Shoshana Rivka bas
Zelda passed away this week.
Parsha
Pekudei
A good
accounting in is always in order. Not only for the donors but to see if one is
in the black or the red. Rabbi Schatz Shlita mentioned to me in Schul that based
on a Shekel of 11 plus grams it is close to a metric ton of gold that was used,
300 tons of silver and 200 tons of copper! If one can translate that into
today’s value that is quite a tidy sum! I also did not do the mathematics myself
or how only a few thousand Leviim with a limited number of wagons could move all
this. I will try to calculate this myself ble Neder for moving 501 tons not to
mention the wood from place to place is some feat!
38:21 These are the accounts of the
tabernacle, even the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were rendered
according to the commandment of Moses, through the service of the Levites, by
the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.—
These
are the numbers: In this parsha, all the weights of the donations for the
Mishkan were counted -[that] of silver, of gold, and of copper. And all its
implements for all its work were [also] counted. The Mishkan, the Mishkan: Heb.
הַמִּשְׁכָּן מִשְׁכַּן [The word מִשְׁכָּן is written] twice. This alludes to
the Temple, which was taken as security (מַשְׁכּוֹן) by the two destructions,
for Israel’s iniquities [The Temples were taken as a collateral for Israel’s
sins. When Israel fully repents, the Third Temple will be built]. -[from Midrash
Tanchuma 2, Exod. Rabbah 51:3] The Mishkan of the Testimony: [The Mishkan] was
testimony for Israel that the Holy One, blessed is He, forgave them for the
incident of the calf, for He caused His Shechinah to rest among them [in the
Mishkan]. -[from Midrash Tanchuma 2] The work of the Levites: The numbers [i.e.,
the accountings] of the Mishkan and its furnishings [which] is the work given
over to the Levites in the desert-to carry, to dismantle, and to set up, each
person on his burden upon which he is assigned, as is stated in parshath Nasso
(Num. 4:24-28, 31-33). Under the direction of Ithamar: He was appointed over
them, to deliver to each paternal family the work incumbent upon it. [Each
Levite family was assigned a specific job in the sanctuary.]
Why is
this important? So that nobody ever will say, “I made Moshe rich” or “Moshe took
a shoe lace for himself” The accounting makes it impossible for anybody to say a
word against Moshe.
22 And Bezalel the son
of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded
Moses.
Bezalel,
the son of Uri… had made all that the Lord had commanded Moses: “That Moses had
commanded him is not written here, but all that the Lord had commanded Moses,”
[meaning that] even [in] things that his master [Moses] had not said to him, his
[Bezalel’s] view coincided with what was said to Moses on Sinai. For Moses
commanded Bezalel to first make the furnishings and afterwards the Mishkan.
(Rashi is not referring to the command to donate [the materials for the Mishkan
and its furnishings], since, on the contrary, the Holy One, blessed be He,
commanded the opposite in parshath Terumah. [I.e.,] first [God commanded them to
make] the furnishings: the table, the menorah, the curtains, and afterwards [He
gave] the command to make the planks [i.e., the Mishkan, whereas] the command of
our teacher, Moses, may he rest in peace, at the beginning of Vayakhel (Exod.
35:11-19) lists first the Mishkan and its tent, and afterwards the furnishings.
Rather, Rashi is referring to the command to the worker, [i.e.,] in what order
he should work. You will find in the parsha of Ki Thissa [where God commanded
concerning the order of the Mishkan’s construction]: “See, I have called by name
Bezalel…” (Exod. 31:2-11), that first the Tent of Meeting is mentioned and
afterwards the furnishings. As far as [the command in Terumah] to donate, to
prepare what they would require [for the Mishkan and its furnishings], what
difference does it make what they donated first? [Thus the order of the
furnishings listed there is irrelevant.] See Tosafoth in the chapter entitled
הָרוֹאֶה (Ber. 55a): If you ask, how do we know that our teacher, Moses, may he
rest in peace, commanded Bezalel to do the opposite [of what God had commanded
him? Since it is not found in the text that Moses commanded Bezalel to construct
first the furnishings and then the Mishkan], we may reply that it is written in
parshath Vayakhel (Exod. 36:2): “And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab…”. [There]
the Torah is very brief in explaining what he [Moses] said to them. From this
verse (38:22), which is worded, “all that the Lord commanded Moses,” we see that
he [Moses] commanded them in the opposite manner. [Therefore the text here does
not state “that Moses had commanded him.”] Study this well.) Bezalel responded,
“It is common practice to first make a house and then to put furniture into it.”
He said to him, “This is what I heard from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed is
He.” Moses said to him [Bezalel], “You were in the shadow of God [בְּצֵל אֵל,
which is the meaning of Bezalel’s name. I.e., you are right], for surely that is
what the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded me.” And so he did: [Bezalel] first
[made] the Mishkan, and afterwards he made the furnishings. -[from Ber.
55a]
23 And with him was
Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman, and a skilful
workman, and a weaver in colours, in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and
fine linen.—
Both
men worked and supervised the building of the Mishkan according to what HASHEM
wanted by prophecy. Moshe could not explain to them what G-D had shown him
therefore they received the exterior design via prophecy.
24 All the gold that
was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the
offering, was twenty and nine talents, and seven hundred and thirty shekels,
after the shekel of the sanctuary.
Talents:
Heb. כִּכָּר, sixty manehs. The maneh of the Holy was double [the normal maneh].
Hence, the talent [mentioned here] was [i.e., equaled] one hundred twenty
[ordinary] manehs [twice the normal talent], and the maneh was twenty-five
selas. Thus, a talent of the Holy was three thousand shekels. Therefore, [the
text] counted out in detail all the shekels that were less than three thousand,
since they did not amount to a talent [and thus they had to be enumerated
separately]. -[from Bech. 5a]
Rashi
is stating the exchange rate from a gold measurement In the Mishkan or Mikdash
to that of a normal measurement by the same name which was legal tender.
25 And the silver of
them that were numbered of the congregation was a hundred talents, and a
thousand seven hundred and three-score and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of
the sanctuary:
Bekka:
Heb. בֶּקַע, lit., a split. This is the name of the weight of a half-shekel. for
six hundred three thousand, etc.: This is how many the Israelites were. Their
number equaled this [too] after the Mishkan was erected, [as appears] in the
Book of Numbers [Num. 1:4]. Now too, when they donated to the Mishkan, this is
how many they were. The number of the half-shekels of 600,000 [people] equals
one hundred talents, each one the equivalent of three thousand shekels. How so?
Six hundred thousand halves [of a shekel] equal three hundred thousand wholes,
which equal one hundred talents. The [additional] 3,550 halves equal 1,775
shekels.
317,750
x .011 kg = over 300 metric tons! Rabbi Schatz is correct. However, not all this
went into the Mishkan as one had to purchase perhaps dyes for the Mishkan,
giraffes, flour, oil, etc. Or was it used entirely for the hooks, trumpets, or
sockets of the sanctuary. So the numbers given in the account and the rounding
of by Rabbi Schatz becomes a fact.
26 a beka a head, that
is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that passed
over to them that are numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six
hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men. 27 And the hundred talents of silver
were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil: a
hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket. 28 And of the thousand seven hundred
seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their
capitals, and made fillets for them. 29 And the brass of the offering was
seventy talents and two thousand and four hundred shekels.
Actually
this is over 240 metric tons.
30 And therewith he
made the sockets to the door of the tent of meeting, and the brazen altar, and
the brazen grating for it, and all the vessels of the altar, 31 and the sockets of the court round
about, and the sockets of the gate of the court, and all the pins of the
tabernacle, and all the pins of the court round about.
Plenty
of uses for silver but 300 metric tons plus is really a tremendous
amount.
39:1
And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made plaited garments, for
ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the LORD
commanded Moses. 2 And he made
the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
The
availability and production by hand and the capture of the fish used for the
blue dye one needed patience, time and if needed money. Here the various
materials, colors, cloths and skins are not given an accounting for but only the
precious metals and stones.
3
And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into threads, to work it
in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the
work of the skilful workman.
Gold
is a malleable metal and can be beaten very thin. Gold foil can be made so thin
that a kilogram or so can be glued on a building to make the building look gold.
Rich people plate their faucets in their private jets
gold.
4
They made shoulder-pieces for it, joined together; at the two ends was it joined
together. 5 And the skilfully
woven band, that was upon it, wherewith to gird it on, was of the same piece and
like the work thereof: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine
twined linen, as the LORD commanded Moses. 6 And they wrought the onyx stones,
inclosed in settings of gold, graven with the engravings of a signet, according
to the names of the children of Israel. 7 And he put them on the
shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of
Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.
The
Torah does not go into the weights and costs of the stones and the engraving
process but it was done according to what Moshe saw on Har Sinai.
8
And he made the breastplate, the work of the skilful workman, like the work of
the ephod: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.
9 It was four-square; they made
the breastplate double; a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth
thereof, being double. 10 And
they set in it four rows of stones: …20 And they made two rings of gold,
and put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart
thereof, close by the coupling thereof, above the skilfully woven band of the
ephod. 21 And they did bind the
breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a thread of
blue, that it might be upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and that the
breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded
Moses.
Here
is only an accounting for what was done and not weights and measures
used.
22
And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue; 23 and the hole of the robe in the
midst thereof, as the hole of a coat of mail, with a binding round about the
hole of it, that it should not be rent. 24 And they made upon the skirts of
the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. 25 And they made bells of pure gold,
and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the skirts of the robe round
about, between the pomegranates:
Check
out the photographs of the Temple Institute on the internet to see the
garments.
26
a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe
round about, to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses. 27 And they made the tunics of fine
linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28 and the mitre of fine linen, and
the goodly head-tires of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined
linen, 29 and the girdle of fine
twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the weaver in
colors; as the LORD commanded Moses. 30 And they made the plate of the holy
crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like the engravings of a
signet: HOLY TO THE LORD. 31 And
they tied unto it a thread of blue, to fasten it upon the mitre above; as the
LORD commanded Moses.
The
workers were given a vision in the night to enable them to build the Mishkan
properly and therefore what HASHEM told Moshe how to build the
equivalent.
32
Thus was finished all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting; and the
children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did
they.
The
children of Israel had done: the work; according to all that the Lord had
commanded, etc..
33
And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the Tent, and all its furniture, its
clasps, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets; 34 and the covering of rams' skins
dyed red, and the covering of giraffe skins, and the veil of the screen; 35 the ark of the testimony, and the
staves thereof, and the ark-cover; 36 the table, all the vessels thereof,
and the showbread; 37 the pure
candlestick, the lamps thereof, even the lamps to be set in order, and all the
vessels thereof, and the oil for the light; 38 and the golden altar, and the
anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door of the Tent;
39 the brazen altar, and its
grating of brass, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base; 40 the hangings of the court, its
pillars, and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court, the cords
thereof, and the pins thereof, and all the instruments of the service of the
tabernacle of the tent of meeting; 41 the plaited garments for
ministering in the holy place; the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the
garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office. 42 According to all that the LORD
commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. 43 And Moses saw all the work, and,
behold, they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it.
And Moses blessed them.
So
Moses blessed them: He said to them, “May it be His will that the Shechinah
should rest in the work of your hands. And may the pleasantness of the Lord our
God be upon us…” (Ps. 90:17), and this is one of the eleven psalms in “A prayer
of Moses” (Ps. 90:1). -[from Num. Rabbah 12:9]
40:1
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 'On the first day of the first month
shalt thou rear up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
The
first month of the Hebrew Year is Nissan called in the Torah the Chodesh Aviv or
Spring. This is going to start the second year. The whole first year was
becoming free, obtaining the Commandments and building the Mishkan.
3
And thou shalt put therein the ark of the testimony, and thou shalt screen the
ark with the veil. 4 And thou
shalt bring in the table, and set in order the bread that is upon it; and thou
shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 5 And thou shalt set the golden altar
for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to
the tabernacle. 6 And thou shalt
set the altar of burnt-offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of
meeting. 7 And thou shalt set
the laver between the tent of meeting and the altar, and shalt put water
therein. 8 And thou shalt set up
the court round about, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court. …
Everything
was built and now it was time to put it into its proper
place.
33
And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up
the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
Moshe
and the Leviim brothers took care of the last detail like a ribbon cutting
ceremony even though it states that Moshe physically picked up the Mishkan in
the Medrash.
34
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the
tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not
able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the
glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.—
This
is the same Moshe who spoke like face to face with G-D could not
enter.
Moses
could not enter the Tent of Meeting: But one [other] passage says: “And when
Moses would enter the Tent of Meeting” (Num. 7:89), [which is an apparent
contradiction]. The third passage [verse 35] came and reconciled them: “because
the cloud rested upon it.” You may henceforth say that as long as the cloud was
upon it, he could not enter, [but when] the cloud withdrew, he would enter and
[God] would speak with him. -[from Torath Kohanim, Shalosh Esrei Middoth,
Thirteen methods, Section 8]
36
And whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of
Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up,
then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.
This
was the L-RD’s people and they did not move without
it.
38
For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and there was fire
therein by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their
journeys.
This
blessing was only for the generation of the Midbar and no other generation but
the whole nation lived by it.
Chazak
– Chazak v’ nit Chazak
Related to our Parsha
in the news this week: http://www.aol.com/article/2014/02/25/california-couple-finds-10-million-in-rare-gold-coins-while-wal/20838130/?icid=maing-grid7%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D447506
Thanks
to Reuven K. 7-4-0-1 http://virtualjerusalem.com/judaism.php?Itemid=12164
As
a child growing up in the Bronx, the last four digits of Terry Noble's phone
number were 7401. Coincidence: When Terry was assigned a social security number,
the last four digits were 7401. And years later, when he found himself as a
volunteer on a kibbutz in Israel - where he now called himself Tuvia Ariel - he
worked with a carpenter whom he respected.
The carpenter was a wiry, solid man, dedicated, the silent type. Ariel learned that he was one of the few who had escaped Auschwitz and survived, that he then joined the Polish partisans, then the British Army. It sent him to Palestine, where he deserted to join the Palmach, the Jewish fighting force, and helped Israel win her independence in 1948.
The carpenter was a wiry, solid man, dedicated, the silent type. Ariel learned that he was one of the few who had escaped Auschwitz and survived, that he then joined the Polish partisans, then the British Army. It sent him to Palestine, where he deserted to join the Palmach, the Jewish fighting force, and helped Israel win her independence in 1948.
Quite a history.
But more than awe piqued Ariel's curiosity about this survivor's experiences in the Holocaust. Ariel had read the number tattooed on his arm. The last four digits were 7401.
"Don't talk about it!" Ariel recalls the carpenter telling him forcefully, painfully. "I lost my whole family, my mother, my father; there was a brother in back of me, a brother in front of me - I'm the only one left. Don't bring it up again!"
Ariel didn't, except once.
Tuvia Ariel is a man with many stories. In fact, he is a story: the man who was once a famous musician's adviser and arranged for Kaddish to be recited for an estranged Jewish radical; the man who put in a stint at Yale Law School and was a soldier in the U.S. Army in Israel during the 1956 Sinai war. He tore the "USA" from his uniform and, looking like an Israeli, hitched his way down to the Sinai Peninsula, ready to fight, only to find that the war had ended two hours before.
I was told in advance how colorful Ariel was, but nothing prepared me for the likes of a comment he made one hour after I met him on Friday afternoon. I knew he had a new leg. I knew it was breakthrough for him. But who gives thought to such things? Who wonders what it is like to be without a leg, or with a new one?
Praying in the synagogue on Friday, I sensed nothing unusual as Mincha came to an end. Suddenly, Ariel approached me, almost in tears. "This is the first time in my life I prayed the Shemoneh Esrei standing up. I have never been able to address God like any other Jew, beginning the prayer by taking three steps forward, ending it with three steps backward..."
As follows:
Ariel was raised in a non-observant home, in which the Shemoneh Esrei was not recited. Then he went to Israel to volunteer. In 1967, on the fiftieth anniversary of the Russian Revolution, he saved his life by cutting off his own leg as it got caught in a machine he operated on a kibbutz - a machine that sucked his leg into its grinder and from which the rest of his body escaped only by his quick and gruesome self-amputation. A little over ten years later he became a religiously observant Jew. By then he was rotating between a wheelchair, crutches, and artificial legs, which, however, could never keep him standing still long enough to pray the Shemoneh Esrei.
Then, that Friday, he did it. After walking home (only three blocks), he choked up again, "That's the longest I've walked in 22 years."
He was fitted with a new leg only shortly before - the day the Berlin Wall crumbled. He found his new leg innocently enough. Ariel was in the United States at the beginning of 1989 on a business trip.
He saw an advertisement, featuring a new kind of plastic developed for spacecraft, also used for artificial limbs. The ad featured amputees engaged in vigorous basketball, not from wheelchairs, but standing up, running, passing, even jump-shooting. A regular game. Not with people amputated below the knee, but above the knee.
Ariel thought to himself that seeing this was like seeing a grandmother, who had died long ago, suddenly walking down the street. When he lost his leg 22 years earlier, he never thought he would see himself live normally again - and here were people just like he was, playing basketball.
He inquired and was directed to an advanced prosthetic clinic in Oklahoma City. For above-the-knee amputees the old system had the stump rest on the prosthesis, which caused pain and circulatory problems and often did not work well, sometimes not at all. Using the new, flexible, rubber-like plastic, the new prosthesis grips the stump, which not only relieves pain and circulatory problems, but also better channels the energy and movement of the stump into natural, leg-like movements.
Even in advance of receiving his own leg, Ariel was not satisfied to give himself new life. He wanted it for all the above-the-knee amputees in Israel. So he had a long talk with the prosthetics in Oklahoma City about bringing this technology to the Holy Land. They agreed to train Israeli prosthetics in Oklahoma City and to travel to Israel to train Israeli prosthetics there, provided only that Ariel supply the plane tickets.
Ariel's goal reached even beyond making the technology available in Israel. He aspired to establish a "Hebrew Free Limb Society" to provide a limb to the amputee as a loan, until - only a person like Ariel has the right to make this pun - "the amputee gets back on his feet."
Strictly speaking, it is not idealism that motivates Ariel. It is something more - his sense that he has been designated as an angel of God before. He has reason to think this, and the way he sees it, his years of suffering now make him a messenger again - to help those whom the world forgets. Why is he certain he has been an angel once before, thus able to be so once again?
Ariel volunteered on two kibbutzim. The one where he lost his leg preferred that he leave the country. He was an embarrassment to the kibbutz. But Ariel would not leave Israel, no matter what. It took him about five years of various struggles to get into tourism schools; and somehow, between cars, crutches and artificial limbs, which kept him in pain and then went bad altogether, he remained a tour guide for 15 years.
Toward the beginning of his career, when he was low man on the totem pole, he was assigned to pick up tourists at the international airport in Lod and to bring them to the main office, whereupon an experienced guide would take over.
One day he picked up an American, ostentatiously wealthy, ostentatiously dressed and mannered. Even crude. Ariel could not bring himself to be friendly, so he was formal. Halfway from Lod to Jerusalem, the tourist, a perceptive man, yelled, "Pull over!" Ariel pulled over. The man barked, "You think I'm just a materialistic American tourist, don't you? Well, I've paid my dues!" He yanked up his sleeve to show Ariel a number tattooed on his arm. Ariel looked, almost went into shock, and before he knew what was happening the tourist was saying, "I lost my whole family ... a brother in front of me, a brother in back of me..." Ariel's mind burned.
The man's face was florid. Ariel calmed himself, saying simply, "Was your brother's name Shimon?" The red face turned white. "We're turning around, I'm not taking you to Jerusalem."
Ariel made a U-turn and drove one-and-a-half hours to the kibbutz where he had worked with the wiry carpenter, near Afula. The psychic noise in the car was palpable. Finally Ariel reached the kibbutz and then the carpenter shed. He saw his former supervisor for the first time in ten years. Without introduction, he said simply: "Was your brother's name Reuven?"
The carpenter's face turned white.
Ariel returned to the taxi, unloaded it, told his American tourist, "Come. I am bringing you to your brother."
He led him to the carpenter shed, did not enter - did not want to infringe on the privacy of the moment - then made a U-turn and drove to the entrance of the kibbutz. He stopped, and wept.
Why?
When he had seen the number tattooed on the tourist's arm, the last four digits were 7-4-0-2.
via aish.com, excerpted from The Unexpected Road: Storied Jewish Lives around the World, by Rabbi Hillel Goldberg, Feldheim Publications
Smoking on Shabbat in Meah Shearim http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=847-2
An Israeli couple lived many years on a secular kibbutz in Israel. As years went by they felt a certain emptiness in their lives. Eventually they came to realize that the lack of Judaism was the cause of this feeling.
Slowly they returned to the Torah true way of life. They also decided to move to the ultra "ultra Orthodox" Meah Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem. This amazing couple continued to grow until the husband became a completely committed Jew. The wife also became very religious. There was only one thing that held her back from complete observance.
She had a strong smoking habit. She actually smoked on Shabbat, right there in the midst of the crowded neighborhood of pious residents.
The most unusual part of this habit was that it was only on Shabbat that she couldn't stop; she had no trouble the rest of the week. Everyone tried to get her to quit, but to no avail. When Shabbat began she had an uncontrollable need to smoke.
Eventually the people that were trying to help her went to [the now deceased] leading rabbinical decisor, Rabbi Y. S. Elyashiv, to ask his advice. He told them to investigate her mother, her mother's mother and even further back, to clarify if they were all Jewish.
After a short time it was revealed that her grandmother was not Jewish! This translates to mean that our smoker was not Jewish. They immediately went to the Rabbi to tell him the news. His reaction was amazing.
He said, "Look and see how much mercy G-d has! We are talking about a woman who wants to do G-d's will. However, HE knows that she isn't Jewish (apparently the woman herself didn't know). A non-Jew is forbidden to observe the Shabbat complete in all its details, and is punishable with death for doing so.
"But, since she desired so sincerely to come close to the Jewish people, in Heaven they decided to help prevent her from committing the sin of fully observing the Shabbat as a non-Jew. So G-d gave her an uncontrollable urge to smoke, which prevented her from observing Shabbat.
"This, in turn, led to us finding out that she isn't Jewish and needs to be converted! So I recommend you arrange with her to do the conversion and you will see that the urge will cease."
And so it was!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from an email from Daniel Keren, based on an article in the Jersey Shore Torah Bulletin (Vayakhel-Pekudei 5772) as translated by Rabbi Reuven Semah from Alenu Leshabeah, an Israeli book.
Connection: Weekly Reading--Ex. 35:3 ("You shall not kindle fire in any of your dwellings on Shabbat day").
Biographical note:
Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (1910-July 18 2012) was considered by hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel and worldwide to be the leading living expert on Jewish law. He resided in a small apartment on the edge of the Meah She'arim section of Jerusalem, where he was famed for his assiduous 16-20 hours a day of Torah study, up until age 102!. His grandfather, Shlomo Elyashiv, was a renowned Kabbalist, author of Leshem Shevo V'Achlam, popularly known as "The Leshem."
Water
seeks its own level – Shidduchim
When my
daughter was looking to get married she was looking into about 20 boys and no
luck. Some were personality problems one I was told was a bit heavy like I was
in my 20’s only to find out the fellow was about 20 kg or more than I and my
daughter is slim something like the late Audrey Hepburn. Finally, a friend of
hers suggested a young man who learned Torah with her husband. It turned out the
fellow had been in my son’s class in school and lived in our old neighborhood
two blocks away. Financially, both his parents and I were on the same page as to
helping the young couple. Similar backgrounds, similar religious schooling and
same neighborhood played a good factor. He too had dated 20 or 22 people who did
not fit his expectations. It is a matter of finding somebody on a comparative
intellectual, financial and other background to be happy with.
Cancelled
Flight from
Albert the photo of Muslims at prayer on a plane interrupting take off was shown
but I cannot bring it down here. I have prayed the Netz (Sunrise) Prayer on a
number of Southwest Flights and one British Airways Flight going to Israel with
my Tallis and Tephillin IN MY SEAT! There is no reason in the world to disturb
the order on a plane for prayer.
What would you have done? Let’s all start standing up for ‘our’ rights!
Please read entire story, we should be very, very scared about this!!!!
And to think that Fox News was the only channel that reported this. They may be "politically incorrect", but at least they had the guts to report it.
In my opinion, the Muslims are all getting very brave now. Read Tedd Petruna's story below. Can you imagine, our own news media now are so
politically correct that they are afraid to report that these were all Muslims?
Tedd Petruna is a diver at the NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Lab) facility at NASA Houston. Tedd happened to be on the AirTran Flight 297, from Atlanta to Houston. Here's his report:
"One week ago, I went to Ohio on business and to see my father. On Tuesday, the 17th, I returned home. If you read the papers the 18th you may have seen a blurb about where an Air Tran flight was cancelled from Atlanta to Houston due to a man who refused to get off of his cell phone before take- off. The story was only on Fox News. That was NOT what really happened.
I was seated in 1st class coming home. Eleven Muslim men got on the plane in full Muslim attire. Two of them sat in 1st class and the rest seated themselves throughout the plane, in coach class, all the way to the back. As the plane taxied out to the runway, the stewardesses gave the safety spiel that we are all so familiar with.
At that time, one of the men, in 1st class, got on his cell and called one of his companions back in coach. He proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very, very aggressively. This activity took the 1st stewardess out of action for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at that time. He ignored her as if she were not there.
The man, who answered the phone back in the coach section, did the same and this took out the 2nd stewardess. Further back in the plane, at the same time, two younger Muslims, one in the back on the aisle, and one sitting in front of him by the window, began to show footage of a porno video they had taped the night before. They were very loud about it.
The 3rd stewardess informed the two men that they were not to have any electronic devices on at this time. One of the men said "shut up infidel dog!"
The stewardess attempted to take the camcorder and the Muslim began to scream in her face in Arabic. At that exact moment, all eleven of the men got up and started to walk throughout the cabin. I guess that because of the noise, the flight crew must have decided that there was something amiss and changed the plane's directions to head back to the terminal.
The commotion and noise was reaching a feverish pitch, and at this point I had had enough! I got up and started towards the back of 1st class, when I heard a voice behind me, from another Texan twice my size, say "I got your back." Then I grabbed the man, who had been on the cell phone, by the arm and said "You WILL sit down in your seat or you WILL be thrown from this plane!" As I "led" him around me to take his seat, the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and headed him back to his seat. I then grabbed the 2nd man and said, "You WILL do the same!"
He protested loudly, but my adrenaline was flowing now and he was going to go also. Just as I escorted him forward, the plane stopped, the doors opened and three TSA agents and four police officers entered the cabin. My new Texas friend and I were told to cease and desist for they had the situation under control. I was quite happy to oblige actually. There was still some sort of commotion in the back, but within moments, all eleven Muslim men were escorted off the plane. The TSA agents then had their luggage unloaded. We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happened.
Then suddenly, the door opened again and in walked all eleven Muslim men! Stone faced, eyes front and robotic, (the only way I can describe it) they were reseated. The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw the men, she was having NONE of it! Since I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agents that there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with the Muslim men. The agent told her that they had searched the men and were going through their luggage with a fine tooth comb. However, nothing had been found and that the men were allowed to proceed on to Houston.
The captain and co-captain came out of the cockpit and told the agent, "We and our crew will not fly this plane!" After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. Five minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on. Again, this was where I had had enough! I got up and asked the TSA agent, "What the hell is going on?
I was told to take my seat. The airlines and TSA were sorry for the delay and we would be home shortly. I said "I'm getting off this plane". The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. Now I'm really mad! I said "I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who's time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I'm going through that door with you under my arm, but I AM going through that door!"
And then I heard a voice behind me say "So am I!" Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same thing. Within two minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met by more TSA agents who asked me to write a statement about the incident. I had five hours to kill at this point waiting for the next flight to Houston, so why the hell not give them my statement. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was cancelled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6 PM, but I finally got there at 12:30 AM. If you don't believe this, look up the date and then Flight 297 from Atlanta to Houston.
If this wasn't a terrorism dry run, I don't know what one is. The terrorists wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it. I'm telling this to you because I want you to know. The threat IS real. I saw it with my own eyes."
I suggest you keep this going until this incident reaches the email of all POLITICIANS and the news media!
What would you have done? Let’s all start standing up for ‘our’ rights!
Please read entire story, we should be very, very scared about this!!!!
And to think that Fox News was the only channel that reported this. They may be "politically incorrect", but at least they had the guts to report it.
In my opinion, the Muslims are all getting very brave now. Read Tedd Petruna's story below. Can you imagine, our own news media now are so
politically correct that they are afraid to report that these were all Muslims?
Tedd Petruna is a diver at the NBL (Neutral Buoyancy Lab) facility at NASA Houston. Tedd happened to be on the AirTran Flight 297, from Atlanta to Houston. Here's his report:
"One week ago, I went to Ohio on business and to see my father. On Tuesday, the 17th, I returned home. If you read the papers the 18th you may have seen a blurb about where an Air Tran flight was cancelled from Atlanta to Houston due to a man who refused to get off of his cell phone before take- off. The story was only on Fox News. That was NOT what really happened.
I was seated in 1st class coming home. Eleven Muslim men got on the plane in full Muslim attire. Two of them sat in 1st class and the rest seated themselves throughout the plane, in coach class, all the way to the back. As the plane taxied out to the runway, the stewardesses gave the safety spiel that we are all so familiar with.
At that time, one of the men, in 1st class, got on his cell and called one of his companions back in coach. He proceeded to talk on the phone in Arabic very loudly and very, very aggressively. This activity took the 1st stewardess out of action for she repeatedly told the man that cell phones were not permitted at that time. He ignored her as if she were not there.
The man, who answered the phone back in the coach section, did the same and this took out the 2nd stewardess. Further back in the plane, at the same time, two younger Muslims, one in the back on the aisle, and one sitting in front of him by the window, began to show footage of a porno video they had taped the night before. They were very loud about it.
The 3rd stewardess informed the two men that they were not to have any electronic devices on at this time. One of the men said "shut up infidel dog!"
The stewardess attempted to take the camcorder and the Muslim began to scream in her face in Arabic. At that exact moment, all eleven of the men got up and started to walk throughout the cabin. I guess that because of the noise, the flight crew must have decided that there was something amiss and changed the plane's directions to head back to the terminal.
The commotion and noise was reaching a feverish pitch, and at this point I had had enough! I got up and started towards the back of 1st class, when I heard a voice behind me, from another Texan twice my size, say "I got your back." Then I grabbed the man, who had been on the cell phone, by the arm and said "You WILL sit down in your seat or you WILL be thrown from this plane!" As I "led" him around me to take his seat, the fellow Texan grabbed him by the back of his neck and his waist and headed him back to his seat. I then grabbed the 2nd man and said, "You WILL do the same!"
He protested loudly, but my adrenaline was flowing now and he was going to go also. Just as I escorted him forward, the plane stopped, the doors opened and three TSA agents and four police officers entered the cabin. My new Texas friend and I were told to cease and desist for they had the situation under control. I was quite happy to oblige actually. There was still some sort of commotion in the back, but within moments, all eleven Muslim men were escorted off the plane. The TSA agents then had their luggage unloaded. We talked about the occurrence and were in disbelief that it had happened.
Then suddenly, the door opened again and in walked all eleven Muslim men! Stone faced, eyes front and robotic, (the only way I can describe it) they were reseated. The stewardess from the back had been in tears and when she saw the men, she was having NONE of it! Since I was up front, I heard and saw the whole ordeal. She told the TSA agents that there was NO WAY she was staying on the plane with the Muslim men. The agent told her that they had searched the men and were going through their luggage with a fine tooth comb. However, nothing had been found and that the men were allowed to proceed on to Houston.
The captain and co-captain came out of the cockpit and told the agent, "We and our crew will not fly this plane!" After a word or two, the entire crew, luggage in tow, left the plane. Five minutes later, the cabin door opened again and a whole new crew walked on. Again, this was where I had had enough! I got up and asked the TSA agent, "What the hell is going on?
I was told to take my seat. The airlines and TSA were sorry for the delay and we would be home shortly. I said "I'm getting off this plane". The stewardess sternly told me that she could not allow me to get off. Now I'm really mad! I said "I am a grown man who bought this ticket, who's time is mine with a family at home and I am going through that door, or I'm going through that door with you under my arm, but I AM going through that door!"
And then I heard a voice behind me say "So am I!" Then everyone behind us started to get up and say the same thing. Within two minutes, I was walking off that plane where I was met by more TSA agents who asked me to write a statement about the incident. I had five hours to kill at this point waiting for the next flight to Houston, so why the hell not give them my statement. Due to the amount of people who got off that flight, it was cancelled. I was supposed to be in Houston at 6 PM, but I finally got there at 12:30 AM. If you don't believe this, look up the date and then Flight 297 from Atlanta to Houston.
If this wasn't a terrorism dry run, I don't know what one is. The terrorists wanted to see how TSA would handle it, how the crew would handle it, and how the passengers would handle it. I'm telling this to you because I want you to know. The threat IS real. I saw it with my own eyes."
I suggest you keep this going until this incident reaches the email of all POLITICIANS and the news media!
Finally,
Naphtali Bennett sets the record straight for people like myself: In
recent months, MK Ayelet Shaked worked tirelessly to advance the bill that will
help integrate the Haredi community into the work force and service. Below is a
link to a fascinating video in Hebrew about the "behind the scenes" of the
committee that advanced the bill, one of the most important in the Knesset’s
history. For those of you who understand Hebrew, I highly recommended watching
the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQSNIkhttnU
**
A few points:
1. The bill, contrary to the shouting and screaming on both sides, is really quite balanced.
The bill seeks to enable Haredim to work right away, and integrate the Haredim into national or military service gradually.
2. The Shaked Committee has not yet completed the preparation of the bill for a final vote in the Knesset Plenum. Once the bill is approved in the Shaked Committee it will be sent to the Knesset Plenum for all 120 MKs to vote on.
3. Contrary to what has been said a thousand times, there is no clause or any wording in the bill that uses the phrase "criminal sanctions". At the end of a very gradual process, if after several years the Haredi community does not meet the target goals, the Mandatory Defense Service Law will apply equally to all of us (secular, national religious, Haredi).
4. The Government will increase the investment of training Haredim for employment and absorption into service. The government will be judged on our ability to implement this. This is really the most important part of the bill.
5. If the State of Israel over the next 4 to 5 years is successful in absorbing tens of thousands of Haredim into the workforce, who until now were prevented by law from working legally – that in itself will make this law a success.
6. I am especially pleased that for the first time, the State of Israel will recognize in our law books the importance of studying and learning Torah.
7. Legislative work is difficult and highly sensitive. I think MK Ayelet Shaked is the right person in the right place for this important legislation. (His opinion)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQSNIkhttnU
**
A few points:
1. The bill, contrary to the shouting and screaming on both sides, is really quite balanced.
The bill seeks to enable Haredim to work right away, and integrate the Haredim into national or military service gradually.
2. The Shaked Committee has not yet completed the preparation of the bill for a final vote in the Knesset Plenum. Once the bill is approved in the Shaked Committee it will be sent to the Knesset Plenum for all 120 MKs to vote on.
3. Contrary to what has been said a thousand times, there is no clause or any wording in the bill that uses the phrase "criminal sanctions". At the end of a very gradual process, if after several years the Haredi community does not meet the target goals, the Mandatory Defense Service Law will apply equally to all of us (secular, national religious, Haredi).
4. The Government will increase the investment of training Haredim for employment and absorption into service. The government will be judged on our ability to implement this. This is really the most important part of the bill.
5. If the State of Israel over the next 4 to 5 years is successful in absorbing tens of thousands of Haredim into the workforce, who until now were prevented by law from working legally – that in itself will make this law a success.
6. I am especially pleased that for the first time, the State of Israel will recognize in our law books the importance of studying and learning Torah.
7. Legislative work is difficult and highly sensitive. I think MK Ayelet Shaked is the right person in the right place for this important legislation. (His opinion)
The
above article claimed no criminal sanctions but a full scale war has broken out
between the Ultra-Orthodox and the anti-Religious and they will rather go to
jail get free board and clothing and sit and learn Torah rather than give into
to coercion. It was working by persuasion until the idiot Lapid decided that he
had to force them. He tried afflicting them: Lapid did not graduate High School
but rather wanted to be a boxer: Well obviously he never heard of Rashi or
Shemos 1:12 But
as much as they would afflict them: In whatever [way] they set their heart to
afflict [them], so was the heart of the Holy One, blessed be He, to multiply
[them] and to strengthen [them]. So did they multiply and so did they gain
strength: Heb. כֵּן יִרְבֶּה וְכֵן יִפְרֹץ, lit., so will they multiply and so
will they gain strength. [It means, however,] so did they multiply and so did
they gain strength. Its midrashic interpretation is, however: The Holy Spirit
says this: You [Pharaoh] say, Lest they multiply, but I say, So will they
multiply. [From Sotah 11a] and they were disgusted: They were disgusted with
their lives. (Others explain: And the Egyptians were disgusted with themselves,
and it is easy to understand why.) Our Rabbis, however, interpreted it to mean
that they [the Israelites] were like thorns (כקוצים) in their eyes -[from Sotah
11a]
http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Haredi-rabbis-issue-ban-on-IDF-service-for-yeshiva-students-342449
Every
once in a while:
Every
once in a while, I receive a question from a potential convert or Baal Teshuva
that is worthwhile forwarding for all to see. It was actually a series of
questions about praying and saying the A NAME of G-D as the Ashkenazi Synagogues
say the ending NOY and the Sephardim NAI. The conversation continued
onwards.
Sometimes
my answers on a sort of computer chat were not clear so I had to clarify: I did answer, I said pray in your own dialect or pronunciation. This
applies for reading out loud and learning. You and I are not Yemenite,
Romanians, French and our accent is closer to our country of
birth.
I see. Since I wasn't
raised Jewish and thus I assume I'm a Noahide, since I am of Hispanic
background, is your answer for me that you feel I should use S'faradi Hebrew
pronunciation when praying with and without a Siddur and when speaking modern
Hebrew?
Definitely,
I speak only Sephardic Hebrew but because i have so many American and
Euro-Ashkenazi readers I use Good Shabbos instead of how I talk Shabbat Shalom.
I suggest you do the same. I do say Ado... NOY instead of the Sephardic NAI
because that is how the NAME is pronounced in my Synagogue.
You suggest I go with
S'faradi Hebrew pronunciation for praying and when speaking modern Hebrew or do
that but also sometimes use Ashkenazi pronunciation when around Ashkenazi Hebrew
speakers?
Not
only the name of G-d used in the Synagogue where one prayers regularly. I
suggest all the time Sephardic pronunciation for talking and praying if you want
to come to Israel.
I see, so if one
prays in a S'faradi synagogue or is in a synagogue in Israel he should use
S'faradi Hebrew pronunciation when saying G-d's name?
The
Synagogue Prayers goes according to the prayer custom you have taken upon
yourself. Especially if
you say that you have Spanish Family Background. However, the prayers are
slightly different and if you complete conversion, you would have to pray always
privately Sephardic but if you went to Chabad or Ashkenaz IF YOU LED THE PRAYERS
YOU WOULD PRAY ACCORDING TO THAT CUSTOM otherwise always the custom that you
have taken upon yourself. Also there is a difference in eating milk products
after meat. Ashkenazim can be 72 minutes Dutch, 3 hrs German and 5 to 6 hrs
others but the Sephardim are 6 hrs. Pessach the Sephardim can eat peas and beans
and some rice while the Ashkenazim are
forbidden.
You
always pray Sephardic pronunciation after you have taken it upon yourself but if
you pray as a prayer leader you should say the Synagogue Nusach or prayers.
Example I do not pray according to the Ari but when I lead the prayers in
Chabad, I say everything but the mourners Kaddish via Nusach Ha Ari. But only
the prayer leader as a member of the Congregation I pray my usual
custom.
What
happens when an adult discovers that they really are Jewish but perhaps lived
20, 30, 40 or so years like a non-Jew or even thinking that they were a non-Jew
like the Hungarian Neo-Nazi leader who found out that both he and his girlfriend
were hidden Jews: Even if one is Jewish we allow him or her to wean themselves
gradually from years of habits. It took me from Aug. '66 to May '67 to go from
reading the Bible into considering meeting an Orthodox Rabbi and it took to
Sept. '67 to really start getting on the right track and only around Nov. '68
was I really Shomer Shabbos and Feb. '69 that I entered a Yeshiva. The human
being is not capable of switching from nothing to something. HASHEM can create a
world from nothing in 6 days but we have to go in stages. Stage one trying to
attend a Synagogue, buying a Hebrew/English Prayer Book, Learning the Tanach
on-line Torah, Nach with Rashi from Chabad. Learning Hebrew, Reading and
learning the Code of Jewish Law and To be a Jew. 1) Changing over our dishes,
pots, pans, silverware and food. 2) Stopping to violate Shabbos slowly - not
writing, sewing, sowing, erasing on Shabbos later no traveling via vehicle or
animal on Shabbos. 3) Still later no carrying in and out on Shabbos no turning
on and off lights on Shabbos and no internet. Each stage takes weeks or months I
don't say that one has to follow my steps but it must be done slowly. I have
seen two people go "cold turkey' from nothing and then months later reverse the
process. Obviously speed does not work. We all have our ups and
downs.
A
non-Jewish Miracle: I always had my Siddur over my heart and my army bandage on
the other side pocket: http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/bible-may-have-saved-bus-driver-8750.shtml
From Barry Shaw of
the J. Post: http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Thousands-rally-for-Pollard-in-Tel-Aviv-in-front-of-US-Embassy-342318
From Sheldon: An
anti-Semitic claim from the Arabs debunked:
Since the origin of
both Ashkenazi and Sephardim are from Iraq and Haran Turkey makes everything
confused. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/study-finds-no-evidence-of-khazar-origin-for-ashkenazi-jews/2014/02/23/
Israeli Police
arrested the top tier of the Mafia but the second and third levels are not
fighting it out: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4491097,00.html
BDE: This woman was
featured in my blogspot a few months ago: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4491671,00.html
This
is more signs of our times Wi-Fi subways:
http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/40-york-subway-stations-free-wi-fi-113919887.html
Inyanay
Diyoma
From
Allen:
Subject:
Vet's Backlash Please forward – This appears to have
been written before the recent cuts in the Veterans Benefits and Military
Preparedness: You may not be
a veteran but you might know someone who is to pass this on to.
VET'S
BACKLASH AGAINST OBAMA, A movement has been started by our armed forces, to get
out the vote in 2014. They are organizing themselves, but this can be done by
all of us. The President, the Commander in Chief, has made the Rules of
Engagement (ROE) so difficult, that our troops are often killed before they can
even get permission to fight. Nothing has been done to stop our troops from
being murdered by Afghanis they are training, either. Now, the President wants
the US to sign on to the UNs International Criminal Court (ICC), which would
allow the UNs ICC to arrest and try US troops for War Crimes, without the legal
protections guaranteed under US Law,
and from which there is no appeal. The President, with his Democratic control of the Senate, has nearly all the power. If the Non-Establishment can take back the Senate in 2014, our troops can once again be protected from unnecessary danger. Please consider this, and send it on to your mailing lists. Thank You and Semper Fi,
and from which there is no appeal. The President, with his Democratic control of the Senate, has nearly all the power. If the Non-Establishment can take back the Senate in 2014, our troops can once again be protected from unnecessary danger. Please consider this, and send it on to your mailing lists. Thank You and Semper Fi,
Interestingly
enough, when GWB was president you heard about the military deaths in Iraq and
Afghanistan almost daily. With Obama in the White House, the mainstream media
has been strangely quiet. ---More than 1,000 American soldiers have lost their
lives in Afghanistan in the last 27 months. This is more than the combined total
of the nine years before. Thirty have died in August. During the last month,
over 50 additional NATO and US servicemen have been murdered, inside jobs by
those who are hired to be a force for good in Afghanistan .
The
commander in chief is AWOL. Not a peep, although he ordered the White House flag
flown at half-staff for the Sikhs that were killed. There is a deep disgust, a
fury, growing in the ranks of the military against the indifferent incompetence
of this president.
It
has taken on a dangerous tone. No one knows what to do about him, but the anger
runs deep as the deaths continue with no strategic end in sight to the idiocy of
this war. Obama has had 4 years to end this futile insanity, during which time
he has vacationed, golfed, campaigned, and generally ignored the plight of our
men and women in uniform. But, there is now a movement afoot in the armed
services to launch a massive get out the vote drive against this president. Not
just current active duty types, but
the National Guard, Reserves, the retired, and all other prior service members. This is no small special interest group, but many millions of veterans who can have an enormous impact on the outcome of the November election if they all respond.
the National Guard, Reserves, the retired, and all other prior service members. This is no small special interest group, but many millions of veterans who can have an enormous impact on the outcome of the November election if they all respond.
The
million military retirees in Florida alone could mean an overwhelming victory in
that state if they all show up at the polls. It might not keep another one
hundred U.S. troops from dying between now and November, but a turn out to vote
by the military against this heart breaking lack of leadership can make a
powerful statement that hastens a change to the indifference of this shallow
little man who just lets our soldiers die. Veterans: Please forward to your
lists.
The Ukraine in
turmoil and the Rabbi of Kiev asks the Jews to evacuate and move to Israel or
elsewhere in the Ukraine. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/22/ukrainian-protesters-claim-control-over-capital/?intcmp=latestnews and http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/02/21/chief-rabbi-of-ukraine-urges-jews-to-flee-kiev-after-attack-on-students/
The weekly game in
Gaza is to check Israeli Preparedness: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177721#.Uwjl1sZWHIU
The Golan Heights:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4491167,00.html
The Ukraine is very
unstable now: http://debka.com/article/23700/Yanukovych-refuses-to-resign-marshals-Kharkiv-against-opposition-in-Kiev-
Could we be bringing
pressure back on the pressure cooking Obama Administration? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177739#.UwlxD8ZWHIU
A new terror cell
found in TX and more trouble from Gaza to come. http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Senior-IDF-source-Gaza-violence-slowly-escalating-342225\
From Sherilyn:
Address supplied by Stan: County Road 3, Sweeny, Texas http://www.wnd.com/2014/02/new-terror-compound-found-in-heart-of-texas/
After Assad murdered
Kurds in the past he decided to make them a deal about 2 years ago on autonomy
and it is working with them especially after the Jihad murdered them.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177736#.Uwl8OcZWHIU
If it happened in the
UK it can happen in the USA and most Israelis feel this too. Thanks to Shona.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG77qpLi4oc&feature=youtu.be
This story is the
most important argument on legalizing Drugs: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2014/02/22/drug-lord-el-chapo-guzman-captured-in-mexico-report-says/?intcmp=HPBucket
Civil Defense drill
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177752#.UwpNRsZWHIU
Yesterday COS Gantz
met with reporters and wounded Syrians even spoke about the new draft law:
http://debka.com/article/23702/Assad’s-army-hits-border-areas-as-US-Israel-Jordan-enlarge-South-Syrian-foothold-
Stopped in the nick
of time: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177779#.UwspE8ZWHIU
Sarah and Benyamin do
not treat their employees well this is not the first to complain: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4491699,00.html
Egypt a move towards
Al Sisi: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177802#.UwtDLsZWHIU
The Syrian Border
gets more effective intelligence: http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Military-Intelligence-expanding-to-cope-with-jihadi-threat-from-Syria-342388
Iran, Homosexuality
and soon Bestiality is becoming so mainstream that it might be too
late: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177844#.UwybwMZWHIU
Hidden
Pipe Bomb: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177849#.Uwzvl8ZWHIU
Because
of Progressives -Under Israeli Law especially the Knesset, you are a sucker
fellow if you are married: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177792#.Uwwwa4VFGCM
Hezballah
is playing with fire: http://debka.com/article/23706/Western-sources-Israel-Air-Force-hits-SS-21-batteries-first-attack-in-Syrian-war-on-nuclear-capable-missiles
If
you try to nuke us we will hit you back and you will be on the eve of
destruction: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4492575,00.html
Why
must I subsidize Hamas and the PLO? http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177873#.Uw1swMZWHIU
Hanoi Jane the living
dead: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2566899/Jane-Fonda-76-reveals-stop-crying-comes-terms-mortality.html
The
PLO does not want a state but only to trouble Israel. http://www.jewishworldreview.com/0214/glick022614.php3#.Uw5PAYVFGCM
He
is the truth about US Health Insurance going from bad to horrible to worst for
the middle class:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kpjyr1x7mC0
Israel
fitting commercial flights with counter missile electronics: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4493099,00.html
Each
Nation is provoking another:
http://debka.com/article/23710/Pro-Moscow-coup-in-Crimea-Russian-fighter-jets-on-W-border-on-combat-alert-Kiev-deploys-security-forces
Better
prepared than not:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4493135,00.html
On
Wednesday a lawyer warned that Lapid’s tanks into Bnei Barak could lead to his
assassination and the police have doubled security around him: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/177918#.Uw8MusZWHIU
Isolate
on the internet your enemies via trolls: http://www.wnd.com/2014/02/govt-handbook-for-internet-trolls-uncovered/?cat_orig=us
From
Debbie S. Can somebody take responsibility for their
own actions nowadays?
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/69697/pathetic-kerry-kennedy-blames-rfk-death-age-8-for-drugged-driving-age-53/
From
the Emmanuel Winston Achieves written by his widow Gail on his visit with Ariel
Sharon during the Yom Kippur War Cease Fire: http://winstonisraelnews.com/uncategorized/emanuel-winston-photographic-memories/?utm_source=wysija&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weeklydigest
PS
Emanuel Zal fought hard for Gush Katif.
From Harriet and you
give your social security and other information to people like this:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/02/27/report-woman-convicted-of-terrorism-in-israel-worked-as-obamacare-navigator/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=story&utm_campaign=ShareButtons
Now
For M. Wolfberg’s Good Shabbos Story “
Good Shabbos
Everyone. In the 1920's, a
secularist leader in Eretz Yisroel, who was known for his outspoken criticism of
the Torah community, suddenly became critically ill. He was brought to the
British Missionary Hospital in Jerusalem which, as its name indicates, was owned
and operated by Christian missionaries. The hospital wasopen only to Jews, for
its real purpose was not to heal the sick but to introduce Jews to gentile
beliefs. Near every bed was a copy of the "New Testament" and the walls of each
room were decorated with religious proclamations. Jerusalem's rabbinate had
issued a strict ban against even setting foot into the Missionary
Hospital.
After being in the hospital for four weeks, the secularist's condition had deteriorated to the point where doctors declared that there was no hope for recovery.
The man's family realized that the only ones who could help them at that point were the doctors at Shaarei Zedek Hospital. Shaarei Zedek had been founded by Jerusalem's Torah community; its staff, headed by the legendary Dr. Moshe Wallach, was known to be the best in the country. The family feared, however, that the patient would not be granted admittance into Shaarei Zedek, since he had ignored the rabbinate's ban and was known as a forceful opponent of the Torah community.
The family concluded that their only hope was to speak to the city's revered Rav, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, who was known for his kindness and love toward every Jew. Someone was chosen to represent the family, and he went to R' Yosef Chaim's humble home in the Old City.
As the man made his way through the streets of Jerusalem, a terrific thunderstorm struck. Wet and shivering, the man entered the Rav's home and found him deeply immersed in study. The visitor apologized and related the entire story.
R' Yosef Chaim promptly closed the sefer before him, donned his coat and prepared to leave for the hospital. Outside the thunderstorm was still raging, so the visitor blocked the door, refusing to allow the Rav to go out in such treacherous weather. "I only asked for a letter, not that the Rav should go out in the storm," he said. To this, R' Yosef Chaim replied, "When a Jewish life is in danger, a letter is not enough. I must personally attend to fulfilling this great mitzvah. "
As the visitor later related: "Still speaking, the Rav dashed out of the room and in a moment he was up the steps. Young as I was, I had trouble keeping up with this seventy-five-year-old man. No sooner had we set out than the rain became torrential. I advised the Rav to wait until it let up a bit. In response, he only quickened his pace, exclaiming, 'Can a few drops of rain deter a person who is going to save a Jewish life?'
"I breathlessly followed the Rav until we reached the Jaffa Gate. There we boarded a carriage and ordered the driver to get us to the hospital as quickly as possible. TheRav drew his worn Tehillim from his pocket; I sat transfixed bythe glow on his face as he quietly prayed."
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, R' Yosef Chaim wasted no time in arranging for the patient's immediate admittance. Two weeks later the man was released from the hospital having fully recovered. Knowing how agitated the man became whenever the Torah community came under discussion, his friends decided not to tell him of R' Yosef Chaim's involvement in his case.
During a speech at a groundbreaking ceremony one year later, this secularist declared, "We will build the land in our own way and with our own strength. We will build this land by waging a fight to the death against the black arm of Rabbi Sonnenfeld and his cronies!"
Seated in the audience was the messenger who had come to R' Yosef Chaim on that stormy day to seek his help on the man's behalf. Upon hearing the man's terrible remarks, he jumped up and shouted, "How dare you! Have a little respect for the saintly rabbi to whom you owe your very life!" The messenger then made his way to the podium and spoke at length about the efforts of R' Yosef Chaim to save the speaker's life. (Shabbos Stories, Reb. Shimon Finkelman, p. 122)
It states in the parsha,"and Bnai Yisroel had done everything that Hashem commanded Moshe, so did they do." Is it not redundant that the verse states, "so did they do?" The Torah is perhaps hinting to a basic principle in Jewish belief: we are obligated to follow the advice of our Torah leaders. The Ramban explains in parshas Shoftim, that it is crucial that every Jew listen to his Rabbi. Because, we are a society of laws, and the Rabbis are our judges.A society which does not heed its judges, is doomed to chaos.
We see the greatness of our Torah leaders from the inspirational story we told this week. R' Yosef Chaim was truly a Tzadik, a righteous person who lived an exemplary lifestyle which we can all emulate. Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In Memory of a fine person and a good Yitzchok ben Reb Shimon (Friedman) of blessed memory, Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta, Refuah Shleima to Leah bas Tziporah.
After being in the hospital for four weeks, the secularist's condition had deteriorated to the point where doctors declared that there was no hope for recovery.
The man's family realized that the only ones who could help them at that point were the doctors at Shaarei Zedek Hospital. Shaarei Zedek had been founded by Jerusalem's Torah community; its staff, headed by the legendary Dr. Moshe Wallach, was known to be the best in the country. The family feared, however, that the patient would not be granted admittance into Shaarei Zedek, since he had ignored the rabbinate's ban and was known as a forceful opponent of the Torah community.
The family concluded that their only hope was to speak to the city's revered Rav, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld, who was known for his kindness and love toward every Jew. Someone was chosen to represent the family, and he went to R' Yosef Chaim's humble home in the Old City.
As the man made his way through the streets of Jerusalem, a terrific thunderstorm struck. Wet and shivering, the man entered the Rav's home and found him deeply immersed in study. The visitor apologized and related the entire story.
R' Yosef Chaim promptly closed the sefer before him, donned his coat and prepared to leave for the hospital. Outside the thunderstorm was still raging, so the visitor blocked the door, refusing to allow the Rav to go out in such treacherous weather. "I only asked for a letter, not that the Rav should go out in the storm," he said. To this, R' Yosef Chaim replied, "When a Jewish life is in danger, a letter is not enough. I must personally attend to fulfilling this great mitzvah. "
As the visitor later related: "Still speaking, the Rav dashed out of the room and in a moment he was up the steps. Young as I was, I had trouble keeping up with this seventy-five-year-old man. No sooner had we set out than the rain became torrential. I advised the Rav to wait until it let up a bit. In response, he only quickened his pace, exclaiming, 'Can a few drops of rain deter a person who is going to save a Jewish life?'
"I breathlessly followed the Rav until we reached the Jaffa Gate. There we boarded a carriage and ordered the driver to get us to the hospital as quickly as possible. TheRav drew his worn Tehillim from his pocket; I sat transfixed bythe glow on his face as he quietly prayed."
As soon as they arrived at the hospital, R' Yosef Chaim wasted no time in arranging for the patient's immediate admittance. Two weeks later the man was released from the hospital having fully recovered. Knowing how agitated the man became whenever the Torah community came under discussion, his friends decided not to tell him of R' Yosef Chaim's involvement in his case.
During a speech at a groundbreaking ceremony one year later, this secularist declared, "We will build the land in our own way and with our own strength. We will build this land by waging a fight to the death against the black arm of Rabbi Sonnenfeld and his cronies!"
Seated in the audience was the messenger who had come to R' Yosef Chaim on that stormy day to seek his help on the man's behalf. Upon hearing the man's terrible remarks, he jumped up and shouted, "How dare you! Have a little respect for the saintly rabbi to whom you owe your very life!" The messenger then made his way to the podium and spoke at length about the efforts of R' Yosef Chaim to save the speaker's life. (Shabbos Stories, Reb. Shimon Finkelman, p. 122)
It states in the parsha,"and Bnai Yisroel had done everything that Hashem commanded Moshe, so did they do." Is it not redundant that the verse states, "so did they do?" The Torah is perhaps hinting to a basic principle in Jewish belief: we are obligated to follow the advice of our Torah leaders. The Ramban explains in parshas Shoftim, that it is crucial that every Jew listen to his Rabbi. Because, we are a society of laws, and the Rabbis are our judges.A society which does not heed its judges, is doomed to chaos.
We see the greatness of our Torah leaders from the inspirational story we told this week. R' Yosef Chaim was truly a Tzadik, a righteous person who lived an exemplary lifestyle which we can all emulate. Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: In Memory of a fine person and a good Yitzchok ben Reb Shimon (Friedman) of blessed memory, Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta, Refuah Shleima to Leah bas Tziporah.
Be well
and have a great Shabbos and wonderful Chodesh,
Rachamim
Pauli
