Mordechai ben Sarah’s soul came to rest
please remove him from the Tehillim list. From Gail Winston: Dear Family & Friends,
As far as I know, Yehuda Glick is still in serious condition; he has
lost a lot of blood. We all hope & pray that he will survive this brutal,
cruel attack & return to his valiant fight for our Jewish Rights to pray on
our holiest site: The Temple Mount. Please pray for a Refuah Shelaimah
for YEHUDA YEHOSHUA BEN RIVKA ITA BREINDEL.
Parsha Lech Lecha
Last week we ended with the
family of Avram and the death of his father Terach. I was reading the
introduction to the Art Scroll book on Lech Lecha and other Parshiyos
afterwards. It goes on for pages. Making a long story short as follows: Avram
who will become Avraham represents Chessed. His free meals and hosting
strangers to make a convert to bless HASHEM is his life. Yitzchak represents
Gevurah as he was using severity to stretch his neck out on the Mizbayach to be
the perfect Korban. They made the morning and afternoon prayer. Comes along
Yacov and he combines their work in Tiferes or beauty through Emmes (Truth).
Avraham had Yishmael,
Yitzchak had Esav but Yacov’s seed was complete in the tribes and they
furthered the work of making a Kiddush HASHEM. The school of Eliyahu HaNovi
(Elijah the prophet) taught that the world is based on 6000 years of existence.
The first 2000 years were void and unformed. It was only at the age of 52
according to the Medrash that Avram started converting people. He did so after
they had moved to Haran. The second 2000 years were years of Torah from Avraham
through the two Mikdashim (Temples). The last 2000 are the days in which the
Moshiach would come. In the meantime 1775 years have gone by leaving us 225 for
the remaining days.
To bring Moshiach we have to
act like the Avos and bring people to Torah. Not necessary to convert but bring
our own people to Torah and the Nations of the World will follow after the
Moshiach comes!
This Parsha has the war of
the kings which is a prelude to the war of Gog and Magog and the aftermath.
2:1 Now the LORD said unto Abram: 'Get thee
out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the
land that I will show thee.
Our generation is the generation
of Aliyah of which much is voluntary. It is not easy to leave one’s native land
and language to take on a new land, language, behavior and customs from
scratch. The main glue is that of the Torah and the Synagogue. I can go into
any Synagogue at Mincha time and they will say Ashrei, Shemona Esray, and
Alaynu with times for Tachanun, Korbanos, and the Sephardim an extra Psalm.
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and
I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing.
Rashi asks how can this be? If a
person is traveling he has not time to become wealth, on the journey he is not
long enough in one place to make a name for himself and much less become a
great nation!
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and
him that curses thee will I curse; and in thee shall all the families of the
earth be blessed.'
This persists throughout all
generations even when we see the Nazis, Roosevelt and the Allies not bombing
the Concentration Camps, the Pope, Grand Mufti and others thriving while being
against the Jews. But that is on the surface in this world but in the next
there is a different story and the people who helped the Jews have a large
place in heaven.
4 So Abram went, as the LORD had spoken unto
him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he
departed out of Haran.
Last year
5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his
brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls
that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of
Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came. 6 And Abram passed through the
land unto the place of Shechem, unto the terebinth of Moreh. And the Canaanite
was then in the land. 7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said: 'Unto thy
seed will I give this land'; and he built there an altar unto the LORD, who
appeared unto him. 8 And he removed from thence unto the mountain on the east
of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Ai on the
east; and he built there an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of
the LORD. 9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
All these areas are occupied by
Arabs who infiltrated mostly during the past century and a half since the
Aliyah of the 1880’s and the financial re-emergence of Yisrael. The land
promised to the heritance of Avraham and Sarah threw out Yishmael for his
behavior in favor of Yitzchak is now occurred by the descendants of Yishmael
rather than Yitzchak.
10 And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to
sojourn there; for the famine was sore in the land.
Why is it that HASHEM has given his chosen people a land
that is subject to drought or famine? Wouldn’t HE want to give HIS people more
than the nations? Rather HASHEM loves prayers of the righteous and sometimes
people are for long periods without children. Others are not loved and desired
by the L-RD. This would be a reason to travel to either the Euphrates area or
the Nile area. Since Avram fled the former he chose the later for that reason.
11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he
said unto Sarai his wife: 'Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to
look upon.
From this we learn what is stated about Avraham in Perkei
Avos that he was not a man of words, a flatterer but a man who does actions (Ma’asim
Tovim). Rashi mentions that Sarah was of fair complexion and the Medrash that
people did not age externally until people could not tell Yitzchak from
Avraham. Avraham prayed for a sign for age on a person. The other Medrash and
Rashi is that Sarah lived 127 years and at the age of 100 looked like a woman
of 20 and was pure as a child of 7.
12 And it will come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they
will say: This is his wife; and they will kill me, but thee they will keep
alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister; that it may be well with me for
thy sake, and that my soul may live because of thee.'
With the story
of Avimelech, Avraham explains “because there is no fear of heaven in this
place” Later on in Pasuk 18 Rashi explains why Pharaoh is different here: Take [her] and go: Not
like Abimelech, who said to him (below 20:15): “Here is my land before you.”
But he [Pharaoh] said to him, “Go and do not stay, because the Egyptians are
lascivious,” as it is said (Ezek. 23:20):“and whose issue is the issue of
horses.” - [from Tan. Lech Lecha]
…13:1 And Abram went up out of Egypt, he,
and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South. 2 And
Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys
from the South even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the
beginning, between Beth-el and Ai; 4 unto the place of the altar, which he had
made there at the first; and Abram called there on the name of the LORD. 5 And
Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land
was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together; for their substance
was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife
between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle. And the
Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelt then in the land. 8 And Abram said unto Lot:
'Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my
herdmen and thy herdmen; for we are brethren. 9 Is not the whole land before
thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me; if thou wilt take the left hand,
then I will go to the right; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go to
the left.' 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of the Jordan,
that it was well watered everywhere, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and
Gomorrah, like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou go unto
Zoar. 11 So Lot chose him all the plain of the Jordan; and Lot journeyed east;
and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelt in the
land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the Plain, and moved his tent as
far as Sodom.
As much as Lot learned from
Avram, he was lacking one element which is Yeras Shamayim and that would bring
about the down-fall of his wife and some of his children and the creation of
Maumzerim by his daughters.
13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked and
sinners against the LORD exceedingly.
With the exception of Kiruv
Rabbanim, one will not see a Rabbi frequently a night club or disco. If fact
very few Orthodox Jews will go to these places are they like gambling are a
waste of time and money. A person who loves Torah might like myself on a flight
look at a movie on an airplane but many like Rav Mimran will not. It depends on
your upbringing and your priorities’.
14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after
that Lot was separated from him: 'Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the
place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for
all the land which thou see, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.
16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can
number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise,
walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for unto
thee will I give it.'
This is the promise to Avram
and when he sent Yishmael and others away he gave them gifts but the land of
Yisrael he would give to the seed of Yitzchak who in turn would pass it on to
the see of Yacov.
14:1 Even
though we are getting closer and closer to the war of Gog and Magog and the
hints in this section I will skip on until Shem acting as High Priest comes out
to greet Avram. 18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and
wine; and he was priest of God the Most High. 19 And he blessed him, and said:
'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Maker of heaven and earth; 20 and blessed
be God the Most High, who hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand.' And he
gave him a tenth of all. 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram: 'Give me the
persons, and take the goods to thyself.' 22 And Abram said to the king of
Sodom: 'I have lifted up my hand unto the LORD, God Most High, Maker of heaven
and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread nor a shoe-latchet nor aught that
is thine, lest thou should say: I have made Abram rich; 24 save only that which
the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner,
Eshcol, and Mamre, let them take their portion.'
In Avos it is clear: “Who is
rich? A man who is happy with his portion!” Avraham did not need any more than
HASHEM had given him and Moshe did not take even a shoe lace during the 40
years he led the nation.
15:1 After these things the word of the
LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying: 'Fear not, Abram, I am thy shield,
thy reward shall be exceeding great.'
Baruch Atah HASHEM ELOKAYNU
Melech HaOlam Magen Avraham – first blessing of the Shemona Esray. The shield
of Avraham by HASHEM’s Chessed even if we do not deserve it. I just think of
the 15 year old girl in the shelter as her house was flattened or the man who
managed to pull out his children seconds before the rocket collapsed his roof
and the shrapnel on their beds – a sight on the news that is hard to forget.
This is the shielding of Avram and his seed.
2 And Abram said: 'O Lord GOD, what wilt
Thou give me, seeing I go hence childless, and he that shall be possessor of my
house is Eliezer of Damascus?' 3 And Abram said: 'Behold, to me Thou hast given
no seed, and, lo, one born in my house is to be mine heir.' 4 And, behold, the
word of the LORD came unto him, saying: 'This man shall not be thine heir; but
he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.' 5 And He
brought him forth abroad, and said: 'Look now toward heaven, and count the
stars, if thou be able to count them'; and He said unto him: 'So shall thy seed
be.' 6 And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness.
7 And He said unto him: 'I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the
Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.'
Still Avram will give birth
to Ishmael for numbers but Avraham will give birth to Yitzchak. Millions will
come from Avraham and forms of belief in HASHEM will be given to billions.
8 And he said: 'O Lord GOD, whereby shall
I know that I shall inherit it?' 9 And He said unto him: 'Take Me a heifer of
three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years
old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon.' 10 And he took him all these, and
divided them in the midst, and laid each half over against the other; but the
birds divided he not. 11 And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses,
and Abram drove them away. 12 And it came to pass, that, when the sun was going
down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, a dread, even a great darkness,
fell upon him. 13 And He said unto Abram: 'Know of a surety that thy seed shall
be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they
shall afflict them four hundred years; 14 and also that nation, whom they shall
serve, will I judge; and afterward shall they come out with great substance. 15
But thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old
age. 16 And in the fourth generation they shall come back hither; for the
iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.'
Above is the Bris between the
pieces.
Below is the regular establishment
of the Bris Milah.
… 7 And I will establish My covenant
between Me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an
everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I
will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings,
all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their
God.' 9 And God said unto Abraham: 'And as for thee, thou shalt keep My covenant,
thou, and thy seed after thee throughout their generations. 10 This is My
covenant, which ye shall keep, between Me and you and thy seed after thee:
every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall be circumcised in
the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of a covenant betwixt Me
and you. 12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every
male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with
money of any foreigner, that is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy
house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised; and My
covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the
uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that soul
shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken My covenant.' 15 And God said
unto Abraham: 'As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but
Sarah shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and moreover I will give thee a son of her; yea,
I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall
be of her.' 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his
heart: 'Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old? and shall
Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?' 18 And Abraham said unto God: 'Oh that
Ishmael might live before Thee!' 19 And God said: 'Nay, but Sarah thy wife
shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish
My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him. 20 And
as for Ishmael, I have heard thee; behold, I have blessed him, and will make
him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget,
and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant will I establish with
Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.' 22
And He left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. 23 And Abraham
took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought
with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised
the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. 24
And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh
of his foreskin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was
circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 26 In the selfsame day was Abraham
circumcised, and Ishmael his son. 27 And all the men of his house, those born
in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with
him.
The
Value of a Shabbos Rest – Second part by Seth and the first part myself
I started working after the
Yom Kippur War in a company in Ashdod Israel. My hours were at that time Sun. –
Thurs. 7:30 AM to 9:15 PM afterwards I would ride or walk home and do a Daf
Yomi and go to sleep. On Fridays, another 6 hours of work. Shabbos was family
day with songs and stories for the children. It once happened that there was an
important project for a customer in a friendly country after I had left the
plant for a different job. The head of the project worked at least 125 hrs. a
week every week including Shabbos. He had a dead-line to meet and as a former
IDF officer wanted everything done on time. One Sunday he did not show up for
work. He didn’t show up Monday and his assistant inquired what happened to him?
It seems that by not resting he had a nervous breakdown and was hospitalized in
an asylum. Guard the Shabbos and the Shabbos will guard you. The story of the
project head told to me my former group manager, Seth.
A short personal note: Sometimes life
throws us a curve ball and we have to deal with it. Last Shabbos, my
sister-in-law passed away after a bout with cancer. Her family said that in a
two room house a 9 year old sitting Shiva would go stir-crazy without TV or
video games. Since he was a surrogate child of my wife’s brother, we had to
step up and take him including two trips a day to Tel Aviv this past week. In
the meantime all of efforts have been to make the transition for my nephew to
be pleasant until either the court grants us to be forester parents or the
social workers find a forester home for him. So if my Drasha this week is off I
had to try to hit a home run for the boy with the curve ball that life threw my
way. This involves a lot of effort on our part and patience and guidance from
professionals.
Have You Embraced a Convert Today? http://www.aish.com/jw/s/Have-You-Embraced-a-Convert-Today.html Rabbi Ari Sytner
The
Torah is full of many commandments, some listed once, others repeated
frequently. Yet, there is one mitzvah mentioned as many as 46 times in the
Torah, and that is the mitzvah to love the convert.
Clearly, the Torah is emphatic that a newcomer to Judaism should receive
treatment that goes above and beyond the average person.What is so difficult about fulfilling this mitzvah that it is needed to be repeated so often? Furthermore, the Torah already commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, and this includes converts who have become part of our nation. Why the need to list so many additional commandments related specifically to converts?
Our Sages share a parable that sheds light on how the Almighty views the convert: There once lived a powerful king who took great pride in his wealth. He had numerous homes, gardens, pastures and livestock. One day when he stood on a hillside admiring his flock of thousands of sheep, he noticed a single young deer among them. He called to his chief shepherd to inquire about it. The shepherd explained that during the last few weeks, wherever the sheep went, the deer followed. No matter the heat, cold or rain, the deer simply remained among the flock.
The shepherd then asked whether the deer should be removed from the flock. To which the king insisted that the deer be allowed to remain among the sheep. The shepherd pressed further and cautiously asked the king, “If you take such great pride in the perfection of your flock, why would you want a non-sheep among them?”
The king answered, “My flock is truly beautiful, however, they go where we tell them to. On a daily basis we herd them towards green pastures and fresh water to help them survive. They have no other options of where to go or how to live. However, this deer has the freedom to live anywhere and to run free in the wild, and still, it chooses to reside with my flock for it finds great value among them. For that reason, the deer is special to me in a way that is more meaningful than the sheep themselves. Not only is the deer so precious to me and should be allowed to remain among the sheep, but it should be given better protection, food, water, treatment, love and attention above the rest of my flock.” (Midrash Tehillim 146).
It is through this parable that we can appreciate how precious converts are in the eyes of God and why the Torah is so repetitive about treating the newcomer with heightened care. Furthermore, perhaps it can help us, the sheep, better understand why feelings of disdain may arise when looking at a convert - and help us overcome any negative feelings, so that we can properly embrace the convert as we should.
When some of us look at a convert, we feel jealous. We see a Judaism that is fresh and exciting and with envy, we may contrast it with our own Judaism, one that we have long since taken for granted.
When we look at a convert guilt may arise, for we know how far they have had to come, whereas many of us have grown complacent in our Judaism.
When we look at a convert we may feel insignificant as we step back and wonder whether we could have made the choices, sacrifices and transformations that they have made. This forces us to question and doubt if we are as committed and strong in our faith as they are.
When we look at a convert, deep in our hearts, we truly know how precious they are in God’s eyes, and perhaps we too long for the same connection and inspiration that they have fought to achieve.
Ultimately, the convert reminds us not only who we once were, as the Torah states, “Love the convert for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:19), but of the types of Jews we truly wish to be. They remind us that it has been thousands of years since we stood at Sinai pledging to believe in God and accept the Torah – and we recall just how much we miss that feeling. For that reason, the Torah so frequently instructs us to look up to the convert, learn from them and shower them with love.
This applies not only following the excitement of their conversion, but even during the often long and difficult transformation process leading up to it. As Judaism is not learned from reading a book, but by living it – a convert cannot properly learn about Shabbat or prayer unless the community is willing to bring them in and help them through their journey. Remember, not only are they learning a new language, customs and way of living, but they are painfully detaching from their previous lives, habits and even relationships. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Jewish community to fully receive and support the convert with love.
So next time you encounter a convert – someone who made the incredibly heroic life transformation that many of us could never even imagine doing - don’t take them for granted. Stop. Be in complete awe and embrace them.
Modern aka more Liberal Orthodox Rabbis
do not recognize this law and registry will be prepared to prevent false conversions:
The Chief Rabbis
warned Netanyahu in an urgent meeting on Tuesday that they will not recognize conversions conducted under the new bill, showing how the
bill in fact will only complicate the conversion process. CINO Converts in name
only: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186756#.VFD8hpscTIU Leftist bribing Arabs on the voting in the Knesset woe to Am Yisrael that
our conversion will be based on Atheists and Arabs: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186764#.VFEjCpscTIU
Fourth highest child poverty in the
world: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/UNICEF-report-Israel-has-4th-highest-child-poverty-rate-in-developed-world-380162
Early Israeli Elections will be held if
the politicians can’t shape up. http://www.jpost.com/International/Politics-The-coalitions-out-of-control-dynamics-will-bring-an-early-election-379679
Jewish discrimination against the
Yitzchar Yeshuv: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186573
On one hand I don’t want to open up a
scandal against all Charedim where a few sick individuals are involved but to
let naïve people let their children out of sight might be worst. Pedophiles of
Nachalot: http://adinakutnicki.com/2014/02/24/jerusalems-nachlaots-underbellypedophilia-sexual-abuse-of-teenswomen-toodefiles-the-innocent-former-missionaries-involved-rabbis-give-them-cover-where-is-their-nexus-part-one/
The Unicorn is a breed of horse whose origins date back to founding of Jerusalem and was used in ancient times by the Palestinian people who would ride them into the sea to fight against the invading Loch Ness monster and on the ground against the notorious Zionist Big Foot.
With a distinctive head shape and horn, the Arabian Unicorn is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in Gaza.
It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses in the Middle East dating back 100,000 years.
Throughout history, the elusive Arabian Unicorns have spread around the world by both war and trade, used to improve other breeds by adding speed, refinement, endurance, and strong bone.
Today, the Arabian Unicorn's bloodline is found exclusively in the minds of anti-Semites and the gullible masses of illiterate people too lazy to research history who stand in full support of the "Greek Sea Faring Arabs who call themselves Palestinians. In spite of the obvious and voluminous evidence that supports the myth of any a - historical Palestinian nation in the history of the world.
Lenin once said "A lie told often enough becomes truth" and the invention of the Greek Sea Faring Arabs called "Palestinians" is truly an example of the worst example of anti-Semitism since Palestinians were invented for the sole purpose of erasing over 4000 years of most valuable Jewish history in their Judean lands/ and capital Jerusalem also called Zion, the logical outcome is Zionism is Judaism since Jerusalem, not only the Temple Mount is central to Judaism and Jews around the world.
We as in We the Jews know this since we pray not only during each Jewish Holiday towards the Jews holiest city - Zion- Jerusalem- but have been doing so from the start over 3000 years... just as Muslims and 99% of Palestinians pray towards Mecca since Islam was invented 1400 years ago.
This is reminiscent of the propaganda that spread throughout Europe after Communist Russia became partners with Nazi Germany; which one must not forget was in partnership with the Muslim Mufti of Jerusalem and his Hanjar divisions to wipe out European Jewry and Middle East Jewry.
It is shocking to read the mess of lies and total ignorance surrounding the Arab Israel conflict renamed the Palestinian Israeli conflict for political reasons ... in the effort to erase the Jews in their marginalized lands of Israel the way Arabs erased over 1000,000 Arab Jews from the Arab Middle East .. The Farhud - holocaust of Jews in Iraq - 1941 is but one example..
And so much ignorance is actually coming from a minority of Jews is simply insulting to any morally guided individual with neurons firing above the shoulders. The voice of even one anti SEMITIC JEW will capture the ears of the Anti Semitic world as if they were scholars of history holier than facts and base logic and the now corrupt leaders who guide the generations in Academia are promoting anti Semitism in the learning centers of the world- Universities are holding an annual witch burning of Jews called Israel Apartheid Week.. a fraud that certainly could not pass the test of academic scrutiny.. now is a fiction turned fact poisoning the minds of the future.. anti Semitism has a future no doubt well after the lessons of the Holocaust .
The Arabs of Gaza - sold to the sleeping masses as the mythically fabricated *Palestinian* people - freely, though illegally, elected a the Hamas Islamic Jihadist organization after Israel withdrew from their lands of Gaza.
One must not forget that this election was supervised by Jimmy Carter and the United Nations.
One, further, must never forget this entity holds ideological common ground to Hitlers Nazis.
To even compare the Jews fighting against the Nazis in the Warsaw Ghetto using tunnels is an absolute insult. A disgrace!
Carters ignorance is offensive. Perhaps this fellow might actually read the Islamic texts. Perhaps if he did, he just might understand the base of this Arab-Jewish conflict over the region of Palestine.
Further, if Israel has been long committing acts of genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, how come Gazas population is exploding leaving one to ask if this cleansing involves fertilizer along with medical aid, water, electricity, worthless peace treaties in exchange for the Jews legally owned ancestral homelands and even warnings before the IDF actions.
Is it a war or not?
If the IDF makes a mistake and kills Arabs the propaganda machine runs wild while masses of missiles are intentionally shot at Israeli civilians.
The ignorant moral equivalence is utterly offensive.
I wonder how many rockets rained down on London before they decided to act and what was the response: carpet bombing of Dresden!
I do not see Israel doing anything similar - though I personally feel it should be since the Jews will be blamed by our criminally negligent media anyway....
89 years after the assassination of
Lincoln an eye-witness speaks out. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_iq5yzJ-Dk
Inyanay Diyoma
Another front line country stopping
Moslem attacks buys defensive missiles from Israel: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4583959,00.html
Poor innocent Molotov Cocktail thrower
shot dead: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186559#.VEvQd5scTIU
If it was another country she might have
had a chance but not Iran: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Iran-set-to-execute-woman-convicted-of-killing-her-rapist-Amnesty-International-says-379747
This will mean the minister’s security
staff too: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186567#.VEv1X5scTIU
Some Shahidim meet Allah or perhaps Satan
in Iraq: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4583983,00.html
Sinai put into a State of Emergency after
attacks on Friday killing Egyptian Soldiers and Hamas threatens Israel from
Gaza in verbal war: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186570#.VExq_ZscTIU
Anti-Semitic State Dept. – Ed-OP: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4583494,00.html Perhaps the Secretary of State
of the United States would care to explain to us why he only uses this
expression here. Why is he singling Israel and the Jews out of all the nations?
Yerushalayim a ticking time bomb
Analysis: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4583798,00.html
Ecuadorian
Karen Mosquera, 22, HY”D, converted to be a Jew she must have done it so well
that she died on a Kiddush HASHEM and is now in the highest realm of heaven. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4584522,00.html
The activist High Court of Injustice in
Israel tries often to over-ride HASHEM’s Torah and Mitzvos and the
democratically elected Knesset. Now is the time to over-ride them but HaSatan
is pushing the wicked to kill the bill in committee: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186633#.VE3JLpscTIU
Her only sin was being a Jewish baby by Emily Amrousi
We say of every terror victim
that they died before their time. Picked before they ripened. Age does not
matter. But the image of the man carrying Chaya Zissel Braun in his arms (Is it
her father? It's heartbreaking), rushing her to the mobile intensive care unit
as she lay in her pink clothes, barely as big as his forearm -- it ties your
stomach in knots. At only three months old, this is what happened to her, &
there is simply no way to ease the pain.
Every soul taken leaves behind a hollow space. We not
only mourn those taken, but also those who never had the chance to live.
And when a newborn is murdered
-- that is a whole life gone to heaven. Along with her went her life, all the
children she may have had, all the words she never spoke. A well of missed
opportunities, her whole life ahead of her. Just a tiny bud, a seed only just
planted -- & already cut.
And the one who cut off her
young life also took away many beautiful years of her parents' lives -- the years
during which they waited for her, they invested heart & soul hoping to one
day hold their own baby. They went through difficult fertility treatments, they
prayed, they wished.
Until one day, it happened --
"like a line etched on the palm of a hand," & they opened their
arms to receive this great gift. A soul. Her mother hugged her, breathed in the
sweet scent of her newborn skin & whispered in her little ear that she
would do anything & everything for her. Her father cradled her gently.
& both of them were thrilled by her tiny toes & her first smile.
Haim Nahman Bialik wrote
"One the Slaughter" ("Revenge for the blood of a little child
has not yet been devised by Satan") about the Kishinev pogrom.
The poem's title is taken from the blessing made over the kosher slaughter of
an animal, but here, it is people being slaughtered. & the earth is already
swollen with the blood of children.
[Security video camera showed…]
Little Chaya was lying in her stroller. Or that her mother was holding her in
her arms. Protective arms, arms that shield from stones, from a knife, from
nails. But they did not stand a chance against the car speeding cruelly into
the group of people waiting at the light rail station.
Her parents saw it before their
eyes, & their outstretched arms could not reach far enough to stop her
little body as it was flung 10 meters forward.
Against her will, she joined the
rows of tiny graves. Shalhevet Pass & Yehuda Shoham, Hadas Fogel &
Shaked Avraham, Yonatan Palmer & Shmuel Zargari, & a long list of
Jewish babies who could not yet put two words together, whose only sin was
living.
DID
PRESIDENT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA OR JOHN KERRY EXPRESS THEIR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES
FOR BABY CHAYA ZISSEL BRAUN? I HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET? GAIL WHAT WAS TERRESA H. KERRY DOING DONATING AND RAISING MONEY
FOR A PALESTINIAN CHARITY WHICH IS NOT REALLY A FOOD AND CLOTHING BANK IF YOU
GET MY GIST? - RP
It is time to crush the Yerushalayim
Intifada and either put the youths back into school or detention centers: http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Jerusalems-silent-intifada-is-anything-but-silent-380001
ISIS has nothing to do with Israel - an
Ed-Op: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4584724,00.html
We don’t tell anybody in the world where
they can and cannot build in their capitol! So butt out! http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186683#.VE79r5scTIU
A certain weed-smoking character with
homosexual tendencies no real birth certificate no College transcripts called
the man who was wounded in the Sabena Terrorist Hijacking a coward and chicken
sh... http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4585675,00.html
After the attack on Egypt’s Soldiers with
the help of Hamas and the smuggling routes, Egypt cracks down and is destroy
meters upon meters of Rafah. http://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-gives-residents-on-gaza-border-48-hours-to-leave/ Egypt has proof that
Hamas supplied the weapons: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186748#.VFD3E5scTIU
Kerry's Wife funds an anti-Israel
Propaganda Restaurant. that is spreading anti-Israel propaganda received a
$50,000 grant from an endowment chaired by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's
wife, the Washington Free Beacon reports • Conflict Kitchen wraps food in
anti-Israel leaflets.
The IDF Northern Command acknowledges
Hezballah Tunnels: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186755#.VFD3f5scTIU
Israel to purchase 19 more stealth F-35
fighters to arrive in 2020 the first batch is due in 2016: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4585411,00.html
Hamas tries to assassinate co-existence
Temple Mount Prayer Activists: http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Report-Suspect-in-right-wing-activist-Yehuda-Glicks-shooting-killed-by-police-380238 Had he been a leftist, the
police would have taken the assassination threats seriously: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/186791#.VFHdwZscTIU
IF
YOU HAD A HUNCH THE NEWS SYSTEM WAS RIGGED AND YOU COULDN'T PUT YOUR FINGER ON
IT, THIS MIGHT SOLVE THE PUZZLE.
ABC
News executive producer Ian Cameron is married to Susan Rice, National Security
Adviser.
CBS
President David Rhodes is the brother of Ben Rhodes, Obama’s Deputy National
Security Adviser for Strategic Communications.
ABC
News correspondent Claire Shipman is married to former White House Press
Secretary Jay Carney.
ABC
News and Univision reporter Matthew Jaffe is married to Katie Hogan, Obama’s
Deputy Press Secretary.
ABC
President Ben Sherwood is the brother of Obama’s Special Adviser Elizabeth
Sherwood.
CNN
President Virginia Moseley is married to former Hillary Clinton’s Deputy
Secretary Tom Nides.
And
now you know why it is no surprise the media is in Obama's pocket. Ya think
there might be a little bias in the news ... we're being fed bull manure folks.
Why no curfew and massive use of rubber
bullets? http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Security-official-Jerusalem-rioting-could-persist-for-weeks-even-months-380423
3,000 police on the alert in
Yerushalayim: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4586479,00.html
Now for our Good Shabbos
Story by M. Wolfberg “WWF Teshuva” and “Better late than never”
Good Shabbos Everyone. The verse
tells us that "These are the offspring of Noach, Noach was a righteous
man..." (Bereishis 6:9) Why does the Torah double the word
"Noach?" Why not just say "These are the offspring of Noach, a righteous
man...?"
The answer is the following: The verse tells us that Noach was called "Noach"- which means 'relaxed' or 'tranquil', because Noach was a righteous man. We reread the verse above to mean "These are the offspring of Noach, [who was] "Noach" - relaxed [because he] was a righteous man..." We will see that those who uphold the Torah generally live more relaxed lives.
Noach distinguished himself in his generation as a righteous person who listened to Hashem. As the verses tell us "Noach walked with Hashem..." (Bereishis 6:9) "And Noach did according to everything Hashem had commanded him." (Bereishis 7:5)
On the merit of listening to Hashem, Noach's ark "drifted upon the surface of the waters." (Bereishis 7:18) While the world was destroyed, Noach floated peacefully on the water. Noach walked with Hashem, so Hashem only gave Noach the plans to build the ark, which saved Noach and his family. Therefore, we see that Noach lived a peaceful life because he followed Hashem's word. By following the example of Noach, who listened to Hashem, we too can learn to float over life's difficulties and live virtually stress free lives.
The following amazing true story shows how one Jew managed to float through a particularly difficult period in Jewish history. Almost 30 years ago, Mordecai Shababo was a typical secular Israeli who lived with his family in Tzefas, in northern Eretz Yisroel. Mordecai had been training hard as a wrestler for the 1972 world competitions, which were to take place in Munich, Germany.
Mordecai was the only real hope for bringing home a victory for the Israeli team. Although Mordecai himself was not an observant Jew, his family had a long and illustrious history in the religious community of Tzefas. An ancestor of Mordecai was Reb Yehoshua Shababo, who had been a student of the Arizal, some 400 years previous. Mordecai's father was a member of the local Chevra Kadisha along with being a Shammas at the famous Alshich Shul.
The holy Alshich (1508 - 1593?) was a pious scholar and rabbinical judge who had lived, taught and was later buried in Tzefas. Mordecai's father was responsible for the upkeep of the Alshich shul, which was next to the Alshich's grave. For a few days in the summer of 1972, Mordecai's father was unable to carry out his duties in the shul. The older Mr. Shababo therefore requested that his son Mordecai take care of the Alshich shul in his place. At first, Mordecai wanted to refuse his father's request, because the world competitions in Germany were quickly approaching.
However, something inside Mordecai's heart told him to help his father. Mordecai agreed to take care of the Alshich shul for a few days in his father's stead. One night, a couple of days later, Mordecai had a dream. The holy Alshich appeared to him, wearing all white. The scholar thanked Mordecai for making the shul so bright and clean, however, the saintly Rav added: "But where I lie, it is dark, filthy and neglected so that no one can approach my grave."
Mordecai woke up the next morning somewhat disturbed by the dream. However, Mordecai did not act on the Alshich's request to clean up the grave. But when the same dream occurred twice more over the next few nights, Mordecai became very alarmed. Mordecai's wife insisted that he do something about the grave of the holy Alshich.
Mordecai wanted to wait until after he returned from the world competitions in Munich. But Mordecai's wife insisted. So, 48 hours before the Israeli team was set to leave for the competitions, Mordecai hastily withdrew from the team, claiming that he was not feeling well. The team tried everything including bribery to force Mordecai to take part in the competitions. Mordecai, however, refused to join the team.
As his former team members boarded the plane for Germany, Mordecai was already busy cleaning up the grave of the holy Alshich in Tzefas. Several days later, news of the horrible tragedy in Munich reached Mordecai. Mordecai, along with the rest of the Jewish world was shocked by the report.
When he heard the news, Mordecai realized that the Hand of Hashem was upon him. He was spared from the tragedy in the merit of the saintly Alshich, of blessed memory. Mordecai began to become more and more Torah observant. His day began to revolve around the Alshich shul, where he prayed three times a day. Using his phenomenal strength, the wrestler Mordecai moved the heavy obstacles, which had blocked access to the cave where the grave of the Alshich was situated. After sixth months of backbreaking labor, Mordecai completed his restoration of the Alshich's gravesite.
Over the last 28 years, Mordecai has continued his holy work in maintaining several gravesites of tzaddikim in Tzefas. All of Mordecai's work is for the sake of heaven, for he receives no payment for his services. Today Mordecai lives a fully religious lifestyle with his family in Tzefas. (Jewish Tribune, [England] 08/24/00 p.4 Letters, R'M.Roberg)
Mordecai Shababo was able to ride out the tragedies which occurred in that horrible summer of 1972. Although Mordecai was distraught at the deaths of his teammates, Mordecai was able to recognize the amazing Hasgacha Pratis (divine providence) which led to his decision not to travel with the team to Germany.
Mordecai, like Noach was able to float peacefully above the destruction which rocked the world. By listening to Hashem's mitzvahs, we too can have peace of mind. Noach was "Noach" - relaxed, because he followed Hashem's word. Once we realize that Hashem is watching over us, we will naturally live more relaxed lives. We will be less subject to the ups and downs of every day life. Instead, we will have the inner peace of knowing that Hashem is our Father and Keeper. Let us therefore strive to follow Hashem righteously and then we will be better able to float over life's difficulties. Good Shabbos Everyone.
The answer is the following: The verse tells us that Noach was called "Noach"- which means 'relaxed' or 'tranquil', because Noach was a righteous man. We reread the verse above to mean "These are the offspring of Noach, [who was] "Noach" - relaxed [because he] was a righteous man..." We will see that those who uphold the Torah generally live more relaxed lives.
Noach distinguished himself in his generation as a righteous person who listened to Hashem. As the verses tell us "Noach walked with Hashem..." (Bereishis 6:9) "And Noach did according to everything Hashem had commanded him." (Bereishis 7:5)
On the merit of listening to Hashem, Noach's ark "drifted upon the surface of the waters." (Bereishis 7:18) While the world was destroyed, Noach floated peacefully on the water. Noach walked with Hashem, so Hashem only gave Noach the plans to build the ark, which saved Noach and his family. Therefore, we see that Noach lived a peaceful life because he followed Hashem's word. By following the example of Noach, who listened to Hashem, we too can learn to float over life's difficulties and live virtually stress free lives.
The following amazing true story shows how one Jew managed to float through a particularly difficult period in Jewish history. Almost 30 years ago, Mordecai Shababo was a typical secular Israeli who lived with his family in Tzefas, in northern Eretz Yisroel. Mordecai had been training hard as a wrestler for the 1972 world competitions, which were to take place in Munich, Germany.
Mordecai was the only real hope for bringing home a victory for the Israeli team. Although Mordecai himself was not an observant Jew, his family had a long and illustrious history in the religious community of Tzefas. An ancestor of Mordecai was Reb Yehoshua Shababo, who had been a student of the Arizal, some 400 years previous. Mordecai's father was a member of the local Chevra Kadisha along with being a Shammas at the famous Alshich Shul.
The holy Alshich (1508 - 1593?) was a pious scholar and rabbinical judge who had lived, taught and was later buried in Tzefas. Mordecai's father was responsible for the upkeep of the Alshich shul, which was next to the Alshich's grave. For a few days in the summer of 1972, Mordecai's father was unable to carry out his duties in the shul. The older Mr. Shababo therefore requested that his son Mordecai take care of the Alshich shul in his place. At first, Mordecai wanted to refuse his father's request, because the world competitions in Germany were quickly approaching.
However, something inside Mordecai's heart told him to help his father. Mordecai agreed to take care of the Alshich shul for a few days in his father's stead. One night, a couple of days later, Mordecai had a dream. The holy Alshich appeared to him, wearing all white. The scholar thanked Mordecai for making the shul so bright and clean, however, the saintly Rav added: "But where I lie, it is dark, filthy and neglected so that no one can approach my grave."
Mordecai woke up the next morning somewhat disturbed by the dream. However, Mordecai did not act on the Alshich's request to clean up the grave. But when the same dream occurred twice more over the next few nights, Mordecai became very alarmed. Mordecai's wife insisted that he do something about the grave of the holy Alshich.
Mordecai wanted to wait until after he returned from the world competitions in Munich. But Mordecai's wife insisted. So, 48 hours before the Israeli team was set to leave for the competitions, Mordecai hastily withdrew from the team, claiming that he was not feeling well. The team tried everything including bribery to force Mordecai to take part in the competitions. Mordecai, however, refused to join the team.
As his former team members boarded the plane for Germany, Mordecai was already busy cleaning up the grave of the holy Alshich in Tzefas. Several days later, news of the horrible tragedy in Munich reached Mordecai. Mordecai, along with the rest of the Jewish world was shocked by the report.
When he heard the news, Mordecai realized that the Hand of Hashem was upon him. He was spared from the tragedy in the merit of the saintly Alshich, of blessed memory. Mordecai began to become more and more Torah observant. His day began to revolve around the Alshich shul, where he prayed three times a day. Using his phenomenal strength, the wrestler Mordecai moved the heavy obstacles, which had blocked access to the cave where the grave of the Alshich was situated. After sixth months of backbreaking labor, Mordecai completed his restoration of the Alshich's gravesite.
Over the last 28 years, Mordecai has continued his holy work in maintaining several gravesites of tzaddikim in Tzefas. All of Mordecai's work is for the sake of heaven, for he receives no payment for his services. Today Mordecai lives a fully religious lifestyle with his family in Tzefas. (Jewish Tribune, [England] 08/24/00 p.4 Letters, R'M.Roberg)
Mordecai Shababo was able to ride out the tragedies which occurred in that horrible summer of 1972. Although Mordecai was distraught at the deaths of his teammates, Mordecai was able to recognize the amazing Hasgacha Pratis (divine providence) which led to his decision not to travel with the team to Germany.
Mordecai, like Noach was able to float peacefully above the destruction which rocked the world. By listening to Hashem's mitzvahs, we too can have peace of mind. Noach was "Noach" - relaxed, because he followed Hashem's word. Once we realize that Hashem is watching over us, we will naturally live more relaxed lives. We will be less subject to the ups and downs of every day life. Instead, we will have the inner peace of knowing that Hashem is our Father and Keeper. Let us therefore strive to follow Hashem righteously and then we will be better able to float over life's difficulties. Good Shabbos Everyone.
Good Shabbos Everyone. We will
focus this week on one of the definitive moments in the life of Avrohom Avinu
(our forefather) and in the history of the Jewish people. As the Torah states
"and Avrohom was 99 years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his
foreskin." (Bereishis 17:24) Bris milah (circumcision) is a symbol of the
covenant Hashem made with Avrohom. By observing bris mila, Avrohom and his
descendants through Yitzchok and Yakov are guaranteed the inheritance of Eretz
Yisroel.
Just as Hashem commanded Avrohom to circumcise himself, we too are commanded by the Torah to perform circumcision on the eighth day, as it states in this week's parsha, "and you shall circumcise the flesh of your orlah; and this shall serve as the token of the covenant between Me and you." (17:11)
Bris Milah is such an important mitzvah that one is permitted in certain ways to violate Shabbos to perform a circumcision, as long as the bris is performed on the proper day, i.e., the eighth day. (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim, 331:4) (In other words, if the bris is delayed due to the poor health of the baby, the bris may not be performed on Shabbos or Yom Tov) In fact, according to Halacha (Jewish Law) the obligation of the father to circumcise his son is the greatest positive mitzvah in the entire Torah. (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 260:1)
Because of the importance of this mitzvah, Jewish parents over the centuries have made great sacrifices to be able to circumcise their children. In Soviet Russia, the evil Communists forbade Jews from performing bris performed on his newborn son. The punishment for having an infant son circumcised in Russia was immediate layoff form work with the possibility of subsequent criminal charges, trials and perhaps even a jail sentence. For this reason, the great majority of Jewish boys born in Soviet Russia were never circumcised.
Although a bris should be performed on the eighth day of a child's life, many times parents waited three weeks, three months or even six months before they could accomplish what for them was a risky mitzvah.
The young Russian Jewish boy from the Shlayder family was almost a year old and had not yet been circumcised. Finally, the mohel was called, the guests gathered in a basement, and the child was brought there to have a bris. The bris was performed, the proper blessings were recited and everyone wished each other "mazal tov." The child was then brought back to the room where his mother was waiting for him.
Suddenly there was a piercing scream… a wail.. and a cry. There was a thud, as though someone had fallen to the floor. Pandemonium broke out as people ran to the room where the mother lay.
After they revived her, she told an incredible story. The young mother had feared that her son might never have a bris; she thought she may be scared off by the authorities, and not have the bris at all. She was determined not to let that happen to herself and she undertook something that would keep the bris paramount in her mind at all times. She vowed not to kiss her baby son until he had his bris. For almost a year she suffered the pent-up emotions that only a mother can feel. Finally, after the bris, she had taken her son into her aching arms and kissed him fervently. Overcome with emotion, she had fainted.
From this story we see the self sacrifice that one mother was willing to make to ensure that this ever important mitzvah was performed. (The Maggid Speaks, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, p.190-1.)
Just as the Torah tells us of the greatness of the mitzvah of bris milah, the Torah also warns us of the spiritual dangers of not having a proper circumcision. A Jewish man without a proper circumcision is still a Jew, however, as it states in this week's portion "...any uncircumcised male, who does not circumcise the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people, he has broken My covenant." (17:14)
We tend to take the issue of bris for granted, because it is well known that nearly everyone, Jew and Gentile alike is circumcised in the hospital these days. However, in most cases, being circumcised by a doctor in a hospital achieves only a cosmetic circumcision. A Jewish male not circumcised by a kosher mohel according to proper Jewish law, is not part of the covenant of Avrohom.
One who is in doubt as to whether he had a kosher bris must contact a competent halachic (Jewish Legal) authority to determine his status. For those who are in doubt as to the status of their bris, these words should serve as a call to action. Thankfully, the mistake of not having a kosher circumcision it not permanent. A qualified mohel can a perform corrective circumcision in mere seconds.
Bris milah is one of the three "Oisios" - signs of Jewishness which are mentioned in Torah. (The other two signs are Shabbos and Tefillin). The Chofetz Chayim once explained through a parable that bris milah is one of the signs that Hashem looks for in a Jew to see if that Jew is in business. Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: L'illui Nishmas Aryeh Leib ben Avrohom and Malka bas Tzvi Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Leah bas Tziporah
Just as Hashem commanded Avrohom to circumcise himself, we too are commanded by the Torah to perform circumcision on the eighth day, as it states in this week's parsha, "and you shall circumcise the flesh of your orlah; and this shall serve as the token of the covenant between Me and you." (17:11)
Bris Milah is such an important mitzvah that one is permitted in certain ways to violate Shabbos to perform a circumcision, as long as the bris is performed on the proper day, i.e., the eighth day. (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim, 331:4) (In other words, if the bris is delayed due to the poor health of the baby, the bris may not be performed on Shabbos or Yom Tov) In fact, according to Halacha (Jewish Law) the obligation of the father to circumcise his son is the greatest positive mitzvah in the entire Torah. (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 260:1)
Because of the importance of this mitzvah, Jewish parents over the centuries have made great sacrifices to be able to circumcise their children. In Soviet Russia, the evil Communists forbade Jews from performing bris performed on his newborn son. The punishment for having an infant son circumcised in Russia was immediate layoff form work with the possibility of subsequent criminal charges, trials and perhaps even a jail sentence. For this reason, the great majority of Jewish boys born in Soviet Russia were never circumcised.
Although a bris should be performed on the eighth day of a child's life, many times parents waited three weeks, three months or even six months before they could accomplish what for them was a risky mitzvah.
The young Russian Jewish boy from the Shlayder family was almost a year old and had not yet been circumcised. Finally, the mohel was called, the guests gathered in a basement, and the child was brought there to have a bris. The bris was performed, the proper blessings were recited and everyone wished each other "mazal tov." The child was then brought back to the room where his mother was waiting for him.
Suddenly there was a piercing scream… a wail.. and a cry. There was a thud, as though someone had fallen to the floor. Pandemonium broke out as people ran to the room where the mother lay.
After they revived her, she told an incredible story. The young mother had feared that her son might never have a bris; she thought she may be scared off by the authorities, and not have the bris at all. She was determined not to let that happen to herself and she undertook something that would keep the bris paramount in her mind at all times. She vowed not to kiss her baby son until he had his bris. For almost a year she suffered the pent-up emotions that only a mother can feel. Finally, after the bris, she had taken her son into her aching arms and kissed him fervently. Overcome with emotion, she had fainted.
From this story we see the self sacrifice that one mother was willing to make to ensure that this ever important mitzvah was performed. (The Maggid Speaks, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, p.190-1.)
Just as the Torah tells us of the greatness of the mitzvah of bris milah, the Torah also warns us of the spiritual dangers of not having a proper circumcision. A Jewish man without a proper circumcision is still a Jew, however, as it states in this week's portion "...any uncircumcised male, who does not circumcise the flesh of his foreskin, that soul shall be cut off from his people, he has broken My covenant." (17:14)
We tend to take the issue of bris for granted, because it is well known that nearly everyone, Jew and Gentile alike is circumcised in the hospital these days. However, in most cases, being circumcised by a doctor in a hospital achieves only a cosmetic circumcision. A Jewish male not circumcised by a kosher mohel according to proper Jewish law, is not part of the covenant of Avrohom.
One who is in doubt as to whether he had a kosher bris must contact a competent halachic (Jewish Legal) authority to determine his status. For those who are in doubt as to the status of their bris, these words should serve as a call to action. Thankfully, the mistake of not having a kosher circumcision it not permanent. A qualified mohel can a perform corrective circumcision in mere seconds.
Bris milah is one of the three "Oisios" - signs of Jewishness which are mentioned in Torah. (The other two signs are Shabbos and Tefillin). The Chofetz Chayim once explained through a parable that bris milah is one of the signs that Hashem looks for in a Jew to see if that Jew is in business. Good Shabbos Everyone. M. Wolfberg is sponsored by: L'illui Nishmas Aryeh Leib ben Avrohom and Malka bas Tzvi Refuah Shleima to Reb Mordechai Mendel ben Tziporah Yitta Refuah Shleima to Leah bas Tziporah
A healthy and peaceful
Shabbos rest,
Rachamim Pauli
