful conditions he opened a yeshivah, Sh'eiris Hapleita, for 100 boys, and a Bais Yaakov school for 120 girls. One day, two men told him about Meshulam Yalver.(name has been changed). When Meshulam was 16 he was known as an exceptional masmid (diligent scholar), punctilious in his mitzvah observance; a boy who had a bright future as an exemplary Jew. Now, having gone through suffering, loss, and catastrophe, he rejected his Judaism and resisted any attempts to bring him back to the fold of observance.
       The Rebbe asked the men to bring Meshulam to him.
       When Meshulam entered the Rebbe's room, the Rebbe motioned for Meshulam to sit down next to him. "I'm told that you are the son of Reb Laibish, whom I knew," the Rebbe said. "Yes," Meshulam answered. Meshulam did not want to be lulled into a conversation where he would have to debate the Rebbe in topics of emunah (belief) and bitachon (faith). For him the world of religion ended in Auschwitz; there was nothing to discuss. "They say that you were a great masmid (diligent scholar), back home. Is that so?" the Rebbe asked in a non-confrontational tone. Meshulam just nodded.
       "But now you are angry?" asked the Rebbe softly. "Of course, I'm angry," Meshulam blurted out heatedly, unable to contain himself any longer. "The best were taken away, the finest are lost forever." The Rebbe extended his palm and touched the boy's face and said, "You are so right. Look at me; They left me alive while my wife and all 11 children were taken away. You are right," the Rebbe said again, "the best were taken away and look what's left...." And with that the Rebbe burst into tears and began sobbing. And then together the Rebbe and the boy cried without stop on each other's shoulders.
       No more words were spoken - for no words had to be spoken - for no words could be spoken. Two tortured hearts joined in a stream of tears. An hour later, Meshulam left the Rebbe's house. That night when Meshulam was alone, he recited Krias Shema (the Shma) for the first time in months. Within a few days he was wearing his yarmulka again, Eventually he became fully observant again. Years later, Meshulam then in his 70’s, commented: "There was nothing anyone could say to me, and the Rebbe understood that. Everyone spoke to my head; the Rebbe touched my heart.” (The Echoes of the Maggid, Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn, p.272)
       Although the Klausenberger Rebbe went through horrible suffering and lost his entire family, he survived to rebuild his Chassidic community as well as spread Torah to thousands of Jews around the world. If anything, like many other survivors, the Klausenberger Rebbe’s belief in Hashem was only strengthened by his life experiences. The Rebbe saw the beautiful Torah families, which sprouted like flowers from the ashes of war. The Rebbe then believed even more strongly that the hand of Hashem was on the Jewish people.
       In fact, the miraculous continuous existence of the Jewish nation against all odds points to the existence of an all-powerful being, namely G-d. (Reb Yakov Emden siddur) This point is further strengthened by what Hashem tells us through the Prophet Yeshayahu “You are My Witness. ... and [you are] My servant whom I have chosen, so that you will know and believe in Me, and understand that I am He; before Me nothing was created by a god nor will there be after Me!” (Rav Uri Zohar citing Yeshayahu 43:10)
        The only way to explain the continued existence of the Jewish People is to say that there is a G-d Who is guiding this world and Who has chosen the Jewish People. The Jewish people has come under attack in almost every generation and every land. Losses have been horrible and we bear the scars inflicted upon us by the nations. Yet, we are still here and we await with every day the coming of the ultimate redemption.
Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory, In Memory of Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Shimon (Friedman) 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, and with all the flu going around read this and hopefully HASHEM will protect the health of you and your family,
Rachamim Pauli