Parsha Ki
Sisa
In the
last two Parshiyos, Moshe Rabbaynu is up Har Sinai receiving the theoretically
instructions and plans for the Mishkan. The Nation as yet to lift a finger to
build it and Moshe is receiving the final details of taking a census and brass
washing laver and the making of the incense for the sanctuary. Moshe has seen
the plans but has neither technical knowledge nor engineering abilities and
hasn’t a clue how to create the Mishkan. He is not commanded to take two
experienced people who will have via Ruach HaKodesh on how to put the Mishkan
together to the correct dimension and create plans from scratch on how to do it.
But when the holy spirit of prophecy goes into them they are successful and what
Moshe saw in heaven he will see forming in front of his
eyes.
Time
wise or story narration the Parsha is consistent. However, the taking of the
census and paying of half a Shekel is a disconnect from the giant water holder
of brass mirrors to be donated from the righteous women who prettied themselves
so that enslaved men would want to produce another generation had their mirrors
made into a holy article in the Mishkan. The only connection with them is that
both were needed for the Mishkan. Once we have returned to the Mishkan we can
continue the narrative with the spices used for incense.
The
Command in heaven now switches over to the Shabbos. At this point the commands
have finished and it is time for Moshe to explain the Torah to the people and he
is to be handed the Ten Sayings aka Assera Debros or Ten Commandments.
30:11
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 12 'When thou take the sum of the
children of Israel, according to their number, then shall they give every man a
ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou number them; that there be no
plague among them, when thou number them. 13 This they shall give, every one
that passes among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the
sanctuary--the shekel is twenty gerahs--half a shekel for an offering to the
LORD. 14 Every one that passes
among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the
offering of the LORD. 15 The
rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half
shekel, when they give the offering of the LORD, to make atonement for your
souls. 16 And thou shalt take
the atonement money from the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the
service of the tent of meeting, that it may be a memorial for the children of
Israel before the LORD, to make atonement for your souls.'
A
census of all the tribes will be taken and the money raised will go towards the
Mishkan either purchase of the Giraffe Skins or another
item.
17
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 18 'Thou shalt also make a laver of
brass, and the base thereof of brass, whereat to wash; and thou shalt put it
between the tent of meeting and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
19 And Aaron and his sons shall
wash their hands and their feet thereat; 20 when they go into the tent of
meeting, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near
to the altar to minister, to cause an offering made by fire to smoke unto the
LORD; 21 so they shall wash
their hands and their feet, that they die not; and it shall be a statute forever
to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.'
This
is to prevent the Cohanim from serving in Tuma but rather in the purest Tahor
state.
22
Moreover the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 23 'Take thou also unto thee the chief
spices, of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so
much, even two hundred and fifty, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty,
24 and of cassia five hundred,
after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin. 25 And thou shalt make it a holy
anointing oil, a perfume compounded after the art of the perfumer; it shall be a
holy anointing oil. 26 And thou
shalt anoint therewith the tent of meeting, and the ark of the testimony, 27 and the table and all the vessels
thereof, and the candlestick and the vessels thereof, and the altar of incense,
28 and the altar of
burnt-offering with all the vessels thereof, and the laver and the base thereof.
29 And thou shalt sanctify them,
that they may be most holy; whatsoever touches them shall be holy.
This
is not for an ordinary Jew who in this case is called ZAR or stranger to the
service.
30
And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and sanctify them, that they may
minister unto Me in the priest's office. 31 And thou shalt speak unto the
children of Israel, saying: This shall be a holy anointing oil unto Me
throughout your generations. 32
Upon the flesh of man shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any like it,
according to the composition thereof; it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.
33 Whosoever compounds any like
it, or whosoever puts any of it upon a stranger, he shall be cut off from his
people.'
One
can buy even incense in the central bus station (at least years ago) but it is
forbidden outside of the Mishkan or Mikdash and only by Cohanim. However, what
is forbidden to us must say that way. It was a statement like this that
straightened out the potential convert in the time of Hillel. The Talmud in
Shabbos describe 3 converts. One of them heard the learning about the clothing
of the Cohain Gadol so he went to Shammai to Convert as he was the head of the
Sanhedrin or Beis Din. Shammai personally kicked him out. Hillel took a
different approach Shabbos 31 the whole story can be viewed there or on
http://id3460.securedata.net/saratogachabad/mainpages/Avot/1_3converts.htm
Hillel
looked for the good in the man and his altruistic wanting to serve the nation
for obviously there is only one Cohain Gadol and one set of garments to be warn
at any one time. Hillel told him to learn what had to be done. When he read
about an ordinary Jew being called ‘stranger’ he then learned it upon himself
from a similar case to a hard case that the Jew comes part of the family and I
who just came to Judaism with my clothing on am surely not worth. He blessed
Hillel for his patience.
34
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha,
and galbanum; sweet spices with pure frankincense; of each shall there be a like
weight. 35 And thou shalt make
of it incense, a perfume after the art of the perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure
and holy. 36 And thou shalt beat
some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tent of
meeting, where I will meet with thee; it shall be unto you most holy. 37 And the incense which thou shalt
make, according to the composition thereof ye shall not make for yourselves; it
shall be unto thee holy for the LORD. 38 Whosoever shall make like unto
that, to smell thereof, he shall be cut off from his people.'
Below
the final detailed instructions for practical work will come in a series of
dreams to Betzalel and Uri.
31:1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'See, I have called by name Bezalel
the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; 3 and I have filled him with the
spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all
manner of workmanship, 4 to
devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 and in cutting of stones for
setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship. 6 And I, behold, I have appointed with
him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all
that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have
commanded thee: 7 the tent of
meeting, and the ark of the testimony, and the ark-cover that is thereupon, and
all the furniture of the Tent; 8
and the table and its vessels, and the pure candlestick with all its vessels,
and the altar of incense; 9 and
the altar of burnt-offering with all its vessels, and the laver and its base;
10 and the plaited garments, and
the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to
minister in the priest's office; 11 and the anointing oil, and the
incense of sweet spices for the holy place; according to all that I have
commanded thee shall they do.'
The
following paragraphs are a special contract that HASHEM has with the children of
Israel. It is sentence 17 below that is a special bound or contract between
HASHEM and the Bnei Yisrael that a Goy or potential convert is forbidden to
observe. That is why we require the non-Jewish Conversion student to light a
match when it is Shabbos proper or to write two letters or to sew a few threats
on Shabbos. Something of little consequence for a non-Jew but forbidden to a
Jew.
12
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 13 'Speak thou also unto the children
of Israel, saying: Verily ye shall keep My sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me
and you throughout your generations, that ye may know that I am the LORD who
sanctify you.
Between
the Ben/Bas Yisrael or full Convert and HASHEM but only a full
Jew.
And
you, speak to the children of Israel: But [as for] you, although I have mandated
you to command them [the Israelites] concerning the work of the Mishkan, do not
let it seem to you that you may easily set aside the Sabbath because of that
work. Only keep My Sabbaths!: Although you will be rushed to perform the work
[of the Mishkan] quickly, the Sabbath shall not be set aside because of it. All
instances of אַ and רַק [imply limitations, i.e.,] are exclusive, to exclude the
Sabbath from the work of the Mishkan. For it is a sign between Me and you: It is
a sign of distinction between us that I have chosen you, by granting you as an
inheritance My day of rest for [your] rest. To know: [So that] the nations
[should know] that I, the Lord, sanctify you.
14
Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore, for it is holy unto you; every one that
profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whosoever doeth any work therein,
that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
He
will get Kares for Shabbos violations not only in this world but in the
next.
Shall
be put to death: If there are witnesses and a warning. will be cut off: without
warning. -[from Mechilta] Those who desecrate it: Heb. מְחַלְלֶיהָ, [those] who
treat its sanctity as profane.
15
Six days shall work be done; but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest,
holy to the LORD; whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely
be put to death.
A Sabbath
of complete rest: Heb. שַׁבָּתשַׁבָּתוֹן, a reposeful rest, not a casual
rest. A Sabbath of complete rest: For this reason, Scripture repeated it
[the word, שַׁבָּת], to inform [us] that on it all work is prohibited, even what
is needed for food. Similarly regarding Yom Kippur, in whose context it says:
“It is a Sabbath of complete rest for you” (Lev. 23:32), all work is prohibited.
However, concerning festivals it says only: “on the first day is a rest, and on
the eighth day is a rest” (Lev. 23:39), [meaning that] on them [i.e., on
holidays] only servile work is prohibited, but work needed for food
[preparation] is permitted.) Holy to the Lord: The observance of its sanctity
shall be for My name and by My commandment.
16
Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath
throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the
children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and
on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested.'
And
rested: Heb.
וַיִּנָפַשׁ. As the Targum [Onkelos] renders: וְנָח, and rested. Now every
expression of נוֹפֶשׁ, rest, is an expression of נֶפֶשׁ, soul, for one regains
one’s soul and one’s breath when one rests from the toil of work. He about Whom
it is written: “He neither tires nor wearies” (Isa. 40:28), and Whose every act
is performed by speech [alone, without physical effort], dictated rest in
reference to Himself [only] in order to make it understood to the [human] ear
with words that it can understand.
18
And He gave unto Moses, when He had made an end of speaking with him upon mount
Sinai, the two tables of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger
of God.
The
next section deals with the happenings in the background when Moshe tarries in
returning to the Bnei Yisrael. G-D becoming wroth with the people and Moshe
reminding him that they are HIS people.
15
And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tables of the
testimony in his hand; tables that were written on both their sides; on the one
side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of
God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
Moshe
brings down the two tablets which according to Lubavitch were rectangular in
shape and letters carved through. According to the Medrash they were two giant
Sapphire Stones.
17
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto
Moses: 'There is a noise of war in the camp.' 18 And he said: 'It is not the voice
of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for
being overcome, but the noise of them that sing do I hear.'
Hashem
has told Moshe what is going on so he is more aware than the younger Yehoshua.
However, Moshe as calm as he normal is loses it when he sees what is going on
and unlike HASHEM has no long suffering attribute.
19
And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf
and the dancing; and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his
hands, and broke them beneath the mount. 20 And he took the calf which they had
made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the
water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. 21 And Moses said unto Aaron: 'What
did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them?' 22 And Aaron said: 'Let not the anger
of my lord wax hot; you know the people, that they are set on evil. 23 So they said unto me: Make us a
god, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up
out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. 24 And I said unto them: Whosoever
hath any gold, let them break it off; so they gave it me; and I cast it into the
fire, and there came out this calf.' 25 And when Moses saw that the people
were broken loose--for Aaron had let them loose for a derision among their
enemies-- 26 then Moses stood in
the gate of the camp, and said: 'Whoso is on the LORD'S side, let him come unto
me.' And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. 27 And he said unto them: 'Thus says
the LORD, the God of Israel: Put ye every man his sword upon his thigh, and go
to and fro from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his
brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbor.' 28 And the sons of Levi did according
to the word of Moses; and there fell of the people that day about three thousand
men.
This
is a half a percent of the male population and perhaps an eighth of a percent or
so of the entire population.
HASHEM
promises once again to give the land of Eretz Yisrael to the people.
32:
… 17
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken,
for thou hast found grace in My sight, and I know thee by name.' 18 And he said: 'Show me, I pray Thee,
Thy glory.' 19 And He said: 'I
will make all My goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of the
LORD before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will
show mercy on whom I will show mercy.' 20 And He said: 'Thou canst not see My
face, for man shall not see Me and live.' 21 And the LORD said: 'Behold, there
is a place by Me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock. 22 And it shall come to pass, while My
glory passes by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover
thee with My hand until I have passed by. 23 And I will take away My hand, and
thou shalt see My back; but My face shall not be seen.'
34:1
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first;
and I will write upon the tables the words that were on the first tables, which
thou didst break. 2 And be ready
by the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself
there to Me on the top of the mount.
Now
Moshe is going to have to duplicate the commandments carved in stone through two
sides of the rock.
3
And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all
the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.' 4 And he hewed two tables of stone
like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto
mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand two tables of
stone. 5 And the LORD descended
in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 And the LORD passed by before
him, and proclaimed: 'The LORD, the LORD, God, merciful and gracious,
long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth; 7 keeping mercy unto the thousandth
generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin; and that will by no
means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children,
and upon the children's children, unto the third and unto the fourth
generation.'
These
are the 13 Attributes of G-D.
8
And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. 9 And he said: 'If now I have found
grace in Thy sight, O Lord, let the Lord, I pray Thee, go in the midst of us;
for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us
for Thine inheritance.' 10 And
He said: 'Behold, I make a covenant; before all thy people I will do marvels,
such as have not been wrought in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the
people among which thou art shall see the work of the LORD that I am about to do
with thee, that it is tremendous. …
24 For I will cast out nations before thee, and enlarge thy
borders;
It
was that pork eating Moshe Dayan and the Kibbutzim that stopped the migration of
the Arabs away from the land in 1967.
neither
shall any man covet thy land, when thou go up to appear before the LORD thy God
three times in the year. 25 Thou
shalt not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the
sacrifice of the feast of the Passover be left unto the morning. 26 The choicest first-fruits of thy
land thou shalt bring unto the house of the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe
a kid in its mother's milk.'
27
And the LORD said unto Moses: 'Write thou these words, for after the tenor of
these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel.' 28 And he was there with the LORD
forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he
wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten words. 29 And it came to pass, when Moses
came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of the testimony in Moses' hand,
when he came down from the mount, that Moses knew not that the skin of his face
sent forth beams while He talked with him. 30 And when Aaron and all the children
of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face sent forth beams (of light); and they were afraid to come nigh him.
31 And Moses called unto them;
and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him; and Moses
spoke to them. 32 And afterward
all the children of Israel came nigh, and he gave them in commandment all that
the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. 33 And when Moses had done speaking
with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when Moses went in before the
LORD that He might speak with him, he took the veil off, until he came out; and
he came out; and spoke unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded.
35 And the children of Israel
saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face sent forth beams; and Moses
put the veil back upon his face, until he went in to speak with Him.
From
the Lubavitcher Rebbe - Does G-D really exist? http://www.chabad.org/therebbe/letters/default_cdo/aid/1915051/jewish/Does-G-d-Really-Exist-An-Answer-to-a-Child.htm
By
the Grace of G‑d
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, 5730 [July 5, 1970]
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Rosh Chodesh Tammuz, 5730 [July 5, 1970]
Brooklyn, N.Y.
Greeting
and Blessing:
My
dear Assaf:
I
was pleased to receive your letter, but I was very much surprised at the
question you asked.
You
wrote: “I want to know if Hashem really exists.” I will answer it this way:
Suppose you were walking in the streets and saw a skyscraper. Would you ask, “Is
there someone who made it?” And if this is so with a building of a number of
floors, what will you say about the whole world, with the sun, moon and stars,
oceans and mountains and woods, and all the creatures on land and in the seas,
and so on?
Your
other question was: if you daven the rest of the year, will you get a
trumpet?
Since
you are a thoughtful boy, I will again answer it with an illustration: Suppose
you were invited to the White House, and the President of the United States
received you with pleasure and asked you what kind of a present would you like.
Would you ask him for a candy? Perhaps you know the story of King Solomon, who
was only 12 years old when he became king of all the Jewish people, after his
father, King David. G‑d appeared to him in a dream and asked him, “What shall I
give you?” And all he asked for was a wise and understanding heart! And G‑d gave
him that, as well as everything any person could wish
for.
I
trust you are learning Hashem’s Torah with devotion and diligence, and conduct
yourself the way Hashem wants you to as befitting for a Jewish boy, a son of
Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, the fathers of our
people.
With
blessing,
This
week the Goyim are having a Holiday based on Cupid, Pan aka Banias in Northern
Israel where a Statue was put up in Dan.
Somehow Aish HaTorah got swept up in the moment.
3 Things I Wish I Knew when I was Dating: http://www.aish.com/d/w/3-Things-I-Wish-I-Knew-when-I-was-Dating.html I would have appreciated a heads-up on a few things. What wisdom do you have to share?
I learned the ropes of dating on the fly, and somehow I made it to the
chuppah. I sure would have appreciated a heads-up on a few things. To make your
dating process a little sweeter, here are three concepts that I wish I’d known
when I was dating.
1. Like attracts like
My husband was given really great advice when he was dating: “Men and women are already different enough. Find someone you have something in common with.” After 11 years of marriage, I concur – men and women are different. And the more you have in common, the easier it will be to adapt to married life.Yes opposites can attract, but they sometimes have a challenging time staying together. Don’t misunderstand me: there will be differences between you and your spouse. No matter how alike you are there will definitely be enough ways in which you are different. But different is not the same as opposite. Over time you will hopefully come to appreciate and value those differences. But don’t go looking for someone so different from yourself.
If you really want a super spouse, make sure you’re super too (inside and out). Like attracts like. Take a minute to look in the mirror. What positive traits and qualities do you see? In what ways are you great? Notice your greatness. Notice it not because you are egocentric, but rather because you are trying to identify your other half. By identifying the first half of the soul mate – yourself – you’ll be better equipped to search the world for your super spouse.
2. How to survive your best friend's wedding and marriage
While you’ve been searching for your soul mate, your best friend has too. What happens when your best friend finds love before you? A client of mine shared the following: “When my friends got married it was pretty traumatic. I had no idea how to deal with it. Especially when my best friend got engaged. Her story is what we’ve been dreaming of and praying for – I'm getting married, moving to another city, YAY! But my story is saying goodbye to my roommate of five years and looking for a new roommate, a new best friend, and a husband.”The girl getting married is probably not all-consumed with how her marriage will affect her best friend. And chances are the friend being “left behind” isn’t thinking all that much about how marriage will affect her best friend’s life. Both sides are consumed with the change in their own lives.
You can weather the changes with a balanced approach – keep both self and other in mind. Acknowledge what you’re thinking and how you are feeling. Take care of yourself first. But after you’ve taken good care of yourself, it’s time to think of your friend. Getting married is one of life’s big stressors. (This isn’t meant to scare you, but rather to prepare you.) Stay in touch with your friend. S/he will need the most support after the party is over. When the fun is done and the hum drum of life begins, your friend will need your ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on and friendship more than ever. And I know you’ll need your friend too!
3. It’s going to work out
If you believe that things are going to work out, handling your life moment to moment may not be as frustrating. You would be able to go through the dating process with greater ease and a stronger faith in God. You may even stop dreading the process because you know it will eventually end. It would be as if you watched the movie of your life, you know the outcome, but then you went back to the middle of your story to relive it moment by moment. You would experience this portion of your life with an inner peace and not be frustrated by the seemingly long and arduous journey.If you could see the plans behind the scene, then your current experience of the world may be easier. You could even get to a point of feeling like this is “all for the best” (gam zu l’tova). At the end of this process, you will have your spouse! Even more than your spouse, you will have your best self! It’s who you are and who you become that matters. How did you act, and react in the moment? You will feel good or bad based on your actions. What will happen in life will happen. Acting your best self through it all will help you feel good about yourself, ease the process and make for the best possible outcome.
I’m sure there are dozens of things we could add to the “I wish I knew” list. What do you wish you would have known? What wisdom do you have to share? Please comment below and share your insights with us.
Shabbos
101 with recipes too http://www.aish.com/sh/
General
vs. General and Elijah "the Prophet"
An
air force pilot is cruelly punished. His crime? Giving bar mitzvah
lessons.
Connection:
Weekly Reading--Haftorah (Eliyahu HaNavi / Elijah the Prophet)
http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=846-24
Eliyahu
Gabai
was an outstanding pupil in high school back in 1986, a guy singled out for
special training in the Israeli Air Force. Eventually he was inducted to train
fighter pilots in flight-simulation machines.
But before beginning his service he met up with the charismatic Rabbi Reuven Dunin and became a Chabad chasid. Rabbi Dunin himself had once been an atheist tractor driver from notoriously left-wing Haifa who had met up with Chabad chasidim some years earlier. His infectious enthusiasm was redirected to spiritual goals.
Of course, all this had nothing to do with Eliyahu's army service, which he performed diligently, but it did give him a greater sense of responsibility and the desire to make a difference. After all, the Lubavitcher Rebbe had taught that peace in the world would come only when the "Jewish spark" is revealed within each and every Jew. But Israeli society, and especially the army, was cold to Judaism. Although there was a rabbi on every base, it was more a passive than active job.
On every Israeli air force base were (and still are) housing neighborhoods for the pilots and their families, which naturally included boys approaching the age of bar mitzvah. Eliyahu, well acquainted with a number of the pilots, was the obvious candidate to prepare their sons for what would be for many the only religious occasion in their lives.
The class began with seven boys, and Eliyahu was thankful for that many. However, to his delight, the boys enjoyed the class, friends brought friends, and soon over seventy were meeting twice a week. A story Eliyahu told about Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) earned him the nickname "Eliyahu Hanavi" and the classes became "the course of Elijah the Prophet."
Eliyahu wrote a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe reporting his success. He felt it was like heaven on earth!
But, as we know, heaven and earth aren't always compatible. Dark clouds soon gathered over the horizon.
One evening, the commander of this base, a general by the name of Ron Huldai,* this is the current mayor of Tel Aviv came home. "Hello," he called out.
No reply. He caught sight of twelve-year-old son, Gad, standing silently in a corner, feet together, swaying back and forth and reading from a book.
The general approached the boy. "Hakol beseder?-- Is everything all right?"
The boy continued swaying, eyes on the book.
His mother entered and saw what was happening. "Nothing to worry about," she explained. "A rabbi's been coming to the base and giving bar mitzvah classes. He told the boys not to interrupt in the middle of prayer."
"Prayer? Rabbi? On the base? In my house? Brainwashing my son?" the general screamed. "Who is this rabbi? How did he get here? Why didn't anyone stop him?"
When the boy finally found a break in prayer, he told his father of "Eliyahu Hanavi." But because Eliyahu always changed into civilian clothes before class, that was all the boy knew about him.
Apparently prophets don't wear army badges or uniforms.
Immediately Huldai contacted the chief of security. "How dare you allow unauthorized personnel on the base," he shouted.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the chief answered. So he yelled at the chaplain, who was also bewildered.
Fearing further wrath from General Huldai, the chief went to the commanding general of the entire air force. When told that the invading rabbi's name was "Elijah the Prophet," the general almost fell off his chair laughing.
The next step was a meeting with several other officers. When this didn't help, the chief decided to take things into his own hands. He lay in wait at the classroom as the boys were entering, and the very next day caught "Elijah the Prophet" red-handed.
When Eliyahu revealed his identity, he was ordered to pack his bags and leave the base first thing the next morning. Heartbroken, he went home. Soon he started weeping, then fell asleep in exhaustion.
That night he had a dream. The Lubavitcher Rebbe appeared and asked him how things were going. When Eliyahu burst out crying; the Rebbe approached, opened his coat, placed Eliyahu's head inside, and covered it as if to say, "There is no need to worry."
The next morning Eliyahu received an envelope from New York containing two letters from the Rebbe. The first thanked him for the news about the classes and the second was a lesson for the weekly Torah portion. Clearly, miracles were starting to happen.
He finished packing, left the base, and took a bus to central command where he was to be reassigned to a new location. The officer there examined his papers, scratched his head, and examined them again. "What is going on?"
Eliyahu stammered, "What do you mean?"
"Why are they kicking you out?" The officer waved the papers around his head. "It will take me months to find someone to replace you. Why do I need such headaches?" Scanning the papers again, he continued, "And I don't see anything wrong. No problems with health, conduct, performance, attendance."
He glared at Eliyahu. "Nu, say something! Why are they expelling you?"
Eliyahu had no choice but to tell him. "I taught children on the base Torah."
"Torah?" The officer lapsed into thoughtful silence. After a while he leaned forward, narrowed his eyes and asked angrily, "Tell me, does this have anything to do with the Lubavitcher Rebbe?" Eliyahu nodded.
"If so," the commander yelled, "they will kick me out before they kick you out. I'm sending you back! After the Rebbe saved my father's life I'm ready to do anything for him. Anything!"
He pounded his fist on the table with all his might. "Now you go back to your base and tell them I sent you!"
Eliyahu couldn't believe his ears. This officer, who had appeared blatantly non-observant, suddenly transformed into a self-sacrificing chasid.
But before beginning his service he met up with the charismatic Rabbi Reuven Dunin and became a Chabad chasid. Rabbi Dunin himself had once been an atheist tractor driver from notoriously left-wing Haifa who had met up with Chabad chasidim some years earlier. His infectious enthusiasm was redirected to spiritual goals.
Of course, all this had nothing to do with Eliyahu's army service, which he performed diligently, but it did give him a greater sense of responsibility and the desire to make a difference. After all, the Lubavitcher Rebbe had taught that peace in the world would come only when the "Jewish spark" is revealed within each and every Jew. But Israeli society, and especially the army, was cold to Judaism. Although there was a rabbi on every base, it was more a passive than active job.
On every Israeli air force base were (and still are) housing neighborhoods for the pilots and their families, which naturally included boys approaching the age of bar mitzvah. Eliyahu, well acquainted with a number of the pilots, was the obvious candidate to prepare their sons for what would be for many the only religious occasion in their lives.
The class began with seven boys, and Eliyahu was thankful for that many. However, to his delight, the boys enjoyed the class, friends brought friends, and soon over seventy were meeting twice a week. A story Eliyahu told about Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) earned him the nickname "Eliyahu Hanavi" and the classes became "the course of Elijah the Prophet."
Eliyahu wrote a letter to the Lubavitcher Rebbe reporting his success. He felt it was like heaven on earth!
But, as we know, heaven and earth aren't always compatible. Dark clouds soon gathered over the horizon.
One evening, the commander of this base, a general by the name of Ron Huldai,* this is the current mayor of Tel Aviv came home. "Hello," he called out.
No reply. He caught sight of twelve-year-old son, Gad, standing silently in a corner, feet together, swaying back and forth and reading from a book.
The general approached the boy. "Hakol beseder?-- Is everything all right?"
The boy continued swaying, eyes on the book.
His mother entered and saw what was happening. "Nothing to worry about," she explained. "A rabbi's been coming to the base and giving bar mitzvah classes. He told the boys not to interrupt in the middle of prayer."
"Prayer? Rabbi? On the base? In my house? Brainwashing my son?" the general screamed. "Who is this rabbi? How did he get here? Why didn't anyone stop him?"
When the boy finally found a break in prayer, he told his father of "Eliyahu Hanavi." But because Eliyahu always changed into civilian clothes before class, that was all the boy knew about him.
Apparently prophets don't wear army badges or uniforms.
Immediately Huldai contacted the chief of security. "How dare you allow unauthorized personnel on the base," he shouted.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," the chief answered. So he yelled at the chaplain, who was also bewildered.
Fearing further wrath from General Huldai, the chief went to the commanding general of the entire air force. When told that the invading rabbi's name was "Elijah the Prophet," the general almost fell off his chair laughing.
The next step was a meeting with several other officers. When this didn't help, the chief decided to take things into his own hands. He lay in wait at the classroom as the boys were entering, and the very next day caught "Elijah the Prophet" red-handed.
When Eliyahu revealed his identity, he was ordered to pack his bags and leave the base first thing the next morning. Heartbroken, he went home. Soon he started weeping, then fell asleep in exhaustion.
That night he had a dream. The Lubavitcher Rebbe appeared and asked him how things were going. When Eliyahu burst out crying; the Rebbe approached, opened his coat, placed Eliyahu's head inside, and covered it as if to say, "There is no need to worry."
The next morning Eliyahu received an envelope from New York containing two letters from the Rebbe. The first thanked him for the news about the classes and the second was a lesson for the weekly Torah portion. Clearly, miracles were starting to happen.
He finished packing, left the base, and took a bus to central command where he was to be reassigned to a new location. The officer there examined his papers, scratched his head, and examined them again. "What is going on?"
Eliyahu stammered, "What do you mean?"
"Why are they kicking you out?" The officer waved the papers around his head. "It will take me months to find someone to replace you. Why do I need such headaches?" Scanning the papers again, he continued, "And I don't see anything wrong. No problems with health, conduct, performance, attendance."
He glared at Eliyahu. "Nu, say something! Why are they expelling you?"
Eliyahu had no choice but to tell him. "I taught children on the base Torah."
"Torah?" The officer lapsed into thoughtful silence. After a while he leaned forward, narrowed his eyes and asked angrily, "Tell me, does this have anything to do with the Lubavitcher Rebbe?" Eliyahu nodded.
"If so," the commander yelled, "they will kick me out before they kick you out. I'm sending you back! After the Rebbe saved my father's life I'm ready to do anything for him. Anything!"
He pounded his fist on the table with all his might. "Now you go back to your base and tell them I sent you!"
Eliyahu couldn't believe his ears. This officer, who had appeared blatantly non-observant, suddenly transformed into a self-sacrificing chasid.
"Thank for very much, sir," Eliyahu mumbled. "I'm very grateful someone is fighting for me. But I can't help wondering...why?"
The officer scribbled something on Eliyahu's papers and pushed them back to Eliyahu on the table. Then he cleared his throat and began.
"About ten years ago my father awoke one morning to find he couldn't move his legs. We called a doctor and took my father to the hospital. The biggest medical team in Israel showed up, but after thorough testing they advised us to take him to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York for expert treatment.
"We did what they said, but over there it was pretty much the same story. They made all kinds of tests but weren't sure what exactly to do, except make more tests.
"Meanwhile, a bunch of young religious boys came in and began asking the men there if they were Jewish and if so would they please wrap tefillin. My father and I agreed and put them on. We started talking, and in no time these kids suggested taking my father to the farbrengen--some sort of happy gathering--of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in honor of the Chassidic holiday Yud Tes Kislev.
"My father didn't exactly agree, but before we knew it they got a wheelchair and permission from a doctor. An hour later we were in this big synagogue in Brooklyn that was packed with people. The place was called '770.'
"They made way for my father's wheelchair, and we got a place close to the Rebbe. My father said it was one of the happiest moments in his life; everyone was singing and smiling--exactly the opposite of the hospital.
"Suddenly the Rebbe gazed at my father and motioned for him to toast l'chaim. Someone produced a small plastic cup with some vodka in it and he drank. It was bitter, maybe not even permissible in his state, but he figured one time wouldn't hurt.
"But then the Rebbe motioned for him to stand and make another one. We tried to refuse, pointing to his wheelchair, but the Rebbe just kept signaling. Someone placed a hand under my father's arm, and with a superhuman effort...he stood! And even more amazing, he didn't fall back down! From that moment he was on the road to recovery, and in a month or so he was totally healthy."
The officer pointed to the door. "And now...go back to your base!"
Eliyahu returned to his base. There he was warned never to teach the children again. Nevertheless, he requested and was granted permission for one farewell meeting.
He gathered the boys around. "Children, remember how I told you that in the days of Rabbi Akiva there were harsh decrees against learning Torah? Well, now there is a similar decree on us. So we will do what the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe did in Russia and what Rabbi Akiva did here in the Holy Land; they taught Torah 'underground'."
The boys agreed enthusiastically and began whispering to each other in excitement, Eliyahu continued that once a week he would put a code in the corner of a certain blackboard on the base indicating where and when to meet. And so, for the next year, until he finished his service in the army, Jewish children overcame all obstacles and learned Torah...on the secular-to-an-extreme base.
Occasionally, even today--over 25 years later--Eliyahu runs into some of those "children," and each one tells him how his classes changed their lives. I think you can figure out how much the mayor “loves” Torah and Judaism. Rabbi Y. Tilles wrote the story above.
The
Rabbi, Cook and Gan Eden by Rabbi Rachmiel Tobesman Shlita: http://projectshalom2.org/StoryTour/?p=1649
It is not study that is so important as much as deeds done.
It is told that Rabbi Shimon once prayed that the Holy One, blessed be He show him his place in Eden. One night in a dream he saw that he would be seated next to a cook. This surprised him, and he thought to himself, “I have occupied myself in the study of Torah day and night, yet my place is beside a cook.” After the dream, he decided: “I will go and find this cook and ask him what he has done so special.”He searched for some time and found that the cook was a very wealthy man. He became a guest of the cook and stayed with him for eight days, and the cook showed him great honor. Rabbi Shimon asked the cook to walk with him in the field outside of the village and asked him: “Please tell me what you have been doing that is so special.”
The cook thought for a moment and then slowly answered, “Rabbi, I am just a simple man who by reason of my many sins have studied very little Torah. All my life I have been a cook. At one time I was very poor but by the blessings of Heaven, I have grown wealthy. Every Friday since I began cooking, I have distributed meat, challah and wine to the poor at my expense and I give a great deal in charity. I try to follow the teaching of ‘Sanctifying the Sabbath with food, drink, clean clothes and pleasure. (Deuteronomy Rabbah 3:1)’ “Rabbi Shimon listened and then asked, “Please tell me whether you have done anything more than that.”
Then the cook thought for a moment and reluctantly shared: “Please understand that I am the tax collector for this city. When a ship comes, I collect a tax on any goods in the hold of the ship. Once a ship came here, and I collected the tax.” The tax here is not customs but a port tax like one pays when flying to airports in different countries.
“After the captain paid the tax, he came to me and said: ‘If you wish to purchase what is in the hold on my ship, I’ll sell it to you.’ “
“Tell me what it is” I said to him.
“I shall not tell you,” the captain answered, “until you have bought it and paid for it. And if you do not buy it, I shall not sell it at all.”
“In that case,” I replied, “tell me how much it is, and I shall decide.”“Ten thousand in gold,” the captain told me; and I told him: “Show me the goods, and I shall pay it.”
“I shall only give it,” the captain answered “if you give me twenty thousand in gold.”
“Show me your merchandise and I shall pay.”“I shall not give it to you unless I you pay me forty thousand in gold.”
“When I saw that he was raising the price all the time, I decided that it must be something very, very valuable, so I agreed to pay him the gold. The captain ordered, ‘you must pay me in full before I will show you what is in the hold of my ship.’ I paid him in good gold.’ “
“Immediately he brought out from the ship’s lower hold two hundred Jewish souls whom he had captured, and said to me: ‘If you had not purchased them today, I would have slain them and flung them into the sea.’ Now he handed them over to me, and I brought them to my home. I fed them and gave them to drink and provided them clean clothes. I also assisted those who were single to wed one another.”
Among the refugees was a very beautiful young girl, and I took pity on her and gave her to my son, and he was betrothed to her. I invited all my townsfolk to the wedding feast. When the guests sat down to eat, I stood among them and saw that a young man who had been among the captives was crying. ‘Why are you crying?’ I asked, but he did not wish to tell me. Finally, I led him to a room away from everyone else, and there he told me that the day they had been taken captive was the very day on which he should have wedded that beautiful young girl. ‘If you are prepared to divorce her,’ said I to him, ‘I shall pay you a hundred pieces of silver.’ ‘My lord,’ said he to me, ‘I desire her more than all the silver and gold in the world, but what can I do if your son stands under the bridal canopy with her.’ “
“At this, I went to my son and told him: ‘Divorce her.’ My son looked at me and said, ‘Father I understand not your reasons, but I respect your wisdom and I shall do as you ask.’ I gave her to that young man and I made them wealthy according to the way of our people that ‘when you let him go free, you shall not let him go empty, and you shall furnish them liberally.’ (Deuteronomy 15:13). This is the thing I have done.’ “Then Rabbi Shimon said to him: “Blessed be the One who sees all hidden things who has favored me to be seated beside you in Eden!”
So let a man engage in Torah (Scripture) and good deeds at all times, and practice charity. For money is not his but belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He, as the Prophet Haggai said: “The silver is Mine, the gold is Mine, says the Lord” (2:8). And it is also written in the Book of Psalms: “For God judges; this one He brings down, and that one He lifts up” (75:8).Happy is he who performs a good deed, that may tip the scale for him and the world. (Kiddushin 40b) (based on Tanchuma, Mavo 68) May all your tales end with Shalom (peace) I heard this story with Rashi but since it comes from Tanchuma it appears to be the original source.
From Sophia: What do clothes say about you? What image are you trying to project? Armies have uniforms, teens have fads, women have fashion, businesses have their standard of dress. Even the Torah has a standard of dress for both men and women which has both a rhyme and reason behind it -- a message which the Torah is teaching us about our own very essence.
Perhaps at one time or another you have noticed an Orthodox Jewish woman with her hair covered, wearing a dress that comes below the knees, below the elbows and above the collar bone? Perhaps you have wondered why they dress in such an unchanging manner while hemlines go up and down according to what is fashionable?
The Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law, directs that men and women should comport themselves in a manner of tzniut, modesty. In speech, in action and in dress, a Jew is directed to act modestly. One source for this is from the prophet Michah (6:8), "(God) tells you, man, what He requires of you, but to do justice, love kindness and walk modestly with your God."
Why? A human being is comprised of a body and a soul. The soul is the essence, the body is the covering or the packaging. In the case of clothing, especially for women, the less clothing, the more the emphasis is on the packaging (the body) and the less it is on the essence, the soul.
The Torah recognizes that the Almighty created men in a manner that
they are easily
aroused by what they see. In order to balance the situation so that women will
be treated with respect, the Torah forbids sexually suggestive clothing.
Attractive, yes; provocative, no. As one man told me, "I am puzzled by women who
dress in a manner that says 'take me' -- and then complain that men do not
respect them."
A woman once replied that she dressed provocatively because she loved the power she had over men -- completely distracting them from whatever they were doing and focusing their attention on her.
Gila Manolson, an expert on feminine spirituality, writes in her excellent book, Outside, Inside, "Woman will often attempt to win a relationship by semi-consciously playing to a man's tendency to regard her physically. This can spell disaster for a woman. Most tragically, a woman who accustoms herself to 'getting' a man this way is going to internalize an increasingly shallow self-image, to the point where she may lose sight entirely of what she really has to offer. Furthermore, while her feelings in the relationship may indeed deepen, there's no reason to expect that his will."
The Torah standard of dress reflects the dignity of being created in the image of the Almighty. Rather than attract outside attention, the goal is to be happy with oneself, not needing outside approval or validation. The less a woman wears, the less dignity and self-respect she projects. I highly recommend Dina Coopersmith's article "Beneath the Surface: A Deeper Look at Modesty" on Aish.com.
There is a second aspect to the concept of dressing modestly. The more precious something is, the more it is guarded and reserved for important occasions. If one uses his best silver at every meal, it loses its uniqueness. There is something exceptional about one's physical attraction. The Torah wants that specialness to maintain its power as well as its dignity for one exceedingly important relationship -- marriage.
Realizing the need, Marty Bogoratt set out to work with top fashion designers and manufacturers to blend their designs with the Torah's standards of modesty to create fashionable, but not provocative clothing -- at reasonable prices. It is well-worthwhile to check out his website 4Modesty.com or call 888-4-MODESTY (888- 466-3378). Since I don't know of anyone else doing this, it is fair to say that Marty is the leader in providing fashionable modest clothing! As it says in Proverbs 11:12 "...And with the modest ones lies wisdom!"
A woman once replied that she dressed provocatively because she loved the power she had over men -- completely distracting them from whatever they were doing and focusing their attention on her.
Gila Manolson, an expert on feminine spirituality, writes in her excellent book, Outside, Inside, "Woman will often attempt to win a relationship by semi-consciously playing to a man's tendency to regard her physically. This can spell disaster for a woman. Most tragically, a woman who accustoms herself to 'getting' a man this way is going to internalize an increasingly shallow self-image, to the point where she may lose sight entirely of what she really has to offer. Furthermore, while her feelings in the relationship may indeed deepen, there's no reason to expect that his will."
The Torah standard of dress reflects the dignity of being created in the image of the Almighty. Rather than attract outside attention, the goal is to be happy with oneself, not needing outside approval or validation. The less a woman wears, the less dignity and self-respect she projects. I highly recommend Dina Coopersmith's article "Beneath the Surface: A Deeper Look at Modesty" on Aish.com.
There is a second aspect to the concept of dressing modestly. The more precious something is, the more it is guarded and reserved for important occasions. If one uses his best silver at every meal, it loses its uniqueness. There is something exceptional about one's physical attraction. The Torah wants that specialness to maintain its power as well as its dignity for one exceedingly important relationship -- marriage.
Realizing the need, Marty Bogoratt set out to work with top fashion designers and manufacturers to blend their designs with the Torah's standards of modesty to create fashionable, but not provocative clothing -- at reasonable prices. It is well-worthwhile to check out his website 4Modesty.com or call 888-4-MODESTY (888- 466-3378). Since I don't know of anyone else doing this, it is fair to say that Marty is the leader in providing fashionable modest clothing! As it says in Proverbs 11:12 "...And with the modest ones lies wisdom!"
From
Daniel who is a Baal Koreh (reader of the Torah in the Synagogue): Pesach
and the 4 special Parshiyos are upcoming sooner than you may realize. One of my
"hobbies" is understanding the Jewish calendar esp. with regards to how the
Parshiyos fit into the schedule.
This
year, besides being a leap year, it is also one where Rosh Hashanah began on
Thursday. This provides the somewhat unusual scenario of being a week "ahead" of
the standard Parsha reading schedule since Breishit was read on the earliest
possible date - the day after Simchas Torah. Thus, we
find:
Kedoshim
is read after Pesach - usually, it is Acharei Mot
Nasso
is read before Shavuot; usually it is after
Matot
and Mas'ei are separate
Only
1 Parsha is doubled - Nitzavim / Vayelech. This is because Yom Kippur is on
Shabbat.
At
any rate, the attached file shows the full 4 Parshiyos arrangement for leap and
non-leap years. Email me if you have any questions.
Best
regards to everyone-Daniel F
The
Special Parshiyos will be in Adar Bet this year and Ble Neder I will have more
to write then.
Non-Leap Year calendar
|
Leap Year calendar
| ||||||||||
Day of Week for 1st Day
Pesach
|
Day of Week for 1st Day
Pesach
| ||||||||||
Tuesday
|
Thursday
|
Shabbat
|
Sunday
|
Tuesday
w/ Rosh Hashanah on Thurs. |
Tuesday w/ Rosh Hashanah on Mon., Th, or
Shabbat
|
Thursday
|
Shabbat
|
Sunday
| |||
Mishpatim
|
Shekalim
|
Shekalim
|
Shekalim
|
Vayakhel
|
Shekalim
|
Shekalim
|
Shekalim
|
||||
Trumah
|
Shekalim
R.H. Adar |
Pekudei
|
Shekalim
|
Shekalim
R.H. Adar II | |||||||
Tetzaveh
|
Zachor
|
Zachor
|
Zachor
|
Zachor
|
Vayikra
|
Zachor
|
Zachor
|
Zachor
|
|||
Ki Tissah
|
Parah
|
Parah
|
Tzav
|
Zachor
|
Parah
|
Parah
|
Zachor
| ||||
Vayakhel
|
Hachodesh
|
Hachodesh
|
Parah
|
Parah
|
Shmini
|
Parah
|
Hachodesh
|
Hachodesh
|
Parah
|
Parah
| |
Pekudei
|
Hachodesh
|
Tazria
|
Hachodesh
|
Hachodesh
R.H. Nisan |
Hachodesh
| ||||||
Vayikra
|
Hachodesh
R.H. Nisan |
Metzora
|
Hagadol
|
Hagadol
|
Hagadol
|
||||||
Tzav
|
Hagadol
|
Hagadol
|
Hagadol
|
Hagadol
Erev Pesach |
Acharei Mot
|
Hagadol
|
Hagadol
Erev Pesach | ||||
Notes:
|
|||||||||||
Parah and Hachodesh must always be read in consecutive
weeks
|
|||||||||||
During leap years, if the previous Rosh Hashannah was on Thursday,
then the Torah
|
|||||||||||
readings are a week "ahead" of normal schedule, since Breishit is
read
|
|||||||||||
on the earliest date possible, which is the day immediately
following
|
|||||||||||
Simchat Torah, which would have been on
Friday.
|
|||||||||||
In such years, Kedoshim is read AFTER Pesach, Nasso is read BEFORE
Shavuot,
|
|||||||||||
and Matot and Mas'ei are read separately, tus making that week when
the
|
|||||||||||
reading for the year "evens out", and Devarim is read immediately
before Tish'a B'Av.
|
|||||||||||
In a leap year, if the 1st day of Pesach occurs on Sunday, the
previous Rosh Hashannah was on Thursday.
|
|||||||||||
This is the only possible calendar
arrangement.
|
|||||||||||
|
Leap Year calendar
|
|||||
|
Day of Week for 1st Day
Pesach
|
|||||
|
|
Tuesday
w/ Rosh Hashanah on Thurs. |
Tuesday w/ Rosh Hashanah on Mon., Th, or Shabbat
|
Thursday
|
Shabbat
|
Sunday
|
|
Vayakhel
|
|
Shekalim
|
Shekalim
|
Shekalim
|
|
|
Pekudei
|
Shekalim
|
|
|
|
Shekalim
R.H. Adar II |
|
Vayikra
|
|
Zachor
|
Zachor
|
Zachor
|
|
|
Tzav
|
Zachor
|
Parah
|
Parah
|
|
Zachor
|
|
Shmini
|
Parah
|
Hachodesh
|
Hachodesh
|
Parah
|
Parah
|
|
Tazria
|
Hachodesh
|
|
|
Hachodesh
R.H. Nisan |
Hachodesh
|
|
Metzora
|
|
Hagadol
|
Hagadol
|
Hagadol
|
|
|
Acharei Mot
|
Hagadol
|
|
|
|
Hagadol
Erev Pesach |
Working with
potential converts, here are 30 pages of sample questions for conversion one can
see even a 10 question test would make it impossible to convert 75 people in one
day after one flew on a plane from Chicago to Indonesia like one character
calling himself Rabbi did whom the Conservative Movement invalidated his
Conversions. http://www.halakhicconversion.org/downloads/Sample%20Test.pdf
Instead of somebody
like myself setting standards for behavior and guidance when done in secret it
leads to forbidden things: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4486770,00.html
ALS
cured!!! In Israel thanks to Shmuel L. remind Steven Hawkins to keep up the
boycott: http://www.algemeiner.com/2012/07/05/orthodox-rabbi-may-be-first-als-patient-cured-by-israeli-drug/
From Lori via Keren:
Now see this rapper on boycott. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF_IPieE5qM#t=118
Holocaust photo vs.
Gaza Photo: http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2014/02/04/calling-gaza-a-concentration-camp-is-the-most-ignorant-comment-imaginable/
I picked this up from
the Jews, News and Views Group http://www.israelvideonetwork.com/boy-this-muslim-kid-will-definitely-be-the-next-prime-minister-of-israel
And his
parachute failed to open: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177357#.UvsuPcZWHIU
A fish stinks from
the head. Wednesday, former Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger was arrested on suspicion
of taking bribes about conversion and money laundering. Rabbi Pinto had some
problems a few years back with the Israeli Mafia and some other things with big
money. Now he under suspicion of bribing a Police Inspector http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4487775,00.html
A Chassidic Rebbe who
wrote a holy book also has a full time Mistress whom he supports although
according to Halacha there is nothing wrong with this it is a case of do as I
say not as I do. All this was predicted in Sotah
49B prior to the coming of the Moshiach. As I wrote you will be surprised who
will and will not be there to welcome the Moshiach. I never claim to be the
world’s greatest example of being a Tzaddik but then again I try to be as
straight as a ruler as possible.
This is in simple
Chinese I think that you will understand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HB-DKO1Xmk
Atlantis discovered?
http://altering-perspectives.com/2013/06/giant-pyramids-and-sphinxes-found-in.html
12 criminal
explosions in 8 months of which about 6 this month. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177263#.UvfaRZtWHIU
An example of going
too far in America: The paragraph below my introduction came from Dean F. and it
was copied and pasted as he has settings which might not be able to be viewed by
all. Jews were slaves in Egypt and the so-called slaves that the Jews had were
more domestic servants and never molested sexually by the owners unless they
were freed and married to the owner or a Jewish "slave" who redeemed them. Tabi
the most famous of Rabban Gamliel was a Talmud Chacham and Rabban Gamliel
observed mourning rites for him as he was "kosher" something that a Simon LeGree
would never ever dream of.
Here is my view on
the slavery period in America. Absolutely reprehensible. Jefferson kept 200
slaves while saying "all men are created equal" and writing that Blacks were
inferior to whites. Most of the Founders kept slaves. It's unfortunate that
American history is stained by these events. Regardless of that, it is 150 years
since the last slave was freed. Nobody today can be accountable for that. And
nobody today has been injured by it. We don't even know when the last American
slave died. Two that claimed they were the last slaves alive claimed to be 132
& 138 years old. And their stories were easily debunked, obviously. The last
of the slaves probably died in the 1950's, some slave owners maybe in the
1940's. Some 60+ years ago. It has no relevance today. It is simply historical
footnote. Nobody to punish, nobody to compensate. The only people that generate
any financial worth from this is pot stirrers like Reverend Jackson, Reverend
Wright, & Al Sharpton. Indeed Barack Obama too. The notion of reparations
are absurd. Unless you advocate collective guilt based not on who did it but a
guilt by race. Even then that is flawed logic as freed Black men owned both
White and Black slaves. America is about personal responsibility. Did you own
slaves ? No ? Well then you are blameless. White Guilt is an idiotic premise at
best. Michael King, aka Martin Luther King Jnr. proposed $50,000,000,000 in
reparations be paid to Blacks by Whites. This is what you expect to hear in
North Korea where you are held in Prison because of what you Great-Great
Grandfather is alleged to have done. It is unworthy of America or any nation
that abides by a sense of justice. Liberal America has placed a chip on the
shoulders of Black Americans where none existed. They nurtured this sense of
victimhood that is entirely baseless. Nobody in America owes anyone anything for
historical wrongdoings. The advocates of reparations are like broken records. We
need to regard any discussion of reparations based on race to be racist in
itself and call out those who engage in it and expose them for the racists they
are.
Inyanay
Diyoma
From
Martin Sherman THE HUMANITARIAN
SOLUTION - RESPONDING TO READERS - PART II It would be intriguing to see how
Palestinian “sumud” stands up to a chance of better life and compensation worth
two centuries of current GDP per capita.
http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Into-the-Fray-Bringing-a-knife-to-a-gunfight-Israels-impotent-Right-340662
I have been saying
all the time that the IDF has too much man-power and jobniks that don’t do any
useful function: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4485786,00.html
From Gabby: Guess who
wants to conquer from within Australia? http://www.restoreaustralia.org.au/muslim-open-day-auburn-sydney/
Obama and Kerry vs. a
messy Israeli Policy: http://debka.com/article/23662/Obama-may-be-in-two-minds-over-Kerry’s-Israeli-Palestinian-peace-mission-
Again rockets:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4486024,00.html
Egypt signed a $4
billion in arms to catch up to Israel but in the meantime is fighting
terrorists http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177228#.UvaRAZtWHIU
Time to kick this guy
out and put the Charedim In Again: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177227#.UvaR2JtWHIU
The following test
was to see if we are alert: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177216#.UvcpvJtWHIU
Perhaps not surprised
but one can be disturbed by this: http://conservativebyte.com/2011/08/socialist-party-of-america-releases-the-names-of-70-democrat-members-of-congress-who-are-members-of-their-caucus/
Russia’s war on
terror. http://debka.com/article/23664/Russian-anti-terror-drive-around-Sochi-leaves-10-dead-Female-suicide-suspects-detained-in-W-Europe-
Iran Propaganda does
not scare the IAF or most of us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxpcHl2jj20#t=28
If you leave them in
the land they will be thorns in your side (Devarim) http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177268#.Uvje5ptWHIU
Less army service for
men do we need more and more woman and Charedim? http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4486735,00.html
After critically
wounding the terrorist who designed and ordered the Eilat Attacks more rockets:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177305#.UvjjXZtWHIU
Iran working on Nukes
and no UN inspectors there: http://www.jpost.com/Iranian-Threat/News/Iran-admits-May-have-worked-on-designing-nuclear-weapon-340918
Boycott or Buycott:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhZ4ZAgPb_k
Hezballah is making
trouble and in trouble as many of their young men die in Syria: http://debka.com/article/23666/Iran-spreads-its-war-wings-Hizballah-deepens-role-in-Syria-Israel-Syria-Lebanon-“regions-of-conflict”
From Yacov M. A work
accident! http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177316#.Uvms04VqMUY
Hit them again
harder, harder http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177334#.UvmsRZtWHIU
USA moral
deterioration do as I say not as I do: http://gunssavelives.net/news/anti-violence-activist-who-pushed-to-ban-guns-in-school-is-arrested-with-a-gun-in-a-school/
Obama HaRasha is
written (Hebrew Film) in the Bible Code in association to Iran: (Take it or
leave it regarding the Bible Codes but the man is not among the 36 Righteous
People to put it mildly) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEl-FsTrEgY&feature=youtu.be This Rasha wants us to refrain: http://debka.com/article/23670/Obama-and-Kerry-ask-Netanyahu-to-hold-back-from-responding-to-Iranian-threats
From Sherilyn –
wicked leftist Jews: http://www.gopusa.com/freshink/2014/02/12/u-s-jewish-groups-defending-john-kerry-against-israel/?subscriber=1
Another German
Amalek: Esther 7:8 Then the king returned out of the palace
garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the
couch whereon Esther was. Then said the king: 'Will he even force the queen
before me in the house?' As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered
Haman's face. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177400#.UvvA1MZWHIU
From Sherilyn this
amazed me! http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-Features/Sean-Penn-to-be-named-global-champion-of-Jewish-values-341208
From Barry Shaw of
the Jerusalem Post: http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/PressRoom/2014/Pages/Israel-Joins-JUSCANZ-11-February-2014.aspx
Iran or the Sun’s EMP
threat to put the USA back into pre-industrial revolution days: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177314#.UvxtN8ZWHIU
From former marine
Ben: http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/02/obamas_fate.html
One cannot sit on the
fence with Gaza http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177436#.Uv0SIsZWHIU
Now
for M. Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story “Cover up”
Good Shabbos
Everyone. The Torah tells us
this week how Hashem commands the Bnai Yisroel regarding making the holy
clothing of the Kohanim. The commentator Rashi explains that the Kohen becomes
holy through wearing the special clothes. We see from here the power of clothing
to influence the spirituality of a Jew.
Everyone should be able to recognize a Jew from the way he dresses. A Jew who dresses differently will have a sense of pride of being Jewish. Just as a soldier is proud to wear his uniform, so too is every Jew a soldier in the army of Hashem, a soldier who is proud to sport the look of his ancestors.
How should a Jew dress differently? One way is that Jewish men should cover their heads by wearing a yarmulke or similar type of head covering. In general, a Jew must cover his head at all times.
Admittedly, in the Talmudic era, the wearing of a head covering was optional and fell within the category of midas hachasiddus - acting beyond the letter of the law. The deciders of Jewish Law have concluded, however, that today the wearing of a head covering is obligatory and not a matter of choice. (Yechave Da'as 4:1, see also Taz 8:3, Igros Moshe Orach Chayim 1:1) The widespread acceptance over many centuries of the custom of wearing a head covering, has imbued the custom with the significance of a halachic - legal requirement. Indeed, covering the head has assumed the status of symbolically demonstrating the adherence to mitzvos.
Most agree that it is forbidden to recite words of Torah or blessings without a head covering. Also, one must avoid walking four amos (approx. seven feet) without a head covering (P'ri Migadim 2:6, Mishna Berurah 2:11, etc.) Ideally however, one should not walk even less than four amos (cubits) or even sit in a house without covering one's head.(Mishna Berurah 2:11)
It is also interesting to note that it is necessary that the head covering be large enough to be seen from all vantage points. Tiny yarmulkes that are difficult to discern on the head are not adequate. (Yechave Da'as 4:1)
Although not required according to halacha - Jewish Law, one should also sleep with a head covering (Mishna Berurah 2:11, although one need not worry if it falls off during sleep--R'Shlomo Z. Auerbach) (All of the above is from The Laws of B'rachos Rabbi Binyomin Frost, with Rabbi Aaron D. Twerski, Artscroll publications Chapter 1, p.73)
One of the main reasons for a head covering is to remind a Jew that Hashem is above him at all times. A Jew who is meticulous in covering his head at all times shows everyone that he is proud to be in the Army of Hashem. Being a soldier in the Army of Hashem has its many privileges. The following amazing true story illustrates the amazing power a Jew has when he covers his head.
Isaac Schwartz is a plumbing-fitting salesman who often travels around the United States. As part of his business, Isaac is involved in bidding on large contracts to supply giant corporations. Isaac is a religious Jew, however, during his business trips he removes his yarmulke, so people have no idea that he is a religious Jew.
Several years ago, Isaac traveled to Chicago to take part in a bid for a large mid-west conglomerate. Isaac packed his samples and his brochures as he had done hundreds of times before. He felt like he was forgetting something as he left the house. Nevertheless, he was in a rush and so there was little time to think about what he had forgotten. As he boarded the early morning flight, he sent up a prayer that his trip would be successful and that he would arrive and return safely.
Once in Chicago, Isaac rushed to catch a cab to the corporate offices. The bidding was grueling and it lasted throughout the day. Finally, as the day grew long and the sunset approached, Isaac headed back to his hotel room. Exhausted from the traveling and the negotiations, Isaac settled into his comfortable hotel room. Suddenly, he realized that he had not yet davened (prayed) mincha (the afternoon prayers). He reached into his coat pocket for his yarmulke… it was not there. He reached into his pants pockets and then his jacket pockets once again… it was nowhere to be found. He searched his bags, but he simply could not find his yarmulke. He paced the hotel room right and left wondering what to do. As he passed by the large mirror in his hotel room, he noticed something on his head. He stopped in his tracks… He looked again and he felt his face turning red. He reached his hand on top of his head and felt the small piece of cloth; he had found his yarmulke.
He now knew what he had forgotten to do when he left his house. He had forgotten to take off his yarmulke! He had gone the whole day spending hours in negotiations wearing his yarmulke. His face burned with embarrassment. The next day, he received a phone call with some great news. The corporation had accepted his bid and they wanted him to sign a very lucrative supply contract. The president of the company told Isaac that they saw that he was a religious Jew and therefore they felt they could trust him. (Told by M. Zuckerbraun who heard it from R.B.Y.Grayden-some names and details have been changed)
Isaac was able to perform a tremendous act of Kiddush Hashem - making Hashem look good among the nations. Isaac distinguished himself among the nations and he was immediately rewarded. Let us learn from the example of Isaac. Let us be meticulous in covering our heads. And let us recognize the power of dressing Jewish. Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In Memory of CHAYA CHAVA BAS REB MOSHE YAKOV 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
Everyone should be able to recognize a Jew from the way he dresses. A Jew who dresses differently will have a sense of pride of being Jewish. Just as a soldier is proud to wear his uniform, so too is every Jew a soldier in the army of Hashem, a soldier who is proud to sport the look of his ancestors.
How should a Jew dress differently? One way is that Jewish men should cover their heads by wearing a yarmulke or similar type of head covering. In general, a Jew must cover his head at all times.
Admittedly, in the Talmudic era, the wearing of a head covering was optional and fell within the category of midas hachasiddus - acting beyond the letter of the law. The deciders of Jewish Law have concluded, however, that today the wearing of a head covering is obligatory and not a matter of choice. (Yechave Da'as 4:1, see also Taz 8:3, Igros Moshe Orach Chayim 1:1) The widespread acceptance over many centuries of the custom of wearing a head covering, has imbued the custom with the significance of a halachic - legal requirement. Indeed, covering the head has assumed the status of symbolically demonstrating the adherence to mitzvos.
Most agree that it is forbidden to recite words of Torah or blessings without a head covering. Also, one must avoid walking four amos (approx. seven feet) without a head covering (P'ri Migadim 2:6, Mishna Berurah 2:11, etc.) Ideally however, one should not walk even less than four amos (cubits) or even sit in a house without covering one's head.(Mishna Berurah 2:11)
It is also interesting to note that it is necessary that the head covering be large enough to be seen from all vantage points. Tiny yarmulkes that are difficult to discern on the head are not adequate. (Yechave Da'as 4:1)
Although not required according to halacha - Jewish Law, one should also sleep with a head covering (Mishna Berurah 2:11, although one need not worry if it falls off during sleep--R'Shlomo Z. Auerbach) (All of the above is from The Laws of B'rachos Rabbi Binyomin Frost, with Rabbi Aaron D. Twerski, Artscroll publications Chapter 1, p.73)
One of the main reasons for a head covering is to remind a Jew that Hashem is above him at all times. A Jew who is meticulous in covering his head at all times shows everyone that he is proud to be in the Army of Hashem. Being a soldier in the Army of Hashem has its many privileges. The following amazing true story illustrates the amazing power a Jew has when he covers his head.
Isaac Schwartz is a plumbing-fitting salesman who often travels around the United States. As part of his business, Isaac is involved in bidding on large contracts to supply giant corporations. Isaac is a religious Jew, however, during his business trips he removes his yarmulke, so people have no idea that he is a religious Jew.
Several years ago, Isaac traveled to Chicago to take part in a bid for a large mid-west conglomerate. Isaac packed his samples and his brochures as he had done hundreds of times before. He felt like he was forgetting something as he left the house. Nevertheless, he was in a rush and so there was little time to think about what he had forgotten. As he boarded the early morning flight, he sent up a prayer that his trip would be successful and that he would arrive and return safely.
Once in Chicago, Isaac rushed to catch a cab to the corporate offices. The bidding was grueling and it lasted throughout the day. Finally, as the day grew long and the sunset approached, Isaac headed back to his hotel room. Exhausted from the traveling and the negotiations, Isaac settled into his comfortable hotel room. Suddenly, he realized that he had not yet davened (prayed) mincha (the afternoon prayers). He reached into his coat pocket for his yarmulke… it was not there. He reached into his pants pockets and then his jacket pockets once again… it was nowhere to be found. He searched his bags, but he simply could not find his yarmulke. He paced the hotel room right and left wondering what to do. As he passed by the large mirror in his hotel room, he noticed something on his head. He stopped in his tracks… He looked again and he felt his face turning red. He reached his hand on top of his head and felt the small piece of cloth; he had found his yarmulke.
He now knew what he had forgotten to do when he left his house. He had forgotten to take off his yarmulke! He had gone the whole day spending hours in negotiations wearing his yarmulke. His face burned with embarrassment. The next day, he received a phone call with some great news. The corporation had accepted his bid and they wanted him to sign a very lucrative supply contract. The president of the company told Isaac that they saw that he was a religious Jew and therefore they felt they could trust him. (Told by M. Zuckerbraun who heard it from R.B.Y.Grayden-some names and details have been changed)
Isaac was able to perform a tremendous act of Kiddush Hashem - making Hashem look good among the nations. Isaac distinguished himself among the nations and he was immediately rewarded. Let us learn from the example of Isaac. Let us be meticulous in covering our heads. And let us recognize the power of dressing Jewish. Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In Memory of CHAYA CHAVA BAS REB MOSHE YAKOV 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
Have
a wonderful and peaceful Shabbos,
Rachamim
Pauli
