BDE Rebbetzin Weiss, Miriam Liba bas Devorah passed away.
Parsha Vayehi
Last week the family was finally reunited and reunified. Yacov now has 17 good years. Tov or good in Gematria is 17. Everybody deserves a few moments of peace and happiness in this world and Yacov after 130 harsh years has earned it. However, a Tzaddik does have his problems and it seems to me that he devolved cataracts in both eyes perhaps that is what Yitzchak also had. Tending animals outdoors with plenty of sunshine can do that to you. Unfortunately we see even recently that two Torah Scholars passed away.
I want to include here some words of wisdom from Rabbi Berel Wein Shlita:
There are no smooth and trouble free familial relationships described in the book of Bereshith. Sibling rivalry, violence, different traits of personality, and marital and domestic strife are the stuff of the biblical narrative of this book. The Torah does not sanitize any of its stories nor does it avoid confronting the foibles and errors of human beings.
The greatest of our people, our patriarchs and matriarchs, encountered severe difficulties in attempting to create cohesive, moral and cooperative families. Yet they persevered in the attempt because without this strong sense of family there can be no basis for eternal Jewish survival. There is tragic fall out in each of the families described in Bereshith and yet somehow the thread of family continuity is maintained and strengthened until the family grows into a numerous and influential nation.
47:28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; so the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were a hundred forty and seven years. 29 And the time drew near that Israel must die; and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him: 'If now I have found favor in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt.
This is the last recorded swearing by the Bris Kodesh. We saw it with Avraham and now with Yacov but Yitzchak did not use it.
30 But when I sleep with my fathers, thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place.' And he said: 'I will do as thou hast said.' 31 And he said: 'Swear unto me.' And he swore unto him. And Israel bowed down upon the bed's head.
When it comes to a personal thing like being close to death we see that our father is called Yacov. But when it comes to burial in Eretz Yisrael.
48:1 And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph: 'Behold, thy father is sick.' And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And one told Jacob, and said: 'Behold, thy son Joseph comes unto thee.' And Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
The end of chapter 47 was perhaps the writing of Yacov’s will and done a while before his death. It is implied that it is close in time but since we are dealing with 17 years in the Torah it could have been anytime and he wanted to be buried with his fathers and Leah in the cave of the Machpelah. Yisrael now is coming close to his end and needs to strengthen himself on his bed.
3 And Jacob said unto Joseph: 'God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 and said unto me: Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. 5 And now thy two sons, who were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, shall be mine. 6 And thy issue, that thou beget after them, shall be thine; they shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
I am giving you the Bechor, a double portion, in Eretz Yisrael. However, only to these two sons. Should you have more prodigy, they will be on their brother’s names.
7 And as for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died unto me in the land of Canaan in the way, when there was still some way to come unto Ephrath; and I buried her there in the way to Ephrath--the same is Beth-lehem.'
This shows that his love for Rachel never waned even when he requested to be buried next to Leah. It is now 48 years since she was buried and still Yacov misses her and regrets that Yosef and Benyamin were orphans.
8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said: 'Who are these?' 9 And Joseph said unto his father: 'They are my sons, whom God hath given me here.' And he said: 'Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.'
They were to get an extraordinary blessing and not a standard one.
10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
It appears to me that all though years herding sheep, he developed cataracts. However, I was told that basically HaRav Shach TzZal became basically blind between 104 and 108 years of age and Bob Hope was blind at the age of 100. So I am uncertain about the blindness.
11 And Israel said unto Joseph: 'I had not thought to see thy face; and, lo, God hath let me see thy seed also.' 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees; and he fell down on his face to the earth.
Yosef bowed down before his father as servants did to him and Pharaoh. This is the way of kingships in Africa as told to me years ago when I met the Ger Tzeddek “The Prince of Swaziland”.
13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.
Menashe was the Bechor so he should be blessed by his father’s right hand.
14And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born.
Despite his age and poor or no sight, he guided his right hand to Ephraim.
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: 'The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long unto this day, 16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.'
He is continuing the blessing of Yitzchak with the two boys. Later, he will bless all the tribes.
17 And when Joseph saw that his father was laying his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said unto his father: 'Not so, my father, for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.'
He wanted to have Menashe get the blessing from the right hand.
19 And his father refused, and said: 'I know it, my son, I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; howbeit his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.'
Now through prophecy, he reveals that Ephraim will be greater and Menashe, although many thousands will be secondary in greatness.
20 And he blessed them that day, saying: 'By thee shall Israel bless, saying: God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh.' And he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Every Friday night before we sit down at the Shabbos table, most fathers in Israel bless their children with these words and the Cohain blessing mentioned in Parsha Naso 6:24 -26.
21 And Israel said unto Joseph: 'Behold, I die; but God will be with you, and bring you back unto the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.'
You will have two portions for your two children. Now the only place that Yacov used the sword and the bow as written in Sefer Yashar is Schem. So the portion of Yosef shall be Schem and in fact that is the first place where Yehoshua builds the Mizbayach and the tablets of the 5 Sifrei Torah are engraved (lost today or destroyed by the Romans). This is between Har Gerizim and Har Eval. Yosef is buried there.
49: 1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: 'Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the end of days. 2 Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. 3 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the first-fruits of my strength; the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power.
And the first of my might: That is, his first drop [of semen], for he had never experienced a nocturnal emission. — [from Yeb. 76 a] My might: Heb. אוֹנִי, my strength, similar to:“I have found power (אוֹן) for myself” (Hos. 12:9);“because of His great might (אוֹנִים)” (Isa. 40:26);“and to him who has no strength (אוֹנִים)” (ibid. 29). - [from Targum Onkelos] superior in rank: Heb. שְׂאֵת יֶתֶר. You were fit to be superior over your brothers with the priesthood, an expression of raising up the hands (נְשִׂיאוּת כַּפַיִם) [to recite the priestly blessing]. — [from Gen. Rabbah 99:6] And superior in power: Heb. וְיֶתֶר עָז, [i.e. superior] with kingship, like “And He will grant strength (עֹז) to His king” (I Sam. 2:10) and what caused you to lose all this? - [from Gen. Rabbah 99:6
You could have had Priesthood and Kingship but lost it all. Shimon was too hot headed so he lost out too. The two titles were split between Levi, the pious and righteous, and Yehuda, who had showed leadership.
4 Unstable as water, have not thou the excellency; because thou went up to thy father's bed; then defiled thou it--he went up to my couch.
Not actually a strong blessing being called unstable and a defiler. So you shall not have the Kahuna and Malchus. [Priesthood and Kingship]
... You shall not have superiority: You shall no longer receive all these superior positions that were fit for you. Now what was the restlessness that you exhibited? ... My bed: Heb. יְצוּעִי, a term denoting a bed, because it is spread (מַצִּיעִים) with mattresses and sheets. There are many similar occurrences: “I shall not go up on the bed that was spread for me (יְצוּעָי)” (Ps. 132:3); “when I remember You on my couch (יְצוּעָי)” (ibid. 63:7). - [from Targum Onkelos]
5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; weapons of violence their kinship. 6 Let my soul not come into their council; unto their assembly let my glory not be united; for in their anger they slew men, and in their self-will they houghed oxen.
Simeon and Levi are brothers: [They were] of one [accord in their] plot against Shechem and against Joseph: “So they said one to the other, ‘…So now, let us kill him…’ ” (Gen. 37:19f). Who were “they”? If you say [that it was] Reuben or Judah, [that cannot be because] they did not agree to kill him. If you say [that it was] the sons of the maidservants, [that cannot be because] their hatred [toward him] was not [so] unmitigated [that they would want to kill him], for it is stated: “and he was a lad [and was] with the sons of Bilhah” (Gen. 37:2). [It could not have been] Issachar and Zebulun [because they] would not have spoken before their older brothers. [Thus,] by necessity [we must say that] they were Simeon and Levi, whom their father called “brothers.” - [from Gen. Rabbah, Shitah Chadashah] Stolen instruments: This craft of murder is in their hands wrongfully, [for] it is [part] of Esau’s blessing. It is his craft, and you (Simeon and Levi) have stolen it from him. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 9] Their weapons: Heb. מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם, a term denoting weapons. In Greek, the word for sword is “machir” (Tanchuma Vayechi 9). Another explanation: מְכֵרֹתֵיהֶם means: In the land of their dwelling (מְגוּרָתָם) they conducted themselves with implements of violence, like “Your dwelling place (מְכֹרֹתַיִ) and your birthplace (וּמוֹלְדֹתַיִ)” (Ezek. 16:3). This is Onkelos’s translation. — [from Tanchuma Vayechi 9]
7Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce, and their wrath, for it was cruel; I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Note their anger is cured. In fact it was Moshe’s anger at striking the second rock that caused him and Aaron not to enter Eretz Yisrael. Shimon was given land in the area of the Negev today and actually he survived within the modern nation called “Jews” for his children were in Judea. Some of Benyamin and a few from other tribes like the female Judo Champion who is from Naphtali. Leviim had no portion in the land but a few cities and fields for sustenance and they became teaches of Torah and received Maaser. There division in Yisrael was certainly great when Pinchas took on Zimri.
My theory is that Levi destroyed Schem for the sake of heaven and Shimon did not and that is why Shimon lost out on the Kahuna and Levi received it similar to the zealousness of Moshe and Pinchas for HASHEM.
8 Judah, thee shall thy brethren praise; thy hand shall be on the neck of thine enemies; thy father's sons shall bow down before thee.
Judah, [as for] you, your brothers will acknowledge you: Since he reproved the first ones (Reuben, Simeon, and Levi) with reproach, Judah began retreating backwards [so that he (Jacob) would not reprove him for the deed involving Tamar (Gen. 38:16 ff). So Jacob called him with words of appeasement, “Judah, you are not like them.” - [From Shitah Chadashah] Your hand will be at the nape of your enemies: In the time of David: “And of my enemies-you have given me the back of their necks” (II Sam. 22:41). - [From Gen. Rabbah 98:9] [ Your father’s sons: Since they were [born] from many wives, he did not say, “your mother’s sons,” after the manner that Isaac said (Gen. 27:29). - [From Gen. Rabbah 98:6]
9 Judah is a lion's whelp; from the prey, my son, thou art gone up. He stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as a lioness; who shall rouse him up?
A cub [and] a grown lion is Judah: He prophesied about David, who was at first like a cub:“When Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and brought them in” (II Sam. 5:2), and at the end a lion, when they made him king over them. This is what Onkelos means in his translation by יְהֵא בְּשֵׁירוּיָא שִׁלְטוֹן, [he shall be a ruler] in his beginning. From the prey: From what I suspected of you, (namely) that “Joseph has surely been torn up; a wild beast has devoured him” (Gen. 37: 33). This referred to Judah, who was likened to a lion. - [from Tanchuma Vayigash 9] My son, you withdrew: Heb. עָלִיתָ, you withdrew yourself and said, “What is the gain [if we slay our brother and cover up his blood]?” (Gen. 37:26) (Gen. Rabbah 99:8). Similarly, [Judah withdrew] from killing Tamar, when he confessed, “She is right, [it is] from me…” (Gen. 38: 26) (Aggadath Bereshith 83). Therefore, “he crouched, lay down, etc.” [This was fulfilled] in the time of Solomon,“every man under his vine, etc.” (I Kings 5:5) (Gen. Rabbah 98:7).
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, as long as men come to Shiloh; and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.
The scepter shall not depart from Judah: from David and thereafter. These (who bear the scepter after the termination of the kingdom) are the exilarchs (princes) in Babylon, who ruled over the people with a scepter, [and] who were appointed by royal mandate. — [From Sanh. 5a] Nor the student of the law from between his feet: Students. These are the princes of the land of Israel. — [From Sanh. 5a] Until Shiloh comes: [This refers to] the King Messiah, to whom the kingdom belongs (שֶׁלוֹ) , and so did Onkelos render it: [until the Messiah comes, to whom the kingdom belongs]. According to the Midrash Aggadah, [“Shiloh” is a combination of] שַׁי לוֹ, a gift to him, as it is said:“they will bring a gift to him who is to be feared” (Ps. 76:12). - [From Gen. Rabbah ed. Theodore-Albeck p. 1210 ] And to him will be a gathering of peoples: Heb. יִקְּהַת עַמִּים denoting a gathering of peoples, for the“yud” of (יִקְּהַת) is part of the root [and not a prefix], like“with your brightness (יִפְעָתֶ)” (Ezek. 28: 17), and sometimes [the “yud” is] omitted. Many letters are subject to this rule, and they are called defective roots, like the“nun” of נוֹגֵף (smite), נוֹשֵׁ (bite), and the “aleph” of“and my speech (אַחְוָתִי) in your ears” (Job 13:17); and [the “aleph”] of“the scream of (אִבְחַת) the sword” (Ezek. 21:20); and [the “aleph”] of“a jug (אָסוּ) of oil” (II Kings 4:2). This too, is [a noun meaning] a gathering of peoples, [meaning: a number of nations who unite to serve God and join under the banner of the King Messiah] as it is said: “to him shall the nations inquire” (Isa. 11:10). Similar to this is“The eye that mocks the father and despises the mother’s wrinkles (לְיִקְּהַת אֵם)” (Prov. 30:17), [i.e., meaning] the gathering of wrinkles in her face, due to her old age. And in the Talmud [we find]:“were sitting and gathering assemblies וּמַקְהו ֹאַקְהָתָא in the streets of Nehardea” [Pumbeditha] in Tractate Yebamtoh (110b). He (Jacob) could also have said: קְהִיּת עַמִּים [Since the“yud” of יִקְהַת is not a prefix denoting the third person masculine singular, but is a defective root, the form קְהִיּת עַמִּים would be just as appropriate.]- [From Gen. Rabbah 98:9]
These blessings are for the Kingship of Yehuda as he was the only one who convinced Yacov to send Benyamin to Mitzrayim and he convinced Yosef that he had atoned for his sale. He might not always be right, but he is a leader and takes responsibility.
11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washes his garments in wine, and his vesture in the blood of grapes; 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
Yehuda was not blessed with the real rain shed of Eretz Yisrael but the grapes of Chevron and the grazing areas for sheep and goats are rich and he was given a wealth blessing.
13 Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea, and he shall be a shore for ships, and his flank shall be upon Zidon.
He would be in the Haifa area and deal with commerce. He would support Yissachar.
14 Issachar is a large-boned ass, couching down between the sheep-folds. 15 For he saw a resting-place that it was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant under task-work.
Resting in Talmud – Torah and that is good for all of Am Yisrael.
16Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that bites the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward.
This would be Shimshon and his judgements.
18 I wait for Thy salvation, O LORD.
Either Yacov felt himself departing this world or he was talking about the Tribe of Dan in the Judgement of Esav.
19 Gad, a troop shall troop upon him; but he shall troop upon their heel.
They were located on the Golan and had to be a fighting force to prevent invasion from the north.
20 As for Asher, his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
His portion is in the north and great agricultural country.
21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he gives goodly words.
A swift gazelle: This is the valley of Gennesar, which ripens its fruits swiftly, like the gazelle, which runs swiftly. אַיָלָה שְׁלֻחָה means a gazelle that runs swiftly. — [from Gen. Rabbah 99:12] [he is one] who utters beautiful words: As the Targum renders. [See below.] Another explanation: A swift gazelle: He (Jacob) prophesied concerning the war with Sisera: “and take with you ten thousand men of the men of Naphtali, etc.” (Jud. 4:6), and they went there with alacrity. And so it is stated there with an expression of dispatching, “into the valley they rushed forth with their feet” (ibid. 5:15). [he is one] who utters beautiful words: Through them, Deborah and Barak sang a song (Gen. Rabbah 98:17). Our Rabbis [of the Talmud], however, interpreted it (the entire verse) as an allusion to the day of Jacob’s burial, when Esau contested [the ownership of] the cave, in Tractate Sotah (13a). [As soon as Jacob’s sons reached the Cave of Machpelah, Esau came and stopped them. He said to them, “Mamre, Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron” (Gen. 35:27); Rabbi Isaac said that the name Kiriath-arba alludes to the four couples interred there: Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and Jacob and Leah. Jacob buried Leah in his place, and the remaining one Esau said was his. Jacob’s sons said to Esau, “You sold it.” He replied, “Although I sold my birthright, did I sell my rights as an ordinary son?” They answered,“Yes, for it is written: ‘in my grave, which I bought (כָּרִיתִי) for myself’” (Gen. 50:5). Rabbi Johanan said in the name of Rabbi Simeon the son of Jehozadak, כִּירָה means nothing but sale (מְכִירָה), for in the coastal cities, sale is known as כִּירָה. Esau replied, “Give me the deed.” They said to him, “The deed is in Egypt.” [One asked another,] “Who should go (to get it) ?” [He replied,]“Let Naphtali go because he is as fleet-footed as a gazelle, as it is written: ‘Naphtali is a swift gazelle, [he is one] who utters beautiful words (אִמְרֵי שָׁפֶר).’” Do not read אִמְרֵי שָׁפֶר, but אִמְרֵי סֵפֶר, words of a scroll.] [I. e., it was Naphtali who brought the deed to the cave to prove that Jacob had purchased Esau’s burial right there.] The Targum renders: יִתְרְמֵי עַדְבֵהּ, his lot will fall [in a good land], and he will give thanks for his territory with beautiful words and praise.
He would get the Kinneret area.
Yosef was beautiful and Rav Yochanan was from him and known for his beauty such that from the back, Resh Lachish thought he saw a woman bathing.
This refers to his test with wife of Potiphar.
24 But his bow abode firm, and the arms of his hands were made supple, by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, from thence, from the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel,
He stood like a stone and repelled her advances.
25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee, and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee, with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that couches beneath, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb. 26 The blessings of thy father are mighty beyond the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills; they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of the prince among his brethren.
27 Benjamin is a wolf that raveneth; in the morning he devoureth the prey, and at even he divideth the spoil.' 28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel, and this is it that their father spoke unto them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. 29 And he charged them, and said unto them: 'I am to be gathered unto my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a burying-place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
Now it is time for my funeral arrangements and I want to be buried next to my wife Leah and with my fathers and mothers.
32 The field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.' 33 And when Jacob made an end of charging his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and expired, and was gathered unto his people.
50: 1 And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. And the physicians embalmed Israel. … Joseph spoke unto the house of Pharaoh, saying: 'If now I have found favor in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying: 5 My father made me swear, saying: Lo, I die; in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come back.' 6 And Pharaoh said: 'Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.' 7 And Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
The Egyptians served a dual purpose. First and honor guard for Yacov and second a guarantee that Yosef would return.
8 and all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house; only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
This was another guarantee which as we shall see in Shemos became a snare to Pharaoh.
9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company. 10 And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they wailed with a very great and sore wailing; and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
They did not fell that Yacov should be mourned in the land of Avoda Zara.
11And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said: 'This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians.' Wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. 12And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them. 13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field, for a possession of a burying-place, of Ephron the Hittite, in front of Mamre. 14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. 15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said: 'It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him.'
Outside of Benyamin, the ten brothers were afraid now that Yosef might take vengeance of them.
16 And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying: 'Thy father did command before he died, saying: 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph: Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father.' And Joseph wept when they spoke unto him.
He wept because they suspected him and did not recognize his good heart.
18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said: 'Behold, we are thy bondmen.' 19 And Joseph said unto them: 'Fear not; for am I in the place of God? 20 And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not; I will sustain you, and your little ones.' And he comforted them, and spoke kindly unto them.
I assume that their main spokesman was Yehuda and Yosef hugged and kissed them.
22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house; and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation; the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph's knees. 24 And Joseph said unto his brethren: 'I die; but God will surely remember you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.' 25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying: 'God will surely remember you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.' 26 So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old. And they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
As we finish Sefer Beresheis this is a brief review of the modern standard scientific theories with all their faults and errors hidden by the simple language. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KYTJ8tBoZ8 Right now I am looking into the next book of Roger M. Pearlman “Distant Starlight and Torah” or perhaps a proof of a young aka 5778 year old Universe.
Chazak – Chazak v’ nit Chazak
The Resistance. When she was young she lured Nazis to their death. http://didyouknowfacts.com/unseen-dutch-resistance-90-year-old-woman-seduced-nazis-teenager-led-deaths/?utm_source=Web&utm_medium=Partner&utm_campaign=AOLHP&utm_term=pubexchange-did_you_know-aol
Not a simple request by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
In the 1980's, young man in Bnai Brak, R. Yisroel Zussman, was compelled by his circumstances to leave yeshiva and go into business after his wedding. As R. Yisroel was a scholar of note and a serious individual; it always irked him that he had been unable to pursue his true goal of continuing his advanced Torah studies, despite meeting with great success in his business endeavors.
One of his acquaintances, aware of his inner turmoil, suggested to him that perhaps he would feel more satisfaction if he would enter an age-old Yissachar-Zevulun pact; he should support a young scholar who is dedicating his life to learning Torah, and he would thus have a share in that scholar's Torah learning.*
R. Yisroel liked the idea very much, and after consulting with Rabbi Aharon Shteinman, the head of the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak,** decided to accept it. The rosh yeshiva even suggested a "Yissachar" that he undertake to support -- a serious scholar in Bnei Brak by the name of Rabbi S. Yudaikin, a descendent of the Vilna Gaon, who was dedicating his life to learning Torah and serving G-d.
Rabbi Yudaikin, when approached about the proposition, refused to accept more than his most meager requirements, just enough to get by, and these were sent to him by R' Zussman on a regular basis. The partnership was very satisfying to both of them. Years passed by, with this arrangement continuing to be maintained.
One day, R. Yisroel was travelling to New York on a business trip. Before he left, he received a sudden frantic phone call from a relative. She told him that she had heard that he was travelling to New York, and she had an important request to make of him. He said he would be glad to help her, whereupon she asked him to promise that he would fulfill her request. Cautious (realizing that this would be no simple request) and curious, he assured her that he would, and went over to her house to hear from her what it was that she desired.
When he arrived, his relative, who was expecting, informed him tearfully that she had just been diagnosed with a malignant tumor the previous day, and the doctors ordered immediate treatment of chemo-therapy.
However, the issue of her pregnancy complicated matters. The doctors felt that it was crucial for her to abort. They told her that if she didn't terminate her pregnancy, then either the baby would be severely damaged in any case, or it would be an orphan.
Her doctor empathized with her about the difficult decision that she had to make. However, he said to her: "If you were my daughter, I would unhesitatingly tell you to abort".
The desperate woman now tearfully beseeched her cousin, 'Please, when you are in NY, use the opportunity to approach the Lubavitcher Rebbe on my behalf. He is known for the wonders that he has performed, and I will follow whatever he advises.
Rabbi Zussman could not refuse her desperate plea, and Sunday found him in "770" (Lubavitch International Headquarters), waiting his turn in line to receive a dollar from the Rebbe.
The date was 26 Adar 1 5752. It was one minute before 7 p.m., during the last hour of the dollar distribution of that day (and the last hour of the dollar distribution to date***). The Rebbe's attendants and their helpers were focusing all of their energies on rushing things along as fast as possible in order to finish asap.
R. Yisroel later related: "As I neared the place of the Rebbe, I noticed the great efforts in hurrying everyone along. The truth is, I understood them well. There were, after all, thousands of people in line, and if everyone would take just one extra moment, it would amount to additional hours. However, I felt that the issue about which I had come was a matter of Pekuach Nefesh--lives were at stake--and I determined to present my question. I decided that when I reached my turn I would grasp tightly the stand that the Rebbe was leaning on, so that no one could remove me until I was done.
'I reached the place and stood in front of the Rebbe. I felt hands grasping me to pull me along, and I noticed the Rebbe glance at them sharply, to indicate that they should allow me to say my piece. I quickly described the dilemma of my relative and her question.
'The Rebbe asked me for her name and the name of her mother, which I provided. Suddenly, the Rebbe closed his eyes for a moment, right in front of me, and then opened them. I had the sense that he took a quick trip to higher realms and then came back down to us.
'The Rebbe then turned to me and said: 'It's not the disease that you said, it's something else. The doctors should be told to look for something else.'"
R. Yisroel stood there in shock, not knowing how to react, but the Rebbe continued: "What she has is not that disease, so there is no place for her other question (about terminating the pregnancy). She will give birth, and it will be a very special child!"
Completely overwhelmed, R. Yisroel found himself outside, and immediately ran to a telephone to convey the exact words of the Rebbe to his relative. New tests were taken, and they showed no trace of cancer. She completed the pregnancy and gave birth to a healthy baby.
The professor who had been treating her was flabbergasted; the last tests completely contradicted all the earlier ones. She began to interrogate her patient, asking what special foods she ate or what treatments she had undergone to bring about this miraculous change.
R. Yisroel, upon his return to Israel, visited this professor, and personally shared with her the exact details of what had transpired. Visibly moved, she banged on the table with her hand and exclaimed emotionally; "Indeed, there is a G-d!"
R. Yisroel decided to share the story with his "business" partner. He related to Rabbi Yudaikin the entire story, saying: "Listen, I know that you and I are both from a Lithuanian background without any connection to the way of the Chasidim at all, but this is a miracle that I have personally experienced!"
Rabbi Yudaikin responded: "It's a hard story to believe. I need to verify it before I can accept it. But if I can verify all the details, I promise to begin to study Chassidus."
True to his word, Rabbi Yudaikin (after verifying the story) began diligently learning Chassidus. It is said that he recently printed a 500 plus-page book of his notes on Tanya, the foundational work of Chabad Chassidus. ****
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Editor's notes:
* (See "Connection" below)
** Until nearly the end of his life. He passed away last week (12/12) at the at the age of 104 (!). His funeral in Bnei Brak was attended by over 100,000 people.
*** The next day, 27 Adar I 5752 (March 1, 1992), the Rebbe suffered a debilitating stroke. R. Yisroel Zussman was probably one of the last people to receive a face-to-face blessing from him.
**** Rabbi Shmuel Gad HaKohen Yudaikin is also the author or compiler or editor of a number of significant Torah works on Talmud and other topics.
Source: Adapted by Yerachmiel Tilles from http://stories770.blogspot.co.il/.
Connection: Weekly Torah Reading -- the Yissascher-Zevulun arrangement. (Gen. 49:13 with Rashi's explanation)
Biographical note:
Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe : [11 Nissan 5662 - 3 Tammuz 5754 (April 1902 - June 1994 C.E.)], became the seventh Rebbe of the Chabad dynasty after his father-in-law's passing on 10 Shvat 5710 (1950 C.E.). He is widely acknowledged as the greatest Jewish leader of the second half of the 20th century. Although a dominant scholar in both the revealed and hidden aspects of Torah and fluent in many languages and scientific subjects, the Rebbe is best known for his extraordinary love and concern for every Jew on the planet. His emissaries around the globe dedicated to strengthening Judaism number in the thousands. Hundreds of volumes of his teachings have been printed, as well as dozens of English renditions
Torah Ed-Op by Rabbi Pinchas Winston Shlita: I DO NOT look at the news these days. Yup, as hard as this is to believe, and even harder to do, I turned my back on the news. Too much false reporting. Too much mudslinging. There is something to be said for a head in the sand.
I’m not as closed off as it seems. Other people around are still quite hooked on the news, and let me know, whether or I want to hear or not, what’s going on. People send me tidbits in emails, either as part of their mailing list or to ask me what I think. I used to really enjoy reading the news. Now it makes me feel so cheap.
But, I was told recently that a certain high-up once again started using the “H” word with respect to President Trump. That got my blood moving a bit faster, and has forced me to put pen to paper, figuratively-speaking.
I always feel compelled to state, for the record, that I have never been head-over-heals about Donald Trump. Long before he even expressed a desire to run for President I wasn’t such a fan. In spite of all the good things he may have done, and in particular, what he has done for the Jewish people since being in office, there are lots of things he also did that I have found objectionable. Had the Democrats had someone more honest, responsible, and honorable running against him, I might have looked that way instead.
Not that I can vote. As I have declared on many occasions, I am not American. But like many non-American Jews, especially Israeli ones, I feel as if I have, or should have a say in American politics, since they so directly affect me.
Having said all that, I want to return to the main topic.
Adolf Hitler, ysv”z, was many things, none of them at all good. He was a fascist, a sociopath, a Social Darwinist, and evil genius. He considered the war against the Allies to be secondary to his war against the Jews. He was one of the greatest anti-Semites ever, and many hold that he was a spiritual descendant of Amalek. You can’t get much worse than this.
Donald Trump is none of these things, not even close to it. To refer to him as a “Hitler” is not only an insult to the intelligence of intelligent people, but it is a travesty of justice and abuse of history. It is certainly a VERY disrespectful slap across the national face of the Jewish people. To say such a false thing in the news is to create the worst kind of false news ever…
Next week I will give for the first time some investment ideas for your 401K or Sep. You can take it or leave it.
We are making Yerushalayim Great Again. New Yerushalayim Train line-stop: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239880
From Judah: Putin was taught and then raised by a Jewish teacher. He knows the secret to Jewish survival vs. Egyptian, Greek and Roman Cultures: https://www.jewsnews.co.il/2017/08/08/putin-i-know-the-secret-of-jewish-survival.html
Charedi hit and run incident. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239730
I have started praying in “Shema Kolaynu” the Aynaynu Rain Prayer for times of drought. Leading Charedi Rabbi calls for fasting. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239726
Netanyahu scandal a political earthquake or false news from a hater. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5061760,00.html
Shoah era Japanese Hero read the story it is new from my standpoint. https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/12/22/on-the-trail-of-japanese-holocaust-era-hero-chiune-sugihara/
More self-hating Jews. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5062159,00.html
Inyanay Diyoma
Long term Democrat attacks Obama on Yerushalayim: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/12/20/alan-dershowitz-the-conflict-over-jerusalem-is-all-obamas-fault/
Is the IDF allowing Iran to gain too much control? All empty talk? https://www.debka.com/serious-setback-israel-golan-border-syria-hizballah-bisect-beit-jinn-enclave/
No peace plan no money. https://www.debka.com/trump-administration-snap-ties-palestinians-no-peace-plan-no-monetary-aid/
Mattis warns troops to be ready: https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/12/23/mattis-to-troops-on-north-korea-storm-clouds-are-gathering/23316016/
Ed-Op my question. “Innocent” protester planned his Shachid death in Pallywood style. Did he really die or “die”? https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5060562,00.html
Intra-Arab ramming suspect: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239708
Leftist press condemned Rabin in SS Uniform but not Guillotine. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5061023,00.html
Serbian Jewish Cemetery smashed: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239705
US trims UN budget: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-secures-dollar285m-cut-in-un-budget/ar-BBHiW7s?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=spartandhp
Ed-Op right wing anti-corruption protests the tip of the iceberg by Ben Dror Yemeni. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5061091,00.html
Violence in Israel and Muslim invasion of Europe damper Bethlehem. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5061386,00.html
Ed-Op Fishman at the end of the tunnel more dangers in Gaza. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5060083,00.html
Iranian groups almost by Israel’s borders. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239774
From David – The night Chanucha took over the NBA. https://www.facebook.com/srugim.co.il/videos/1764587266945067/
The night UNWRA stole Xmas. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/21458
The investigation of Netanyahu may cause a political earthquake. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/21458
From David – Norway will not fund BDS. http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Official-Norway-wont-provide-funds-for-organizations-involved-with-BDS-520005
Embassies to move to Yerushalayim. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5061703,00.html
Media loses the public: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/21464
15 year-old dies of the flu: www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239827
Why shouldn’t we ban Bitcoin? https://finance.yahoo.com/news/former-fdic-chair-sheila-bair-shouldnt-ban-bitcoin-141019569.html
Why not to visit Egypt: https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/12/26/woman-sentenced-to-three-years-in-jail-for-bringing-pain-killers-to-egypt/23317407/
Revolutionary guards preparing ground confrontation w/Israel. https://www.debka.com/rev-guards-repair-syrias-deir-ez-zour-palmyra-road-first-link-irans-new-transnational-land-corridor/
Firebombs at the tomb of Yehoshua. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239925
What is wrong the News Media there was an attack in Afghanistan by ISIS that left at least 42 Shia dead and 86 wounded and I can’t find on-line headlines about it.
Terror attack in Russia: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/12/28/putin-says-st-petersburg-market-explosion-was-terror-attack.html
Israel and the US coordinate on Iran and Nukes as ISIS resurges in Syria. https://www.debka.com/us-wont-strike-isis-resurgent-assad-ruled-areas-pushes-russia-curb-pro-iranian-hizballah-push-near-israel/
Have a wonderful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
