Prayers
for Men: Eliezer David HaCohain ben Naomi, Yoel HaCohain ben Henya, Avraham
HaCohain ben Yocheved, Avraham ben Devorah, Shalom Charles ben Gracia, Yoel ben
Esther, Zvi ben Chava, Daniel ben Rivka, Nehemiah Arieh Liab Peretz ben Esther
Rachel, Eliyah ben Chana, Reuven David ben Rachel, Aharon Chayim ben Ruchama, Mordechai ben Nina, Chaim David ben Chana
Golda, Shmuel Tzvi ben Ita, Eliyahu ben Aviva
Women:
Karen Neshama bas Esther Ruth, Chaya Melecha Rachel bas Baila Alta, Rachel bas
Chana, Hodaya Nirit bas Mazel Yaish, Rivka bas Idit, Tsvia Simcha bas Devorah
Yachad, Miriam bas Irene Taita Malka, Golde Chaya bas Esther, Lydia bas
Elvira, Shulamis bas Etta, Chana Friedel bas Sara, Drorah Rivka bas Chana,
Devorah bas Sarah
The
following person is recovering from long term non-threatening injuries and need
Psalms. Binum Benyamin Tuvia ben Chana Friedel,
Perhaps the best quote from my Facebook Wall ever: I posted about term limits for Congress. Dr. Allen Seltzer PhD – Politicians are like diapers they
should be changed frequently.
Parsha
Beresheis
I wrote most of the commentary on the first day but
then took off time to relax and look at both the Commentary of Rabbi Shimshon
ben Rafael Hirsch of blessed memory and the Zohar. Both point out that
Beresheis has the word “Rosh” or head or start in it. From R’ Hirsch I also
noticed the word “Bara” or Create. We can then conclude that THE MYSTEROUS
UNKNOWN in the beginning created the creation.
This week, I have no intention to go into depth of the
four worlds of Creation which are Emanation, Creation, Nobility and Action in
English. The Kabbalah speaks of the creation of Angels after the Creation of
Torah and the various Attributes of HASHEM. However, my purpose is not to lead
people into things about their heads but to give a bit of a practical guidance
for the average Jew into understand not even all the six days of creation this
year but the first few days.
Over the years I have started my discussion of
Beresheis from both the Kabbalistic 13,000,000,000 plus years, 6 Day Creation
concept and combinations of both. In Tractate Tamid 31B, the story goes that
Alexander of Macedonia came to the Sages of blessed memory and they told him a
simple story so as not to go into the question what was before and what will be
after.
Today, I will attempt to explain actually what was
before from a Jewish Standpoint! If I take that HASHEM Yisborach is a master
planner, HE ruled what we might call in the physical realm empty space but
actually HE is above all the dimensions that Physics can imagine.
So long before the physically creation of the pea sized
universe held together by gravity that light and the 10 with 42 zero heat after
it was created HE began to think out a plan. Since HE is above time and space
the human mind can’t fathom how long it took HIM to put the idea of the present
creation into place and the plan for Moshiach.
The creation of the unformed pea of matter in the void
of darkness where light could not escape gravity could have lasted eons or a
split second. But once the words “Yehi Ohr” went out either by thought or by
speech, the Big Bang started. A book was written by Professor Weinberg on the
first three minutes with detailed physical equations and explanations.
What we are interested in as Bnei Yisrael, or call us
Jews today, is from what Rashi says, “This month (Nissan) is the head or first
of all months”. The Rebbe of Lubavitch says, “When the Torah says ‘Six Days’ it
means ‘Six 24 hour days’ as we know it.” Science seems to prefer the
Kabbalistic 13,000,000,000 years. As a Jew living in Eretz Yisrael from a
practical standpoint I am not interest in a negative universe or a host of
universes but our simple, humble and relative small planet on a piece of land
the size of New Jersey. We don’t have much in population numbers considering
our people’s age or the size of our tiny nation with limited resources but our
brains make up for the lack of material wealth. Our importance comes from as
Rashi says when we were molded in and destined to leave the slavery of
Mitzrayim. Just two weeks before the Exodus.
We do not have to worry about UNESCO which is about 68
or less years old but our Nation which since we left Egypt is over 3,300 years
old. So all this introduction is to understand the first Rashi.
In the beginning: Said Rabbi Isaac: It was not necessary to
begin the Torah except from “This month is to you,” (Exod. 12:2) which is the first commandment
that the Israelites were commanded, (for the main purpose of the Torah is its
commandments, and although several commandments are found in Genesis, e.g.,
circumcision and the prohibition of eating the thigh sinew, they could have
been included together with the other commandments). Now for what reason did He
commence with “In the beginning?” Because of [the verse] “The strength of His
works He related to His people, to give them the inheritance of the nations” (Ps. 111:6). For if the nations of the world
should say to Israel, “You are robbers, for you conquered by force the lands of
the seven nations [of Canaan],” they will reply, "The entire earth belongs
to the Holy One, blessed be He; He created it (this we learn from the story of
the Creation) and gave it to whomever He deemed proper When He wished, He gave
it to them, and when He wished, He took it away from them and gave it to us.
The Christian Countries should have known better from the Torah
and the fact that the Arabs are from Arabia and other near-by areas. However,
they are blinded by the traditional anti-Semitic bigotry which has plagued them
for centuries and has cost the lives of perhaps 192,000,000 Jews according to
the late Golda Meir and this was through murder, pillage, enslavement, forced
conversion and in places like the far east assimilation.
In the beginning of God’s
creation of: Heb. בְּרֵאשִית בָּרָא. This verse calls for a Midrashic
interpretation [because according to its simple interpretation, the
vowelization of the word בָּרָא, should be different,
as Rashi explains further]. It teaches us that the sequence of the Creation as
written is impossible, as is written immediately below] as our Rabbis stated
(Letters of R. Akiva , letter “bet” ; Gen. Rabbah 1:6; Lev. Rabbah 36:4): [God
created the world] for the sake of the Torah, which is called (Prov. 8:22): “the beginning of His way,” and for the sake of Israel, who
are called (Jer. 2:3) “the first of His grain.” But if you wish to explain it
according to its simple meaning, explain it thus: “At the beginning of the
creation of heaven and earth, the earth was astonishing with emptiness, and
darkness…and God said, ‘Let there be light.’” But Scripture did not come to
teach the sequence of the Creation, to say that these came first, for if it
came to teach this, it should have written: “At first (בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה)
He created the heavens and the earth,” for there is no רֵאשִׁית
in Scripture that is not connected to the following word, [i.e., in the
construct state] like (ibid. 27:1):“In the beginning of (בְּרֵאשִית)
the reign of Jehoiakim” ; (below 10:10)“the beginning of (רֵאשִׁית) his reign” ; (Deut. 18:4)“the first (רֵאשִׁית) of your corn.” Here
too, you say בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אלֹהִים,
like בְּרֵאשִׁית בְּרֹא, in the beginning of
creating. And similar to this is, “At the beginning of the Lord’s speaking (דִּבֶּר) to Hosea,” (Hos. 1:2), i.e., at the beginning of the speaking (דִּבּוּרוֹ)
of the Holy One, Blessed be He, to Hosea, “the Lord said to Hosea, etc.” Now if
you say that it came to teach that these (i.e., heaven and earth) were created
first, and that its meaning is: In the beginning of all, He created these-and
that there are elliptical verses that omit one word, like (Job 3:10): “For [He] did not shut the doors of my [mother’s] womb,” and
it does not explain who it was who shut [the womb]; and like (Isa. 8:4): “he will carry off the wealth of Damascus,” and it does not
explain who will carry it off; and like (Amos 6:12): “or will one plow with cattle,” and it does not explain: “if a
man will plow with cattle” ; and like (Isa. 46: 10): “telling the end from the
beginning,” and it does not explain that [it means] telling the end of a matter
from the beginning of a matter-if so, [if you say that Scripture indicates the
order of creation] be astounded at yourself, for the water preceded, as it is
written: “and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the water,” and
Scripture did not yet disclose when the creation of water took place! From this
you learn that the water preceded the earth. Moreover, the heavens were created
from fire and water. Perforce, you must admit that Scripture did not teach us
anything about the sequence of the earlier and the later [acts of creation].
I interpret that since the creation
starts with a Bet it must be that the Aleph was the creation of HASHEM’s plan
and then the creation of all matter aka heaven and earth. The Torah as Rashi
points out is not a science book But
Scripture did not come to teach the sequence of the Creation, to say that these
came first, for if it came to teach this, it should have written: “At first (בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה) He created the heavens and the earth,” and if the physical planet we call earth was created the second of
the Big Bang or 4,500,000,000 years ago for spiritual purposes and that of the
Torah we are not interested if it was created then or in one physical day which
is the literal interpretation. “and the
spirit of God hovered over the face of the water,” and Scripture did not yet
disclose when the creation of water took place! From this you learn that the
water preceded the earth. This is
logical as the original creation was Protons and Electrons and the heat of the
Nuclear Reaction. In time Helium combined at that heat to have Carbon and then
Oxygen before Iron and this as Rashi says, the creation of H2O was before the
earth but only upon the earth and in the internal pockets absorbed in rocks is
water.
God’s creation of the heavens and
the earth: But it does not say “of
the Lord’s creation of” (i.e., it should say “of the Lord God’s creation of” as
below 2:4 “on the day that the Lord God made earth and heaven”) for in the
beginning it was His intention to create it with the Divine Standard of
Justice, but he perceived that the world would not endure; so He preceded it
with the Divine Standard of Mercy, allying it with the Divine Standard of
Justice, and that is the reason it is written: “on the day the Lord God made
earth and heaven.”
There is a long and beautiful
Medrash and I believe also in the Zohar how the internal attributes of G-D
representing Justice argued but the Attribute of Mercy lengthy tolerance Rav
Chessed and HASHEM pushed down Justice. If you have the Soncino Translation or
a library with the translation, I suggest you read it.
Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch 1808
-1888 points out that the word Aleph Tav or Et is used but it comes from the
root OT or sign as in OT Bris Kodesh. It is also like taking an Aleph Vav Dalet
or UD or plucking a brand from the fire of creation and this was well over 50
years before the Big Bang Theory of Edwin Hubble 1929 and close to 90 or 100 years
before the proof in 1965.
2
Now the earth was unformed and void, and darkness was upon the face of the
deep; and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters.
Astonishingly empty: Heb. תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ.
The word תֹהוּ is an expression of astonishment and
desolation, that a person wonders and is astonished at the emptiness therein.
Astonishingly empty: Astordison in Old French; [étourdissement in modern
French], astonishment. בֹהוּ an expression of
emptiness and desolation. (This does not appear in all editions.) On the face
of the deep: on the face of the waters which were on the earth. And the spirit
of God was hovering: The Throne of Glory was suspended in the air and hovered
over the face of the water with the breath of the mouth of the Holy One,
blessed be He and with His word, like a dove, which hovers over the nest,
acoveter in Old French, to cover, hover over.
Even today we are astonished by the vast gaps in the
Universe and its’s size. It does not matter if we are looking at dark matter or
regular matter there are vast gaps of space between planets, stars and
galaxies. Rabbi Hirsch calls it billowing, effervescence, ebullition,
tumultuous but does not mean a deep abyss.
Physically it happened about 3 seconds or less into the Big Bang
as at that time the massive gravity was released and photons could escape. But
spiritual we view this as follows:
And God saw the light that it was good, and God separated: Here
too, we need the words
of the Aggadah: He saw it that it was not proper for the wicked
to use it; so He separated it for the righteous in the future. According to its
simple meaning, explain it as follows: He saw it that it was good, and it was
unseemly that it [light] and darkness should serve in confusion; so He established
for this one its boundary by day, and for that one its boundary by night.
Physically it implies that the rotation of the earth started
immediately upon forming.
5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And there was
evening and there was morning, one day.
One day: According to the sequence of the language of the
chapter, it should have been written, “the first day,” as it is written
regarding the other days, “second, third, fourth.” Why did Scripture write
“one”? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, was the only one in His world, for
the angels were not created until the second day. [i.e., יוֹם
אֶחָד is understood as ‘the day of the only One’] So is it explained
in Genesis Rabbah (3:8).
It is also that since no sun and moon, we cannot see really day
and night until the 4th day.
6 And God said: 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the
waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.'
Let there be an expanse: Let the expanse be strengthened, for, although the heavens were
created on the first day, they were still moist, and they solidified on the
second [day] from the rebuke of the Holy One, blessed be He, when He said, “Let
there be an expanse.” This is what Scripture says (Job 26:11): “The pillars of the heavens trembled” the entire first day,
and on the second day: “They were astonished by His rebuke,” like a person who
stands in astonishment because of the rebuke of the one who frightens him.
[Genesis Rabbah 12:10] In the
midst of the water: In the
middle of the water (Targum), for there is a separation between the upper
waters and the expanse, as there is between the expanse and the waters that are
on the earth. Behold you have learned that they are suspended by the word of
the King. — [Gen. Rabbah 4:3]
The Pshat of the Pasuk is not my scientific explanation but the
waters in the clouds and the waters in the oceans which were separated on the
second day. Dr. Fred Whipple of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
called Comets dirty ice balls. Actually some have metal but many are only
water. The lower waters are trapped in rocks deep below the earth and the seas,
lakes and ponds are what we see on the surface for otherwise if there was no
water up in the clouds and out of this world or deep in the belly of the earth,
we would never have the creation of dry land. There of course is ice in
glaciers and the two poles.
7
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the
firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.
And God made the expanse: He fixed it upon its base, which is [what is meant by] “making”
it; as [in the verse] (Deut. 21:12):“and she shall ‘do’ her nails,” וְעָשְׂתָה.
above the expanse: It does not say, “on the expanse,” but “above the expanse,”
because they [the waters] are suspended in the air (Mid. Ps. 19:4). Now why does it not say, “that it was good” on the second day?
Because the work involving the water was not completed until the third day,
although He commenced it on the second day, and an unfinished thing is not in
its fullness and its goodness; and on the third day, when He completed the work
involving the water and He commenced and completed another work, He repeated
therein “that it was good” twice (sic): once for the completion of the work of
the second day and once for the completion of the work of that [third] day. —
[Gen. Rabbah 4:6]
And God called the expanse heaven: Heb. שָׁמַיִם
[This is a combination of the words מַיִם שָׂא,
bear water (Gen. Rabbah 4:7); שָׁם מַיִם,
there is water; אֵשׁ וּמַיִם, fire and water. He
mingled them with one another and made the heavens from them (Chag. 12a).
Rashi explains the roots of the words. Over there is water or
Shemayim. But actually the clouds hold in partially the fire of the sun (Aish) and
water (Mayim). The Yiddish slag word for hard liquor is “fire-water” which is
sort a taste of heaven.
9
And God said: 'Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one
place, and let the dry land appear.' And it was so.
After the splitting of the upper and lower waters, it was possible
now to have dry land so the next phase of creation moves ahead. With the
initial light and heat still floating around from the Big Bang, there is enough
to sustain plant life even though there is no sun and moon. Even though the
Lubavitcher Rebbe says 24hour days, it is irrelevant without a sun and a moon
as reference.
Let the water…gather: They were spread out over the surface of
the entire earth, and He gathered them in the ocean, [the Mediterranean], which
is the largest of all the seas. — [from Pirkei d’Rabbi Eliezer, Ch. 5; Gen.
Rabbah 5:2]
10
And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters
called He, Seas; and God saw that it was good.
He called seas: But is it not one sea? However, the flavor of a
fish that comes up from the sea in Acre differs from the flavor of a fish that
comes up from the sea in Spain. — [from Eikev 39]
11
And God said: 'Let the earth put forth grass, herb yielding seed, and
fruit-tree bearing (fruit
trees producing) fruit after its kind, wherein is the seed
thereof, upon the earth.' And it was so.
I put the parenthesis around the Chabad translation as the Medrash
states that the trees were supposed to produce wood that tasted like the fruit.
If not for human teeth for mice, beavers and many herbivorous animals.
Let the earth sprout vegetation, seed yielding herbs: דֶּשֶׁא does not have the same meaning as עֵשֶׂב, and עֵשֶׂב does
not have the same meaning as דֶּשֶׁא. And it would have
been inappropriate for the Scriptural text to use the expression, תַּעֲשִׂיב הָאָרֶץ (let the earth bring forth herbs), for
there are various species of דֶּשֶׁא, each one by itself
which is called a particular עֵשֶׂב. And it would not be
the correct term for the speaker to say, “such-and-such a דֶּשֶׁא,” because the term דֶּשֶׁא
applies to the earth’s covering, when it is filled with vegetation. Let the
earth sprout: Let it be filled and covered with a mantle of herbs. In Old
French, דֶשֶׁא is called erbediz, herbage, all in a
mixture, whereas each root individually is called עֵשֶׂב.
Seed-yielding: That its seeds should grow in it from which to sow elsewhere.
Fruit trees: That the taste of the tree should be like the taste of the fruit.
It [the earth] did not do so, however, but “the earth gave forth, etc., trees
producing fruit,” but the trees themselves were not fruit. Therefore, when man
was cursed because of his iniquity, it [the earth] too was punished for its
iniquity (and was cursed-not in all editions). - [from Gen. Rabbah 5:9] In
which its seed is found: These are the kernels of every fruit, from which the
tree grows when it is planted.
Rabbi Mimran Shlita pointed out to me that there was one tree that
produced wood that tastes like its fruit and that is the Esrog. From this we
get the name Pri Hadar for the Esrog. But also there is a lesson to be learned
from this. Even if everybody is not doing the proper thing (they bring home and
keeps pens from the office or they hang out gambling in Las Vegas) one should separate
himself from the wrong crowd and do what is proper even if he looks foolish for
in the next world the true fools will be revealed.
12
And the earth brought forth grass, herb yielding seed after its kind, and tree
bearing fruit, wherein is the seed thereof, after its kind; and God saw that it
was good.
And the earth gave forth, etc.: Even though לְמִינֵהוּ. “according to its kind,” was not said
regarding the herbs when they were commanded [to grow], they heard that the
trees were commanded thus, and they applied an a fortiori argument to
themselves, [a קַל וָחוֹמֶר -from the minor to
the major], as is explained in the Aggadah of Tractate Chullin (60a).
Not the survival of the fittest but a command that diversifies the
types of herbs and grasses.
13
And there was evening and there was morning, a third day. 14 And
God said: 'Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day
from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and
years;
The original light of the Big Bang sufficed for three days
according to Rashi. Thus for those like both Hirsch and the Lubavitcher Rebbe
who go by Pshat and not Kabbalah the placement of objects in the heavens would
have to have happened faster than the speed of light which we have yet to
discover.
Let there be luminaries, etc.: They were created on the first day, and on the fourth day, He
commanded them to be suspended in the sky, and likewise, all the creations of
heaven and earth were created on the first day, and each one was fixed in its
proper place on the day that was decreed upon it. That is why it is written: “with
the heavens (אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם) to include their
products, ”and with the earth (וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ),"
to include its products. — [Gen. Rabbah 1:14] Let there be luminaries: Heb., יְהִי מְאֹרֹת It [the word, מְאֹרֹת is written without a “Vav,” [thus, the
word can be מְאֵרֹת meaning curses]
because it [the fourth day] is a cursed day when children become ill with
croup. This is what we learned (Ta’anith 27b): “on the fourth day [of the
week], they [the men of the ma’amad] would fast so that children should not
become ill with croup.” To
separate between the day and between the night: (This happened) after the first light was hidden away, but
during the seven (another reading: during the three) days of Creation, the
primordial light and darkness served together, both by day and by night. —
[Medrah Yelammedenu , as quoted in Yalkut Shim’oni] According to the Ramban and
early editions of Rashi , it appears that the reading, “during the seven days
of Creation,” is the authentic reading. Ramban , however quotes the Genesis
Rabbah , which states that the original primordial light served only during the
first three days, until the sun and the moon were suspended in the sky. After
that, the primordial light was hidden away, as in Rashi to verse 4. Note also
that several early manuscripts and printed editions of Rashi read: “but in the
seven days of Creation, the primordial light and darkness served, this one by
day and this one by night.” This is also the reading of Mizrachi , and it
appears more accurate than our reading, because, in fact, the light and the
darkness did not serve together, as Rashi explains in verse 4.] And they shall be for signs: When the luminaries are eclipsed, it is an unfavorable omen for
the world, as it is said (Jer. 10:2):
“and from the signs of the heaven be not dismayed, etc.” When you perform the
will of the Holy One, blessed be He, you need not fear retribution. — [from
Succah 29a] And for
appointed seasons: This
refers to the future, when the Israelites are destined to be commanded
concerning the festivals and they [the festivals] are reckoned from the first
phase of the moon. — [from Gen. Rabbah 6:1]. And for days: The sun
serves for half a day, and the moon for half of it, so that you have a full
day. And years: At the end of 365 days (other editions: and a 1/4 of a day) they
complete their revolution through the twelve constellations of the zodiac,
which serve them, and that constitutes a year. (Other editions read: and that
is 365 and 1/4 days), and they return and start a second time to revolve on the
sphere like their first revolution.
Signs for Astrology but as Rashi says a Jew who does Teshuva,
Tephilla and Tzeduka has nothing to fear. Either if he is destined to have a
car accident it is a scrap in parking or a fender bender and not a horrible
accident or if he is destined to be injured for a sin it is only light.
15
and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon
the earth.' And it was so.
And they
shall be for luminaries: In addition, they will serve in this function, viz. to
shed light upon the world
So on the
fourth day, the earth was captured by the sun and either it was an earth-moon
system or the moon joined with the earth too on that day. The size of the disks
were just right as to cover one another in an eclipse.
16
And God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the
lesser light to rule the night; and the stars.
The two great luminaries: They were created equal, but the moon
was made smaller because it brought charges and said, “It is impossible for two
kings to use the same crown.” - [from Chullin 60b] Rashi (ad loc.) explains
that this derash is based on the discrepancy of the two expressions, “the two
great luminaries,” which intimates that the moon was a great luminary, and“the
lesser luminary,” which intimates that the moon was smaller than the sun. To
reconcile this difference, the Rabbis asserted that the moon was originally
created equal to the sun, but, because of its complaint that the sun wielded
the same power that it wielded, it was forced to relinquish that power. And the
stars: Because He diminished the moon, He increased its hosts, to appease it. -
[from Gen. Rabbah 46:4 and Chullin 60b] i.e., The stars serve as the entourage
of the moon. When it comes out, they accompany it, and when it sets, they too
set. [Gen. Rabbah ad loc.]
There is a beautiful and long Medrash about the moon and the sun.
The moon got the place for the Shechina and is therefore associated with
Shidduchim and Romance.
17
And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the
light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. 19 And
there was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.
The primordial glow had weakened enough for the “viewer” who was
not yet created to view the stars in the sky along with the moon.
I am purposely skipping ahead to the creation of the
Shabbos and the Kiddush for Shabbos. For I would be getting in a bit over my
head at this point scientifically to say that the dinosaurs came after birds as
the scientists think the opposite. There is a relationship but the Torah
reverses the creation and then goes according to scientists if you check into
the fifth day and I like to comment on more solid ground.
20 And God said, "Let the waters swarm a swarming of living
creatures, and let fowl fly over the earth, across the expanse of the
heavens." It appears to be first fish, then
birds. 21 And God created the great sea monsters (הַתַּנִּינִם הַגְּדֹלִים),
and every living creature that crawls, with which the waters swarmed, according
to their kind, and every winged fowl, according to its kind, and God saw that
it was good. Rashi interprets based on the Gemara sea
monsters but it could also be dinosaurs as an interpretation. In any event, the
Pshat of the second Pasuk is birds after these animals or fish.
… 31
And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And
there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day (וֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁיי).
Here we have a combination of Yud and Hay together. Chapter 2.1
starts off with the words (יְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִםוַ). Thus we stand for Kiddush for witnessing for we add a Vav and
a Hay which is the Tetragrammaton of the NAME. The end of the sentence regarding
the six days and the start of Shabbos rest is (אֲשֶׁר
בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים
לַעֲשׂוֹת:). The ending
of the words is Aleph, Mem and Tav or Emmet. Thus we stand for HASHEM Emmet and
after our witnessing, we sit to make the blessing on wine as our Sages said it
is unhealthy to eat or drink standing.
The Talmud says, “He who humbles himself, honor runs
after him. He who looks for honor it runs from him.” On Simchas Torah they
asked for the first residents to get a circling with the Torah. I was actually
the first of those present in the Synagogue but was trying to hide myself. Well
the next batch I was called and carried the singing around the central Torah
reading platform.
On a narrow winding
Safed street by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
Every Wednesday I
receive a booklet in my in-box from an important Rav-Mashpiah (one Rabbi who
has spiritual influence or Rabbi and spiritual advisor) in Jerusalem. I read it
from beginning to end on Fridays. In the 14-18 pages there are always a few
gems to pass along at the Shabbos table.
But one Friday I was just too busy. In fact, it was only the following week when the new one arrived on the last Wednesday of 5776 that I realized I had yet to read the previous edition. I immediately did so. The section that particularly struck me was about the importance of saying Amen properly, and how important doing so is for the blessing and the blesser as well as the responder. He then told two remarkable stories to exemplify his message.
Here they are, translated, edited and shortened by yours truly from Yeshiva English to standard English.
1) Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin1 was meticulous in reciting a blessing only when someone else was present to answer "Amen."2 Once, while studying into the wee hours of the night, he felt he needed to drink a cup of water, but there was no one to answer Amen to his blessing. Just then, one of the top students of his yeshiva came to the Study Hall to ask him to explain a difficult commentary of Tosefos on the Talmudic tractate they were studying. Rabbi Chaim explained the Tosefos and then he said the blessing on the water. The student answered Amen and Rabbi Chaim thanked him, whereupon the student left
.
The next day, Rabbi Chaim said to the young man, "Thank you once again for answering Amen. I was so thirsty last night; I wouldn't have been able to continue learning without your help."
The next day, Rabbi Chaim said to the young man, "Thank you once again for answering Amen. I was so thirsty last night; I wouldn't have been able to continue learning without your help."
The student said he didn't understand what the Rebbe was referring to. He had slept the entire night.
Rabbi Chaim Volozhiner then understood that it was Eliyahu HaNavi (Elijah the Prophet) who had appeared to him, with the appearance of the student, to help him with his resolution to only say a blessing when someone was present to answer Amen.
2) Before making a blessing, Rebbe Shmelke of Nickelsburg3 also always made sure that someone would be near him to answer Amen. He explained that when one recites a blessing it creates an angel, but the angel isn't complete unless someone answers Amen to the blessing.
Once, when Rebbe Shmelke was traveling, he descended from the carriage in order to relieve himself. After that he needed to make the required blessing afterward, "Asher Yatzar…,"4 but there was no Jew in sight to answer Amen. Suddenly, he saw two people. Their appearance was inspiring. He said the blessing and they promptly answered Amen strongly. Then they disappeared.
Rebbe Shmelke guessed that these two 'men' were actually the angels Raphael and Gabriel. They came down from heaven, to help him complete the blessing properly. Shortly after, he fell asleep in the carriage, and it was revealed to him that he had assumed correctly. The two "men" were the angels Raphael and Gabriel, and his interpretation was also correct.
The effect on me lasted long enough to inspire some Amens with far greater focus than usual during Mincha. However, reading the booklet when I did have also caused me to be late for Mincha at my usual shul, and I had to attend another one instead, located in a different direction. In the middle of my walk back from that shul to my office in Ascent, on one of those narrow winding Tsfat streets, a man coming from the opposite direction suddenly stopped me by putting his hand on my forearm. He had a full size knitted yarmulke on his head, but no beard.
He looked up at me and I stared back at him. Neither of us uttered a sound.
Then, while still holding my arm, he slowly and carefully enunciated the forty-four word Asher Yatzar blessing!
I listened just as carefully and responded a hearty Amen.
Again silence.
Then he walked on in his direction and I walked in mine
.
* * *
* * *
Do you agree that there are many lessons for me to absorb from this complex lightning stroke of Divine Supervision? Which is your favorite?
May all my readers be blessed by the One Above with boundless revealed goodness.
AMEN!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connection: Weekly Reading of Beresheis -- [On the sixth day,] G-d created the human body complete with all its complexities.
Connection: Weekly Reading of Beresheis -- [On the sixth day,] G-d created the human body complete with all its complexities.
1 Chief disciple of
the Vilna Gaon; patriarch of the Soloveitchik dynasty.
2 The Midrash says, "There is nothing greater for HaKadosh Baruch Hu than the Amens that [the people of] Yisrael answer." The Gemara says, "One who answers Amen is [doing a] greater [deed] than the one who says the blessing." The Zohar says, "Whoever doesn't answer Amen with Kavannah (focused attention), about him it is written, 'Those who disgrace Me, will lose their honor' (I Shmuel 2:30)." And in contrast, someone who is careful with Amen will receive honor. As it says, "I honor those who honor Me" (Ibid)."
3 A fellow disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch together with Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Chabad.
4 "Blessed are You…who created within [man] orifices and cavities…that if but one of them were to be blocked or…to be opened, it would be impossible to [live]…. Blessed are You…"
2 The Midrash says, "There is nothing greater for HaKadosh Baruch Hu than the Amens that [the people of] Yisrael answer." The Gemara says, "One who answers Amen is [doing a] greater [deed] than the one who says the blessing." The Zohar says, "Whoever doesn't answer Amen with Kavannah (focused attention), about him it is written, 'Those who disgrace Me, will lose their honor' (I Shmuel 2:30)." And in contrast, someone who is careful with Amen will receive honor. As it says, "I honor those who honor Me" (Ibid)."
3 A fellow disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch together with Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Chabad.
4 "Blessed are You…who created within [man] orifices and cavities…that if but one of them were to be blocked or…to be opened, it would be impossible to [live]…. Blessed are You…"
From Chaim B. Rabbi Sachs on anti-Semitism:
http://www.rabbisacks.org/mutating-virus-understanding-antisemitism/
http://www.rabbisacks.org/mutating-virus-understanding-antisemitism/
Secret chambers in the great pyramid? http://www.aol.com/article/2016/10/18/scientists-declare-discovery-of-2-cavities-in-great-pyramid-of-g/21585936/
In the days when I was a child, mom would take me on this bus: https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20161020/elmhurst/bus-driver-slashed-dunkin-donuts-69th-street-queens-boulevard
Daylight savings time in Israel ends on Saturday
night: http://www.anglo-list.com/general-3/about-israel/israel-daylight-saving-times
Organ trafficking ring exposed arrests made. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4870685,00.html
Joel pointed out this site of the Mars Maven see 2 short videos: 1)https://www.facebook.com/MAVEN2Mars/videos/pcb.10154756768182868/10154756710787868/?type=3&theater
The Torah is truth so we must investigate. E.T. Intelligence? http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/10/25/signals-from-space-aliens-scientists-disagree.html
Inyanay
Diyoma
ISIS attack Friday in Sinai: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/721140/ISIS-attack-Sinai-twelve-Egyptian-soldiers-killed
Leaked e-mail of Hillary that Israelis see Obama as weak,
pro-Muslim and anti-Israeli not much news for me: http://www.wnd.com/2016/10/israeli-officials-see-obama-as-weak-pro-muslim-anti-israel/?cat_orig=world
Witness to Trump flight of 35 years ago counters the story of the
woman slanderer. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/10/15/trump-campaign-fights-back-against-allegation-candidates-sexual-misconduct.html
Plus see this “accuser” is a Clinton Foundation Worker: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1290283134349572&set=a.280917778619451.71522.100001036934802&type=1&theater
ISIS slowly removing wounded fighters from Mosul as homicide bomber
hits Baghdad: http://edition.cnn.com/2016/10/15/middleeast/mosul-isis-battle-preparations/index.html
Egypt counter-attacks ISIS in Sinai 100 terrorists killed if that is not an exaggeration. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4866669,00.html
Russia and Turkey
announce an anti-US Enclave in Syria: http://debka.com/article/25719/Russia-Turkey-carve-anti-US-enclaves-in-Syria
Russia on the equivalent to DEFCON 3 over Syria and
US-Cyber War over Clinton’s hacked e-mails (when China or private people might
have done that). The Israeli TV showed 40,000,000 Russians going into Nuclear
Shelters in drill: America is in a Presidential Dream and Europe in a Refuge
Mode. Sukkos is one of the possible spiritual times for Gog and Magog. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219013
Israel to expand Nuclear Submarine Force: https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/10/14/report-israel-in-talks-with-germany-to-expand-size-of-its-nuclear-capable-submarine-fleet/
I have seen this being tested out as recently as last Thursday
evening was about to report this thing to IAF but now I know it is IAF. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4866692,00.html
Terrorist’s daughter released against the will of the police. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219041
Rigged
System example Ohio:
During
election night in 2012, the pundits breathlessly proclaimed that it was all
going to come down to Ohio. They told us that if Mitt Romney was going to
have any chance of winning the election that he had to win Ohio, and so that
was the state to watch more than any other.
One of the
counties where Barack Obama really needed to run up votes was in Cuyahoga
County. But Barack Obama didn’t just solidly win in Cuyahoga
County. In fact, there were 16 precincts were Mitt Romney did not receive a single vote.
Yes, you
read that correctly.
Earlier
today I went to the
official Cuyahoga County website, and the results from the last election are still
up. The following are the vote totals for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in
the precincts where Mitt Romney did not get any votes…
0154
CLEVELAND -02-Q: 542 – 0
0192
CLEVELAND -04-L: 388 – 0
0204
CLEVELAND -05-E: 597 – 0
0205
CLEVELAND -05-F: 483 – 0
0206
CLEVELAND -05-G: 257 – 0
0219 CLEVELAND
-05-T: 386 – 0
0228
CLEVELAND -06-H: 405 – 0
0232
CLEVELAND -06-L: 70 – 0
0233
CLEVELAND -06-M: 419 – 0
0241
CLEVELAND -06-U: 118 – 0
0248
CLEVELAND -07-F: 361 – 0
0273
CLEVELAND -08-J: 472 – 0
0280
CLEVELAND -08-Q: 49 – 0
0285
CLEVELAND -09-B: 414 – 0
0288
CLEVELAND -09-E: 478 – 0
0523 EAST
CLEVELAND -04-C: 486 – 0
There were
also a whole host of precincts in Cuyahoga County where Mitt Romney received just one or
two votes. Overall, Barack Obama won more than 99 percent of the vote in more
than 100 precincts in just this one county.
How in the
world does that happen?
Well, I
think that what ordinary voters were telling reporters on election day in Ohio
gives us a big clue. According to Fox News, there were voters in Ohio that said that they tried to
vote for Romney but the voting machines kept switching their votes to Obama…
“I don’t know if it happened to anybody else or not, but this is the first
time in all the years that we voted that this has ever happened to me,” said
Marion, Ohio, voter Joan Stevens.
Stevens said that when she voted, it took her three tries before the machine accepted her
choice to vote for Romney. Thanks
to Dr. Harry
Republican Headquarters firebombed in NC: http://www.wnd.com/2016/10/republican-hq-firebombed-in-north-carolina/?cat_orig=us
Ed-Op Ben Dror Yemini on the traitorous Israelis at the UN. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4866921,00.html
Mosul a real mess coalition wise: http://debka.com/article/25721/Mosul-assault-–-a-military-Tower-of-Babel
IDF asks Russia to revise its coordination with Syria: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219048
Murderer lauded by Abbas as hero: https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/10/16/palestinian-authoritys-abbas-holds-presidential-reception-for-family-of-terrorist-who-murdered-innocent-israeli-merchant-in-2003-lauds-killer-as-hero/
More Corruption uncovered and there was an article about a former
female Secretary of State who stole furniture from the white house did some
taking of furniture from the State Dept. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219061
Ed-OP Dr. Friedman the Saudi-Israeli Shia problem: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4867379,00.html
Former General under Saddam knew where the Mustard Gas was and ISIS
may use it on fighters. Powell and Bush didn’t: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219100
Wikileaks temporarily loses internet access: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/10/18/ecuador-says-it-has-temporarily-restricted-wikileaks-founder-assanges-internet-access.html
Term limits for Congress and Senate: http://www.aol.com/article/news/2016/10/18/donald-trump-i-will-push-term-limits-to-tell-congress-youre-f/21586477/
While the Kurds are continuing to fight the mainstay of the Iraqi
Army is bogged down in the same fears that made them flee the city in the first
place. This time from chemical weapons and booby-traps. http://debka.com/article/25721/The-big-Mosul-offensive-is-stuck-halted-by-ISIS-
Four suspects arrested in beating Rabbi Deutsch: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219143
Obama’s weakness will bring on WWIII in the end if not now then
soon enough. Russia has known strength to match them. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4868064,00.html
Iran Deal: Trump says that the US has been taken for a ride by
Russia and Iran: https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/10/19/trump-at-final-presidential-debate-us-has-been-outsmarted-by-russia-and-iran-in-middle-east/
All the anti-Semitic news that fits we print: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219152
Nazis at Santa Clara U: https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/10/19/leaked-security-footage-shows-santa-clara-university-students-painting-swastika-with-human-blood-in-dorm-elevator/
How come we see tens of thousands supporting Trump and hundreds Hillary
here is the truth: http://www.wnd.com/2016/10/most-accurate-poll-trump-leads-hillary-by-1/
Bribing FBI agents through their spouses: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/10/24/clinton-ally-reportedly-helped-fund-campaign-key-fbi-official-s-wife.html
Hamas tests long range rocket causing sirens to go off and
tunnel(s) collapse. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4869589,00.html
Syria human rights abuse and war crimes but silence at the UN. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219305
After the Turks murder 200 Kurdish Fighters, Iran warns them: http://debka.com/article/25735/Tehran-will-fight-Turkey’s-role-in-Mosul-operation
Egypt turns to Russia thanks to Obama: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4869807,00.html
Hundreds of thousands for wall street speeches to bribe her
presidential bid. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/10/24/top-adviser-on-clinton-wall-street-speeches-its-pretty-bad.html
From Popular to Unpopular both Paul Ryan and Megan Kelly took a hit
from Trump Voters, her ratings dropped to new lows and his from 71% favorable
to 58% unfavorable. http://www.aol.com/article/news/2016/10/24/paul-ryan-is-losing-popularity-among-republicans-in-the-wake-of/21590710/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl28%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D-1722565884_htmlws-main-bb
Israeli Arab, 15, murdered working on southern border fence with
Egypt: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4869997,00.html
11 Arabs caught in trunk of car. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219341
Being too weak on the military might lead Putin to a
miscalculation: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4870410,00.html
After the shooting on the southern border, now there was shooting
on the northern border. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4870487,00.html
Illegal Arab construction while the Jews had their holidays: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219377
The honoring of the Jewish People and Israel: Make Israel and
America Safe Again: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219388
Back in my day I was a Paramedic in and around “The Good Fence” not
so good anymore. http://debka.com/article/25739/Hizballah-ducks-Russian-ire-by-Lebanon-attack
Israel sends a message to Gaza to avoid death stop building
tunnels: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219402
Ron Ben Yishai is an experienced military reporter from the left
because of his slants I most of the time ignore his Ed – Ops but this time I
wanted to bring down his analysis on what the IDF should learn from Mosul. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4869947,00.html
NY - Discrimination lawsuit in now in favor of the Chassidim: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219417
New deal for the black communities: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219443
More like Purim than Simchas Torah – shootout in Crown Heights: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/219440
Yes, the wind blew and the rain fell in Israel. Have a good Shabbos, Rachamim Pauli
