Friday, November 13, 2015

Parsha Toldos, miracle, story, falling asleep in a Torah lecture


Editorial: Fear of HASHEM

When we do not worship, follow, or have fear of Hashem, then we are subject to the alien nations, who will rule and terrorize us.    People in Israel need to honor the Sabbath, keep kosher, and follow the commandments in the Torah.  ALL males should wear their Tallit AND TEFILLIN from the time they arise until they go to bed.   They should carry a large, heavy walking stick which they can use to defend themselves, and carry a firearm.  Then the Arabs will fear us.  When we do not respect Hashem, and ourselves as Jews, they will no respect us.  It all starts at home! - Dr. Harry However, Shlomo HaMelech writes in Tehillim 127:1: 1 A Song of Ascents; of Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it; except the LORD keep the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.  So sticks and clubs are useless. RP


Miracle: The terror attack saved the life of a father of five. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203273#.VkQZtfkrKM8


Parsha Toldos


The first part of this week’s Parsha takes place in Avraham’s life time. It is for the mourning period that Yacov was cooking the lentils. This week starts out when Avraham is 159 or 160 and Yitzchak is becoming prominent. He is taking over from Avraham. The children of Ketura have been sent away and Yishmael is down with his family around Egypt. We see that at the end of Parsha when Yitzchak is over 123 that Esav looks for a Shidduch with a daughter of Yishmael who had to be given in marriage by her brother for Yishmael was 14 years older than Yitzchak and died at the age of 137 so add 14 to 123 and the math works out quite well.

25:19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begot Isaac. 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean, of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac entreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD let Himself be entreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said: 'If it be so, wherefore do I live?' And she went to inquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. 24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

Finally at the age of 160, Avraham enjoys grandchildren from Yitzchak. For it is with Yitzchak that his seed will be called.


25 And the first came forth ruddy, all over like a hairy mantle; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came forth his brother, and his hand had hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob. And Isaac was threescore years old when she bore them. 27 And the boys grew; and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Now Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison; and Rebekah loved Jacob.

The mother is a better judge of character than the father. She observes with more patience how the children interact and behave. Esav is cunning not only as a hunter in deceiving his father. While Yacov is simpler and what you see is what you get with the exception when he followed his mother’s orders.

29 And Jacob sod pottage; and Esau came in from the field, and he was faint. 30 And Esau said to Jacob: 'Let me swallow, I pray thee, some of this red, red pottage; for I am faint.' Therefore was his name called Edom. 31 And Jacob said: 'Sell me first thy birthright.' 32 And Esau said: 'Behold, I am at the point to die; and what profit shall the birthright do to me?' 33 And Jacob said: 'Swear to me first'; and he swore unto him; and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. 34 And Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way. So Esau despised his birthright.

At this contract Esav sold Yacov also his Olam HaBa while Yacov gave Esav rule of Olam HaZeh. It is a nice Medrash that  Esav is not interested in the next world and Yacov not interested in this but some of this world is necessary to live and earn the next and some of the things done in this world do give a person something in the next world. The honoring of Yitzchak merited Esav some place in the next. As much as the Medrash says that on the day the Avraham died, Esav murdered Nimrod, raped an engaged woman, committed adultery and two other sins we have only hints at his personality in the Pshat especially Parsha Vayishlach and this planned vengeance at the end of this Parsha. He was not Tzaddik and despised his birthright and Torah but there is not 100% proof from the Chumash that he was a complete Rasha. In fact another Medrash says that when he tried to block the burial of Yacov the son of Dan decapitated his body in front of the Machpelah and his head rolled into the cave meaning that the body sinned but still there was some good in his head.
      
26:1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar. 2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said: 'Go not down unto Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of. 3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath which I swore unto Abraham thy father; 4 and I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these lands; and by thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves; 5 because that Abraham hearkened to My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.' 6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar.

Yitzchak was a Korban on the Mizbayach during the Akeda, he was too holy to go outside of Eretz Yisrael. So famine or no famine, he had to go to a place where there was a possibility of having wells and water to live by.

7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said: 'She is my sister'; for he feared to say: 'My wife'; 'lest the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah, because she is fair to look upon.' 8 And it came to pass, when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philistines looked out at a window, and saw, and, behold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife.

Either he peeped into the house or Yitzchak was hugging Rivka in his yard and realized that this was not a brother-sister relationship.

9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said: 'Behold, of a surety she is thy wife; and how can you say: ‘She is my sister?' And Isaac said unto him: 'Because I said: Lest I die because of her.' 10 And Abimelech said: 'What is this thou hast done unto us? one of the people might easily have lain with thy wife, and thou would have brought guiltiness upon us.'

My wife told me stories that if Saddam Hussein looked at a wife of one of his generals at a military party, that the general would divorce his wife immediately. There was no fear of G-D with Saddam and Yitzchak saw that in the Plishtine area. These idol worshippers would do anything or everything they could get away with.

11 And Abimelech charged all the people, saying: 'He that touches this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.' 12 And Isaac sowed in that land, and found in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. 13 And the man waxed great, and grew more and more until he became very great. 14 And he had possessions of flocks, and possessions of herds, and a great household; and the Philistines envied him. 15 Now all the wells which his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines had stopped them, and filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac: 'Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we.' 17 And Isaac departed thence, and encamped in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac dug again the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham; and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac's servants dug in the valley, and found there a well of living water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar strove with Isaac's herdmen, saying: 'The water is ours.' And he called the name of the well Esek; because they contended with him. 21 And they dug another well, and they strove for that also. And he called the name of it Sitnah. 22 And he removed from thence, and dug another well; and for that they strove not. And he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said: 'For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.'

No fear of G-D in the place led to these robberies and they were many. It is like the 70 or 190 some odd nations today that persecute us. They like to stab Jews with a knife and twist for although J. Pollard was the Tzaddik HaDor, after 30 years he has to wait 5 more before going to Israel. ON THAT DAY the nations of the world will be judged and it just might be too pleasant for too many.

23 And he went up from thence to Beer-Sheba. 24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said: 'I am the God of Abraham thy father. Fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for My servant Abraham's sake.' 25 And he built an altar there, and called upon the name of the LORD, and pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well. 26 Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath his friend, and Phicol the captain of his host. 27 And Isaac said unto them: 'Wherefore are ye come unto me, seeing ye hate me, and have sent me away from you?' 28 And they said: 'We saw plainly that the LORD was with thee; and we said: Let there now be an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee; 29 that thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace; thou art now the blessed of the LORD.' 30 And he made them a feast, and they did eat and drink. 31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and swore one to another; and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. 32 And it came to pass the same day, that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had dug, and said unto him: 'We have found water.' 33 And he called it Shibah. Therefore the name of the city is Beer-Sheba unto this day.

After the Jews left Spain they were raking in wealth from the newly discovered lands but their power waned. The same thing happened in England when Edward 1 expelled the Jews. They were brought back because the pretext was that the Moshiach could not come if there were no Jews in England. However, the fact of the matter is that trade and revenue declined without the Jews and the same thing happened when the Jews were expelled from Prague.

34 And when Esau was forty years old, he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. 35 And they were a bitterness of spirit unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

Some Jews today in the States think that religion is archaic and one can eat anything and marry a non-Jew. Yitzchak’s favorite son married one and look how he felt at the age of 100 when he should have been looking forward to grandchildren.

27:1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said unto him: 'My son'; and he said unto him: 'Here am I.'

Were too dim: Because of the smoke of these [wives of Esau] (who would burn [incense] to the idols) (Tanchuma, Toledoth 8; Pesiktha Rabbathi 12). Another explanation: When Isaac was bound on the altar, and his father was about to slaughter him, the heavens opened, and the ministering angels saw and wept, and their tears fell upon Isaac’s eyes. As a result, his eyes became dim (Gen. Rabbah 65:6). A third explanation: to enable Jacob to take the blessings (Gen. Rabbah 65:8).

2 And he said: 'Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death. 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me venison; 4 and make me savoury food, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.'

Although the Medrash would like us to believe that the Avos ate only Kosher Slaughtered food they were Bnei Noach and hunting with a bow and arrow was good enough. Or if you want to say that he was such a good shot it was like a dart gun or only a slight injury to the foot and then he slaughtered the animal but Pshat is Pshat an although I can find a way to make the whole act kosher, still let us be realistic and true to what is written.

5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it.

To hunt game, to bring: What is the meaning of “to bring” ? If he would not find game, he intended to bring [meat] from stolen [animals]. - [from Gen. Rabbah 65:13]

6 And Rebekah spoke unto Jacob her son, saying: 'Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying: 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory food, that I may eat, and bless thee before the LORD before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice according to that which I command thee.

The woman of the house is cleverer in this world than the man. She saw Esav as he was and Yacov as he was so she ordered Yacov to get what he rightfully deserved to establish the chosen people. Rivka was known for her Chessed and Esav was cruel  (Achzar) which is the opposite of mercy.

 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savory food for thy father, such as he loves; 10 and thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, so that he may bless thee before his death.' 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother: 'Behold, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. 12 My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a mocker; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing.' 13 And his mother said unto him: 'Upon me be thy curse, my son; only hearken to my voice, and go fetch me them.' 14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother; and his mother made savory food, such as his father loved.

Yacov did not want to deceive Yitzchak but this was a command from his mother.

This section deals with how Rivka and Yacov turn around Yitzchak’s will into HASHEM’s will. Man proposes but G-D disposes and when Yitzchak realized what happened he realized if was from HASHEM and it was a wonder in his eyes who were opened up from dimness to enlightenment of heaven.

41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau said in his heart: 'Let the days of mourning for my father be at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.' 42 And the words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah; and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him: 'Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, did comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my son, hearken to my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; 44 and tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; 45 until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him; then I will send, and fetch thee from thence; why should I be bereaved of you both in one day?'

Why should I be bereft: Heb. אֶשְׁכַּל. I will be bereft of both of you. [This teaches that] one who buries his children is called שָׁכוּל, bereft. And so, concerning Jacob, it is said (below 43:14):“As I am bereft (שָׁכֹלְתִּי), I shall be bereft (שָׁכָלְתּי).” Of both of you: If he rises up against you and you kill him, his sons will rise up and kill you. And the Divine Spirit poured itself upon her and she prophesied that they would die on the same day, as is delineated in the chapter entitled הַמְּקַנֵּא לְאִשְׁתּוֹ (Sotah 13a).

Being born twins can have the same Mazel. During the Yom Kippur War, two brothers were on the front one died so the other was ordered to go home for the funeral. While waiting to be flown home, a shell came and killed him. Rivka was afraid of this fate.

46 And Rebekah said to Isaac: 'I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these, of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?'

This is Rivka’s excuse for sending Yacov away and Esav does some Teshuva and marries the daughter of Yishmael for some Yichus to give pleasure to his parents. (Some pleasure! But better than the others)

28:1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan. 2 Arise, go to Paddan-aram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother. 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a congregation of peoples; 4 and give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings, which God gave unto Abraham.' 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob; and he went to Paddan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 6 Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying: 'Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan'; 7 and that Jacob hearkened to his father and his mother, and was gone to Paddan-aram; 8 and Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 9 so Esau went unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives that he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

Her brother gave her away in marriage as Yishmael had passed away.

Do You Sleep During the Sermon? (Time is not money it is life) By Rabbi Y. Y. Jacobson Shlita

Churchill Sleeping

They tell this story about Winston Churchill. As Savior of the free world he felt himself entitled to grab a little shuteye (“schlof”, or nap) in the House of Commons. When a fellow Parliament member approached him and said “Must you fall asleep when I am speaking?” Churchill answered, “No, it is purely voluntary.”

The Lubavitcher Rebbe once noticed people sleeping during a public “farbrengen” address. He said that he takes some comfort in the story of the Midrash, to be discussed below, that Rabbi Akiva once noticed his students were falling asleep in his class. If one can fall asleep on Rabbi Akiva, the greatest authority on the entire Oral Tradition of Torah, who are we to complain? 

Alas, it seems, Jews have been sleeping through sermons from the days of yore. Nothing has changed.
 

Rabbi Akiva’s Class

Says the Midrash:

מדרש רבה בראשית נח, ג: רבי עקיבא היה יושב ודורש והצבור מתנמנם. בקש לעוררן. אמר מה ראתה אסתר שתמלוך על קכ"ז מדינה? אלא תבוא אסתר שהיא בת בתה של שרה שחיתה קכ"ז שנה ותמלוך על קכ"ז מדינה
.

Once, as Rabbi Akiva taught a class, he noticed that the audience began falling asleep. He wished to awaken them. Rabbi Akiva interrupted his lecture and said:

Why did Esther, the queen of Achasverosh, the Monarch of the Persian Empire, decide to reign over 127 countries? Because Esther was a granddaughter of Sarah who lived for 127 years. Let the granddaughter of Sarah, who lived for 127 years, come and reign over 127 countries.

This is how Rabbi Akiva got the audience to wake up.

This is so strange of a story. It evokes a number of questions. We will discuss one.

Why did Rabbi Akiva choose this particular insights—from all the endless idea he could have shared—as the way of waking up his drowsy crowd? And why did he think that this statement would awake them? It does not seem to be such a humorous, dramatic or exhilarating statement as to awake a Jewish audience from their sleep during the Rabbi’s sermon? I mean, we all know that the get a Jew out of his slumber during a Rabbi’s sermon, is a unique skill, unheard of as of yet in the annals of Jewish history! [At least I can speak for myself: In my years as a Rabbi I am still trying to master this skill, but to no avail.]

Cherish the Second

The question was answered by the first Rebbe of Ger, the Chedushei Harim (Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Alter, 1799–1866), in a rather creative way.

Through this observation, Rabbi Akiva gently reprimanded his students for sleeping through the class. If Esther reigned over 127 countries, or provinces, in the large Persian Empire, corresponding to Sarah’s 127 years of life, it follows that for each year of Sarah’s life, Esther was granted kingship over an entire province or country. It follows then, that for each month of her life, she was given the gift of kingship over an entire city (a country contains at least 12 cities.) It follows then, that for each week of her life, she was rewarded with a town (a city has at least four towns). This would mean that for each day of her life she was rewarded with a neighborhood or section of the town. If we break it down even further, we will find that for every second of her life, she was rewarded with an entire block, over which her descendant, Queen Ester, ruled!

Rabbi Akiva thus sought to impress upon his students the value, potential and significance of every moment of life. Sarah received immense reward for each and every second of her life, because she devoted all her time and energy to living an honest, meaningful and good life. This was the subtle message that Rabbi Akiva, in his pedagogical brilliance, conveyed to his sleepy students. We cannot squander such a valuable resource as a time—not even a minute! Each moment is precious and laden with great potential.

The Gift of Time

Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86,400.00, carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day.

What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course!

Well, everyone has such a bank. It's name is time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds.

Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose.

It carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft.

Each day it opens a new account for you.

If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours.

There is no going back. There is no drawing against the tomorrow.

You must live in the present on today's deposits.

Time waits for no one. Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That's why it's called the ‘present.’

As the saying goes, to realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who just avoided an accident. To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics.

What Time Is It?

You know the story of the man who came to the therapist for a very serious problem.

“How can I help you?” asks the therapist.

Yes, says the patient. Please tell me what time is it?

Therapist: Three o'clock.

Patient: Oh, no! G-d help me.

Therapist: What's the matter?

Patient: I've been asking the time all day. And everybody gives me a different answer!...

The Murderous Teacher

Aristotle once asked his students: Who is the greatest teacher who kills all of his students?

The answer: Time!

Time Is Life

The Lubavitcher Rebbe once told my late father, Mr. Gershon Jacobson: “The world says, ‘Time is money;’ I say ‘Time is life!’”

This is what Rabbi Akiva was telling his students: Don’t sleep through your life. If you are sleeping in my class, you are sleeping through life. Look at Sarah and see what she accomplished with one minute.


___________________________________

[1] See Sichas Motzaei Shabbos Beshalach, 11 Shevat, 5724. Cf. Sichas Yud Shevat 5714 (then he quoted another Midrash about the anecdote Rabbi Yehuda Hanasie said when people were sleeping during his lecture.)
[2] Midrash Rabah Bereishit 58:3. Yalkut Shemoni Parshas Chayei Sarah section 102.
[3] At a private audience (yechidos), Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5744 (1984.)


Sixty Thousand Descendants by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles http://ascentofsafed.com/cgi-bin/ascent.cgi?Name=937-09

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the great Chasidic master, recounted the following episode at his grandson's circumcision celebration:
"This morning I arose very early to prepare myself to perform the brit mila (circumcision) of my dear grandchild. At daybreak I opened the window and saw a penetrating darkness in the heavens. As I wondered about the blackness before my eyes, it was made known to me that this very day the holy tzadik (righteous person), Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib of Sassov, had passed away.
"As I mourned the loss of that prince of Israel, I heard a voice cry out: 'Make way for Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib!'
"When the Sassover entered the celestial realms, the tzadikim and chasidim formed a joyous circle around him. Suddenly, Rabbi Moshe heard a voice reaching from one end of the world to the other. Intrigued, he began following it until he found himself at the gates of Gehinnom(Purgatory).
"Without waiting for permission, Rabbi Moshe entered Gehinnom. The guards saw him walking back and forth as if looking for somebody. They were certain that he had come there by mistake and they politely asked him to ascend to his proper place in Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden).
"Rabbi Moshe said nothing. The guards repeated their request, but he remained silent and did not move. They didn't know whether to drive him out or permit him to remain. They decided to confer with the Heavenly Court, but even it was puzzled. Never had a tzadik descended intoGehinnom of his own desire. Rabbi Moshe was summoned before the Throne of Glory where he made his request known.
"Rabbi Moshe began, 'Master of the World, You know how great is the mitzvah of redeeming captives. I have occupied myself with this commandment my entire life, and I have never differentiated between wicked captives and righteous captives. All were equally beloved by me, and I had no peace until I had succeeded in freeing them. Now that I have entered the World of Truth, I find that there are many captives here, too. I wish to fulfill this mitzvah here, as well.
"'I will not leave Gehinnom until I have fulfilled this mitzvah. So dear are Your commandments to me that I have observed them no matter what the place or time or penalty might be. If I cannot bring these wretched souls to freedom, I would rather remain with them in the fires ofGehinnom than to sit with the righteous and bask in the light of the Divine Presence!'
"Rabbi Moshe's words flew before the Throne of Glory, and the Holy One, Blessed be He, uttered the decision: 'Great are the tzadikim who are ready to relinquish their share in Gan Eden for the sake of others. In that merit, let it be calculated how many people Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib redeemed during his lifetime, both they and their children, and their children's children until the end of time. That number he may redeem here, also.'
"The Book of Records was immediately brought, opened and read. The names of all those who had been redeemed by Rabbi Moshe were counted and their direct descendents. The final figure was 60,000 souls, the number that could now be released from Gehinnom to Gan Eden.
"Rabbi Moshe began to walk through Gehinnom, looking into countless pits and caves where he found souls who had suffered for a long time. One by one he gathered them and when he was finished, he found their number to be exactly 60,000. Column after column emerged fromGehinnom, marching with him at their head, until they arrived at Gan Eden.
"When all 60,000 souls had entered, the gates were closed."
After recounting this story, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak instructed to name his little grandson Moshe Yehuda Leib and blessed him to grow up to emulate the holy tzadik, Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Leib of Sassov.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Adapted and supplemented by Yerachmiel Tilles from the version that was first printed in The Crown of Creation by Chana Weisberg (Mosaic Press).
Biographic notes:
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak (Deberamdiger) of Berditchev (1740-25 Tishrei 1809) is one of the most popular rebbes in chasidic history. He was a close disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch. He is best known for his love for every Jew and his active efforts to intercede for them against (seemingly) adverse heavenly decrees. Many of his teachings are contained in the posthumously published, Kedushat Levi
.
Rabbi Moshe-Leib of Sassov (1745 - 4 Shvat 1807) was the leading disciple of Reb Shmelke of Nicholsburg. He also received from the Maggid of Mezritch and from Rabbi Elimelech of Lyzhinsk. Subsequently a Rebbe in his own right with many followers, he was famous primarily for his love of his fellow Jews and his creative musical talent. His teachings are contained in the books, Likutei RaMal, Toras ReMaL Hashalem, and Chidushei RaMal.
Connection: The weekly reading, Toldot, begins, "These are the offspring…."

This week was the Yahrzeit of my mother already 9 years without Charlotte Jacqueline bas Yosef HaLevi. She grew up in a dirt poor working class family during the depression she started working at $12 a week marrying my father who got off the boat after fleeing Austria-Bavaria with just a few dollars to get by with. They taught me sweat and tears. When I got married I did not get much from my mother and living in Israel she gave me a little help for the first years. What she earned and I inherited at the end was with hard steady work. On her passing and a number of years before that, my children and I enjoyed the fruits of her labor but not in the beginning. I saw the following post on FB that threw me for a loop. What is this generation coming to? I enjoyed some of the answers. Perhaps I was a bit diplomatic but that is my only way to influence this person.

I'm for big government and for a social welfare system. I want the same services as the rest of the developed world. Universal education and universal health care is a right and we have a right to demand what belongs to us as citizens. I will tell all you racist bigoted right wing people, kiss my ass and go screw yourselves. I'm a for social welfare and to look after the poor, the working class people and the citizens of our country. I want a welfare state. 

Reply 1   I’m a right wing I’m not racist  2 hat all sounds so great Mr....just make sure u have enough people working so as to cover the expenditures. 3 Bernie Sanders 4 You know what belongs to you??? Whatever YOU work for!!! It is not the tax payers or government’s responsibility to Feed you, clothe you, educate you, or medicate you. IT IS YOURS!!!!!!! Grow up, Mr... Time to put your big boy pants on... Stop constantly complaining and start contributing!!!!!

Screw the capitalist system and the selfish racist bigoted intolerant people. I want the rich to pay and give the workers respect and dignity

5 Why don't YOU get off your ass and get a job?? Without capitalism you can't get welfare because there would be no money.... It's the rich who employ people and give them jobs... Btw the ONLY RACIST and BIGOT is you!!!!  You need to stop walking around like someone owes you.. No one owes you.. We all work hard to have what we have... We made the choice to work not sit in the corner and bitch and complain about everything.

6 My reply was:  People became rich by busting their britches. The Torah tells us that Avraham worked hard serving the Angels. He was rich had servants but did the work himself. Those who understand will understand.

7 You are talking nonsense 8 Be careful what you wish for! Eventually he realized that he angered a lot of people so removed the post.

Stiffed necked people who believe in G-D. Ignore the last section with the NT. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IW2DnE38gdI

This may be the Israeli record with about 93 mm of rain or 3.66 inches in one hour. Ashkelon being on a plain made it flood.

Daring rescue story by the Jewish Agency in Syria earlier this year. I do not agree fully with the second half of the article http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203045#.Vj5NSfkrKM8

Four Minute talk in French with translation into English and Hebrew thanks to Meir K the Holocaust Chocolate. https://www.facebook.com/sarit.shatz/videos/10153662296529169/

Vogue Magazine Orthodox Styles can be sexy: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4723717,00.html

Inyanay Diyoma

Friday: Earlier in the day a female terrorist was shot and Abu Mazen’s men broke up a demonstration from Gaza there were attempts at infiltration. 40 stabbed and attacker fled. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203027 and more http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203039#.Vj5HwvkrKM8



Arab snipper apprehended by the IDF one more still out there. Also the famed Chevron snipper is still on the loose. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4722113,00.html


Netanyahu will not get much from Obama if anything: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4722076,00.html

BDE border policeman succumbs to his wounds: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203101

Israeli Intelligence proved to the west that ISIS performed the attack. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203097#.Vj-otvkrKM8




Soldier girl injured in an attack wants to go back to the front: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4722473,00.html

Female terrorist neutralized after attacking check post. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203115#.VkBGGPkrKM8

The nation has more common Saichel than many of our politicians: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4722628,00.html

IDF retaliates for Gaza Rocket on empty spaces or buildings: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203110#.VkBrKPkrKM8

From Richard Oops something tells ISIS that blowing up the Russian Plane was not a good idea: http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2015/11/05/ruskies-revenge-russian-warplanes-hit-263-terror-targets-in-syria-in-2-days/

I have known Yishai and his parents for many years. His father prays most of the time in the Synagogues I have prayed in. In fact I saw Yishai a few weeks ago on Shabbos. Here he is before being cut and neutralizing the terrorist. https://www.facebook.com/StandWithUs/videos/10153300065432689/?fref=nf


Obama and Netanyahu meet agree to expedite joint talks on Israel’s military needs: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4723148,00.html

First Republican Candidate to speak out against the EU labeling of Israeli Goods: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203156#.VkF3ovkrKM9

This is partially welfare started in the 1960’s by LBJ and it encouraged laziness and absentee fathers. This is the ultimate breakdown of society and combined with all the propaganda of being Gay and Transgender this encourages a Sodom State of affairs and wild teens on the street. Thanks to Richard A. http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39993685/ns/health-womens_health/t/blacks-struggle-percent-unwed-mothers-rate/#.VkAsybx4ZSU

Iranian Hackers are stopped: (We hacked the hackers) http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4723190,00.html

ISIS infiltrated the Jordanian Police to have an attack on American Trainers in Jordan. http://debka.com/article/25006/Shortly-before-the-Obama-Netanyahu-summit-ISIS-hit-Americans-in-Jordan


The 13 year old Terrorist was too young for jail time if he had pleaded guilty but instead he is opting for a trail which will take place after is 14th birthday and it will mean jail time. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203180#.VkH5IPkrKM8

Three stabbing attacks and my wife told me of a firebomb on a bus near or at Maccabee Junction. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4723519,00.html

From Reuven: George Bush and Michelle Bachman in a campaign to convert Jews he did not learn that his father’s place was destroyed by a storm after he bothered Israel. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2013/nov/14/george-w-bush-speech-messianic-judaism

From Avigail: Al Qaeda leader in Syria dresses like a woman to avoid authorities. http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2014/01/13/syrian-al-qaeda-leader-captured-in-mascara-lipstick-and-a-burqa/


Religious Zionism (Bennett) vs. National Zionism (Netanyahu): http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203225#.VkL4U_krKM8

From Barry Shaw: Naftali Bennett tells the BBC we must stop all hope of a Palestinian State. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heW_JCWMUNg

Even though Ben Dror Yemini is center left or left center the extreme left in Israel is completely mad and he says it best: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4722997,00.html


Finally no more anti-Semites to come to Israel http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203235#.VkNGLvkrKM8


ISIS vs. Hezballah 3 homicides kill 40 and injure 260. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4724822,00.html

Arabs against security cameras by Yarden and Yisrael on Har HaBeis: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/203327



Chabad Chassid was stabbed in Milano by a blond Arab another Israeli helped chase the Arab off. Italian Police are downplaying the attack to criminal.

Have a wonderful and peaceful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli