As we start Sefer Devarim let me remind you
that for those who get my posts direct, if the Drasha does not arrive close to
Shabbos Israel time then check www.rabbipauli.blogspot.com
Prayers for Men: Eliezer David HaCohain ben
Naomi, Asher ben Esther Malka, Avraham ben Devorah, Zvi Yechezkel ben Leah,
Chaim Zev ben Faige Tova, Naphtali Moshe ben Tziporah, Shalom Charles ben
Gracia, Yoel ben Esther, Zev ben Rachel, Binum Benyamin Tuvia ben Chana
Friedel, Yehonatan ben Malka, Aaron ben Sara Chana, Aharon ben Miriam, Shraga
Shlomo ben Sara, Benyamin ben Ganendel, Shai Shalom ben Leah Chaya, Raphael
Pesachiya Yacov ben Aviva Sara, Zvi ben Chava, Yitzchak ben Chaya Sara,
Yeshayahu Emes ben Shula Leah.
Women: Karen Neshama bas Esther Ruth, Chaya
Melecha Rachel bas Baila Alta, Rachel bas Chana, Hodaya Nirit bas Mazel, Rivka
bas Idit, Kayla Rus bas Chaya Rachel, Tsvia Simcha bas Devorah Yachad, Sara
Merkava bas Elisheva, Adina bas Sara, Esther bas Tziporah, Miriam bas Irene
Taita Malka, Ruda Itzka Minyan bas Liba, Adele Chaya bas Edva, Chana bas
Gisela, Marsha bas Raisel, Eden bas Alla
Editorial: Second Class Jews vs. the Snobs is this
another reason why there is no Temple?
And perhaps more deeds that delay Moshiach
Try to
keep your heart and soul pure for within a short time perhaps a day, a week
perhaps 3 or 4 years "That Day" of Isa. and Zechariah is coming.
The
Torah was not given to Angels and the Mitzvos and warnings are for all, for we
all have a Yetzer HaRa! No Jew is more Jewish than the next for we all are from
Avraham, Yitzchak and Yacov. I have heard or even saw my brethren violating
just about every Mitzvah in the Torah including stories of Charedi swingers,
other abominations and other sins but have never ever attacked them on their
Jewishness or called them second class Jews. There are groups that go to Iran
and would go to cuddle in Gaza and Lebanon with our enemies. Rabbi Amnon
Yitzchak comments about their behavior in Hebrew and English subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8rBCT_T6Kg
We are
judgemental and tend to Judge others by our own standards. Who is to say that a
mother who is not Shomer Shabbos but sends her child into the Israeli Army in a
danger zone is less of a Jew than the Charedi Mother who sends her child to a
Beis Yacov or Yeshiva. Both are doing work in my opinion to defend Am Yisrael.
However, the first is more likely to cry to me and get butterflies in her stomach
during an army operation in the south than the mother of a boy in a Yeshiva in
Netivot or Ashdod.
It is
hard enough for one to become a Baal Teshuva or in my case come from a 6th
generation Reform Jew and go against my whole family or a Ger who leaves the
world in which he/she was born to become a Jew without being looked down upon
by those who are Frum from birth. Or perhaps some Jews calling others Chunyuk
or Yackne Jews because they are almost Taliban Jews in their outside
observance.
CAN’T
WE ALL BE JUST SIMPLE PLAIN JEWS? CAN’T WE ALL TRY OUR BEST TO SERVE HASHEM AND
BRING MOSHIACH? What happened to: Ye shall be holy; for I the LORD your God am
holy. Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and ye
shall keep My Sabbaths: I am the LORD your God. … And thou shalt not glean thy
vineyard, neither shalt thou gather the fallen fruit of thy vineyard; thou
shalt leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God. 1Ye shall not steal;
neither shall ye deal falsely, nor lie one to another. And ye
shall not swear by My name falsely, so that thou profane the name of thy God: I
am the LORD. You shalt not oppress thy neighbor, nor rob him;
the wages of a hired servant shall not abide with thee all night until the
morning. You
shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but thou
shalt fear thy God: I am the LORD. Ye shall do no
unrighteousness in judgment; thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor
favor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shalt you judge thy
neighbor. You shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy
people; neither shalt thou stand idly by the blood of thy neighbor: I am the
LORD. 17 You
shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart; thou shalt surely rebuke thy neighbor,
and not bear sin because of him. You shalt not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the
children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the
LORD. 19 Ye shall
keep My statutes.
All
this is simple Mitzvos condensed from part of Chapter 19 of Vayikra. Have we
forgotten what we read about a quarter of a year ago or less?
Lastly,
I ask if the most extreme Rabbis in their home practice rely upon their
Rebbitzen to check the Kashrus, why women cannot be Kashrus inspectors. In fact
perhaps they will check the rice and check for bugs better than men for they
are more patient: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4400970,00.html
After I
wrote this I found this article about our own Yetzer: http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/650873/jewish/How-Could-a-Religious-Person-Commit-a-Crime.htm I liked the answer of
the first man not that I think him a liar but rather he knows that income comes
from HASHEM.
Parsha Devarim
Parsha Devarim always falls before Tisha B’Av and starts in this
Sefer the last 200 Mitzvos of the Torah culminating a seven day period until
the death of Moshe Rabbaynu. Parsha Devarim itself deals with historical facts
of the journey and the battles which were fought with the help of HASHEM.
1:1 These are the words which Moses
spoke unto all Israel beyond the Jordan; in the wilderness, in the Arabah, over
against Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab.
The Arava stretches from around the Dead Sea all the way down to
Eilat and some of these names have been established today on the Israeli Side
but in modern times the Paran Desert would be somewhere around Maaleh Akravim
of today so it appears that it stretched into Modern Yarden. All this would be
between Har HaHor and opposite Yericho.
2 It is
eleven days journey from Horeb unto Kadesh-barnea by the way of mount Seir.
No one can be certain where exactly this is but the Modern Santa
Katarina is at the foot of Jabil Musa (Mt. of Moshe) and the route would be via
east of Eilat to near the modern Kadesh-Barnea at the border of Israel and
Egypt http://www.maplandia.com/israel/be-er-sheva/ follow route 40 south of Beer Sheva to the Talim Junction then
follow route 211 to the Egyptian Border and at that point will be Kadesh-Barnea
adjust the magnification and east-west etc. of the map. If this is the Biblical
Kadesh-Barnea or not I cannot say. The distance appears to be about 350 to 384
kilometers estimate with the inclusion or not of Shabbos makes it about 40
kilometers or 25 miles a day to a people used to the temperatures and walking
would in a day of let us say 12 hours of light plus twilight gives an average
of 3 plus kilometers an hour which is not an unreasonable average pace. Add on
some time for a pillar of fire by night and one can do it slower or faster
based on the temperature and perhaps a 14 hour day with the pillar of fire
making the average less than 3 km per hour. (I could not find an exact AAA Map
but I did find this map which I played around with in my measurements http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sinai-peninsula-map.jpg all in all it appeared to be less than 240 miles which is 24 miles
a day on the average or 2 miles an hour at a steady pace but it could be 11
traveling days which would lower it to 1.8 miles per hour as a maximum average
of 12 hour days.) The time and distance is reasonable and possible even with
the flocks and herds.
3 And it
came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of
the month, that Moses spoke unto the children of Israel, according unto all
that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; 4 after he had smitten Sihon the king of the Amorites, who dwelt
in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who dwelt in Ashtaroth, at Edrei;
This areas are on the southern Golan Heights and appears most
likely to be vaster than what we have in our possession today as what we call
the Bashan extends quite a ways into modern Syria.
5 beyond
the Jordan, in the land of Moab, took Moses upon him to expound this law,
saying: 6 The LORD
our God spoke unto us in Horeb, saying: 'Ye have dwelt long enough in this
mountain; 7 turn
you, and take your journey, and go to the hill-country of the Amorites and unto
all the places nigh thereunto, in the Arabah, in the hill-country, and in the
Lowland, and in the South, and by the sea-shore; the land of the Canaanites,
and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. 8 Behold, I have set the land before
you: go in and possess the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers, to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after
them.'
Something went wrong in the time of Yehoshua that this northern
conquest did not take place. For had it taken place all of Lebanon and Syria
would be in our hands.
9 And I
spoke unto you at that time, saying: 'I am not able to bear you myself alone; 10 the LORD your God has multiplied
you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.-- 11 The LORD, the God of your fathers,
make you a thousand times so many more as ye are, and bless you, as He hath
promised you!-- 12 How can I
myself alone bear your cumbrance, and your burden, and your strife? 13 Get you, from each one of your
tribes, wise men, and understanding, and full of knowledge, and I will make
them heads over you.'
After the advice of Yisro, the Gadol HaDor was above the average
leaders and Rabbis. There would be Rabbis like the modern Rav Chaim Kanievsky
Shlita taking care of a hundred thousand or more, Rabbi Boyer Shlita
influencing tens of thousands and lesser people like me with a readership of
thousands down to leaders of hundreds, fifties and tens. However, in modern
terms it is easy to jump in Israel to the leader of ten thousand or hundred
thousand rather than settle for a lesser Rabbi. Outside of Israel over vast
areas, the local Orthodox Rabbis or area Rabbis are the ones that people go to
today. We also have specialist like Rabbi Firer Shlita who deals with medical
questions and has a staff working for him. My prayers for the ill has about 20%
of the names on Rabbi A.L.’s list as he deals exclusively in his work as
helping the sick.
14 And ye
answered me, and said: 'The thing which thou hast spoken is good for us to do.'
This was the highest level of faith but since then there was a
lowering of the holiness in the people and all the opposition that Moshe and
leaders since have faced. Unfortunately in our generation the “leaders” seem to
be the dog wagging the tail. One Rabbi running for the Chief Rabbi is being
questioned for making butchers and restaurants only use the meat from his
family’s Heckshir.
15 So I
took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and full of knowledge, and made them
heads over you, captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, and captains
of fifties, and captains of tens, and officers, tribe by tribe. 16 And I charged your judges at that
time, saying: 'Hear the causes between your brethren, and judge righteously
between a man and his brother, and the stranger that is with him. 17 Ye shall not respect persons in
judgment; ye shall hear the small and the great alike; ye shall not be afraid
of the face of any man; for the judgment is God's; and the cause that is too
hard for you ye shall bring unto me, and I will hear it.'
A fair judgement and a proper investigation: A good deal of the
Beitei Dinim HaRabbani today either have not time or they drag cases on like
torturing the conflict to last longer. Rabbi Mimran Shlita got a case this week
for Arbitration between two 15 years olds over an MP3 player. He treated them
like if they had a complaint of tens of thousands of Shekels. Boy 1: I lent boy
2 my MP3 player and the radio and player were working. When he returned it the
earplugs would not play stereo and the radio had stopped working. Boy 2: I used
it in the normal way and did not play the radio at all! Rabbi Mimran began to
ask questions. The headphone worked on other MP3 players. So the boy’s parents
gave it to a woman for fixing a lose connection. When the player returned it
did not have a working radio. Rabbi Mimran looked into the what the woman does.
She is a Charedi-Taliban type. She pays people money to remove their radios
because the Rabbis are against it. Having determined this, he gave a ruling that
the borrower does not owe the lender anything because it was in normal use and
the Radio could have been tampered with by the repair woman who soldered the
lose jack connection. Moshe’s warnings are to make sure that one gets a truly
fair judgement and not delay it or favor one party.
18 And I
commanded you at that time all the things which ye should do. 19 And we journeyed from Horeb, and
went through all that great and dreadful wilderness which ye saw, by the way to
the hill-country of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came
to Kadesh-barnea. 20
And I said unto you: 'Ye are come unto the hill-country of the Amorites, which
the LORD our God gives unto us. 21 Behold, the LORD thy God hath set the land before thee; go up,
take possession, as the LORD, the God of thy fathers, hath spoken unto thee;
fear not, neither be dismayed.' 22 And ye came near unto me every one of you, and said: 'Let us
send men before us, that they may search the land for us, and bring us back
word of the way by which we must go up, and the cities unto which we shall
come.' 23 And the
thing pleased me well; and I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe; 24 and they turned
and went up into the mountains, and came unto the valley of Eshcol, and spied
it out. 25 And
they took of the fruit of the land in their hands, and brought it down unto us,
and brought us back word, and said: 'Good is the land which the LORD our God
gives unto us.' 26
Yet ye would not go up, but rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your
God; 27 and ye
murmured in your tents, and said: 'Because the LORD hated us, He hath brought
us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites,
to destroy us.
The request for the spies did not come out of a military strategy
but out of fear and a delaying tactic as the former slaves had a fear mentality
and were dependent on their Egyptian and later Mann Food Stamps. This
dependency kept them slaves in their own lifetime and they were only virtually
free.
28
Whither are we going up? our brethren have made our heart to melt, saying: The
people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to
heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.' 29 Then I said unto you: 'Dread not,
neither be afraid of them. 30 The LORD your God who goets before you, He shall fight for you,
according to all that He did for you in Egypt before your eyes; 31 and in the wilderness, where thou
hast seen how that the LORD thy God bore thee, as a man doth bear his son, in
all the way that ye went, until ye came unto this place. 32 Yet in this thing ye do not believe
the LORD your God,
After all the plagues in Mitzrayim and the splitting of the sea or
the giving of the Torah and hearing THE VOICE, being fed Mann etc. they still
were scared slaves with a yellow streak down their backs except for perhaps two
or three tribes.
33 Who
went before you in the way, to seek you out a place to pitch your tents in: in
fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in the cloud by day.' 34 And the LORD
heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and swore, saying: 35 'Surely there shall not one of
these men, even this evil generation, see the good land, which I swore to give
unto your fathers, 36
save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, he shall see it; and to him will I give the
land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children; because he hath wholly
followed the LORD.'
There were some who were brave but the slave-cowardness continued
with them. It reminds me of my childhood being sort of the only Jew on my block
with a foreign born father, I was picked on and beat up by a clan of non-Jews
and learned to run away. It was not until my teen years when we moved into the
Italian Neighborhood that Pauli did not get wacked but became a Pisano. It was only in my last year of
College when people with guns took over my campus which was 60% Jewish and
perhaps less than a Minyan stood before 200 with my friends Zev and Chaim David
did I stand up at a literal risk of my life to protect my friends and the
cowardness end. I learned that a Jew could stand up against a threat. It was
that which removed the coward mentality of the lone Jew against the clan and
enabled me to patrol the border opposite Fatachland above Kiriat Shemona. I understand
where the cowardness came from but I do not understand a people with such
Chashgacha from HASHEM Yisborach would not gain faith enough to march on to
conquer Eretz Yisrael.
For I lost my temper and hit the rock instead of speaking to it as
you folks with your stiff necks got me angry.
38 Joshua
the son of Nun, who stands before thee, he shall go in thither; encourage thou
him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
To our great sorry he did not conquer all of Lebanon and Syria up
to the Euphrates and that is why we have so much trouble today.
39
Moreover your little ones, that ye said should be a prey, and your children,
that this day have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in thither, and
unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
Those under 20 had pure hearts and could be militarily trained to
conquer the land as the other generation were stuck in fear of the Goyim. “You
see a Ben Yisrael and if you remove his shirt you will see a yellow streak
running down his back”. (They used to use the word Jew in WWII when trying to
scare Rabbi Glixman of blessed memory but he was tougher than them all!)
40 But as
for you, turn you, and take your journey into the wilderness by the way to the
Red Sea.' 41 Then
ye answered and said unto me: 'We have sinned against the LORD, we will go up
and fight, according to all that the LORD our God commanded us.' And ye girded
on every man his weapons of war, and deemed it a light thing to go up into the
hill-country. 42
And the LORD said unto me: 'Say unto them: Go not up, neither fight; for I am
not among you; lest ye be smitten before your enemies.' 43 So I spoke unto you, and ye
hearkened not; but ye rebelled against the commandment of the LORD, and were
presumptuous, and went up into the hill-country. 44 And the Amorites, that dwell in
that hill-country, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do, and beat
you down in Seir, even unto Hormah. 45 And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD
hearkened not to your voice, nor gave ear unto you. 46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days,
according unto the days that ye abode there.
These are the “Dry Bones” of the Bnei Ephraim who were willing to
fight to conquer the land but did not have the authority as HASHEM withdrew his
guidance and permission (Chashgacha). You were chased as G-D withdrew and let
the natural forces and numbers take care of the battles. {Remember the story of
the funny looking Yarmulke on the US Army Officer who asked his Commander at
West Point why not study the battles of Israel and he was told not to ask this
again but by all military reasons Israel should have lost the ’48 war, ’67 war
and ’73 war by sheer weapons and numbers but a HIGHER POWER helped Israel –
after that he became a believer.)
2:1 Then we turned, and took our journey
into the wilderness by the way to the Red Sea, as the LORD spoke unto me; and we
compassed mount Seir many days.
We treated the Bnei Esav as brothers even though they treated us
as enemies. I assume in heaven this awoke a Katigor (prosecuting angel) against
them namely Michael the defender of Am Yisrael.
2 And
the LORD spoke unto me, saying: 3
'Ye have compassed this mountain long enough; turn you northward. 4 And command thou the people, saying:
Ye are to pass through the border of your brethren the children of Esau, that
dwell in Seir; and they will be afraid of you; take ye good heed unto
yourselves therefore; 5 contend
not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as for
the sole of the foot to tread on; because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for
a possession. 6 Ye shall
purchase food of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water
of them for money, that ye may drink. 7
For the LORD thy God hath blessed thee in all the work of thy hand; He hath
known thy walking through this great wilderness; these forty years the LORD thy
God hath been with thee; thou hast lacked nothing.' 8 So we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, that
dwell in Seir, from the way of the Arabah, from Eilat and from Ezion-geber.
We turned away because we received orders from G-D. It was not yet
time for Har Tzion to judge Har Esav (Ovadia 1:21 And saviors shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and
the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.).
And we
turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 And the LORD said unto me: 'Be not at enmity with Moab, neither
contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee of his land for a
possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a
possession.-- 10 The Emim dwelt
therein aforetime, a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; 11 these also are accounted Rephaim,
as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. 12 And in Seir dwelt the Horites aforetime, but the children of
Esau succeeded them; and they destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in
their stead; as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the LORD gave
unto them.-- 13 Now rise up, and
get you over the brook Zered.' And we went over the brook Zered. 14 And the days in which we came from
Kadesh-barnea, until we were come over the brook Zered, were thirty and eight
years; until all the generation, even the men of war, were consumed from the
midst of the camp, as the LORD swore unto them. 15 Moreover the hand of the LORD was against them, to discomfit
them from the midst of the camp, until they were consumed. 16 So it came to pass, when all the
men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
Per the legend of Tu B’ Av 15,000 repentants or not participants
survived along with Yehoshua and Kalev.
17 that
the LORD spoke unto me saying: 18
'Thou art this day to pass over the border of Moab, even Ar; 19 and when thou come nigh over
against the children of Ammon, harass them not, nor contend with them; for I
will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon for a possession;
because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.—
Part of the land on the other side of the Yarden belongs to us but
not the lands of these people who have the merits of Lot who received the
blessing from Avraham!
20 That
also is accounted a land of Rephaim: Rephaim dwelt therein aforetime; but the
Ammonites call them Zamzummim, 21
a people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim; but the LORD destroyed them
before them; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead; 22 as He did for the children of Esau,
that dwell in Seir, when He destroyed the Horites from before them; and they
succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day; 23 and the Avvim, that dwelt in
villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, that came forth out of Caphtor,
destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead.-- 24 Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the valley of
Arnon; behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon,
and his land; begin to possess it, and contend with him in battle. 25 This day will I begin to put the
dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the peoples that are under the whole
heaven, who, when they hear the report of thee, shall tremble, and be in
anguish because of thee.'
Og and Sichon were in charge of protecting the northeastern border
of Canaan from attack. With their great height of the population probably
between 6 to 7 feet and fortified cities on the Golan Heights, people were
afraid of them. Note previously with the rebellion of the Bnei Ephraim who made
war against the Amorites without the blessing of HASHEM, now the tables are
reversed.
26 And I
sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon
with words of peace, saying: 27
'Let me pass through thy land; I will go along by the highway, I will neither
turn unto the right hand nor to the left. 28 Thou shalt sell me food for money, that I may eat; and give me
water for money, that I may drink; only let me pass through on my feet; 29 as the children of Esau that dwell
in Seir, and the Moabites that dwell in Ar, did unto me; until I shall pass
over the Jordan into the land which the LORD our God giveth us.' 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not
let us pass by him; for the LORD thy God hardened his spirit, and made his
heart obstinate, that He might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this
day.
Either he thought that he was being tricked or kept his treaty
with the other Amorites who were to be defeated
by Yehoshua 10:8 And the LORD
said unto Joshua: 'Fear them not; for I have delivered them into thy hand;
there shall not a man of them stand against thee.'
31 And
the LORD said unto me: 'Behold, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land
before thee; begin to possess his land.' 32 Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, unto
battle at Jahaz. 33 And the LORD
our God delivered him up before us; and we smote him, and his sons, and all his
people. 34 And we took all his
cities at that time, and utterly destroyed every city, the men, and the women,
and the little ones; we left none remaining; 35 only the cattle we took for a prey unto ourselves, with the
spoil of the cities which we had taken. 36
From Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of Arnon, and from the city that
is in the valley, even unto Gilead, there was not a city too high for us: the
LORD our God delivered up all before us. 37 Only to the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not near;
all the side of the river Jabbok, and the cities of the hill-country, and
wheresoever the LORD our God forbade us.
This was to become part of the land of the two and a half tribes
with the large amount of sheep, goats and cattle.
He was a very tall man and had a super king-size bed made for him and his wife/wives. 13.5 ft. by 6 ft. which is the standard English measurement or at best 4.5 m by 2 m according to the Chazon Ish.
12 And this land we took in possession at that time; from Aroer, which is by the valley of Arnon, and half the hill-country of Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites; 13 and the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half-tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob--all that Bashan is called the land of Rephaim. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called them, even Bashan, after his own name, Havvoth-jair, unto this day.-- 15 And I gave Gilead unto Machir. 16 And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the valley of Arnon, the middle of the valley for a border; even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
This is the Yamuk River that empties into the Yarden. This is the valley in which Hamat Geder is located between Syria, Yisrael and Yarden today but in the future it will be all ours.
17 the Arabah also, the Jordan being the border thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah eastward. 18 And I commanded you at that time, saying: 'The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it; ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all the men of valor.
You will leave for the years of the conquest of Eretz Yisrael but nobody will attack your wives and children as HASHEM will watch over your land and you will prosper.
19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle--I know that ye have much cattle--shall abide in your cities which I have given you; 20 until the LORD give rest unto your brethren, as unto you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God giveth them beyond the Jordan; then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you. 21 And I commanded Joshua at that time, saying: 'Thine eyes have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto these two kings; so shall the LORD do unto all the kingdoms whither thou goest over. 22 Ye shall not fear them; for the LORD your God, HE it is that fights for you.'
To sort of write like my late Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi London – You should only know that it is HASHEM WHO fights your battles and nobody else. Like the people at west point remember who fights for you.
Stories of Tzaddikim after their passing
A few weeks ago I brought along the story of the Jordanian
Tractors and the grave of the Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh. I heard this from Betzalel
Brown on Friday about the recent Yahrzeit of Rabbi Eliyahu Mordechai. A man and
his son were working to light up the grave before the Yahrzeit. The son said
let’s do it in the morning as it is late now. The father wanted everything in
its place and started the work at night and finished at 11 PM and retired. When
he arrived at 7 AM to continue the work, he almost fainted as all the wiring
and lights were gone. A security film from the Chevra Kedisha revealed an Arab
going back and forth taking the wires at 5:30 AM. The local person who asks for
Tzeduka said that maybe he could help. He identified the thief as an Arab who
works at a marble company that puts up grave stones. The pair then drove to the
company to confront the Arab but upon their arrival, they heard that he was
taken to the hospital as he chopped off a finger with the disk. At the hospital
they were unable to restore the finger. The Arab got from the Beis Din Shel
Maaleh the Sharia Punishment for thieves not his hand off but a finger. The
pair recovered the lighting system and the grave was lit up.
Other stories are Rabbi Abuhatzaira appearing next to his grave
telling Mr. Partushi to devote his time and energy to help the Jews of France
keep Torah and Mitzvos. In Morocco a certain Tzaddik buried in the Atlas Mts.
Upon his Yahrzeit all the streams, wells and Mikvaos are filled up naturally
every year.
Towers
of Gold and palaces of Diamonds Source:
Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of his friend, Tzvi Meir
HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney), on his website, //BaalShemTov.com.
The Baal Shem Tov was enjoying
his Shabbat afternoon nap, when suddenly in his sleep he emitted a mighty cry
that jolted his wife from her nap
In mid-afternoon of Shabbos Shuva (The Shabbat
between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur), in the year 1755, Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer, the Baal Shem Tov, was napping in his
bed enjoying his Sabbath rest. Suddenly, while still asleep, he emitted a
mighty cry that jolted his wife from her nap.
"Yisrael, Yisrael! Wake up! What's wrong?"
The Baal Shem Tov sat up with a start, and then sighed with
relief. "Thank G·d you woke me! Another moment, and I wouldn't have awoken
at all!"
"What are you saying?" gasped the Rebbetzin.
"And why did you scream out in your sleep?"
The Baal Shem Tov composed himself and said, "First ask
my attendant to go to those of my close chasidim who are in Mezibuz this Shabbos and ask them to
come to me in the Beis Medrash (Study Hall). He knows where to find
them. Then I'll explain to you while I am waiting for them."
When they were all assembled, the Baal Shem Tov related the following:
When they were all assembled, the Baal Shem Tov related the following:
"Each Shabbos, when I recite the silent Musaf
prayer, my soul ascends to the heavenly worlds. There I listen to the Torah
being studied in the Yeshiva above, and I am later able to transmit part of
what I have heard to you, my chasidim, during 'Shalosh Seudos' (the Third
Shabbat Meal, at the end of the day).
"I have always yearned to encounter there my close
friend, the great tzadik, Rabbi Nachman Kassover, who passed on to the World of
Truth yerars ago, but I have been unable to find him.
"Today, as my soul ascended, I soared to heavenly
realms that I had never visited before. I saw towers of gold and palaces of
diamonds. The sounds of Torah burst forth from within. As I entered, the souls
within shone with brilliance and beauty, each one occupied in the study of the
holy Torah. I asked one soul: 'To whom belongs this glory? "Who is your
Rosh HaYeshiva?'
"'Our Torah study is in the honor of the chosen of G-d,
Rabbi Nachman of Kassover,' the soul responded.
"'And where is his hallowed place?' I asked.
One of the holy souls led me to Rabbi Nachman's chamber.
There I saw old companion aglow with fire and glory, surrounded by numerous
other souls. His countenance shone like the sun. He was dressed in white, his
tallis covering his holy head.
I humbly approached, and asked, "Reb Nachman, I have
been searching for you for quite some time. Who are all the souls I see around
you?'
"My dear Reb Yisrael," he answered, "these
souls belong to those to whom I showed the path of truth and righteousness
while on earth. Some were righteous men who had transgressed, and others were
evildoers whom I was able to guide to the path of repentance. It is these souls
who praise and extol the Creator of All Things."
"My dear Reb Yisrael," he continued, "Do you
wish to remain here with me? You can simply relinquish your body. You will not
even have to experience the pangs of death. These righteous souls will take you
to your eternal resting place. The decision is yours."
"How I was tempted to remain in the heavenly realms!
But I could not decide. I went back and forth in my mind. On one hand, I
desired to be buried in Eretz Yisrael, for a soul buried in the Holy Land
ascends higher than one buried outside its holy boundaries.
When I spoke this desire, Reb Nachman revealed to me,
"Your fate is not to be buried in the Holy land, but in the land where you
were born. I cannot disclose the reason, but if you decide to remain here with
me, I will be then able to reveal to you this and many, many other
secrets."
Then my thoughts turned to those whom I would leave behind.
Could I leave loved ones, my holy wife and my dear children? My students? My
chasidim? Could I leave them without directions and without guidelines for the
future?
I decided I could not. Each person has his purpose to
fulfill on earth, and I felt that I had not yet completed my assigned avodah
(service).
I told my beloved Reb Nachman that I was not yet the time
for me to leave the physical world. He did not agree. He begged, cajoled, over
and over until I could stand it no longer, and screamed with all my
might."
"That scream woke my wife from her sleep, and she woke
me just in time. I could not have withstood Rabbi Nachman's urgings any longer.
Thank G-d, she enabled my soul to return to its rightful place in my physical
body."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of his friend, Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney), on his website, //BaalShemTov.com.
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of his friend, Tzvi Meir HaCohane (Howard M. Cohn, Patent Attorney), on his website, //BaalShemTov.com.
Connection: In honor of Mrs. Shulamit Tilles of Tzefat and
Mrs. Shira Weinstein of Beitar, who will be spending this Shabbat in Mezibuz, home and burial site of the
Baal Shem Tov, in the Ukraine.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer (18 Elul 1698-6 Sivan 1760), the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed the Chassidic movement and his own identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 1734. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehot.
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer (18 Elul 1698-6 Sivan 1760), the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed the Chassidic movement and his own identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 1734. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehot.
Please pray hard from the book of Kinos on Tisha B’Av and may the
fast be productive for repentance. \
Tisha B'Av: The
Secret to Jewish Survival
How can we feel sincere when mourning on Tisha B'Av? This is close to an hour of videos appropriate to watch on
Tisha B’Av
People
whom I wrote to regarding my vacation know that I got sick and tired of plain
boiled fish with lemon each day and it was good that we had some sardines and
tuna with us from Israel along with meat. At home one can do much better in the
9 days: http://www.aish.com/f/r/Fish-for-the-Nine-Days.html
The
Big Anti-Charedi Lie
These items were
covered by some but not all the media and did not make the internet headlines
in the papers but the truth is coming on. “We need the Charedim to share the
burden to participate in the work force.” This week the last 40 to 50 people in
Delta the last of the Textile Firms in Israel were told to go home at the age
of 50 and above after 30 years on a low paying job. China or Yarden has taken
over the cheap unskilled labor set and they must go home. There will be nobody
to hire these people not at comparable pay and perhaps not at minimum wage! In
Kiriat Shemona the skilled metal workers who supplied parts for the Merkavah
Tank and other military equipment are being let go. There are no other jobs in
the north of Israel. Each year the Yadkin Canning Plant in Hazor HaGalil is
threatened with closure and thus the town gets 100% unemployment. But we need
Charedim in the work force. Actually, if 10 to 20,000 Charedim joined the work
force everybody would be working at much lower rates as the labor market would
be flooded and unemployment would go up 2 to 4% higher.
The IDF needs
Charedim??? The generals don’t want them as they will not work with female
soldiers, they have to pray in the morning, afternoon and evening and lastly
they need special foods and will not violate the Shabbos like certain
non-religious units. Also their sets of secular skills are limited and they
cannot readily be incorporated into many units without training. They show less
respect for non-religious commanders and it is a problem. I PERSONALLY ALONG
WITH OTHER RELIGIOUS SOLDIERS FACED ANTAGONISM AGAINST US ON THE SIDE OF SOME
OF CORPORALS AND SARGENTS. But the biggest lie spawn by Lapid and friends is
that the Army needs the Charedim. In fact Lapid is doing to the IDF what the
Arabs Armies did not do: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Yaalon-IDF-cuts-revolutionary-will-produce-new-army-319510 IDF
announced a series of cost-cutting measures in the coming five years that they
believe could save several billions shekels. The cuts, which will still need to
be approved by the cabinet, include firing 3,000 to 5,000 career soldiers, and
downsizing and closing flight squadrons, armored and artillery units, and naval
deployments. On top of this the Defense Minister is reconsidering drafting Charedim:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4404032,00.html
As a
footnote to the military cuts, Avigdor Kahalani was interviewed and stated that
a smart army is one thing but it is tanks, planes and troops that win wars and
not a cyber-fight. Something fishy: The military cuts of 5,000,000,000 are
actually being transferred to the Yesh Atid Ministers of Yair Lapid. Something
stinks to high heaven here. All this is Chashgacha from heaven: Tehillim
105:14 He suffered no man to do them wrong, yea, for their sake He reproved
kings: (Ministers or governments) 15 'Touch not MY anointed ones, and do
MY prophets no harm.'
Shalom Beis the love of spouse and the love
of G-D
I was thinking and I wrote to the conversion group: Newlyweds or
new religion takes a lot of adjustment and compromise on what was in the past.
One day the woman was always out with the girls as her partners and one day the
man with his friends and the next day they are the partners. A good marriage
means giving to the other person to make them happy. I work with Shalom Beit or
Beis depending on the pronunciation. When I married my wife years ago I had my
interests and she had hers now it is ours and I worry and care about her. The
starry-eyed romance is long gone but the deep love is there.
Regarding Judaism one student once found the Saadia Gaon (lived
about 900 CE) rolling on the floor crying and asking for forgiveness. What
happened Rabbi he asked the student. The Gaon answered, yesterday I understood
and loved HASHEM such and such and today I love him more and I am embarrassed
for not loving him so much.
In short whether you are newlyweds or new converts, there is room
for improvement in love of G-D, Torah and Mitzvos and devoting more time to
each other and to improving the marriage or observance. Love is an ever growing
ever renewing thing and ever striving for improvement. If you do not have this
the marriage or the observance of Mitzvos will not succeed. WARNING TO ALL
COUPLES IF YOU DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RENEW YOUR LOVE AND COMMITMENT DAILY YOU COULD
END UP WITH PROBLEMS this can be in the form of a hug, kiss, pat on the back or
at certain times of the month for younger couples kind words and
sympathy/empathy it does not take much time but the rewards are great.
American
Jewry not really Zionistic: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4401403,00.html
Hebrew
with English subtitles. Rav Amnon Yitzchak Shlita debates a learned Messianic
and wins English Subtitles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZM9rn4p16JU
Two
weeks ago this woman underwent surgery in Ashkelon Hospital. This is an article
from 4 years ago about her: http://www.winnipegjewishreview.com/article_detail.cfm?id=603&sec=2
Politics
removed from the IDF at last (funny that when somebody from the left is in the
Defense Minister’s seat, politics plays a prominent place in military decisions
and when the person goes further right, strategy becomes more important): http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4402550,00.html
Between
1933 and 1945 there was a Nationalist Socialistic Country where this was
typical thinking. http://liveactionnews.org/outrageous-ethicists-argue-for-acceptance-of-after-birth-abortions/
Thanks
to Albert: Hebrew Only amazing medical robots help Drs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYJHin5eRZM&feature=youtu.be
Inyanay Diyoma
Re: Yom
HaDin – Coleen O’ wrote this to me in regard to the finding of the Mishkan of
Shilo of course in the so called west bank (You see the righteous of the
nations will survive Gog and Magog but most will not) I just wanted to forward it to you in case you missed it. Isn't GOD
awesome!! Proving to people who refuse to believe HE is real, and that the
Jewish nation is HIS chosen people, that HIS written word is true. And, that
Israel belongs to the Jewish nation!! Yes for this reason Europe, the US,
Russia, China and all will be judged on “That Day” who will not quake in fear
when the truth comes out.
Maya
posted this article about the Druze Battalion: http://www.tlvfaces.com/idfs-druze-battalion-tests-new-techniques-for-fighting-hezbollah/
Sinai
erupts as Coptic Priest is murdered and Egyptian Soldiers murdered: http://debka.com/article/23098/Egyptian-Israeli-military-alerts-prompted-by-Islamist-mutiny-threat-from-Sinai-and-first-attacks
This is the same Senator J. Kerry who called Assad a man of peace in
his two meetings and got the return of the US ambassador to Damascus. He is now
interested in peace talks and is very optimistic while all the commentators
(Segal, Barnea and Elizur) say this man is having a pipe dream with the pipe
being filled with good ole pot for his peace aspects: http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Report-Kerry-plan-calls-for-settlement-freeze-prisoner-release-318968
Here is the Ed-Op on this: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4399604,00.html
Syria
opposition manages to blow up Assad’s main ammo depot in Latakia while Israel
moves more Iron Dome into the north.
Obama
is lost and clueless over Egypt: http://debka.com/article/23101/Obama-frowns-on-Egyptian-army’s-alignment-with-Gulf-regimes-coming-crackdown-on-Muslim-Brotherhood-
Hezballah
parents concerned because of the many
deaths fighting Sunnis instead of Yisrael: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4401672,00.html
DON’T MESS WITH ISRAEL! It is a Talmudic Principle that the L-RD
dishes out Judgement measure for measure. Remember the perfect storm that
struck Kennebunkport Maine or the Hurricane that struck Texas a few years ago. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/07/secretary-state-kerry-wife-in-critical-condition/?test=latestnews Tehillim 121:4 Behold, He that guards Israel
does neither slumber nor sleep. This
is a fact not gloating at somebody’s sorrow! Some people will not understand
what is Chashgacha from heaven. A friend of mine was walking along at night and
her dog pulled her away from a snake that was in her path. The same thing
appears in what I wrote above about Lapid and the Charedim and the IDF. Tehillim
92:6 How great are Thy works, O LORD! Thy thoughts are very deep. 7 A brutish man knows not, neither
does a fool understand this.
Perfidy:
Netanyahu closing deal with PLO Terrorist behind our back: http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Former-Palestinian-official-Netanyahu-met-secretly-with-senior-PA-official-319129
The
mess in Egypt is on going: http://debka.com/article/23103/Cairo-clashes-kill-51-Brotherhood-supporters-an-officer-Army-set-to-defend-oil-pipeline-Suez-shipping
Despite
Egypt blowing up 40 tunnels more terrorist sneak into Sinai: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169719#.Udrho1ffrIU
When
will the US stop bullying Israel, Bolivia and Egypt see the two films: http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/07/07/must-see-share-from-the-egyptian-people-to-barack-obama-leave-egypt-alone-and-stop-supporting-the-terrorists/
Nervously
watching the Golan Heights: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4401959,00.html
Lebanon
becomes more explosive as Sunnis set off explosives in the Shia area as the war
spills over: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Car-bomb-hits-Hezbollah-stronghold-in-Beirut-several-dead-319233
Egypt
opens up an anti-terror campaign in the Sinai: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169839#.Ud7pclffrIU http://debka.com/article/23109/Israeli-green-light-for-big-Egyptian-Sinai-offensive-after-Islamists-fail-to-assassinate-Egyptian-general
Syria:
Sunni Al Qaeda murders Sunni freedom seeker: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4404102,00.html
Ed op
on the new army: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4403710,00.html
In
Egypt another Christian Copt was beheaded. After driving out 99% of the Jews
they are working on the 7 to 8,000,000 Christians.
Audio:
Tamar Yonah interviews an Egyptian on Arutz 7 Radio: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Radio/News.aspx/4775#.Ud-iZW39W2B
Now for M. Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story “Toot your own horn”
Good Shabbos Everyone. In this week's double portion Mattos the
Torah tells us how the Bnai Yisroel used horn blasts in their battles against
Midian. In this vein, the Midrash discusses some of the other uses of horn
blasts in Jewish communal life. These days, the shofar is used by Jews to
signify that we are going out on a spiritual war. The following story is
told by the person himself as it happened to him in Jerusalem.
"In the years before the founding of the State, the area in front of the Kosel did not look as it does today. Only a narrow alley separated the Kosel and the Arab houses on its other side. The British Government forbade us to place an Ark, tables or benches in the alley; even a small stool could not be brought to the Kosel. The British also instituted the following ordinances, designed to humble the Jews at the holiest place of their faith: it is forbidden to pray out loud, lest one upset the Arab residents; it is forbidden to read from the Torah (those praying at the Kosel had to go to one of the synagogues in the Jewish quarter to conduct the Torah reading); it is forbidden to sound the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The British Government placed policemen at the Kosel to enforce these rules.
On Yom Kippur of that year [1930] I was praying at the Kosel. During the brief intermission between the musaf and minchah prayers, I overheard people whispering to each other: "Where will we go to hear the shofar? It’ll be impossible to blow here. There are as many policemen as people praying..." The Police Commander himself was there, to make sure that the Jews will not, G-d forbid, sound the single blast that closes the fast.
I listened to these whisperings, and thought to myself: Can we possibly forgo the sounding of the shofar that accompanies our proclamation of the sovereignty of G-d? Can we possibly forgo the sounding of the shofar, which symbolizes the redemption of Israel? True, the sounding of the shofar at the close of Yom Kippur is only a custom, but "A Jewish custom is Torah"! I approached Rabbi Yitzchak Horenstein, who served as the Rabbi of our "congregation," and said to him: "Give me a shofar."
"What for?" The Rabbi said. "I’ll blow." "What are you talking about? Don’t you see the police?" "I’ll blow." I told him.
The Rabbi abruptly turned away from me, but not before he cast a glance at the prayer stand at the left end of the alley. I understood: the shofar is in the stand. When the hour of the blowing approached, I walked over to the stand and leaned against it.
I opened the drawer and slipped the shofar into my shirt. I had the shofar, but what if they saw me before I had a chance to blow it? I was still unmarried at the time, and following the Ashkenazic custom, did not wear a tallis. I turned to person praying at my side, and asked him for his tallis. My request must have seemed strange to him, but the Jews are a kind people, especially at the holiest moments of the holiest day, and he handed me his tallis me without a word.
I wrapped myself in the tallis. At that moment, I felt that I had created my own private domain. All around me, a foreign government prevails, ruling over the people of Israel even on their holiest day and at their holiest place, and we are not free to serve our G-d; but under this tallis is another domain. Here I am under no dominion save that of my Father in Heaven; here I shall do as He commands me, and no force on earth will stop me.
When the closing verses of the ne’illah prayer—"Hear O Israel," "Blessed be the name" and "The L-rd is G-d"—were proclaimed, I took the shofar and blew a long, resounding blast. Everything happened very quickly. Many hands grabbed me. I removed the tallis from over my head, and before me stood the Police Commander, who ordered my arrest.
I was taken to the kishla, the prison in the Old City, and an Arab policeman was appointed to watch over me. Many hours passed; I was given no food or water to break my fast. At midnight, the policeman received an order to release me, and he let me out without a word.
I then learned that when the chief rabbi of the Holy Land, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, heard of my arrest, he immediately contacted the secretary of High Commissioner, and asked that I be released. When his request was refused, he stated that he would not break his fast until I was freed. The High Commissioner resisted for many hours, but finally, out of respect for the Rabbi, he had no choice but to set me free.
For the next eighteen years, until the Arab conquest of the Old City in 1948, the shofar was sounded at the Kosel every Yom Kippur. The British well understood the significance of this blast; they knew that it will ultimately demolish their reign over our land as the walls of Jericho crumbled before the shofar of Joshua, and they did everything in their power to prevent it. But every Yom Kippur, the shofar was sounded by men who know they would be arrested for their part in staking our claim on the holiest of our possessions. Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: Mazal Tov to Reb. and Mrs. Tuvia Wolfberg of Los Angeles, CA, upon the bris of their grandson Yehudah Nissan to their son Avrohom Dovid In memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory In Memory of Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Shimon (Friedman) of blessed memory Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Leah bas Tziporah
"In the years before the founding of the State, the area in front of the Kosel did not look as it does today. Only a narrow alley separated the Kosel and the Arab houses on its other side. The British Government forbade us to place an Ark, tables or benches in the alley; even a small stool could not be brought to the Kosel. The British also instituted the following ordinances, designed to humble the Jews at the holiest place of their faith: it is forbidden to pray out loud, lest one upset the Arab residents; it is forbidden to read from the Torah (those praying at the Kosel had to go to one of the synagogues in the Jewish quarter to conduct the Torah reading); it is forbidden to sound the shofar on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The British Government placed policemen at the Kosel to enforce these rules.
On Yom Kippur of that year [1930] I was praying at the Kosel. During the brief intermission between the musaf and minchah prayers, I overheard people whispering to each other: "Where will we go to hear the shofar? It’ll be impossible to blow here. There are as many policemen as people praying..." The Police Commander himself was there, to make sure that the Jews will not, G-d forbid, sound the single blast that closes the fast.
I listened to these whisperings, and thought to myself: Can we possibly forgo the sounding of the shofar that accompanies our proclamation of the sovereignty of G-d? Can we possibly forgo the sounding of the shofar, which symbolizes the redemption of Israel? True, the sounding of the shofar at the close of Yom Kippur is only a custom, but "A Jewish custom is Torah"! I approached Rabbi Yitzchak Horenstein, who served as the Rabbi of our "congregation," and said to him: "Give me a shofar."
"What for?" The Rabbi said. "I’ll blow." "What are you talking about? Don’t you see the police?" "I’ll blow." I told him.
The Rabbi abruptly turned away from me, but not before he cast a glance at the prayer stand at the left end of the alley. I understood: the shofar is in the stand. When the hour of the blowing approached, I walked over to the stand and leaned against it.
I opened the drawer and slipped the shofar into my shirt. I had the shofar, but what if they saw me before I had a chance to blow it? I was still unmarried at the time, and following the Ashkenazic custom, did not wear a tallis. I turned to person praying at my side, and asked him for his tallis. My request must have seemed strange to him, but the Jews are a kind people, especially at the holiest moments of the holiest day, and he handed me his tallis me without a word.
I wrapped myself in the tallis. At that moment, I felt that I had created my own private domain. All around me, a foreign government prevails, ruling over the people of Israel even on their holiest day and at their holiest place, and we are not free to serve our G-d; but under this tallis is another domain. Here I am under no dominion save that of my Father in Heaven; here I shall do as He commands me, and no force on earth will stop me.
When the closing verses of the ne’illah prayer—"Hear O Israel," "Blessed be the name" and "The L-rd is G-d"—were proclaimed, I took the shofar and blew a long, resounding blast. Everything happened very quickly. Many hands grabbed me. I removed the tallis from over my head, and before me stood the Police Commander, who ordered my arrest.
I was taken to the kishla, the prison in the Old City, and an Arab policeman was appointed to watch over me. Many hours passed; I was given no food or water to break my fast. At midnight, the policeman received an order to release me, and he let me out without a word.
I then learned that when the chief rabbi of the Holy Land, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook, heard of my arrest, he immediately contacted the secretary of High Commissioner, and asked that I be released. When his request was refused, he stated that he would not break his fast until I was freed. The High Commissioner resisted for many hours, but finally, out of respect for the Rabbi, he had no choice but to set me free.
For the next eighteen years, until the Arab conquest of the Old City in 1948, the shofar was sounded at the Kosel every Yom Kippur. The British well understood the significance of this blast; they knew that it will ultimately demolish their reign over our land as the walls of Jericho crumbled before the shofar of Joshua, and they did everything in their power to prevent it. But every Yom Kippur, the shofar was sounded by men who know they would be arrested for their part in staking our claim on the holiest of our possessions. Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: Mazal Tov to Reb. and Mrs. Tuvia Wolfberg of Los Angeles, CA, upon the bris of their grandson Yehudah Nissan to their son Avrohom Dovid In memory of R' Yaakov ben Naftoly, of blessed memory In Memory of Reb Yitzchok ben Reb Shimon (Friedman) of blessed memory Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Leah bas Tziporah
A good Shabbos to all,
Rachamim Pauli
