We open
Sefer Bamidbar with the list of people whom we are praying for:
Prayers for Men: Eliezer David HaCohain ben
Naomi, Avraham HaCohain ben Yocheved, Asher ben Esther Malka, Avraham ben
Devorah, Zvi Yechezkel ben Leah, Yehuda ben Gittel Perel, Shalom Charles ben
Gracia, Yoel ben Esther, Yehonatan ben Malka, Zvi ben Chava, Shlomo Chaim ben
Basya Raizal, David Zvi ben Sarah Leah, Yosef ben
Shifra, Daniel ben Rivka, Nehemiah Arieh Liab
Peretz ben Esther Rachel, Eliyah ben Chana
Women: Karen Neshama bas Esther Ruth, Chaya
Melecha Rachel bas Baila Alta, Rachel bas Chana, Hodaya Nirit bas Mazel, Rivka
bas Idit, Kayla Rus bas Chaya Rachel, Tsvia Simcha bas Devorah Yachad, Miriam
bas Irene Taita Malka, Henshi bas Nashe, Basya bas Chaya Miriam. Ayala bas Ruth
[She has had many operations and still wears a mask
on her face in the burns unit. Her eyes tearing up during the television
interview as her childhood and beauty have been robbed from her. ] Rachel
bas Bruncha,
Rabbi Gabriel
Sassoon, who lost his seven children burned in Brooklyn is asking from the
bottom of his heart: I'm asking
from the public to pray for my wife: Gila bat Francis and my daughter: Tsipora
bat Gila for Refuah Shlayma. He said that his daughter’s condition is
getting better B”H and he hopes that she will be discharged soon. But his
wife's condition is critical and she is still in induced coma.
The following people are recovering from long
term non-threatening injuries and need Psalms. Binum Benyamin Tuvia ben Chana
Friedel, I have put here the man who is in a coma for 5 months for
those who pray once or twice daily Chaim Yechiel ben Malka,
Two people were removed this week as one
recovered and the other one passed away.
The soul of one of the leaders of the complete Eretz Yisrael
movement comes to rest. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195472#.VVgQEvmqqko
Parsha Bamidbar Part 1
Although we just finished Sefer Vayikra and are starting Sefer
Bamidbar, we are still in the same time frame at the foot of Har Sinai and the
dedication of the Mishkan. I have a bit of a problem with our Sedra. We include
the tasks or 2/3rds of the Leviim this week but next week which is the largest
Parsha we add on the Bnei Gershom. I am going to try to find out an answer
during the week.
I have covered this Parsha in my past blogspots about the numbers
and sizes of the tribes and army. As a reminder the guardian angels of the
tribes and their groupings starting in the north. Uriel was in charge of
Machane Dan, Michael in change of Machane Yehuda, Rafael in charge of Machane
Reuven and Gavriel in charge of Machane Ephraim in the west. In the middle over
the Aron Kodesh was the Shechina.
To begin with, the Leviim are granted different tasks for each of
the sons of Levi. It turns out to be approximately an equal amount of work. For
more details and lack of wanting to repeat myself go to past years of the
rabbipauli.blogspot
1:1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the
wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second
month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt,
saying:
Time wise this is less than a month after the death of
the sons of Aaron and before the first Pessach Sheni.
2 ‘Take
ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their
families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every
male, by their polls; 3 from twenty years old and upward, all
that are able to go forth to war in Israel: ye shall number them by their
hosts, even thou and Aaron.
This is not from 20 years old to 120 years old but
rather 20 years old until 60 for this is the age group where a male is worth 50
Shekels and is capable of fighting in a battle. Above the age of 60 a man does
not have the agility any more even if he still has strength and below the age
of 20 he does not have a fully developed brain or body.
4 And
with you there shall be a man of every tribe, every one head of his fathers’
house. 5 And these are the names of the men
that shall stand with you:
Each person was a Talmud Chacham in
the laws given by Moshe, an honorable member of his tribe and a leader in the
martial arts. Such a person was Rebbe who wrote and published the Mishnah and
weeded out the Beraysa and Toseftas that he did not codify as Mishnah. Rebbe
was prince of his people, he was the Chacham and he was a skilled gymnast.
of Reuben, Elizur the son of
Shedeur. 6 Of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of
Zurishaddai. 7 Of Judah, Nahshon the son of
Amminadab. 8 Of Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar. 9 Of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon. 10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim,
Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 11 Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of
Gideoni. 12 Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of
Ammishaddai. 13 Of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran. 14 Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15 Of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.’ 16 These were the elect of the
congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads
of the thousands of Israel.
This shows that each tribe elected its representative
and members of the Sanhedrin but only men of merit could be candidates and they
had to be humble enough not to be disgruntled if somebody else was selected in
their placed or retired because of infirmity or age.
17 And Moses and Aaron took these men
that are pointed out by name. 18 And they assembled
all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they
declared their pedigrees after their families, by their fathers’ houses,
according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, by their
polls. 19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so did he
number them in the wilderness of Sinai.
We modern people in Israel and America tend to look at
each individual’s merits alone but the Torah views a good family as important.
20 And the children of Reuben, Israel’s
first-born, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses,
according to the number of names, by their polls, every male from twenty years
old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 21 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
When we encounter the tribes mentioned here we see
minus the Leviim the children of Leah. But Gad comes in with them and then the
children of Yosef and back to the children of the servant girls of Leah and
Rachel. Even though Reuven lost the Bechor (first born) to Yosef, he still
leads the Machane which includes Shimon and Gad. Later Reuven, Gad and half of
Menashe will want to settle on the southern to central Golan Heights.
22 Of the children of Simeon, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, those that were
numbered thereof, according to the number of names, by their polls, every male
from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 23 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 24 Of the children of
Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according
to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to
go forth to war; 25 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
The total of 151,450 is the closest
the combination of the tribes get to 25% of the camp. This is the southern
flank.
26 Of the children of Judah, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go
forth to war; 27 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 28 Of the children of Issachar, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go
forth to war; 29 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 30 Of the children of Zebulun, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go
forth to war; 31 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
This is the eastern front and the first to move it also
has the most troops which are 186,400 soldiers.
Most
of us do not even notice such an anomaly. However, only by Zevulun it does not
say "u'Mateh Zevulun" as it says by all the other tribes, but rather
simply "Mateh Zevulun" [Bamidbar 2:7]. Why?
The
Baal HaTurim explains (quoting the Medrash Tanchuma) that the reason is why is
because the Tribe of Zevulun (who were merchants) supported the Tribe of
Yissocher (who were Torah scholars). Scripture did not want to give the
impression that they were subordinate to Yissachor and described their
encampment in an independent fashion without the conjunctive "AND"
(vov). Zevulun was not secondary to Yissocher. Zevulun was co-equal to
Yissocher and they share equal reward for their respective efforts in building
the Jewish people.
The
Pasuk "It is a Tree of Life to those who grasp it, and its supporters are
praiseworthy." [Mishlei 3:18] alludes to this concept. In a sense, the
arrangement between these two tribes actually merge them into a joint
"corporation" as it were – "The Tribe of Yissachor-Zevulun"
where all components of this super-Tribe receive equal reward. It is for this
reason that the Tribe of Zevulun is not preceded by the word "And":
It is not a different tribe, but rather a hyphenated tribe which has merged
with Yissocher. They are co-equals because of the parnassah [sustenance] that
Zevulun provided to the Tribe of Yissocher.
32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of
the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’
houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all
that were able to go forth to war; 33 those that were
numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five
hundred. 34 Of the children of Manasseh, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go
forth to war; 35 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 36 Of the children of Benjamin, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go
forth to war; 37 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
This was the smallest camp with
112,600 soldiers and protected the west but was the rear column most of the
time in marching.
38 Of the children of Dan, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go
forth to war; 39 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 40 Of the children of Asher, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go
forth to war; 41 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 42 Of the children of Naphtali, their
generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the
number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go
forth to war; 43 those that were numbered of them, of
the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
Again this came is closer to the average with 157,600
soldiers in the north. G-D knows what HE is doing and why. For if it were up to
my mathematical mind, I would switch Naphtali with either Menashe or Benyamin
for a better balance on the eastern and western front.
44 These are those that were numbered,
which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men;
they were each one for his fathers’ house. 45 And all those that
were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses, from twenty
years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; 46 even all those that were numbered were
six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. 47 But the Levites after the tribe of
their fathers were not numbered among them.
The grand total is given but not summed up for the
subtotals. The breakdown is given by the DIVINE and not by mathematical
initiative. The Leviim were to be
numbered separately.
48 And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 49 ‘Howbeit the tribe of Levi thou shalt
not number, neither shalt thou take the sum of them among the children of
Israel; 50 but appoint thou the Levites over the
tabernacle of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof, and over all
that belongs to it; they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the furniture
thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the
tabernacle. 51 And when the tabernacle sets forward,
the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the
Levites shall set it up; and the common man that draws nigh shall be put to
death.
He may die on the spot even without a trial as happened
in the days of David Melech Yisrael when the Teva tilted and he tried to up it.
52 And the children of Israel shall pitch
their tents, every man with his own camp, and every man with his own standard,
according to their hosts. 53 But the Levites
shall pitch round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath
upon the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep the
charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.’ 54 Thus did the
children of Israel; according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did
they.
Next week we shall continue with the total count, the
jows bo the Leviim etc.
Two Conversion Stories
about non-Jews who lived as Jews from Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Serebryanski Shlita http://revealingthesoul.com/?p=1310
I saw a great by Cindy and wanted to share it with you and the
answer: Why did Noah put pigs on the ark when G-d knew he wasn’t going to want people
to eat them? The answer is simple it comes from the
Talmud: First of all the Bnei Noach were given all animals as food. In Korea
snakes are a treat. Second the Talmud states, “When one sees a disease among
the swine one should take care.” It seems that the genetic make-up of the pig
is similar to that of mankind. They are very useful for warning us of diseases
and in modern times developing vaccines against things like swine-flu.
A Sabbatical Jew by Rabbi
Yerachmiel Tilles http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=911-34
His parents, who had lost
all their relatives in the war, had given up on Torah and mitzvoth. He left
home at the age of 13 and literally lived on the streets.
Avraham Zilberstein has been a farmer in the Land of
Israel for nearly half a century. At the 5775/Nov. 2014 Agudat Yisrael of
America convention in New Jersey, he introduced himself to the esteemed head of
the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky, as "a poshute Yid ('simple Jew')." Rabbi Shmuel
responded, "There is no such thing as a simple Jew. Every Jew, by
definition, is very special."
Our sages have special insight. Consider the story of Avraham
Zilberstein.
Avraham was born in Alma Ata, Kazakhstan, in 1945. His father was a
Holocaust refugee from Lodz, Poland. His mother was from Odessa. Yiddish was
his native language. In 1948, his parents immigrated to the Land of Israel,
where his father fought in the War of Independence.
His parents, who had lost all their relatives in the war, had given
up on Torah and mitzvoth.
The only Jewish topic they spoke about was the Holocaust. Avraham left home at
the age of 13 and literally lived on the streets. Eventually, he joined the
army and fought in the Six Day War.
Avraham vividly recollects hearing, on his radio, Mordechai Gur,
commander of the 55th paratrooper brigade, announce, "Har Habayit
beyadeinu - The Temple Mount is in our hands!" When Avraham heard those
words, he went to the area of the Western Wall. He was looking for it and couldn't
find it. There was no plaza in front of the Kotel as there is today. There were
houses all the way to the Kotel and only a narrow path in front of it.
Avraham asked someone where the Kotel was and was told that he was standing in front of it. He looked up as far as his eyes could see and imagined that the Kotel rose to the heavens. At that point, something came over him. Avraham felt as if enveloped by the Shechinah (Divine Presence). Then and there, he decided that he wanted to actually live like a Jew and not just be a Jew in name alone. Avraham decided at that moment that from then on, he would keep Shabbat and Kosher.
Avraham was blessed with a wonderful wife, a native Jerusalemite,
and together they began building a home based on Shabbat and kashrutobservance. He decided
that he wanted to help build the Land. Avraham Zilberstein became a farmer in
the settlements and was influential in building four communities on the West
Bank, the latest being Vered Yericho ("Rose of Jericho") in the
shadow of Arab-settled Yericho.
One particular Shabbat in 5746/1986 made a major difference in
Avraham's life. He had put his onions out to dry before so they could be ready
to take to market. Almost out of nowhere, a cloudburst erupted and there was a
major rainstorm. All his neighbors ran to cover their onions with plastic.
Avraham looked at his wife and they said to each other, "We have decided
to keep Shabbat. Whatever happens to the onions will happen."
On Sunday morning, Avraham went out to the field and witnessed his
neighbors crying hysterically. The temperature had risen. It was over 100
degrees Fahrenheit. All the onions lying under the plastic had become rotten in
the moisture that was trapped beneath the sheathing. His onions had dried in
the extreme heat and were saved. At that point, Avraham and his wife decided
that they would go full steam ahead and keep all the agricultural commandments
for Jews living in the Holy land, including Shmitah (no agricultural work every seventh
year).
After they reached that decision, Avraham was diagnosed with lung
and liver cancer. The doctors gave him three months to live. It was before aShmitah year and Avraham told them that he
hoped and prayed to at least keep his first Sabbatical Year.
With the help of the Al-mighty, Avraham Zilberstein will this year,
5775, complete successfully his fifth Shmitah.
AvrahamZilberstein speaking at Agudah convention Nov. 2015.
It didn't go smoothly, though. Each Shmitah, Avraham has had a
life-threatening crisis that One Above helped him through. One Shmitah, he caught a deadly
virus and the doctors had gathered his family together. They didn't expect him
to live out the day.
He did.
Another Shmitah,
Avraham had an accident with his tractor that left him inches from death. Yet
Avraham recovered to see yet anotherShmitah.
During Sabbatical years, Avraham works as an inspector and
supervisor for a kashrut agency. His job is to make sure that
the Arab produce that is purchased is not really produce that was grown by Jews
and then "laundered" into Arab hands. Avraham actually one time
caught an Arab who was dealing in millions of dollars of produce doing just
that.
When the Arab realized that he was caught, he tried to hand Avraham
an envelope filled with cash. Avraham refused it and reported it to hiskashrus agency and to the other kashrus agencies, so that they wouldn't fall
into the same trap.
Avraham got into his car and started driving away. The Arab had put
nails on the road and Avraham got four flat tires and the car rolled into a
ditch.
Miraculously, Avraham walked away with minor injuries. He was
standing on the side of the road, looking at his car and smiling, when someone
asked him how he can be so inconsiderate. "The dead driver is lying in the
ditch and you stand here and smile?" he was asked.
"Excuse me," was his response; "I am the 'dead
driver.'"
Last Shmitah year (5708), Avraham was in such a
difficult situation that he didn't know how he would obtain food for his
family. The grant that he had received from Keren
Hashvi'it ("The
Seventh" Fund - for Shmitah-observant
farmers in need) was so helpful that he was able to get back on his feet. He is
now supporting his sons and sons-in-law, who are learning in kollel (advanced Torah study for married men)
in theYeshivas of 'Mir',
'Chevron' and 'Slabodka'.
If you have gotten the impression that this is self-labeled
'simple' Jew is indeed a special Jew, let next turn to his wife. When she was
offered a ticket to come to America to join her husband at the Agudah
Convention where he had been invited to speak, she requested rather that we
take the money that we would have spent on her trip and give it to kollel scholars in Kiryat Sofer!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from a weekly emailing of Daniel Keren based on an article by Rabbi Shmuel Bloom in the Yated N'eman (11/26/14).
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from a weekly emailing of Daniel Keren based on an article by Rabbi Shmuel Bloom in the Yated N'eman (11/26/14).
Connections (2): 1-seasonal-
This Jewish year, 5775, is a Sabbatical year for the Land of Israel--no planting,
no cultivating, no harvesting, etc.
2-Weekly Reading (this week, outside of Israel; last week, in Israel), and beginning: the Commandment of the Sabbatical Year.
2-Weekly Reading (this week, outside of Israel; last week, in Israel), and beginning: the Commandment of the Sabbatical Year.
Transmission
through Towels by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=912-35
The Baal
Shem Tov had passed away, and
most of his disciples were drawn to the Maggid
of Mezritch as his successor. Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Polnauer, the Baal
HaToldos, found this puzzling.
The Baal
Shem Tov had passed away, and
most of his disciples were drawn to the Maggid
of Mezritch as his successor. Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Polnauer found this puzzling; the Maggid
studied with the Baal Shem Tov five short years, while he-the author of the
first book of Chasidic teachings: Toldos
Yaakov Yosef -was a long-time
leading disciple! How could they choose the Maggid instead of himself? He
decided to make the journey to Mezritch to seek the answer.
The Maggid happily arranged a festive repast in honor of his guest, and after warm heartfelt greetings, the two secluded themselves in the Maggid's study. The talmidim, meanwhile, not willing to miss a conversation between tzadikim, strained to eavesdrop. "In what way are you superior to me?" they heard the Toldos ask their mentor, "What did you receive from the Baal Shem Tov that I didn't?" Yet, it was evident to the Toldos that the Maggid had been the beneficiary of sublime Divine secrets, and now he requested that his host share them.
"Did you comprehend all the paths of the Baal Shem Tov?" asked the Maggid.
"I believe there was nothing hidden from my eyes," replied the Toldos.
"Do you know what purpose the two towels hanging in the Baal Shem Tov's room served, and why one of them was sewn at both ends?" The Toldos admitted he had never noticed, and requested an explanation.
He had always longed to understand the reason, the Maggid recounted, and after much thought it occurred to him that the matter was connected to the hours that the Baal Shem Tov was secluded in his room erev Shabbat after immersion in the mikveh until Kabbalat Shabbat. It was in those hours that the room was thoroughly sealed. Even the windows were covered; no one knew what went on inside.
The Maggid on one occasion resolved to conceal himself in the room in those hours, before the Baal Shem Tov entered. In the moment when the attendant finished cleaning the room in honor of Shabbat and went outside to empty the wastebasket, the Maggid slipped inside and hid. The attendant returned and, unaware, locked the door as he left.
When the Baal Shem Tov returned from the mikveh, he went immediately to the towels. He took hold of the towel sewn at both ends, then-suddenly-drew back. He gazed intently in all directions as though searching for something. Again, he grasped the towel, and immediately called out: "Who's hiding in the room?"
"Deeply humbled, I came out of my hiding place," the Maggid recalled, "I pleaded with the Baal Shem Tov to forgive me, and turned to leave the room.
"'At this time,' the Baal Shem Tov said, 'it's no longer possible to leave the room. It's in a state of readiness; the door cannot be opened. But tell me: have you immersed already in the mikveh?' I replied 'Yes,' whereupon the Baal Shem whispered in my ears a particular kavanah to concentrate on. He instructed me to hold the towel, and [then he entered an intense meditative state. After a brief while, I heard him mutter, 'Shver! Shver! ('Difficult. Heavy' in Yiddish)],* but soon thereafter we soared together through celestial chambers. More than this, I'm not permitted to reveal."
The Maggid happily arranged a festive repast in honor of his guest, and after warm heartfelt greetings, the two secluded themselves in the Maggid's study. The talmidim, meanwhile, not willing to miss a conversation between tzadikim, strained to eavesdrop. "In what way are you superior to me?" they heard the Toldos ask their mentor, "What did you receive from the Baal Shem Tov that I didn't?" Yet, it was evident to the Toldos that the Maggid had been the beneficiary of sublime Divine secrets, and now he requested that his host share them.
"Did you comprehend all the paths of the Baal Shem Tov?" asked the Maggid.
"I believe there was nothing hidden from my eyes," replied the Toldos.
"Do you know what purpose the two towels hanging in the Baal Shem Tov's room served, and why one of them was sewn at both ends?" The Toldos admitted he had never noticed, and requested an explanation.
He had always longed to understand the reason, the Maggid recounted, and after much thought it occurred to him that the matter was connected to the hours that the Baal Shem Tov was secluded in his room erev Shabbat after immersion in the mikveh until Kabbalat Shabbat. It was in those hours that the room was thoroughly sealed. Even the windows were covered; no one knew what went on inside.
The Maggid on one occasion resolved to conceal himself in the room in those hours, before the Baal Shem Tov entered. In the moment when the attendant finished cleaning the room in honor of Shabbat and went outside to empty the wastebasket, the Maggid slipped inside and hid. The attendant returned and, unaware, locked the door as he left.
When the Baal Shem Tov returned from the mikveh, he went immediately to the towels. He took hold of the towel sewn at both ends, then-suddenly-drew back. He gazed intently in all directions as though searching for something. Again, he grasped the towel, and immediately called out: "Who's hiding in the room?"
"Deeply humbled, I came out of my hiding place," the Maggid recalled, "I pleaded with the Baal Shem Tov to forgive me, and turned to leave the room.
"'At this time,' the Baal Shem Tov said, 'it's no longer possible to leave the room. It's in a state of readiness; the door cannot be opened. But tell me: have you immersed already in the mikveh?' I replied 'Yes,' whereupon the Baal Shem whispered in my ears a particular kavanah to concentrate on. He instructed me to hold the towel, and [then he entered an intense meditative state. After a brief while, I heard him mutter, 'Shver! Shver! ('Difficult. Heavy' in Yiddish)],* but soon thereafter we soared together through celestial chambers. More than this, I'm not permitted to reveal."
[For an approach to the
crowning of the Maggid from a different perspective, see last year's story (#862).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of Tuvia Natkin for "Kfar Chabad Magazine - English," as translated from Migdal Oz.
* Editor's note: The insert in square brackets near the end is mine. That's the way I heard it from my master of Chasidic stories, Rabbi Akiva Greenberg, ò'ä
Biographical notes:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer [of blessed memory: 18 Elul 5458- 6 Sivan 5520 (Aug. 1698 - May 1760 C.E.)], the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"-often referred to as "the Besht" for short], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed his identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 5494 (1734 C.E.), and made the until-then underground Chasidic movement public. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.
Rabbi Dov Ber [of blessed memory: c.5460 - 19 Kislev 5533 (c.1700- Dec. 1772 C.E.)], the son of Avraham and Chava, known as theMaggid of Mezritch, succeeded his master, the Baal Shem Tov, as the head of the Chasidic movement. Most of the leading chasidic dynasties stem from his disciples and his descendents. The classic anthologies of his teachings are Likutei Amarim and Torah Ohr (combined by Kehas Publishing as Maggid Devorav l'Yaakov), and Ohr HaEmmes.
Rabbi Yaakov Yosef HaKohain of Polnoye [5470 - 24 Tishrei 5542** (1710 - Oct. 1781 C.E.)] was one of the earliest and closest rabbinical disciples of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the first to author a book of Chassidic teachings, called Toldos Yaakov Yosef, which had a revolutionary effect immediately upon publication. Subsequently, he published other chasidic classics.
** Not certain, Some say 5544 (1783) and some say 5551 (1790)
Connection: The festival of Shavuot, as well as being the yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov, was also the date, one year later, of the official transference of the mantle of leadership of the Chasidic movement to the Maggid of Mezritch.
Source: Adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from the rendition of Tuvia Natkin for "Kfar Chabad Magazine - English," as translated from Migdal Oz.
* Editor's note: The insert in square brackets near the end is mine. That's the way I heard it from my master of Chasidic stories, Rabbi Akiva Greenberg, ò'ä
Biographical notes:
Rabbi Yisrael ben Eliezer [of blessed memory: 18 Elul 5458- 6 Sivan 5520 (Aug. 1698 - May 1760 C.E.)], the Baal Shem Tov ["master of the good Name"-often referred to as "the Besht" for short], a unique and seminal figure in Jewish history, revealed his identity as an exceptionally holy person, on his 36th birthday, 18 Elul 5494 (1734 C.E.), and made the until-then underground Chasidic movement public. He wrote no books, although many claim to contain his teachings. One available in English is the excellent annotated translation of Tzava'at Harivash, published by Kehos.
Rabbi Dov Ber [of blessed memory: c.5460 - 19 Kislev 5533 (c.1700- Dec. 1772 C.E.)], the son of Avraham and Chava, known as theMaggid of Mezritch, succeeded his master, the Baal Shem Tov, as the head of the Chasidic movement. Most of the leading chasidic dynasties stem from his disciples and his descendents. The classic anthologies of his teachings are Likutei Amarim and Torah Ohr (combined by Kehas Publishing as Maggid Devorav l'Yaakov), and Ohr HaEmmes.
Rabbi Yaakov Yosef HaKohain of Polnoye [5470 - 24 Tishrei 5542** (1710 - Oct. 1781 C.E.)] was one of the earliest and closest rabbinical disciples of the Baal Shem Tov. He was the first to author a book of Chassidic teachings, called Toldos Yaakov Yosef, which had a revolutionary effect immediately upon publication. Subsequently, he published other chasidic classics.
** Not certain, Some say 5544 (1783) and some say 5551 (1790)
Connection: The festival of Shavuot, as well as being the yahrzeit of the Baal Shem Tov, was also the date, one year later, of the official transference of the mantle of leadership of the Chasidic movement to the Maggid of Mezritch.
THIS WEEK WITH SHABBOS AND CHAG HASHAVUOS THERE WILL BE NO
PERKEI AVOS AS MANY OF MY READERS WILL BE OCCUPIED WITH SHUIRIM IN THEIR LOCAL
COMMUNITY. ENJOY YOUR CHEESES, BLINCHES AND CHEESE CAKE. http://www.chabad.org/holidays/shavuot/default_cdo/jewish/Shavuot.htm?gclid=CjwKEAjwp_uqBRClvrrXmsbPog4SJACK4gIPpgjLelHkojHEhm1PtDhUjqBMo-fXVMbSU2xBmxFY6BoCdMjw_wcB
and https://www.ou.org/holidays/shavuot/
Talmud Yerushalmi Tanis Chapter 4 Halacha 5: Amar Rabbi Yochanan
- Happy are those who view the fall of Tadmor (Palmyra) for they participated
in both the destruction of the first and second Beisei Mikdashim. This week the city and the
ruins have fallen into the hands of ISIS they will do unto the ruins what we
Jews never could do for vengeance so FROM HASHEM THIS IS IT IS A WONDER IN OUR
EYES – thanks to Rabbi Barak Kochavi Shlita for the source.
An
English poetic translation of Yerushalayim of Gold: https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=70&v=uwzjtRS9-hE
With
former Union Leader Chaim Katz as Welfare Minister there are members of the
Labor Party saying that it is possible to work with this government: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195482#.VVgTa_mqqko
And you
thought the Rabbi who watched the women’s Mikvah was bad (I met his ex-wife on
a trip to the USA) this one is gone with the wind: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4655977,00.html
Israel
cracks down on organized crime: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4658641,00.html
New
Justice Minister is to renew the balance of power between court and Knesset. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4658804,00.html
IDF to
centralize medical call centers: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195565#.VVrzSvmqqko
Inyanay Diyoma
Just a
stone’s throw from Schem. In the old days I remember Schem far off but they
built purposely around the tomb. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4657697,00.html
Ed-Op from
Martin Sherman: http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/ISIS-Two-staters-excuse-du-jour-403147
When will
Israel get the idea that no food or board for terrorists: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195466
See what
happens when you put a few boots on the ground not a major invasion: http://debka.com/article/24607/US-Special-Ops-raid-killing-five-ISIS-chiefs-had-to-be-coordinated-with-Syria-and-Russia
The
question is was if a bullet or something hit the Amtrak train: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/05/16/ntsb-examining-damage-on-derailed-amtrak-train/
The stuff
the liberal press hushes up on Iran as they make missiles that can hit the USA:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195485#.VVgTAvmqqko
Israel’s
Chief of Staff learns from Patton and sets up a better strategy: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4657966,00.html
Al Qaeda
or ISIS in Sinai: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195484#.VViv-Pmqqko
I see the strategy proposed by Obama’s Muslim
Brotherhood advisers is working as Ramadi falls: .http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4658385,00.html Debka analyzes with a film: http://debka.com/article/24609/Ramadi%E2%80%99s-fall-opens-ISIS-road-to-Baghdad-Jordan-warns-US-air-strikes-won%E2%80%99t-stop-the-terrorists%E2%80%99-advance
Police in
Egypt sexually harass prisoners both women, homosexuals and children: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195586#.VVrsPfmqqko
Last week
the Pope recognized the Palestinians. Barry Chamish wrote an article about the
Pope’s plans to take over Israel. This Shavuous they try to take over David’s
Tomb: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195583#.VVrwJ_mqqko related story: http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2015/05/17/st-louis-archbishop-says-he-didnt-know-it-was-illegal-for-priests-to-have-sex-with-kids/
When will
the USN sink the Iranian Ships? http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4658909,00.html Updated from Debka: http://debka.com/article/24611/Next-challenge-for-US-after-Ramadi-defeat-Iranian-ship-nears-Yemeni-shore
Arab
Armies and even Iranians fall apart opposite ISIS: http://debka.com/article/24615/The-US-and-Iraqi-and-Syrian-armies-go-to-pieces-against-ISIS-drive-Israel-Jordan-Saudis-alarmed
Israeli
Arab dies fighting for ISIS: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195736#.VV7p-Pmqqkp
New
Jewish Strategic Town between Chevron and Gush Etzion: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/195730#.VV7qCPmqqko
Have a wonderful Shabbos and Chag Shavuous.
Rachamim Pauli
